New Mexico Red Flag Warning | Effective 05/16/2026 18:59

Headline: 
Red Flag Warning issued May 16 at 7:59PM MDT until May 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Event: 
Red Flag Warning
Urgency: 
Expected
Effective: 
May 16, 2026 - 6:59pm
Expires: 
May 17, 2026 - 5:00am
Description: 
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND ALL OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO... ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT SUNDAY DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PARTS OF WESTERN, MUCH OF CENTRAL, AND ALL EASTERN NEW MEXICO... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHWESTERN, MUCH OF CENTRAL, AND ALL OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO... .Winds are slowly tapering off enough this evening to reduce the critical fire weather threat. However, extremely poor humidity recovery is expected overnight with many areas only reaching 15 to 25 percent come dawn Sunday. 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, and all of eastern New Mexico Sunday. Another round of critical fire weather conditions is expected across southwest, central and eastern New Mexico Monday with even stronger wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph across eastern New Mexico. Around 6 to 12 hours of single digit humidity values are expected across east central and southeast New Mexico on Monday. * AFFECTED AREA...West Central Mountains (Zone 105). * TIMING...From 10 AM to 9 PM MDT Sunday. * 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Relative Humidity between 8 to 27 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.
Area Description: 
West Central Mountains
Forcast Office: 
NWS Albuquerque NM
Sender: 
w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov