Alert archive / New Mexico / Red Flag Warnings in 2021

Red Flag Warning 29, NWS Albuquerque, NM

May 21, 20219 counties in New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this red flag warning at May 21, 2021, 2:33 PM MDT for 9 counties in New Mexico. It took effect at May 22, 2021, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 8 hr. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 21, 2021, 2:33 PM MDT (20:33 UTC)
In effect from
May 22, 2021, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
May 22, 2021, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Albuquerque, NM

Counties Bernalillo County, NM, Catron County, NM, Cibola County, NM, McKinley County, NM, Rio Arriba County, NM, San Juan County, NM, Sandoval County, NM, Socorro County, NM, Valencia County, NM

The radar

The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:34 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 22, 1:33 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 605 S Albuquerque, NMKABQ ASOS.
May 22, 3:46 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 601 N Red Hill, NM
May 22, 6:00 PM MDTNON-TSTM WND GST 673 Ene Archuleta, NMELEVATION 6398. DRY MICROBURST

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 12:00Z, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 78 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 12:00Z on 2021-05-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 12:00Z on 2021-05-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -91 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
3305 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-91 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
101 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

211 
WWUS85 KABQ 212033
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
233 PM MDT Fri May 21 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY 
EVENING FOR WESTERN AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NEW MEXICO DUE TO 
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...

.A deep and vast upper low pressure system will continue to move 
over the Great Basin today and Saturday, steering critical fire 
weather conditions into portions of the southwest. A few dry 
lightning strikes will be possible this afternoon in western New 
Mexico, setting the stage for possible wildfire ignitions. Then, 
strong winds are expected by Saturday afternoon with dewpoints, 
and consequently humidity, lowering to critical levels. In 
addition, warm temperatures will be present with high Haines 
indices.

NMZ101-105-106-109-221300-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0026.210522T1800Z-210523T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0029.210522T1800Z-210523T0200Z/
Northwest Plateau-Northwest Highlands-Middle Rio Grande Valley-
West Central Highlands-
233 PM MDT Fri May 21 2021

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

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag
Warning...which is in effect from noon to 8 PM MDT Saturday. The
Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. 

* AREA AND TIMING...Northwest and west central New Mexico, as 
  well as the middle Rio Grande Valley on Saturday afternoon and 
  early evening. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Sustained from the south at 20 to 30 mph with 
  occasional gusts up to 45 mph. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Dropping between 10 and 15 percent late in 
  the afternoon. 

* 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.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
188 
WWUS85 KABQ 221005
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
405 AM MDT Sat May 22 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING FOR WESTERN AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NEW MEXICO DUE TO
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY...

.A deep and vast upper low pressure system will continue to sit
over the Great Basin today, steering critical fire weather 
conditions into much of the west. Strong winds are expected by 
this afternoon with dewpoints, and consequently humidity, 
lowering to critical levels. In addition, warm temperatures will 
be present with high Haines indices.

NMZ101-105-106-109-230200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0029.210522T1800Z-210523T0200Z/
Northwest Plateau-Northwest Highlands-Middle Rio Grande Valley-
West Central Highlands-
405 AM MDT Sat May 22 2021

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

* AREA AND TIMING...Northwest and west central New Mexico, as well
  as the middle Rio Grande Valley this afternoon and early 
  evening.
 
* 20 FOOT WINDS...Sustained from the south at 20 to 35 mph with 
  occasional gusts up to 45 or 50 mph. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Dropping between 10 and 15 percent late in 
  the afternoon. 

* 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.

&&

$$

40
238 
WWUS85 KABQ 222131
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
331 PM MDT Sat May 22 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING FOR WESTERN AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NEW MEXICO DUE TO
STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY AND SUNDAY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY
EVENING FOR PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...

.A deep and vast upper low pressure system will continue to sit
over the Great Basin today, steering critical fire weather
conditions into much of the west. Strong winds are expected by
this afternoon with dewpoints, and consequently humidity,
lowering to critical levels. In addition, warm temperatures will
be present with high Haines indices. The low pressure system will
push eastward on Sunday, focusing critical fire weather conditions
across portions of central New Mexico. Strong winds are expected 
along the central mountains and adjacent highlands along with 
single digit relative humidities. 

NMZ107-230530-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0030.210523T1800Z-210524T0100Z/
Sandia, Manzano and Gallinas Mountains-
331 PM MDT Sat May 22 2021

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT SUNDAY...

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag
Warning...which is in effect from noon to 7 PM MDT Sunday. 

* AREA AND TIMING...Sandia/Manzano and Gallinas Mountains,
  Estancia Valley, and Central Highlands Sunday afternoon through
  early evening. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Sustained from the southwest at 20 to 35 mph
  with occasional gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Dropping between 8 and 10 percent in the
  afternoon.

* 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.

&&

$$

NMZ101-105-106-109-230200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0029.000000T0000Z-210523T0200Z/
Northwest Plateau-Northwest Highlands-Middle Rio Grande Valley-
West Central Highlands-
331 PM MDT Sat May 22 2021

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

* AREA AND TIMING...Northwest and west central New Mexico, as 
  well as the middle Rio Grande Valley this afternoon and early 
  evening. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Sustained from the south at 20 to 35 mph with 
  occasional gusts up to 45 or 50 mph. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Dropping between 10 and 15 percent late in 
  the afternoon. 

* 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.

&&

$$

NMZ102-230530-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.A.0027.210523T1800Z-210524T0100Z/
North Central Mountains-
331 PM MDT Sat May 22 2021

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING...

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Fire
Weather Watch...which is in effect from Sunday afternoon through
Sunday evening. 

* AREA AND TIMING...North central mountains Sunday afternoon
  through early evening. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Sustained 15 to 25 mph with gusts from 40 to 45
  mph.  

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Dropping to 8 to 12 percent in the afternoon.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the
field of this Fire Weather Watch.

&&

$$

12

The office that day

Everything else NWS Albuquerque, NM issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 21, 2:33 AM MDTWind AdvisoryABQColfax, Harding, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe and 2 more16 hr
May 21, 5:07 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQQuay23 min
May 21, 5:11 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQUnion34 min
May 21, 5:16 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQHarding29 min
May 21, 5:50 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQHarding, Quay, Union25 min

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in New Mexico, 2021Every red flag warning in 2021

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.