Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch Issued for Northeast and East Central New Mexico

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag Warning due to critical fire weather conditions. This alert is accompanied by a Fire Weather Watch for the following day, indicating a prolonged period of hazardous fire conditions in the region.

Affected Areas

The warning and watch impact several geographic zones in New Mexico, including:

• Northeast Plains (Zone 104)
• Northeast Highlands (Zone 123)
• Central Highlands (Zone 125)
• East Central Plains (Zone 126)

What You Should Do

Residents are advised that outdoor burning is not recommended as any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. The National Weather Service requests that officials and fire crews in the field be notified of these conditions. Residents should prepare for the possibility of rapid fire growth and monitor local updates.

Expected Conditions

Meteorologists expect the following conditions to contribute to the fire hazard:

• Winds: Southwest winds sustained between 25 and 35 mph, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph.
• Humidity: Extremely low relative humidity values between 6 and 10 percent.
• Environment: Above-normal temperatures and dry fuels will increase the threat of rapid fire spread. Single-digit humidity values are expected to persist for 3 to 7 hours on Thursday afternoon.

Timeline

• Red Flag Warning: Effective from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST on Thursday, March 5.
• Fire Weather Watch: Effective from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM MST on Friday, March 6.

While winds may slowly decrease Thursday evening, they are expected to remain elevated over parts of the central and northeast highlands before strong winds return to the eastern plains on Friday afternoon.