New Mexico Fire Weather Watch | Effective 05/16/2026 00:33

Headline: 
Fire Weather Watch issued May 16 at 1:33AM MDT until May 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Event: 
Fire Weather Watch
Urgency: 
Future
Effective: 
May 16, 2026 - 12:33am
Expires: 
May 16, 2026 - 7:00pm
Description: 
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FROM THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY EASTWARD TO TEXAS, AND THE NORTHEASTERN PLAINS AND HIGHLANDS... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR WEST-CENTRAL, CENTRAL, EASTERN, AND NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO... .Winds restrengthen today over a more widespread portion of northern, eastern, and central New Mexico. Humidity falling below 10 percent for 6 to 12 hours alongside widespread sustained southwesterly winds of 15 to 25 mph will increase the threat for critical fire weather and increase difficulty for current fire suppression activities across east-central NM this afternoon. More widespread and stronger southwesterly winds alongside another round of 6 to 15 hours of single-digit humidity will yield critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions for most of west-central, central, eastern, and northeastern New Mexico Sunday. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque NM has issued a Fire Weather Watch in effect from Sunday morning through Sunday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Northeast Plains (Zone 104) and Northeast Highlands (Zone 123). * TIMING...For the Red Flag Warning, from 2 PM this afternoon to 8 PM MDT this evening. For the Fire Weather Watch, from late Sunday morning through Sunday evening. * 20 FOOT WINDS...For the Red Flag Warning south winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, and for the Fire Weather Watch southwest winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...For the Red Flag Warning relative humidity between 7 to 12 percent, and for the Fire Weather Watch relative humidity between 5 to 9 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Instruction: 
Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch.
Area Description: 
Northeast Plains; Northeast Highlands
Forcast Office: 
NWS Albuquerque NM
Sender: 
w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov