...RED FLAG WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...RED FLAG WARNING FRIDAY FROM 10 AM UNTIL 6 PM MST EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY... .Strong surface winds will continue until early this evening, then return on Friday, in response to strong flow aloft, a surface trough in the lee of the southern Rockies, and a Pacific cold front that will cross with a gusty wind shift on Friday morning. Southwest wind gusts up to 45 mph today, and up to 50 mph on Friday, will be accompanied by humidities in the single digits today, and in the single digits to low teens on Friday. High temperatures around 10 to 16 degrees above 30 year averages today will fall a few degrees below average across the Central and Northeast Highlands on Friday, while readings farther east climb up to 7 degrees above average again. * AREA AND TIMING...This includes the Northeast Plains (Zone 104), Northeast Highlands (Zone 123), East-Central Plains (Zone 126), and Central Highlands (Zone 125) until 7 PM MST today and from 10 AM MST to 6 PM MST Friday. * 20 FOOT WINDS...For today, southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. For Friday, west and northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 6 and 9 percent today, and from 7 to 16 percent on Friday. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CST/7 PM MST TODAY FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY BELOW 15 PERCENT, 20 FOOT WINDS AROUND 20 MPH OR GREATER, AND HIGH FIRE DANGER IN THE NEW MEXICO PLAINS, GUADALUPE, SACRAMENTO, DAVIS MOUNTAINS, MARFA PLATEAU, AND EASTERN CULBERSON COUNTY... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM CST /10 AM MST/ TO 7 PM CST /6 PM MST/ FRIDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY BELOW 15 PERCENT, 20 FOOT WINDS AROUND 20 MPH OR GREATER, AND HIGH FIRE DANGER IN THE NEW MEXICO PLAINS, NORTHWEST PERMIAN BASIN, GUADALUPE, SACRAMENTO, DAVIS MOUNTAINS, MARFA PLATEAU, AND REEVES COUNTY PLAINS... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM CST /10 AM MST/ TO 7 PM CST /6 PM MST/ FRIDAY FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY BELOW 15 PERCENT, 20 FOOT WINDS AROUND 20 MPH OR GREATER, AND HIGH FIRE DANGER IN THE NEW MEXICO PLAINS, NORTHWEST PERMIAN BASIN, GUADALUPE, SACRAMENTO, DAVIS MOUNTAINS, MARFA PLATEAU, AND REEVES COUNTY PLAINS... The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from 11 AM CST /10 AM MST/ to 7 PM CST /6 PM MST/ Friday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * WINDS...Southwest/west 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 7 percent. * RFTI...4 to 7 or near-crtical to critical. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. * SEVERITY... FUELS...Dry WEATHER...Near Critical...2 (out of 5). FIRE ENVIRONMENT...5 (out of 10).

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO... .An upper level storm system will give us strong surface winds of 20 to 30 mph this afternoon. These winds combined with low min RH of 8 to 15% will create near-critical fire weather conditions in the Sacramento Mountains. Winds could gust as high as 45 to 50 mph. The winds will continue through much of tonight into Friday morning, but min RH's will rise above critical levels tonight. The rest of the region will also see elevated winds and critically low RH, but fuels are not yet critically dry in those areas, with the exception of grasses. The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from 10 AM to 7 PM MST Friday. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 113 Capitan and Sacramento Mountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ. * TIMING...11 AM TO 7 PM Thursday and 10 AM TO 7 PM Friday. * WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 8 percent. * RED FLAG THREAT INDEX...2 to 4 each afternoon, or elevated to near-critical. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM MST THURSDAY FOR EASTERN NEW MEXICO DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR EASTERN NEW MEXICO DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... .Critical fire weather conditions are expected Thursday afternoon across eastern NM. Strong southwest winds, above normal temperatures, single digit humidity, and dry fuels will increase the threat of rapid fire spread. Between 3 and 7 hours of single digit humidity values are expected, with winds gusts between 35 and 45 mph. Winds will slowly decrease Thursday evening, but remain elevated over parts of the central and northeast highlands. Strong winds return to the eastern plains on Friday afternoon, once again increasing the threat of rapid fire spread. * AREA AND TIMING...This includes the Northeast Plains (Zone 104), Northeast Highlands (Zone 123), East-Central Plains (Zone 126), and Central Highlands (Zone 125) from 11 AM MST to 7 PM MST Thursday for the Red Flag Warning and 11 AM MST to 7 PM MST Friday for the Fire Weather Watch. * 20 FOOT WINDS...On Thursday, southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. On Friday, west 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 6 and 10 percent on Thursday and 8 to 15 percent on Friday. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.