Alert archive / New Mexico / Red Flag Warnings in 2025

Red Flag Warning 13, NWS Albuquerque, NM

March 28, 202520 counties in New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this red flag warning at Mar 28, 2025, 3:16 PM MDT for 20 counties in New Mexico. It took effect at Mar 29, 2025, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 8 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 28, 2025, 3:16 PM MDT (21:16 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 29, 2025, 12:00 PM MDT
Expired
Mar 29, 2025, 8:00 PM MDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Albuquerque, NM

Counties Bernalillo County, NM, Catron County, NM, Cibola County, NM, Colfax County, NM, Curry County, NM, De Baca County, NM, Guadalupe County, NM, Harding County, NM, Lincoln County, NM, McKinley County, NM, Mora County, NM, Quay County, NM, Roosevelt County, NM, San Juan County, NM, San Miguel County, NM, Sandoval County, NM, Santa Fe County, NM, Socorro County, NM, Torrance County, NM, Union County, NM

The radar

The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 111 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:15 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 12:00Z, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 92 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 2025-03-28Temperature 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°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 12:00Z on 2025-03-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 79 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
3166 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
79 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-10 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

590 
WWUS85 KABQ 282116
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
316 PM MDT Fri Mar 28 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING FROM 12 TO 8 PM MDT SATURDAY EAST OF THE 
SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, ALONG AND EAST OF THE SANDIA AND 
MANZANO MOUNTAINS, AND ACROSS WEST CENTRAL BASIN AND RANGE DUE TO 
GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY VALUES...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM 1 TO 7 PM MDT SUNDAY FOR THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...

.A disturbance crossing the central Rockies will strengthen the
flow aloft over New Mexico on Saturday, while a potent surface
trough develops in the lee of the southern Rockies. As a result,
southwest wind gusts are forecast to peak around 35 to 45 mph on
Saturday afternoon with the strongest gusts along I-40 from 
Clines Corners to the Texas border and across far west central NM,
including Gallup. These winds combined with minimum relative 
humidity values in the upper single digits to low teens and
extremely dry fuels will result in rapid fire spread. In the wake
of the disturbance, wind speeds will weaken briefly Saturday 
night, then strengthen again across the Central Highlands on 
Sunday, where rapid fire spread is once again possible.

NMZ125-291000-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0014.250329T1900Z-250330T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0013.250329T1800Z-250330T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.A.0015.250330T1900Z-250331T0100Z/
Central Highlands-
316 PM MDT Fri Mar 28 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT SATURDAY...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has upgraded the Fire
Weather Watch to Red Flag Warning...which is in effect from noon 
to 8 PM MDT Saturday. The Fire Weather Watch from 1 PM to 7 PM MDT
Sunday remains in effect.


* AREA AND TIMING...Central Highlands (Zone 125) from 12-8 PM 
  Saturday and from 1-7 PM Sunday. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph
  both afternoons. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10-12 percent Saturday, then 10-14 percent 
  Sunday. 

* 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 and Fire Weather Watch.

&&

$$

NMZ104-105-109-123-124-126-291000-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0014.250329T1900Z-250330T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0013.250329T1800Z-250330T0200Z/
Northeast Plains-West Central Mountains-
West Central Basin and Range-Northeast Highlands-
Sandia and Manzano Mountains-East Central Plains-
316 PM MDT Fri Mar 28 2025

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

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has upgraded the Fire
Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning...which is in effect from 
noon to 8 PM MDT Saturday.


* AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Highlands and eastern plains 
  (Zones 123, 104, and 126), Sandia and Manzano Mountains (Zone 
  124), and the West Central Mountains, Basin, and Range (Zones 
  105 and 109) Saturday 12-8 PM. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...9-15 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.

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
795 
WWUS85 KABQ 291002
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
402 AM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING SATURDAY FROM 12 TO 8 PM MDT EAST OF THE 
SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, ALONG AND EAST OF THE SANDIA AND 
MANZANO MOUNTAINS, AND ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AREAS DUE TO STRONG 
WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH SUNDAY FROM 1 TO 8 PM MDT FOR THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS, SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS, AND WEST CENTRAL AREAS 
DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH MONDAY FROM 2 TO 8 PM MDT FOR THE NORTHEAST
HIGHLANDS AND WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW
HUMIDITY... 

