Red Flag Warning 8, NWS Albuquerque, NM

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WWUS85 KABQ 020049
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
649 PM MDT Wed Apr 1 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT THURSDAY FOR 
EASTERN NEW MEXICO...THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND NORTHWEST 
HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES...

.Winds will continue to strengthen across the area on Thursday
with gusts up to 40 to 45 mph expected. Combined with minimum
humidities of 10 to 15 percent, above normal temperatures, and
unstable conditions, widespread critical fire weather conditions
are expected Thursday afternoon and evening. 

NMZ104-108-021200-
/O.EXP.KABQ.FW.W.0007.000000T0000Z-200402T0100Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0008.200402T1800Z-200403T0200Z/
Northeast Plains-East Central Plains-
649 PM MDT Wed Apr 1 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT
THURSDAY...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* AREA AND TIMING...East Central and Northeast Plains from 12 PM
  until 8 PM Thursday.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest to west 20 to 30 mph with gusts to
  around 40 mph. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 to 13 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning is not recommended. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of this Red Flag Warning.

&&

$$

NMZ103-105>107-021200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0008.200402T1800Z-200403T0200Z/
Northeast Highlands-Northwest Highlands-Middle Rio Grande Valley-
Sandia, Manzano and Gallinas Mountains-
649 PM MDT Wed Apr 1 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT
THURSDAY...

* AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Highlands and Sandia, Manzano and
  Gallinas Mountains below any snowpack from 12 PM until 8 PM.
 
* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest to west 15 to 30 mph with gusts of 
  40 to 45 mph. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Ranging from 10 to 15 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning is not recommended. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of this Red Flag Warning.

&&

$$

091 
WWUS85 KABQ 021144
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
544 AM MDT Thu Apr 2 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT TODAY FOR 
EASTERN NEW MEXICO...THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND NORTHWEST 
HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES...

.Winds will strengthen this afternoon with gusts of 35 to 45 mph 
expected. Combined with minimum humidities of 10 to 15 percent, 
above normal temperatures, and unstable conditions, widespread 
critical fire weather conditions are expected this afternoon and 
evening.

NMZ103>108-030200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0008.200402T1800Z-200403T0200Z/
Northeast Highlands-Northeast Plains-Northwest Highlands-
Middle Rio Grande Valley-Sandia, Manzano and Gallinas Mountains-
East Central Plains-
544 AM MDT Thu Apr 2 2020

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT
THIS EVENING...

* AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Highlands, Northeast Plains,
  Northwest Highlands, Middle Rio Grande Valley, Sandia, Manzano
  and Gallinas Mountains, East Central Plains from 12 PM today
  until 8 PM.
  

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest to west 20 to 35 mph with occasional 
  gusts to around 45 mph. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10 to 15 percent with the lowest humidity
  found in the east central plains of New Mexico.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. 
  Outdoor burning is not recommended. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of this Red Flag Warning.

&&

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
304 PM MDT Wed Apr 1 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
Strong winds and critical fire weather conditions remain on tap for
the area on Thursday. While breezy to windy conditions are expected
areawide, Red Flag conditions will become more widespread across
eastern New Mexico as well as the Rio Grande Valley and portions of
west central New Mexico. Avoid outdoor burning. A backdoor cold
front moves through the eastern plains Thursday night into Friday
morning, bringing much cooler temperatures behind it. Drier and
warmer weather will then be the rule for the weekend and into early
next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT)...
Mid and high clouds remain over much of NM but temperatures have
soared into the 60s and 70s, except low to mid 80s on parts of the
eastern plains. Tough to pinpoint an area for any rain to reach the
ground as dewpoints are in the teens and 20s. It's modestly unstable
across northern NM so have mention of a rain or snow shower on the
Sangre de Cristo mountain peaks for this evening. Otherwise it will
be mild again tonight with clouds gradually giving way to clearing
skies.

Another mild and windy day Thursday with overall less clouds but
higher wind speeds. Will likely need a few wind advisories. The back
door cold front will wait until early Thursday night to reach the
northeast, moving south but not far west during the night.

