* WHAT...East winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Middle Rio Grande Valley including eastern areas of the Albuquerque Metro Area. * WHEN...From 6 AM to 10 PM MDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down weakened trees and vulnerable power lines. A few power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The strongest winds will occur near Tijeras Canyon.

...RED FLAG WARNING TODAY FROM 11 AM UNTIL 8 PM MDT FOR AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN INCLUDING THE UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY DUE TO RECORD HEAT, STRONG WINDS, AND LOW HUMIDITY... .Amidst an extended stretch of record warmth, west winds will strengthen today across northern and eastern New Mexico. The strongest winds will focus along and just east of the Central Mountain Chain where winds may gust as high as 45 mph. Conditions will be very dry, with the driest conditions in the Northeast and Central Highlands where 6 to 10 hours of single digit relative humidity is forecast. * AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Plains (Zone 104), Upper Rio Grande Valley and Lower Chama River Valley (Zone 121), Sangre de Cristo Mountains (Zone 122), Northeast Highlands (Zone 123), Sandia and Manzano Mountains (Zone 124), Central Highlands (Zone 125), and East Central Plains (Zone 126) Thursday from 11 AM until 8 PM MDT. * 20 FOOT WINDS...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Wind direction shifting to the northwest late in the day. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values around 4 to 14 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.