.A fire growing pattern will commence today through Wednesday with
breezy to windy conditions developing each day in response to an
active storm track just north of New Mexico and a fairly 
persistent surface trough in the lee of the southern Rockies.
Humidities will plummet near and below 15 percent each afternoon
and early evening. High temperatures will climb near to around 8
degrees above 30-year averages today and Monday, but cooler 
readings between 4 degrees either side of average are expected 
Sunday. The potential exists for wind gusts up to 60 mph with
widespread critical fire weather conditions on Tuesday.

NMZ105-300200-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.A.0016.250331T2000Z-250401T0200Z/
/O.EXB.KABQ.FW.A.0015.250330T1900Z-250331T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0013.250329T1800Z-250330T0200Z/
West Central Mountains-
402 AM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT
THIS EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
MONDAY EVENING...

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

* AREA AND TIMING...West Central Mountains (Zone 105) today 12-8 
  PM, Sunday 1-8 PM, and Monday 2-8 PM. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph
  each day.
 
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10-16 percent each day, except higher in the
  Chuska Mountains today and Sunday.
 
* 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 and Fire Weather Watch.

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

&&

$$

NMZ109-124-300200-
/O.EXB.KABQ.FW.A.0015.250330T1900Z-250331T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0013.250329T1800Z-250330T0200Z/
West Central Basin and Range-Sandia and Manzano Mountains-
402 AM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT
THIS EVENING...
...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...West Central Basin and Range (Zone 109) and
  the Sandia and Manzano Mountains (124) today 12-8 PM and Sunday
  1-8 PM. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph 
  both afternoons. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...12-16 percent both days, except locally
  around 20 percent on the high peaks of the Sandia and Manzano 
  Mountains.
 
* 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 and Fire Weather Watch.

&&

$$

NMZ123-300200-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.A.0016.250331T2000Z-250401T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0013.250329T1800Z-250330T0200Z/
Northeast Highlands-
402 AM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT
THIS EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
MONDAY EVENING...

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

* AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Highlands (Zone 123) today 12-8 PM
  and Monday 2-8 PM.
 
* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...9-15 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.

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

&&

$$

NMZ125-300200-
/O.EXT.KABQ.FW.A.0015.250330T1900Z-250331T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0013.250329T1800Z-250330T0200Z/
Central Highlands-
402 AM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT
THIS EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING...

* AREA AND TIMING...Central Highlands (Zone 125) from 12-8 PM 
  Saturday and from 1-7 PM Sunday. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph 
  both afternoons. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...12-16 percent both days.

* 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 and Fire Weather Watch.

&&

$$

NMZ104-126-300200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0013.250329T1800Z-250330T0200Z/
Northeast Plains-East Central Plains-
402 AM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

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

* AREA AND TIMING...Northeast and East Central Plains (Zones 104
  and 126) today from 12-8 PM. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...11-15 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.

&&

$$

44
665 
WWUS85 KABQ 292033
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
233 PM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING SATURDAY FROM 12 TO 8 PM MDT EAST OF THE
SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, ALONG AND EAST OF THE SANDIA AND
MANZANO MOUNTAINS, AND ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AREAS DUE TO STRONG
WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...

...RED FLAG WARNING SUNDAY FROM 1 TO 8 PM MDT CENTRAL
HIGHLANDS, SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS, AND NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS
DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH SUNDAY FROM 1 TO 8 PM MDT FOR THE WEST 
CENTRAL AREAS DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH MONDAY FROM 2 TO 8 PM MDT FOR THE NORTHEAST
HIGHLANDS AND WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW
HUMIDITY...

.A fire growing pattern will continue daily through Wednesday 
with breezy to windy conditions developing each day in response to
an active storm track just north of New Mexico and a persistent 
surface trough in the lee of the southern Rockies. Humidities will
plummet near and below 15 percent each afternoon and early 
evening. After near-normal temperatures on Sunday, high 
temperatures will climb up to 8 degrees above normal on Monday. 
The potential exists for wind gusts up to 60 mph with increasing 
confidence in widespread critical fire weather conditions on 
Tuesday.

NMZ123-300200-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0014.250330T1900Z-250331T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250330T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.A.0016.250331T2000Z-250401T0200Z/
Northeast Highlands-
233 PM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM MDT SUNDAY...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag
Warning...which is in effect from 1 PM to 8 PM MDT Sunday. 

* AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Highlands (Zone 123) today 12-8 PM,
  Sunday 12-8 PM and Monday 2-8 PM. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph
  each day.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...9-15 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.

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

&&

$$

NMZ124-125-300200-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0015.250330T1900Z-250331T0200Z/
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0014.250330T1900Z-250331T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250330T0200Z/
Sandia and Manzano Mountains-Central Highlands-
233 PM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM MDT SUNDAY...

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag
Warning...which is in effect from 1 PM to 8 PM MDT Sunday. The
Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. 

* AREA AND TIMING...West Central Basin and Range (Zone 109) and 
  the Sandia and Manzano Mountains (124) today 12-8 PM and 
  Sunday 1-8 PM. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph 
  both afternoons. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...12-16 percent both days, except locally 
  around 20 percent on the high peaks of the Sandia and Manzano 
  Mountains. 

* 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 and Fire Weather Watch.

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

&&

$$

NMZ105-300200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250330T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.A.0015.250330T1900Z-250331T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.A.0016.250331T2000Z-250401T0200Z/
West Central Mountains-
233 PM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

* AREA AND TIMING...West Central Mountains (Zone 105) today 12-8 
  PM, Sunday 1-8 PM, and Monday 2-8 PM. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph 
  each day. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10-16 percent each day, except higher in 
  the Chuska Mountains today and Sunday. 

* 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 and Fire Weather Watch.

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

&&

$$

NMZ109-300200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250330T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.A.0015.250330T1900Z-250331T0200Z/
West Central Basin and Range-
233 PM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...

* AREA AND TIMING...West Central Basin and Range (Zone 109) and 
  the Sandia and Manzano Mountains (124) today 12-8 PM and 
  Sunday 1-8 PM. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph 
  both afternoons. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...12-16 percent both days, except locally 
  around 20 percent on the high peaks of the Sandia and Manzano 
  Mountains. 

* 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 and Fire Weather Watch.

&&

$$

NMZ104-126-300200-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250330T0200Z/
Northeast Plains-East Central Plains-
233 PM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

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

* AREA AND TIMING...Northeast and East Central Plains (Zones 104 
  and 126) today from 12-8 PM. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...11-15 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.

&&

$$

53
900 
WWUS85 KABQ 300205
RFWABQ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
805 PM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING SUNDAY FROM 1 TO 8 PM MDT FOR THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS, SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS, AND NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS 
DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH SUNDAY FROM 1 TO 8 PM MDT FOR THE WEST
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND WEST CENTRAL BASIN AND RANGE DUE TO STRONG 
WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH MONDAY FROM 2 TO 8 PM MDT FOR THE NORTHEAST
HIGHLANDS AND WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW
HUMIDITY...

.A fire growing pattern will continue daily through Wednesday
with breezy to windy conditions developing each day in response
to an active storm track just north of New Mexico and a
persistent surface trough in the lee of the southern Rockies.
Humidities will plummet near and below 15 percent each afternoon
and early evening. After near-normal temperatures on Sunday, high
temperatures will climb up to 8 degrees above normal on Monday.
The potential exists for wind gusts up to 60 mph with increasing
confidence in widespread critical fire weather conditions on
Tuesday.

NMZ123-301300-
/O.EXP.KABQ.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250330T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0014.250330T1900Z-250331T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.A.0016.250331T2000Z-250401T0200Z/
Northeast Highlands-
805 PM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM MDT
SUNDAY...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Highlands (Zone 123) Sunday between
  noon and 8 PM and Monday between 2 and 8 PM. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph 
  each day. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 9 and 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.

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

&&

$$

NMZ105-301300-
/O.EXP.KABQ.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250330T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.A.0015.250330T1900Z-250331T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.A.0016.250331T2000Z-250401T0200Z/
West Central Mountains-
805 PM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* AREA AND TIMING...West Central Mountains (Zone 105) Sunday
  between 1 and 8 PM and Monday between 2 and 8 PM. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph 
  each day. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...10-16 percent each day, except higher in the
  Chuska Mountains Sunday. 

* 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 Fire Weather Watch.

&&

$$

NMZ124-125-301300-
/O.EXP.KABQ.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250330T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0014.250330T1900Z-250331T0200Z/
Sandia and Manzano Mountains-Central Highlands-
805 PM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM MDT
SUNDAY...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* AREA AND TIMING...Sandia and Manzano Mountains (124) and Central
  Highlands (Zone 125) Sunday between 1 and 8 PM. 

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. 

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 12 and 16 percent, 
  except locally around 20 percent on the high peaks of the Sandia
  and Manzano Mountains. 

* 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.

&&

$$

NMZ109-301300-
/O.EXP.KABQ.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250330T0200Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.A.0015.250330T1900Z-250331T0200Z/
West Central Basin and Range-
805 PM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

* AREA AND TIMING...West Central Basin and Range (Zone 109) Sunday
  between 1 and 8 PM.

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

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 10 and 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 Fire Weather Watch.

&&

$$

NMZ104-126-300315-
/O.EXP.KABQ.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250330T0200Z/
Northeast Plains-East Central Plains-
805 PM MDT Sat Mar 29 2025

...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

Winds will continue to decrease this evening and humidity values
will gradually rise. Therefore, the Red Flag Warning will expire.

$$

34

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this red flag warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Albuquerque, NM wrote its last area forecast discussion before this red flag warning went out at Mar 28, 11:56 AM MDT, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 1156 AM MDT Fri Mar 28 2025
  • Breezy to windy conditions are forecast today and each day onward. The windiest days are forecast to occur on Saturday and Tuesday. A risk of damaging wind gusts and areas of reduced visibility in blowing dust will increase on Tuesday.
  • In addition to the gusty conditions, mostly dry conditions and low humidity will lead to elevated or critical fire weather each day. This will increase the risk of rapid fire spread.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 28, 11:56 AM MDT, 3 hours 20 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1156 AM MDT Fri Mar 28 2025

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1156 AM MDT Fri Mar 28 2025

- Breezy to windy conditions are forecast today and each day
  onward. The windiest days are forecast to occur on Saturday and
  Tuesday. A risk of damaging wind gusts and areas of reduced
  visibility in blowing dust will increase on Tuesday.

- In addition to the gusty conditions, mostly dry conditions and
  low humidity will lead to elevated or critical fire weather each
  day. This will increase the risk of rapid fire spread.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 256 AM MDT Fri Mar 28 2025

Winds will strengthen today, staying breezy to windy each day
thereafter while mostly dry conditions persist. Winds will be
notably stronger on Saturday and especially on Tuesday of next
week when gusts could even produce damage along with areas of
blowing dust. Each afternoon, there will be a risk of rapid fire
spread and growth due to the gusty conditions and low humidity.
Temperatures will be well above normal today, but will tend to
stay within a few degrees of normal for the following several
days.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Today through Saturday)
Issued at 256 AM MDT Fri Mar 28 2025

An upper level trough will clip the Four Corners in a northeastward
track across the central Rockies this afternoon and tonight. The
trough will strengthen the flow aloft, and a surface trough will
develop south of a 992 mb surface low in southeast CO, so southwest
winds will become gusty this afternoon. Peak gusts will probably
approach 40 mph in the mountains and around Gallup and Las Vegas
late this afternoon. In addition, the trough will bring with it
enough moisture for a 15-40 percent chance of rain showers and
mainly high terrain snow showers from the Tusas and Jemez Mountains
westward tonight, with most of the activity in the evening.

Southwest winds are forecast to strengthen a bit further on
Saturday, when humidities will plummet below 15 percent in most
locations, with fire weather concerns east of the Sangre de Cristo
Mountains, along and east of the Sandia and Manzano Mountains, and
across the west central mountains, basin, and range. Peak gusts
are forecast to reach 35-45 mph with the strongest gusts along and
east of a line from Las Vegas to Clines Corners. However, a broad
area of thin, high cirrostratus clouds are forecast to cross the
forecast are from the west on Saturday. The clouds could be thick
enough to decrease atmospheric mixing and prevent winds from
gusting as high as currently forecast, especially east of the
central mountain chain where clouds will linger the longest.

High temperatures will reach around 6 to 18 degrees above 1991-2020
averages today. Tonight, a Pacific cold front will cross from the
west dropping high temperatures around 5-10 degrees on Saturday,
when high temperatures will still vary from near to around 9 degrees
above average.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Saturday night through Thursday)
Issued at 256 AM MDT Fri Mar 28 2025

Upstream shortwave perturbations will continue to stream into
northern New Mexico Saturday night into Sunday. This will keep the
gradient aloft tight, but still, 700 mb wind speeds are projected
to decrease, generally to a 20-30 kt range over most of the
forecast area. The surface low will redevelop Sunday afternoon,
but will be recessed closer to the southern Sangre de Cristos, as
the backdoor segment of the cold front will be intruding through
northeastern NM. This will keep winds more on the breezy side,
reduced from Saturday’s stronger speeds. Shower activity with the
aforementioned perturbations would be scant and minuscule, mostly
focused over CO rather than northern NM, and temperatures will
undergo a couple to a few degrees of cooling in many zones,
particularly northeastern ones behind the backdoor front.

