Headline:
Red Flag Warning issued May 18 at 3:11AM MDT until May 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Event:
Red Flag Warning
Urgency:
Expected
Effective:
May 18, 2025 - 2:11am
Expires:
May 18, 2025 - 9:00pm
Description:
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY AND MONDAY FOR SOUTHERN
NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS...
.Jet streak of strong wind aloft crossing the Southern Rockies
will induce low surface pressure over the southern High Plains
this afternoon and again on Monday. Subsequent tightening of the
surface pressure gradient will increase winds area wide from the
west-southwest. Peak wind gusts to 45 mph over the high terrain,
gaps, and east slopes are expected. Very dry air remains in place
while winds increase, creating critical fire danger for southern
New Mexico and far west Texas. Recent dryness has increased fuel
ERCs back to above normal and any fires that develop have the
potential to spread rapidly.
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY FOR
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND FAR
WEST TEXAS...
* AFFECTED AREA...In Texas, Fire Weather Zone 055 El Paso County,
Fire Weather Zone 056 Hudspeth County. In New Mexico, 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...For today, 11 AM to 9 PM. For Monday, 12 PM to 9 PM.
* WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...5 to 10 percent.
* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...5 to 7 or Critical to Extreme.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Instruction:
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.
Area Description:
Southwest Mountains; Southwest Deserts and Lowlands; South Central Lowlands And Southern Rio Grande Valley; Capitan And Sacramento Mountains; El Paso; Hudspeth
Forcast Office:
NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM