Red Flag Warning Issued for New Mexico's Central Highlands Due to High Winds and Low Humidity
This alert is no longer in effect.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 of New Mexico for Friday, February 20, citing critical fire weather conditions and wind gusts up to 60 mph.
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
A Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, NM. This alert is in effect for Friday, February 20, due to critical fire weather conditions resulting from strong winds, low humidity, and dry fuels.
Affected Areas
The primary area affected is the Central Highlands (Zone 125), specifically the eastern portions of this zone. The warning also notes that critical conditions are expected across the Northeast and East Central Plains of New Mexico.
What You Should Do
Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged as any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly under these conditions. Residents are advised to exercise extreme caution. Fire crews and appropriate officials in the field should be notified of this warning to prepare for potential incidents.
Expected Conditions
- Winds: West winds between 25 to 40 mph are expected, with gusts reaching as high as 60 mph.
- Humidity: Minimum relative humidity values are forecast to drop between 13 and 18 percent.
- Hazards: The combination of strong flow aloft, surface low pressure, and very dry fuels will create an environment conducive to rapid fire growth.
Timeline
The Red Flag Warning is effective from 9:00 AM MST on Friday, February 20, and is currently scheduled to end at 6:00 PM MST on Friday evening.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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