Headline:
Fire Weather Watch issued April 21 at 10:19PM MDT until April 23 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Event:
Fire Weather Watch
Urgency:
Future
Effective:
April 21, 2026 - 9:19pm
Expires:
April 22, 2026 - 7:00am
Description:
...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS POSSIBLE THURSDAY FOR LINCOLN
NATIONAL FOREST...
Dry and breezy weather pattern Wednesday and Thursday will set
the stage for near-critical to critical fire weather conditions
in the Lincoln National Forest for Thursday. A shortwave trough
coming across the Southern Rockies will induce surface low
pressure in the Southern Plains on Thursday. West winds of 20 to
25 mph are forecast with gusts to 35 mph during the afternoon.
Minimum relative humidity values of 7 to 15 percent are forecast.
Widespread tree mortality and dieback fuels will increase the
wildfire risk as ERCs climb towards the 90th percentile.
The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has
issued a Fire Weather Watch for Southwest and South Central New
Mexico, which is in effect from Thursday morning through Thursday
evening.
* AFFECTED AREA...New Mexico Fire Weather Zones 110, 111, and 112,
including the Southwest Mountains and Gila NF, the Southwest
Deserts and Lowlands, the South Central Lowlands and Southern
Rio Grande Valley.
* TIMING...winds increasing after 10 am, and peaking in the late
afternoon hours.
* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 30 to 35 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 7 percent.
* TEMPERATURES...in the lower to mid 80s.
* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...3 to 5, Near Critical to Critical.
* IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Instruction:
A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.
Area Description:
Southwest Mountains; Southwest Deserts and Lowlands; South Central Lowlands And Southern Rio Grande Valley
Forcast Office:
NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Sender: