Red Flag Warning 44, NWS Midland/Odessa, TX

000 
WWUS84 KMAF 051917
RFWMAF

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
217 PM CDT TUE MAY 5 2009

...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR THE VAN HORN AND
HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR...THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...AND THE
SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO PLAINS FOR SUSTAINED 20 FOOT WINDS OF
20 MPH OR GREATER...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS
AND VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER...

.A STRENGTHENING SURFACE TROUGH COMBINED WITH WARM TEMPERATURES
WILL ALLOW STRONG WINDS ALOFT TO MIX DOWN TO THE SURFACE THIS 
AFTERNOON. STRONG 20 FOOT WINDS IN COMBINATION WITH NEAR RECORD
HEAT AND A VERY DRY AIRMASS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS EVENING ACROSS THE GUADALUPE
MOUNTAINS...THE VAN HORN CORRIDOR...AND THE SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO
PLAINS. DUE TO PERSISTENT DROUGHT CONDITIONS...ANY NEW OR EXISTING
FIRES WILL BE CAPABLE OF RAPID SPREAD AND GROWTH. MEMBERS OF THE
LOCAL FIREFIGHTING COMMUNITY SHOULD REMAIN PREPARED FOR ELEVATED
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS EVENING. 

NMZ114-115-TXZ057-258-060100-
/O.CON.KMAF.FW.W.0044.000000T0000Z-090506T0100Z/
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ-
SOUTHEAST PLAINS/BLM ROSWELL/LNZ-VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR-
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS-
217 PM CDT TUE MAY 5 2009 /117 PM MDT TUE MAY 5 2009/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING...

A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING. 

20 FOOT WINDS IN EXCESS OF 25 TO 30 MPH ALONG WITH SINGLE DIGIT RH
VALUES AND PROLONGED DROUGHT CONDITIONS WILL ALLOW CONTINUED
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS EVENING. ANY NEW OR
EXISTING FIRES WILL BE CAPABLE OF RAPID SPREAD AND GROWTH AND ALL
EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO PREVENT ANY ACCIDENTAL FIRE STARTS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT THROW CIGARETTES ONTO THE GROUND OR OUT OF A MOVING
VEHICLE. KEEP VEHICLES ON DRIVING SURFACES...AND DO NOT DRIVE
THROUGH TALL GRASS. AVOID ACTIVITIES THAT MAY PRODUCE OUTDOOR
FLAMES OR SPARKS. ACCIDENTAL IGNITIONS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
GROW INTO DANGEROUS...WIND-DRIVEN WILDFIRES.

$$

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
1231 AM CDT TUE MAY 5 2009

.DISCUSSION...
06Z AVIATION FORECAST DETAILS INCLUDED BELOW.

&&

.AVIATION...
VFR CONDITIONS WILL START OFF FOR THE FIRST FEW HOURS OF THE
FORECAST THIS MORNING. HOWEVER...WE EXPECT LOW CEILINGS WITH SOME
RESTRICTED VISIBILITY TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE PERMIAN BASIN...THE
TRANS PECOS REGION AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AFTER 08Z.
CEILINGS/VISIBILITY ARE MOSTLY EXPECTED TO BE MVFR CATEGORY...
ALTHOUGH SOME LOCATIONS COULD BE RESTRICTED TO IFR. LOOK FOR VFR
CONDITIONS TO RETURN AROUND MID MORNING...WITH WINDS SHIFTING
SOUTHWEST AND INCREASING TO 12-15 KNOTS...WITH GUSTS OVER 20 KNOTS
BY MIDDAY.

&&

.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM 10 AM MDT TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
     EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS
     NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ...SOUTHEAST PLAINS/BLM ROSWELL/LNZ.

TX...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ THIS MORNING
     THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE
     MOUNTAINS...VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR.

&&

21

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
116 PM CDT MON MAY 4 2009

NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075-
079>082-258-051830-
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY COUNTY-EDDY COUNTY PLAINS-
NORTHERN LEA COUNTY-CENTRAL LEA COUNTY-SOUTHERN LEA COUNTY-GAINES-
DAWSON-BORDEN-SCURRY-ANDREWS-MARTIN-HOWARD-MITCHELL-
VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR-REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS-
LOVING-WINKLER-ECTOR-MIDLAND-GLASSCOCK-WARD-CRANE-UPTON-REAGAN-
DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA-PECOS-PRESIDIO VALLEY-MARFA PLATEAU-
BIG BEND AREA-TERRELL-GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS-
116 PM CDT MON MAY 4 2009 /1216 PM MDT MON MAY 4 2009/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW
MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS THIS AFTERNOON. CRITICALLY LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY LEVELS ALONG WITH 20 FOOT WINDS IN EXCESS OF 20 MPH ARE
EXPECTED. A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THIS EARLY EVENING
TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS
THE NORTHEASTERN PERMIAN BASIN IN RESPONSE TO A NORTHWARD MOVING
FRONTAL BOUNDARY. ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL BE CAPABLE OF
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE GUADALUPE
MOUNTAINS...THE HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR...AS WELL AS THE EDDY AND LEA
COUNTY PLAINS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO TUESDAY AFTERNOON. INCREASING 20
FOOT WINDS IN COMBINATION WITH CRITICALLY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
LEVELS WILL LEAD TO ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS. A FIRE WEATHER
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

UNSEASONABLE WARM TEMPERATURES WILL BEGIN IMPACTING THE AREA
BEGINNING ON TUESDAY IN RESPONSE TO A STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE
THAT WILL REMAIN PARKED OVER THE AREA. TEMPERATURES WILL BEGIN
INCREASING EACH DAY...WITH THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE WEAK EXPECTED ON
THURSDAY. ALL PARTICIPATING IN OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES SHOULD EXERCISE
HEAT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...
AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN
MIDLAND CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT /LOWER CASE/
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/MIDLAND