...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO ON
FRIDAY...

Dry and breezy weather pattern on Friday as subtropical jet flow
aloft increases over the Southern Rockies. West winds peaking
during the afternoon hours, especially over Lincoln National
Forest where gusts up to 40 mph will be possible. Critically dry
conditions continue, with relative humidity falling below 15%.
Widespread tree mortality and dieback fuels will increase the
wildfire risk in both the Gila and Lincoln National Forests as
ERCs climb back above the average Friday into this weekend.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 110 Southwest Mountains/Gila
NF/Apache NF/GLZ, Fire Weather Zone 111 Southwest Deserts and
Lowlands/Las Cruces BLM/GLZ, Fire Weather Zone 112 South Central
Lowlands and Southern Rio Grande Valley/BLM/GLZ and Fire Weather
Zone 113 Capitan and Sacramento Mountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ.

* TIMING...From Noon to 8 PM Friday.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...9 to 15 percent.

* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...3 to 4, Near 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.

...RED FLAG WARNING FRIDAY FROM 10 AM UNTIL 8 PM FOR NORTHEAST
ZONES, AND ALONG AND EAST OF THE SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS,
DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...

.Locally critical fire weather conditions will probably persist
for another hour or so, but widespread critical conditions are
diminishing, so today's Red Flag Warning will be allowed to
expire at 8 PM MDT.

On Friday, west to southwest winds increase with gusts up to 50
mph. Additionally, up to six hours of single digit humidity will
be present. Any new fire starts will be able to spread rapidly.

* AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Plains and Highlands (Zones 104 and
123), Central Highlands (Zone 125), and East Central Plains
(Zone 126). Friday, from 10 AM until 8 PM MDT.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...West to southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts
up to 50 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values of 8 to 12 percent.

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

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of this Red Flag Warning.

...RED FLAG WARNING FRIDAY FROM 10 AM UNTIL 8 PM FOR NORTHEAST
ZONES, AND ALONG AND EAST OF THE SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS,
DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...

.Locally critical fire weather conditions will probably persist
for another hour or so, but widespread critical conditions are
diminishing, so today's Red Flag Warning will be allowed to
expire at 8 PM MDT.

On Friday, west to southwest winds increase with gusts up to 50
mph. Additionally, up to six hours of single digit humidity will
be present. Any new fire starts will be able to spread rapidly.

* AREA AND TIMING...Sandia and Manzano Mountains (Zone 124) on
Friday from 10 AM through 8 PM MDT.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45
mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values of 10 to 15 percent.

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

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of this Red Flag Warning.

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
EARLY FRIDAY EVENING FOR 20-FT WINDS ABOVE 20 MPH, RELATIVE
HUMIDITY BELOW 15%, AND HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR SOUTHEAST NEW
MEXICO, THE SACRAMENTO FOOTHILLS, GUADALUPE AND DELAWARE
MOUNTAINS, EASTERN CULBERSON COUNTY AND THE NORTHWEST PERMIAN
BASIN...

The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a Fire
Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in
effect from Friday afternoon through Friday evening.

* WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Higher winds
and gusts in the mountains.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 6 percent.

* RFTI...6 or critical.

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

* SEVERITY...

FUELS (ERC)...50th-69th percentile...3 (out of 5).

WEATHER...Critical...3 (out of 5).

FIRE ENVIRONMENT...7 (out of 10).

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 29 possible.

* WHERE...South Central Highlands.

* WHEN...From late Friday night through Saturday morning.

* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other
sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
plumbing.

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

To prevent water pipes from freezing, wrap, drain or allow them to
drip slowly.