Headline:
Fire Weather Watch issued March 13 at 8:03PM MDT until March 15 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Event:
Fire Weather Watch
Urgency:
Future
Effective:
March 13, 2026 - 7:03pm
Expires:
March 14, 2026 - 5:00am
Description:
...RED FLAG WARNING SATURDAY FROM NOON UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR THE
NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NORTHEAST PLAINS, AND CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE
TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH SATURDAY FROM 3 PM UNTIL 8 PM FOR WESTERN
NM, NORTH CENTRAL NM AND THE SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS DUE TO
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH SUNDAY FOR ALL OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NM
FROM 9 AM THROUGH 8 PM DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...
.Critical fire weather conditions will impact much of central and
northern NM through the weekend. On Saturday, westerly winds will
increase areawide, but will start earlier and linger longer
across eastern NM. Therefore, long duration critical fire weather
conditions are expected across much of eastern NM on Saturday,
while a more focused period of critical fire weather conditions
are possible from mid afternoon through early evening elsewhere.
Very strong to damaging winds will develop early on Sunday and
persist through the afternoon as both a Pacific and backdoor cold
front press through the area. With gusts between 50 and 70 mph and
single digit humidity values in many areas, critical to extreme
fire weather conditions are likely despite cooling temperatures.
* AREA AND TIMING...Northwest Plateau (Zone 101), West Central
Mountains (Zone 105), West Central Basin and Range (Zone 109),
North Central Mountains (Zone 120), Upper Rio Grande Valley
and Lower Chama River Valley (Zone 121), Sangre de Cristo
Mountains (Zone 122), and Sandia and Manzano Mountains (Zone
124) on Saturday from 3 PM until 8 PM and again Sunday from 9
AM through 8 PM.
* 20 FOOT WINDS...On Saturday, west winds 20 to 30 mph with
gusts up to 40 mph. The strongest winds will be during the
evening. On Sunday, northwest winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts
between 45 and 55 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 6 and 15 percent
with locally higher values across the peaks of the Tusas
Mountains and Sangre de Cristo Mountains each day.
* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Instruction:
Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of this Fire Weather Watch.
Area Description:
Northwest Plateau; West Central Mountains; West Central Basin and Range; North Central Mountains; Upper Rio Grande Valley and Lower Chama River Valley; Sangre de Cristo Mountains; Sandia and Manzano Mountains
Forcast Office:
NWS Albuquerque NM
Sender:
w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov