High Wind in New Mexico, May 23, 2012

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
307 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2012

.DISCUSSION...
CURRENTLY...GUSTY BLUSTERY TURBULENT WESTERLY FLOW STARTING TO
ROAR ACROSS THE HEART OF NEW MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON...AS SURFACE
LOW DEEPENS OVER EXTREME SOUTHEAST COLORADO. WIND SPEEDS RAMPING
UP EARLY THIS AFTERNOON HEADED TO 40 MPH OR BETTER SUSTAINED AND
GUSTS TOPPING 60 MPH BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON OVER THE HIGH
COUNTRY...WITH SPEEDS RUNNING A LITTLE LESS OVER THE LOWER SLOPES
AND THROUGH THE VALLEYS. WITH GUSTS BLOWING OVER WIDESPREAD SINGLE
DIGIT HUMIDITIES ALREADY THIS AFTERNOON...A BROAD SWATH OF
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER DOMINATES NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO.
VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY DISPLAYING EASTBOUND PLUME OF THE
WHITEWATER FIRE COMPLEX IN SOUTHWESTERN GILA COUNTY...WITH AMATEUR
RADIO REPORTS OF THE PLUME REACHING SOCORRO AND WAFTING AGAINST
THE WEST SLOPES OF THE MANZANO MOUNTAINS AND EN ROUTE OVER
CHUPADERA MESA. SMOKE ALSO REPORTED AT ROSWELL. IN ADDITION TO
SMOKE...FIRE...AND WIND...CENTURY MARK TEMPERATURES ARE WITHIN A
DEGREE OF 100 ALREADY AT TUCUMCARI AND ROSWELL...WITH PLENTY OF
90S LOGGED OVER OTHER EASTERN PLAINS POINTS...AND A FEW MORE SOLID
HOURS OF HEATING STILL TO GO.

MODELS...IN GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH MIDWEEK NEXT WEEK. ACCEPTED
CONSENSUS MAINTAINS BROAD TROUGH OVER THE WESTERN U.S. WITH FAST
NORTHWEST FLOW UPSTREAM PLUNGING ACROSS THE SIERRA NEVADA EN
ROUTE TO THE HEART OF NEW MEXICO. FIRST BURST OF ENERGY WILL SHOVE
TROUGH BASE SOUTHWARD AND INTENSIFY FLOW ALOFT ON THURSDAY...AS
MORE SUBSTANTIAL PLUG OF ENERGY SHOWING UP AS A CLOSED LOW OVER
THE INSIDE PASSAGE ON THE CANADIAN WEST COAST WILL RAM SOUTHWARD
TO MONTEREY BAY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ON FRIDAY. ACTION WILL BACK
WINDS STEADILY TO THE SOUTHWEST AS THE WORK WEEK WINDS UP. AS FAST
FLOW ROUNDS THE TROUGH BASE AND SHOWS UP AS GUSTY SOUTHWEST FLOW
OVER NEW MEXICO...THE CLOSED LOW WILL LIFT RAPIDLY TO THE NORTH AND EAST
OVER THE NORTHERN ROCKIES ON SATURDAY AND INTO THE CANADIAN
PRAIRIES IN SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN ON SUNDAY. WITH THE DEPARTURE OF
THE CLOSED LOW...A BROAD TROUGH WILL REMAIN OVER THE WESTERN U.S.
WITH WEAKENING SOUTHWEST FLOW ON SUNDAY. AS A MORE ZONAL JET FLOW
BELTS ACROSS THE CENTRAL U.S. ON MONDAY...MOST OF THE EXCITEMENT WILL
REMAIN NORTH OF NEW MEXICO IN WEAK SOUTHWEST FLOW. RIDGE BUILDING
OUT OF NORTHERN MEXICO WILL HELP KEEP FLOW WEAK AND ZONAL OVER NEW
MEXICO ON TUESDAY ...WITH SOME SLIGHT VEERING TO NORTHWESTERLY ON
WEDNESDAY AS WEAK RIDGE BUILDS OUT OF THE INTERMOUNTAIN REGION
TO GREAT SLAVE LAKE IN THE CANADIAN NORTHWEST TERRITORIES.