As previous discussions have outlined, a break in the overly
perturbed flow aloft arrives on Monday, but stiff zonal flow will
still keep it breezy to windy with the strongest gusts focusing
farther north. The northern mountains and highlands would be
favored for gusts of 30 to 40 mph Monday afternoon, and
temperatures would warm by a couple to a few degrees while dry
conditions persist.

The absence of perturbations will be short-lived, and by Tuesday
the next shortwave will be approaching, if not crossing northern
NM. There is still a fair amount of disagreement among
deterministic models with the ECMWF lagging behind and keeping the
incoming shortwave part of a longer wave feature that would continue
to impact NM through the end of next week. Meanwhile the GFS
passes the shortwave through northern NM quickly Tuesday with
essentially zonal flow on Wednesday that would slowly back
southwesterly into Thursday before the aforementioned longwave
trough shapes up. Ensemble clusters have a slight leaning toward
the European solutions that holistically resemble a longer wave
feature that would impact the southwestern states and NM Tuesday-
Thursday and even beyond. Despite these opposing solutions, there
is consensus for considerably stronger winds on Tuesday with gusts
perhaps even reaching or exceeding 60 mph and producing damage
along with areas of blowing dust. Breezy to windy conditions would
also likely persist into Wednesday and Thursday with more
uncertainties regarding precipitation with the potential trough.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1156 AM MDT Fri Mar 28 2025

Increasing westerly winds and mid to high level clouds ahead of a
lead shortwave over Arizona this afternoon. Gusts of 20 to 30 kts
will be common with gusts of up to 35 kts possible at KGUP and
KLVS. West winds remain gusty through mid evening with a band of
mid level clouds moving through along the associated Pacific
front of the shortwave before tapering off overnight. Some
showers possible at KFMN and the west slopes of the Tusa Mountains
from 02Z to around 06Z. Localized MVFR ceilings possible along the
CO border near Dulce and Chama during this time. Brief clearing
of mid and high level clouds early Saturday morning before the
next area of mid and high level clouds move in from the west mid
Saturday morning. Westerly winds increasing across the central
mountain chain and adjacent highlands and plains come this time as
well.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 256 AM MDT Fri Mar 28 2025

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS SATURDAY, TO A LESSER EXTENT
SUNDAY, ACROSS MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA TUESDAY, THEN LINGERING
ACROSS THE EAST WEDNESDAY...

