Red Flag Warning Issued for Central Highlands and Northeast New Mexico

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque NM has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions. This alert replaces the previous Fire Weather Watch for Sunday and indicates that hazardous conditions are imminent or occurring. A Fire Weather Watch also remains in effect for Monday afternoon through Monday evening.

Affected Areas

The primary area affected is the Central Highlands (Zone 125). The warning also encompasses much of Northeast and East Central New Mexico, specifically regions east of the central mountain chain. This includes areas north of Highway 60 on Sunday and the corridor between Highway 60 and Highway 64 on Monday.

What You Should Do

Residents and visitors in the affected areas are strongly advised against any outdoor burning. Any fires that develop under these conditions will likely spread rapidly and become difficult to control. Local officials and fire crews in the field should be notified of the warning. Residents should prepare for potential fire hazards and monitor local weather updates.

Expected Conditions

Critical fire weather is being driven by a persistent lee-side surface trough and significant atmospheric mixing.

• Winds: Southwest to west winds between 20 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph.
• Humidity: Minimum relative humidity values will drop to between 9 and 14 percent.
• Temperature: High temperatures are forecast to climb 8 to 20 degrees above the 1991-2020 averages.

Timeline

• Red Flag Warning: Effective from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM MST on Sunday, March 8.
• Fire Weather Watch: Effective from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM MST on Monday, March 9.