Headline

Red Flag Warning issued May 16 at 11:14AM MDT until May 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

Description

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS POSSIBLE SUNDAY...

.An upper level trough carving out over the Central Rockies will
bring increasing southwest winds to the region over the next
couple of days, while Relative Humidity values remain very low,
and fuels remain critically dry. Winds aloft will begin to
increase late tonight, with favored downslope areas seeing near-
Red Flag conditions during the overnight and pre-dawn hours, as
gusty winds help to create very poor RH recovery. Winds will stay
strong along north and east-facing slopes Sunday night, and Red
Flag conditions may persist through Sunday Night into Monday in
those favored areas.

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH
MONDAY EVENING FOR THE SAME AREA...

The National Weather Service in El Paso has issued a Red Flag
Warning for strong winds and low humidity which is in effect from
7 AM Sunday to midnight MDT Sunday night. A Fire Weather Watch
has also been issued from late Sunday night through Monday
evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 113 Capitan and Sacramento
Mountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ.

* TIMING...Near Red Flag conditions will develop this afternoon
along north and east facing mountain slopes. Winds may diminish
briefly in the evening, but will begin to ramp up again late in
the night. Relative humidity recovery will be very poor in these
locations, and Red Flag Conditions will develop by early morning
as winds increase further. Red Flag conditions will develop over
a wider area by late morning. Strong winds and poor RH recovery
are expected again Sunday night along north and east facing
slopes. This is a rare situation where Red Flag conditions may
last through the night in favored downslope wind areas. Thus, a
Fire Weather Watch is in effect starting Midnight Sunday night,
and through the day Monday, when stronger winds will develop
across a wider area again.

* WINDS...Southwest 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 5 to 8 percent with very poor
recovery along north and east facing slopes.

* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...5 to 6.

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

Instructions

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.

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

Additional Details