Red Flag Warning Issued for New Mexico's Northeast Highlands Due to Critical Fire Conditions

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Northeast Highlands. This alert indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A storm system approaching from the west is expected to bring increased winds and low relative humidity, creating a significant hazard for fire management.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts the Northeast Highlands of New Mexico, identified as Fire Weather Zone 123. This includes areas within the geographic codes 035007, 035033, 035047, 035049, and 035059.

What You Should Do

Residents and visitors in the affected area should exercise extreme caution. Outdoor burning is not recommended due to the high risk of fire ignition and spread. Officials advise that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. It is requested that appropriate officials and fire crews in the field be notified of this warning and the subsequent Fire Weather Watch.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate in two phases:

• Monday Afternoon: Southwest winds of 20 to 25 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph. Relative humidity values will drop to between 10% and 15%.
• Tuesday: Conditions will become more dangerous with southwest to west winds increasing to 30 to 40 mph. Peak wind gusts are forecast to reach between 60 and 70 mph, while minimum humidity values will range from 20% to 30%.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is officially in effect from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM MST on Monday, February 16. Following this warning, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for the same region, effective from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening, due to the potential for damaging winds and continued fire risk.