FOR TONIGHT...STRONG WINDS ALOFT WITH DEEPENING SURFACE LOW OVER THE
OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE KEEPING ACCELERATED WIND PATTERN GOING
STATEWIDE WELL INTO THE EVENING WITH BLOWING DUST AND ROARING
GUSTS STARTING TO RAMP DOWN AFTER SUNSET. SMOKE TRANSPORT OUT OF
THE WHITEWATER FIRE COMPLEX IN SOUTHWEST CATRON COUNTY WILL
CONTINUE TO IMPACT SOCORRO...LINCOLN COUNTY...AND INTO CHAVES
COUNTY OVERNIGHT WITH SOME LOCALLY POOR VISIBILITIES OVERNIGHT.
WIND SPEEDS WILL REMAIN BREEZY OVER THE WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND
THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN WITH GUSTS CONTINUING THROUGH THE NIGHT
OVER THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN EASTERN SLOPES AND ADJACENT PLAINS
THROUGH THE MORNING. FALLING HEIGHTS MAY SUPPORT A FEW COOLER
OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES...AND A WEAK COLD FRONT IN CIRCULATION
ABOUT OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE SURFACE LOW MAY BRING A MORE SUBSTANTIAL
COOL DOWN TO THE NORTHEAST PLAINS AND ADJACENT HIGHLANDS.

FOR THURSDAY...ROUNDED TROUGH BASE ALOFT WILL GRADUALLY BACK TO
ZONAL THROUGH THE DAY...WITH SURFACE LOW MIGRATING TO NORTHEAST
NEW MEXICO. WIND SPEEDS WILL BE DOWN A NOTCH FROM WEDNESDAY...WITH
SPEEDS CLOSE TO ADVISORY LEVELS FOR MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL
NEW MEXICO. MORE WIND AND CONTINUED DRY CONDITIONS WILL SET UP
ANOTHER DAY OF WIDESPREAD ELEVATED FIRE DANGER. SOME COOLING
WORKING IN ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE SURFACE LOW WILL LEVEL
TEMPERATURE TRENDS AND ALLOW SOME NORTHERN TEMPERATURES TO TOP OUT
A FEW DEGREES COOLER THAN WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN
WELL ABOVE NORMAL...WITH DOUBLE DIGIT EXCESSES OVER THE EASTERN
PLAINS. SMOKE PLUME FROM THE WHITEWATER COMPLEX SHOULD BE REACHING
THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN AND PUSHING OUT TOWARD THE EASTERN
PLAINS.

FOR FRIDAY...CLOSED LOW ENERGY MOVING TO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA WILL
BACK WINDS SMARTLY TO THE SOUTHWEST ALOFT...AS ASSOCIATED SURFACE
LOW DEEPENS OVER CENTRAL UTAH. WIND SPEEDS WILL REMAIN STRONGEST
IN THE WEST...WITH SPEEDS FAIRLY CLOSE TO ADVISORY CRITERIA AGAIN
OVER THE WEST...CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST. FIRST HINTS OF SOME STATE
LINE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON OVER THE EASTERN PLAINS SOUTH
OF INTERSTATE 40 AS THE DRY LINE STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE...BUT
COVERAGE LOOKS ISOLATED AT BEST THIS FAR IN ADVANCE. SMOKE
REMAINING AN ISSUE FROM THE WHITEWATER FIRE...WITH IMPACTS HEADED
FOR THE ALBUQUERQUE AND SANTA FE AREAS...AND OUT TO THE EASTERN PLAINS.

