Headline:
Red Flag Warning issued May 18 at 2:07PM MDT until May 18 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Event:
Red Flag Warning
Urgency:
Expected
Effective:
May 18, 2025 - 1:07pm
Expires:
May 18, 2025 - 8:00pm
Description:
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY AND MONDAY FOR SOUTHERN
NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS...
.An upper level disturbance slowly moving across the central
Rockies will induce lee side troughing across eastern Colorado and
New Mexico today and Monday. Embedded upper level impulses will
bring stronger winds aloft into southern New Mexico. The result
will be gusty west-southwest winds today, and west to west-
northwest winds on Monday, with gusts approaching 45 mph at times.
Meanwhile, minimum RH values will remain well into the single
digits across the lowlands today, with minimal improvement on
Monday. This will result in several hours of critical fire weather
conditions through this evening and returning again early Monday
afternoon.
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT
MONDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR ALL OF SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTH- CENTRAL NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS...
* AFFECTED AREA...Southwest and South-Central New Mexico including
Fire Weather Zones 110, 111, 112, and 113. This includes the
Lincoln and Gila National Forests. Also, Far West Texas,
including Fire Weather Zones 055 and 056 covering El Paso and
Hudspeth Counties.
* TIMING...Today from 11 AM to 9 PM MDT, and Monday from Noon to
9 PM MDT.
* WINDS...Today, from the west to southwest at 25 to 35 mph, and
gusts up to 50 mph. Monday, west to west-northwest 25 to 30 mph,
and gusts up to 45 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum RH values today will be 5 to 9
percent in the lowlands, and 8 to 12 percent in the higher
elevations. Very minor improvements are expected on Monday.
* 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