Red Flag Warning Issued for New Mexico Central Highlands: High Winds and Low Humidity Expected
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
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The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Central Highlands on Wednesday, February 18, due to southwest winds gusting up to 60 mph and low humidity levels.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Red Flag Warning
- Affected area
- Central Highlands, New Mexico
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Albuquerque NM
Fire-weather notices describe conditions that can support rapid fire spread; they do not report that a fire is present. Check local emergency sources for any active incident.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Central Highlands, New Mexico.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Central Highlands of New Mexico. This alert signifies that critical fire weather conditions are expected to develop, creating a significant risk for rapid fire growth.
Affected Areas
The primary geographic region affected by this warning is the Central Highlands (Zone 125). The broader weather pattern also includes a Fire Weather Watch for the Middle Rio Grande Valley and similar conditions across the Northeast and East Central Plains.
What You Should Do
Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged and not recommended during the warning period. Any fires that develop under these conditions will likely spread rapidly and become difficult to control. Residents should advise appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this warning and remain prepared for hazardous fire conditions.
Expected Conditions
The area is forecast to experience strong to potentially damaging southwest winds of 35 to 40 mph, with peak gusts reaching between 50 and 60 mph. These winds will be accompanied by very dry air, with minimum relative humidity values dropping to between 12 and 22 percent.
Timeline
The Red Flag Warning is effective on Wednesday, February 18, from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM MST.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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