Headline:
Red Flag Warning issued May 17 at 12:06PM MDT until May 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM
Event:
Red Flag Warning
Urgency:
Expected
Effective:
May 17, 2026 - 11:06am
Expires:
May 17, 2026 - 8:00pm
Description:
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT TODAY
DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PARTS OF WESTERN,
MUCH OF CENTRAL, AND ALL EASTERN NEW MEXICO...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY DUE TO
STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHWESTERN, MUCH OF
CENTRAL, AND ALL OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO...
.After a morning of very poor humidity recovery, humidity values
will plummet even lower this afternoon. Winds will continue to
increase through the mid to late afternoon with gusts of 35 to 45
mph being common, setting the stage for critical to extreme fire
behavior. Winds will decrease some around sunset, but will still
remain breezy, if not locally windy, in several locations overnight.
This will be coupled with another night of poor humidity recovery.
Another round of critical to extreme fire weather conditions is then
expected across southwest, central and eastern New Mexico through
the day Monday with even stronger wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph across
eastern New Mexico. Several hours of single digit humidity values
are expected across east central and southeast New Mexico again
Monday afternoon.
* AFFECTED AREA...West Central Mountains (Zone 105).
* TIMING...Until 9 PM MDT this evening.
* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 40
mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Relative Humidity between 8 to 15 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