CHJ

LONG TERM...(FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...
A backdoor cold front will begin moving south and west across the
eastern plains Thursday night, but stronger westerly flow will likely
cause the front to stall by early Friday morning before it can push
into the gaps of the central mountains. Temperatures cool on Friday
with the most pronounced cooling across the east behind the front. An
area of low clouds is still expected to form along the east slopes of
the central mountain chain as well as northeast NM, but should clear
pretty quickly by the early afternoon. The frontal boundary resumes
moving eastward Friday night into central NM, but very little in the
way of a gap wind is expected. Most places will remain dry behind the
front aside from some light rain/snow showers along the east slopes
of the Sangres Friday due to upslope flow.

Dry, west to southwest flow set up through the weekend and into
early next week with temperatures quickly warming. Low-level return
flow could help spark an isolated shower/thunderstorm across far
southeast NM on Sunday although models continue to back off on how
much moisture is able to make its way into the area.

Some welcome precipitation could be in store next week, but there
remains significant differences in current models. Models are
currently showing a strong Pacific low that moves into the SoCal area
by mid-week before moving eastward. There remains big differences in
the track and timing amongst the operational models and their
ensembles, but precipitation may be in the cards for NM late next
week as well as another round of springtime winds.

15

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Spotty critical fire weather conditions exist across the area and
they will continue into early evening. Winds will subside some
tonight but remain breezy to windy over the mountain peaks. More
wind for Thursday with higher speeds over a larger area. We will
upgrade the Fire Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning for central and
eastern areas, and add zone 105 to the RFW. Any precipitation will
be confined to a small area of the Tusas Mountains near the CO
border.

The back door cold front will make progress south down the eastern
plains Thursday night but will get hung up on the eastern highlands
until Friday evening when the front gains momentum again and presses
to the central mountains. East winds may squeeze through the passes
and gaps into the Rio Grande Valley. Friday will be much cooler in
the east behind the front. Upslope flow could lead to some rain and
snow showers over the Sangres late Friday through Friday night.
Winds will be lower Friday everywhere.

The weekend and Monday look dry and mild with mostly above normal
temperatures. Winds will increase all three days with critical fire
weather concerns in the northeast Sunday and Monday.

A storm to our west may finally impact NM mid to late next week.