FOR SATURDAY...FLOW ALOFT BACKING ANOTHER TEN DEGREES TO
SOUTHWEST WITH SURFACE LOW SHIFTING TO NORTHERN COLORADO. ANOTHER
VERY WINDY DAY ON TAP WITH BROAD ADVISORY WINDS OVER THE NORTH
AND WEST. SOME COOLER AIR STARTING TO SIFT IN FROM THE WEST WILL
CAP OFF MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR THE DAY IN THE WEST...WITH
TEMPERATURES REMAINING ABOVE NORMAL CENTRAL AND WEST. STATE LINE
AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE EXPANDING A LITTLE FURTHER
WESTWARD INTO THE EASTERN PLAINS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AS A PLUME OF
GULF MOISTURE WORKS NORTHWARD INTO EASTERN NEW MEXICO OUT OF WEST
TEXAS. SMOKE TRANSPORT CONTINUES TO BE NORTH AND EAST OUT OF THE
WHITEWATER FIRE...IMPACTING ALBUQUERQUE...SANTA FE...AND BEYOND.

OUTLOOK...SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...TROUGH BASE MOVING THROUGH NEW
MEXICO ON SUNDAY WITH DEEPENING SURFACE TROUGH FORM EASTERN
COLORADO TO EL PASO PROVIDING THUNDERSTORM FOCUS OVER THE EASTERN
PLAINS SUNDAY AFTERNOON. TROUGH WILL SHEAR NORTHEAST TO LEAVE NEW
MEXICO IN CONSIDERABLY WEAKENED SOUTHWEST FLOW AND WEAK SURFACE
PRESSURE GRADIENT. SIMILAR SET UP FOR TUESDAY...WITH FIRST SIGNS
OF THE NEXT LEE TROUGH DEEPENING OVER THE TEXAS PANHANDLE. SOME
COOLING SUNDAY REBOUNDING ON MONDAY AND LEVEL ON TUESDAY AS TROUGH
SWINGS BY. EASTERN PLAINS THUNDERSTORMS A POSSIBILITY BOTH MONDAY
AND TUESDAY AFTERNOONS.

SHY

&&

.AVIATION...
MODERATE TO STRONG WESTERLY WINDS DEVELOPING OR OCCURRING ACROSS
ALL TERMINALS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SUSTAINED SFC WIND
SPEEDS OF 25 TO 40 KTS WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 50 KTS ARE EXPECTED.
IN ADDITION LOCAL AREAS OF BLOWING DUST WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES
AND MAY BRIEFLY OBSCURE HIGHER TERRAIN. SMOKE FROM FOREST FIRES IN
THE GILA MOUNTAINS MAY ALSO RESULT IN LOCALLY REDUCED VISIBILITIES
AT TIMES FROM SOCORRO TO RUIDOSO TO ROSWELL. VISIBILITIES MAY BE
REDUCED TO 3 TO 5 MILES IN THE COMBINATION OF DUST AND SMOKE.
MODERATE TO STRONG TURBULENCE IS A HAZARD OVER AND DOWNWIND OR
EAST FACING SLOPES OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AS WELL AS THE
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MOUNTAINS. OTHERWISE VFR.

01

NEXT AVIATION DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR 09Z.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS PERSIST THROUGH SATURDAY ACROSS
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO...WITH EXTREMELY CRITICAL CONDITIONS
THROUGH THIS EVENING FROM THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY TO THE ARIZONA
BORDER...

DRY WITH STRONG TO VERY STRONG DAYTIME AND EARLY EVENING WESTERLY TO
SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS AREA WIDE THROUGH AT LEAST FRIDAY. GENERALLY POOR
NIGHTTIME RH RECOVERIES EXPECTED EXCEPT FOR THE FAR NORTHEAST LATE
TONIGHT AS A SURFACE BOUNDARY FLIRTS WITH THAT AREA...AND FRIDAY
NIGHT EAST OF THE PECOS RIVER VALLEY AS SOME LOW LEVEL MOISTURE
RETURN IS FORECAST. AFTERNOON MIN RH VALUES THROUGH SUNDAY TO BE
MAINLY IN THE SINGLE DIGITS ACROSS THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA.  ON
SATURDAY MIN RH VALUES WILL RISE INTO THE TEENS AND TWENTIES ACROSS
THE FAR EASTERN PLAINS THEN DIMINISH AGAIN ON LOWER TO MID TEENS ON
SUNDAY.

