Red Flag Warning Issued for Northeast Plains of New Mexico Due to Critical Fire Conditions

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Northeast Plains of New Mexico. This alert, issued by NWS Albuquerque NM, indicates that critical fire weather conditions are likely to develop due to a combination of strong winds and low relative humidity.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts the Northeast Plains (Zone 104). This region includes areas within the eastern plains of New Mexico where strong west winds are forecast to develop.

What You Should Do

Residents and fire crews are advised that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly under these conditions. Outdoor burning is not recommended. Officials and fire crews in the field should be notified of this warning to prepare for potential fire hazards.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: West winds between 15 and 25 mph are expected, with gusts reaching between 30 and 40 mph.
• Humidity: Minimum relative humidity values are forecast to be between 10 and 15 percent.
• Fire Behavior: The combination of high wind speeds and low moisture levels means that fire spread will be accelerated.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective from 12:00 PM MST on Thursday, February 19, and is scheduled to expire at 6:00 PM MST the same day. This follows a period of monitoring where a previous Fire Weather Watch was in effect but has since been replaced by this warning.