New Mexico, Texas Red Flag Warning | Effective 05/17/2026 11:03

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR TODAY AND MONDAY... .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 will continue to increase through the afternoon, topping out at 20 to 25 MPH with gusts as high as 40 MPH. Winds will stay elevated overnight tonight for east and north-facing slopes, but with some variability and lighter periods, and will increase again for Monday, once again topping out around 20 to 25 MPH, with gusts around 45 mph. In some areas, winds will be strongest in the mid to late morning hours. ...RED FLAG WARNING NOW IN EFFECT MONDAY FROM 9 AM UNTIL 8 PM FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO AND EL PASO COUNTY IN TEXAS... This upgrades the Fire Weather Watch previously in effect for Monday. * AFFECTED AREA...Southwest and south central New Mexico, including the Gila Region and the lowlands. Also, El Paso County in Texas. This includes New Mexico Fire Weather Zones 110, 111, and 112, and Texas Fire Weather Zone 055. * TIMING...Red Flag Warning on Sunday through Midnight Sunday night. Another Red Flag Warning is in effect Monday from 9 AM until 8 PM. * WINDS...Southwest 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph on Sunday afternoon, tapering off in most areas after dark. Winds will return with similar speeds Monday morning and early afternoon, then taper off to gusts around 30 mph Monday evening. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...5 to 8 percent in the lowlands below 6000 feet, and 7 to 12 percent in higher elevations, both Sunday and Monday. * EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...4 to 6. * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.