Red Flag Warning Issued for Capitan and Sacramento Mountains in Southern New Mexico

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM has issued a Red Flag Warning (NWS Alert Code: FWW) for the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico. This alert signifies that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers Fire Weather Zone 113, which includes the Capitan and Sacramento Mountains, as well as the Lincoln National Forest (LNZ).

What You Should Do

Residents and visitors in the affected areas are advised that outdoor burning is not recommended. A Red Flag Warning indicates that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Residents should prepare for extreme fire behavior and monitor local weather updates.

Expected Conditions

An upper-level storm system is expected to bring the following conditions to the region:

• Winds: Southwest winds sustained at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts reaching between 45 and 50 mph.
• Humidity: Minimum relative humidity levels will drop to between 10 and 15 percent.
• Temperatures: High temperatures are expected to reach up to 70 degrees.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 11:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST on Thursday, March 5, 2026. While strong winds may persist through Thursday night and Friday morning, relative humidity levels are expected to rise above critical thresholds by Thursday evening.