WINDS WILL DIMINISH SLIGHTLY TOMORROW...BUT WITH SINGLE DIGIT RH
VALES WIDESPREAD CRITICAL CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AREA WIDE...AS A
RESULT A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN PLACE FOR ALL ZONES. CRITICAL FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN ON FRIDAY WITH PERSISTENT
SINGLE DIGIT RH VALUES AND WINDS OVER ALL BUT ZONE 103 IN OUR
FORECAST AREA. CONSEQUENTLY...A WATCH CONTINUES FOR FRIDAY MIDDAY
THROUGH SUNSET FRIDAY EVENING.  THIS MAY BE UPGRADED TO A RED FLAG
WARNING IN SUBSEQUENT SHIFTS WITH MORE PRECISE MODEL FORECASTS.
SOME ISOLATED CONVECTION IS POSSIBLE OVER THE EASTERN PLAINS LATE
FRIDAY AND AGAIN LATE SATURDAY.  THE CENTRAL AND WEST WILL SEE
CONTINUED CRITICAL CONDITIONS SATURDAY. CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS MAY EASE EARLY NEXT WEEK AS WINDS DECREASE AND SOME
COOLER AIR INVADES ON A SURFACE FRONT...BUT EXPECT THIS DRY AND
WINDY PATTERN TO PERSIST INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

01

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
FARMINGTON......................  50  82  51  83 /   0   0   0   0
DULCE...........................  39  76  41  78 /   0   5   5   0
CUBA............................  42  81  43  81 /   0   0   0   0
GALLUP..........................  47  78  46  77 /   0   0   0   0
EL MORRO........................  41  75  41  75 /   0   0   0   0
GRANTS..........................  48  80  46  79 /   0   0   0   0
QUEMADO.........................  45  80  47  76 /   0   0   0   0
GLENWOOD........................  46  83  45  83 /   0   0   0   0
CHAMA...........................  40  69  40  72 /   0   5   5   0
LOS ALAMOS......................  54  80  50  77 /   0   0   0   0
PECOS...........................  50  78  50  77 /   0   0   0   0
CERRO/QUESTA....................  42  73  41  75 /   0   0   5   0
RED RIVER.......................  41  65  40  67 /   0   5   5   5
ANGEL FIRE......................  40  69  40  73 /   0   0   5   5
TAOS............................  43  76  42  78 /   0   0   5   0
MORA............................  49  77  48  78 /   0   0   0   0
ESPANOLA........................  48  85  47  83 /   0   0   0   0
SANTA FE........................  50  80  51  78 /   0   0   0   0
SANTA FE AIRPORT................  51  83  50  82 /   0   0   0   0
ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS...........  58  85  58  84 /   0   0   0   0
ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS.............  60  87  60  86 /   0   0   0   0
ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY..............  56  89  56  88 /   0   0   0   0
ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA...........  57  89  57  87 /   0   0   0   0
LOS LUNAS.......................  57  90  55  88 /   0   0   0   0
RIO RANCHO......................  58  87  56  86 /   0   0   0   0
SOCORRO.........................  58  92  56  88 /   0   0   0   0
SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST.........  50  81  48  79 /   0   0   0   0
TIJERAS.........................  53  84  53  83 /   0   0   0   0
MORIARTY/ESTANCIA...............  51  86  48  85 /   0   0   0   0
CLINES CORNERS..................  52  79  52  78 /   0   0   0   0
GRAN QUIVIRA....................  53  83  52  80 /   0   0   0   0
CARRIZOZO.......................  55  86  54  82 /   0   0   0   0
RUIDOSO.........................  54  81  50  77 /   0   0   0   0
CAPULIN.........................  49  80  50  82 /   0   0   5   5
RATON...........................  49  83  48  86 /   0   0   5   5
SPRINGER........................  52  84  49  87 /   0   0   0   5
LAS VEGAS.......................  53  83  52  81 /   0   0   0   0
CLAYTON.........................  55  88  57  90 /   0   0   0   5
ROY.............................  55  85  53  86 /   0   0   0   5
CONCHAS.........................  59  91  58  93 /   0   0   0   5
SANTA ROSA......................  63  91  60  91 /   0   0   0   0
TUCUMCARI.......................  63  94  61  96 /   0   0   0   5
CLOVIS..........................  61  92  60  91 /   0   0   0   5
PORTALES........................  62  94  60  93 /   0   0   0   5
FORT SUMNER.....................  60  96  59  95 /   0   0   0   5
ROSWELL.........................  63  99  61  95 /   0   0   0   5
PICACHO.........................  62  91  59  89 /   0   0   0   5
ELK.............................  60  85  57  83 /   0   0   0   5

