Fire Weather Watch

Locations Affected

Bonita Canyon, NM ∙ Carrizo Mountain, NM ∙ Capitan, NM ∙ San Patricio, NM ∙ Bent, NM ∙ Ruidoso, NM ∙ Ruidoso Sierra Blanca Airport, NM ∙ Gallinas, NM ∙ Cloudcroft, NM ∙ Ruidoso Downs, NM

Headline

...CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...
Gusty winds and very low relative humidities are expected for Saturday ahead of a strong upper level trough moving into the Rockies. West to southwest winds of 15-25 mph with gusts over 35 mph are possible in the Sacramento Mountains. These winds combined with single digit RH's and drying fuels will lead to critical fire weather conditions.
A second day of gusty winds is expected on Sunday with winds of 15-25 mph, overspreading all of South Central and Southwestern NM, which will combine with very low relative humidities to create critical fire weather conditions. ERCs are relatively higher across the Gila National Forest, but with recent beetle die-off, the Gila is included within the Fire Weather Watch for Sunday.

Full Alert Message

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM 331 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2026 ...CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY... Gusty winds and very low relative humidities are expected for Saturday ahead of a strong upper level trough moving into the Rockies. West to southwest winds of 15-25 mph with gusts over 35 mph are possible in the Sacramento Mountains. These winds combined with single digit RH's and drying fuels will lead to critical fire weather conditions. A second day of gusty winds is expected on Sunday with winds of 15-25 mph, overspreading all of South Central and Southwestern NM, which will combine with very low relative humidities to create critical fire weather conditions. ERCs are relatively higher across the Gila National Forest, but with recent beetle die-off, the Gila is included within the Fire Weather Watch for Sunday. ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING AND AGAIN FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 113... * AFFECTED AREA...Sacramento and Capitan Mountains * WIND...West to southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph on Saturday. Northwest winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph on Sunday. * HUMIDITY...7 to 14 percent. * HIGHEST THREAT...is located on the eastern slopes of the Sacramento Mountains. * EXPERIMENTAL RFTI... 4 to 5 Marginally critical to critical. * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.

---