Red Flag Warning Issued for Northeast and East Central New Mexico Due to High Winds

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Northeast Highlands, Northeast Plains, and East Central Plains. This alert is issued when critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions in New Mexico:

• Northeast Highlands (Zone 123)
• Northeast Plains (Zone 104)
• East Central Plains (Zone 126)

Additionally, a Fire Weather Watch is in effect for the Middle Rio Grande Valley due to similar conditions.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is strictly not recommended. Local officials and fire crews in the field should be notified of these conditions to ensure appropriate preparation.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions are expected to reach critical levels on Wednesday:

• Winds: Southwest winds between 25 and 40 mph, with gusts reaching 45 to 60 mph.
• Humidity: Minimum relative humidity values are forecast to drop between 8 and 20 percent.
• Fire Behavior: The combination of strong, potentially damaging winds and low humidity will facilitate the rapid spread of any new fires.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective on Wednesday, February 18, from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM MST. While winds are expected to weaken slightly on Thursday as they shift to the northwest, there remains a 25 percent chance that critical fire weather conditions could return to areas east of the central mountain chain.