A series of disturbances crossing the northern and central Rockies
will keep the flow aloft brisk for the next seven days, while a
surface trough remains fairly persistent in the lee of the southern
Rockies. Humidities will also drop near and below 15 percent across
the majority of the forecast area each day, except for some higher
readings near 20 percent in the mountains near the CO border, and on
Sunday across the far northeast plains behind a backdoor cold front.
As a result, daily rounds of at least locally critical fire
weather conditions are forecast each day. Locally critical fire
weather conditions will favor the Las Vegas and Gallup areas
today. Saturday may bump up wind speeds a notch, as long as
cirrostratus clouds aloft don't get too thick, so we will issue a
Fire Weather Watch for eastern areas, the Sandia and Manzano
Mountains, and west central areas with this forecast package. Will
also issue a Watch for Sunday in the Central Highlands, but
surrounding zones can also expect locally critical fire weather
conditions. On Monday, critical fire weather conditions look to
impact much of the Northeast Highlands with locally critical
conditions in the northern mountains and around Gallup. The
strongest winds of the week are forecast for Tuesday, when models
have come into better agreement on an upper level low pressure
system steering the jetstream over northern NM while it crosses
the central Rockies. West wind gusts are forecast to peak from 40
to 55 mph across the forecast area on Tuesday afternoon with
widespread critical fire weather conditions likely. Models vary on
how quickly the upper level trough will exit the Rockies
Wednesday, when the potential exists for critical fire weather
conditions to linger east of the central mountain chain.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Farmington......................  71  36  64  35 /  10  30   5   0
Dulce...........................  70  28  62  25 /   5  40  10   0
Cuba............................  71  31  61  29 /   5  20   5   0
Gallup..........................  69  27  62  24 /   0   5   0   0
El Morro........................  67  32  59  27 /   0   5   0   0
Grants..........................  73  29  65  26 /   0   5   0   0
Quemado.........................  70  32  62  29 /   0   0   0   0
Magdalena.......................  74  40  64  36 /   0   0   0   0
Datil...........................  69  35  61  31 /   0   0   0   0
Reserve.........................  74  33  67  25 /   0   0   0   0
Glenwood........................  78  39  71  32 /   0   0   0   0
Chama...........................  63  28  54  24 /   5  40  10   0
Los Alamos......................  69  39  60  38 /   0  10   5   0
Pecos...........................  69  39  60  33 /   0  10   5   0
Cerro/Questa....................  67  36  59  30 /   0  10   0   0
Red River.......................  57  31  49  26 /   0   5   5   0
Angel Fire......................  63  29  54  29 /   0   5   5   0
Taos............................  71  31  62  26 /   0  10   0   0
Mora............................  69  35  61  32 /   0   5   0   0
Espanola........................  78  37  69  33 /   0  10   0   0
Santa Fe........................  70  39  61  35 /   0  10   5   0
Santa Fe Airport................  74  38  65  33 /   0  10   5   0
Albuquerque Foothills...........  77  47  68  42 /   0  10   5   0
Albuquerque Heights.............  79  44  69  41 /   0  10   5   0
Albuquerque Valley..............  82  43  72  35 /   0  10   0   0
Albuquerque West Mesa...........  80  44  70  40 /   0   5   0   0
Belen...........................  83  41  73  39 /   5   5   0   0
Bernalillo......................  81  43  71  39 /   0  10   0   0
Bosque Farms....................  82  41  72  36 /   0  10   0   0
Corrales........................  81  44  71  38 /   0  10   5   0
Los Lunas.......................  82  43  72  38 /   0  10   0   0
Placitas........................  75  44  66  40 /   0  10   5   0
Rio Rancho......................  80  44  71  41 /   0   5   0   0
Socorro.........................  85  45  76  41 /   0   0   0   0
Sandia Park/Cedar Crest.........  71  40  62  37 /   0  10   5   0
Tijeras.........................  74  42  63  38 /   0  10   5   0
Edgewood........................  74  38  65  36 /   0  10   5   0
Moriarty/Estancia...............  76  35  66  31 /   0   5   5   0
Clines Corners..................  71  37  62  33 /   0   5   0   0
Mountainair.....................  74  40  65  35 /   0   5   5   0
Gran Quivira....................  74  39  65  35 /   0   0   5   0
Carrizozo.......................  76  47  69  40 /   0   0   5   0
Ruidoso.........................  69  47  62  35 /   0   0   5   0
Capulin.........................  72  39  63  30 /   0   0   5   5
Raton...........................  76  38  67  32 /   0   0   0   5
Springer........................  77  39  67  33 /   0   0   0   0
Las Vegas.......................  73  38  64  33 /   0   0   0   0
Clayton.........................  82  47  73  36 /   0   0   5  10
Roy.............................  78  42  68  37 /   0   0   0   0
Conchas.........................  85  47  75  41 /   0   0   0   0
Santa Rosa......................  81  45  71  42 /   0   0   0   0
Tucumcari.......................  86  47  76  41 /   0   0   0   0
Clovis..........................  84  47  78  43 /   0   0   0   0
Portales........................  84  47  79  43 /   0   0   0   0
Fort Sumner.....................  85  46  77  42 /   0   0   0   0
Roswell.........................  87  50  82  46 /   0   0   0   0
Picacho.........................  81  47  74  42 /   0   0   0   0
Elk.............................  80  47  72  42 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Fire Weather Watch from Saturday afternoon through Saturday
evening for NMZ104-105-109-123>126.

Fire Weather Watch from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening
for NMZ125.

&&

SHORT TERM...44
LONG TERM....52
AVIATION...71

Please note: The SYNOPSIS section will be terminated on or about Friday, April 4.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 27, 7:37 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQUnion23 min
Mar 28, 4:21 AM MDTFire Weather WatchABQBernalillo, Catron, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, De Baca and 14 more11 hr
Mar 28, 4:21 AM MDTFire Weather WatchABQBernalillo, Catron, Cibola, Guadalupe, Lincoln, McKinley and 6 more46 hr

Nearby

Red Flag Warnings in New Mexico, 2025Every red flag warning in 2025

Sources

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