...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH
CENTRAL NEW MEXICO...

A passing Pacific trough will keep the region dry and will increase
winds this afternoon. These warm, dry, and windy conditions will
further trend fuels drier, and will set the stage for critical
fire weather conditions across the southern New Mexico fire zones.
West winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 to 40 mph are
expected during the afternoon. Minimum relative humidity values of
7 to 15 percent are forecast. Widespread tree mortality and die
back fuels will increase the wildfire risk as ERCs climb towards
the 90th percentile.

* AFFECTED AREA...New Mexico Fire Weather Zones 110, 111, 112,
and 113, including the Southwest Mountains and Gila NF, the
Southwest Deserts and Lowlands, the South Central Lowlands,
the Southern Rio Grande Valley, and the Sacramento and Capitan
Mountains.

* TIMING...Winds increasing after 10 AM, and peaking in the middle
to late afternoon hours.

* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...7 to 12 percent.

* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...3 to 5, Near Critical to Critical.

* IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.