Red Flag Warning

Headline

...MARGINALLY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR MUCH OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON...
.Very warm and dry conditions will continue today, with afternoon winds increasing to around 18 to 25 mph with gusts 30 to 35 mph. Meanwhile, minimum RH values will dip to around 10 percent in the lowlands, and the lower teens below about 7500 feet. ERC values are around the 85th percentile, and forecast to reach 90th percentile this weekend.

Full Alert Message

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM 321 AM MDT Thu May 14 2026 ...MARGINALLY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR MUCH OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON... .Very warm and dry conditions will continue today, with afternoon winds increasing to around 18 to 25 mph with gusts 30 to 35 mph. Meanwhile, minimum RH values will dip to around 10 percent in the lowlands, and the lower teens below about 7500 feet. ERC values are around the 85th percentile, and forecast to reach 90th percentile this weekend. ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR BREEZY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from noon today to 8 PM MDT this evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA...New Mexico Fire Weather Zones 111, 112, and 113, encompassing the lowland deserts of southwest and south- central New Mexico, and the Capitan and Sacramento Mountains and Lincoln National Forest, particularly below 7500 feet. * TIMING...Winds will increase after 11 AM, peaking the afternoon and early evening. * WINDS...Southwest 18 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum RH 8 to 12 percent in the desert lowlands, and 10 to 15 percent in the mountains below 7500 feet. Minimum RH values will be closer to 20 percent at the highest elevations. * TEMPERATURES...Highs in the middle 90s across the lowlands, dropping to the 70s above 7500 feet. Generally, 5 to 10 degrees above normal. * LIGHTNING...None expected. * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. . PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.