Red Flag Warning Issued for Southeast New Mexico and West Texas Through Wednesday Evening

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a Red Flag Warning for Southeast New Mexico and portions of West Texas. The alert is triggered by critical fire weather conditions, including strong 20-foot winds and extremely low relative humidity, which significantly increase the potential for fire growth.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad geographic area including:

• New Mexico: Chaves County Plains, Eddy Plains, and Lea County.
• Texas: Gaines, Loving, Eastern Culberson, and Reeves County Plains.
• Specific Corridors and Ranges: Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor, Chinati Mountains, Marfa Plateau, Davis Mountains, and the Davis Mountains Foothills.

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 during this period. A Red Flag Warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent. Residents should prepare for potential fire growth and monitor local weather updates.

Expected Conditions

• Winds: Southwest winds between 25 to 35 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 55 mph.
• Humidity: Relative humidity levels are forecast to drop as low as 10 percent.
• Fire Danger: The Red Flag Threat Index (RFTI) is rated at 6, or critical. Fuels are currently in the 50th-69th percentile for dryness, contributing to a high fire environment rating.

Timeline

The Red Flag Warning is effective starting Wednesday, February 18, at 11:00 AM CST. The warning is scheduled to remain in effect until 8:00 PM CST on Wednesday evening.