CHJ

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF CYCLE
Plenty of mid to high level clouds over NM next 18 hrs as an upper
level trough passes to our north. Surface lee trough with occasional
SW wind gusts to around 30kt or 35kt aft 18Z along the east slopes
of the central mt chain and into the northeast and east central
plains. Considerable virga this afternoon could produce strong wind
gusts but little or no rain just about anywhere. Can't rule out a
few dry lightning strikes as well. Stronger W-SW winds Thursday.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Farmington......................  42  67  30  61 /   5   5   5   0
Dulce...........................  34  62  29  58 /  10  10  10   0
Cuba............................  36  63  31  60 /   0   5   0   5
Gallup..........................  37  66  27  63 /   0   0   0   0
El Morro........................  32  64  29  60 /  10   0   0   0
Grants..........................  35  68  29  64 /   5   0   0   0
Quemado.........................  34  66  29  64 /  10   0   0   0
Datil...........................  34  65  31  62 /  10   0   0   0
Glenwood........................  42  68  41  71 /   5   0   0   0
Chama...........................  29  54  25  52 /  10  20  10   5
Los Alamos......................  41  65  37  58 /   5   0   0   0
Pecos...........................  37  64  35  57 /  10   0   0   5
Cerro/Questa....................  31  59  30  57 /  10   5   0  10
Red River.......................  27  50  26  48 /  10   5   0  10
Angel Fire......................  30  56  26  50 /  10   0   0  10
Taos............................  32  63  30  58 /   0   0   0   5
Mora............................  36  63  31  57 /  10   0   0  10
Espanola........................  39  71  38  65 /   0   0   0   0
Santa Fe........................  38  66  37  59 /  10   0   0   0
Santa Fe Airport................  38  70  35  62 /   5   0   0   0
Albuquerque Foothills...........  44  72  44  67 /   5   0   0   0
Albuquerque Heights.............  46  73  42  68 /   5   0   0   0
Albuquerque Valley..............  46  76  42  71 /   0   0   0   0
Albuquerque West Mesa...........  44  74  42  69 /   0   0   0   0
Belen...........................  44  78  41  72 /   5   0   0   0
Bernalillo......................  44  75  41  70 /   5   0   0   0
Bosque Farms....................  44  76  40  70 /   5   0   0   0
Corrales........................  44  74  41  70 /   5   0   0   0
Los Lunas.......................  43  77  39  70 /   5   0   0   0
Placitas........................  42  73  41  66 /   5   0   0   0
Rio Rancho......................  43  74  41  69 /   0   0   0   0
Socorro.........................  46  79  43  74 /   5   0   0   5
Sandia Park/Cedar Crest.........  39  67  38  61 /  10   0   0   0
Tijeras.........................  40  71  39  64 /  10   0   0   0
Edgewood........................  37  70  36  64 /  10   0   0   0
Moriarty/Estancia...............  36  71  33  66 /  10   0   0   0
Clines Corners..................  38  67  32  60 /  10   0   0   0
Mountainair.....................  39  70  38  65 /  10   0   0   0
Gran Quivira....................  40  71  39  65 /  10   0   0   0
Carrizozo.......................  46  71  44  69 /   5   0   0   0
Ruidoso.........................  44  63  39  64 /  10   0   0   0
Capulin.........................  38  68  24  50 /  10   0   0   5
Raton...........................  36  70  26  56 /  10   0   0   5
Springer........................  38  74  28  57 /   5   0   0   5
Las Vegas.......................  40  68  29  57 /   5   0   0   5
Clayton.........................  45  75  26  51 /   0   0   0   0
Roy.............................  42  73  29  54 /   5   0   0   0
Conchas.........................  47  79  34  61 /   0   0   0   0
Santa Rosa......................  46  78  35  63 /   0   0   0   0
Tucumcari.......................  48  81  35  61 /   5   0   0   0
Clovis..........................  48  79  36  63 /   0   0   0   0
Portales........................  49  80  38  64 /   5   0   0   0
Fort Sumner.....................  47  80  38  66 /   0   0   0   0
Roswell.........................  49  83  46  72 /   0   0   0   0
Picacho.........................  49  75  43  71 /   0   0   0   0
Elk.............................  47  69  41  71 /   5   0   0   0

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Fire Weather Watch from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening
for the following zones... NMZ103-104-106>108.

Red Flag Warning until 7 PM MDT this evening for the following
zones... NMZ104-108.

&&

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
247 AM MDT Wed Apr 1 2020

NMZ201>241-021100-
Northwest Plateau-Chuska Mountains-Far Northwest Highlands-
Northwest Highlands-West Central Plateau-West Central Mountains-
West Central Highlands-Southwest Mountains-
San Francisco River Valley-Tusas Mountains Including Chama-
Jemez Mountains-Glorieta Mesa Including Glorieta Pass-
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains-
East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Upper Rio Grande Valley-
Espanola Valley-Santa Fe Metro Area-
Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area-
Lower Rio Grande Valley-Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood-
Estancia Valley-Central Highlands-South Central Highlands-
Upper Tularosa Valley-South Central Mountains-
Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass-
Far Northeast Highlands-Northeast Highlands-Union County-
Harding County-Eastern San Miguel County-Guadalupe County-
Quay County-Curry County-Roosevelt County-De Baca County-
Chaves County Plains-Eastern Lincoln County-Southwest Chaves County-
San Agustin Plains and Adjacent Lowlands-
247 AM MDT Wed Apr 1 2020

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central
New Mexico.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

A Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon to 7 pm for the Northeast
and East Central Plains where low humidities combined with strong
winds will create critical fire weather conditions.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

A Fire Weather Watch for critical fire weather is in effect for
Thursday afternoon for most of eastern New Mexico and the Middle Rio
Grande Valley due to strong southwest to west winds combining with
low humidities.

Stronger southwest winds combining with dry conditions and low
humidities looks to return Sunday and Monday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Contact your local law enforcement at 911 and the National Weather
Service at 1.888.386.7637 to report wildfire outbreaks.

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