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 11 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES...NMZ101>109.

RED FLAG WARNING FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM MDT THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES...NMZ101>109.

FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR
THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ101-103>109.

WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...
NMZ501-504-507>509-516>520-522-524>526-530>534-537-539.

HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES...NMZ502-503-505-506-510>515-521-523-527>529.

&&

SHY/01

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
555 AM MDT WED MAY 23 2012

NMZ501>540-241200-
NORTHWEST PLATEAU-CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-
NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-
SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET-
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-SANTA FE METRO AREA-ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-
LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-ESTANCIA VALLEY-
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY-
SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA-
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-
555 AM MDT WED MAY 23 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN AND
CENTRAL NEW MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

STRONG TO SEVERE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER MUCH OF
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH THE
EVENING. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE FOUND ACROSS THE
NORTHWEST...NORTH CENTRAL...AND CENTRAL PARTS OF THE
STATE...ESPECIALLY IN HIGHER ELEVATIONS WHERE SOME DAMAGING WIND
GUSTS AS HIGH AS 60 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE.

IN ADDITION TO THE STRONG WINDS...VERY DRY CONDITIONS AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL LEAD TO WIDESPREAD CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY AND THIS EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

EXTENSIVE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK AND UPCOMING WEEKEND AS STRONG WINDS AND
LOW HUMIDITY PERSIST.

FRIDAY EVENING...SATURDAY...SUNDAY...AND MONDAY SOME ADDITIONAL
LOW LAYER MOISTURE COULD IGNITE A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FAR EASTERN PLAINS OF NEW MEXICO.

WEATHER CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST
FORECASTS...WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

52

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
257 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2012

NMZ501>540-240400-
ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-
CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-CURRY COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY-
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY-
EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY-ESTANCIA VALLEY-FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-
FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-GUADALUPE COUNTY-HARDING COUNTY-
JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-
NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-NORTHWEST PLATEAU-QUAY COUNTY-
RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-
SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-SANTA FE METRO AREA-
SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET-SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY-
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-UNION COUNTY-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY-WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU-WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
257 PM MDT WED MAY 23 2012

...SMOKE FROM WILDFIRES IN THE GILA REGION TO MOVE NORTH AND EAST
ACROSS NEW MEXICO THROUGH SATURDAY...

SMOKE FROM FIRES IN THE NEW MEXICO GILA REGION IS BEING TRANSPORTED
HIGH UP INTO THE ATMOSPHERE ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND WEST
TEXAS. THESE FIRES ARE FORECAST TO PERSIST THROUGH THE WEEK AS THE
WINDS IN THE MID AND LOWER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE TURN FROM WEST
TO SOUTHWEST. THE BACKING OF THE WINDS TO SOUTHWEST WILL CAUSE
SMOKE TO BE TRANSPORTED NORTH BY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

WHILE MUCH OF THE SMOKE IS EXPECTED TO STAY HIGH UP IN THE
ATMOSPHERE...MOVING OVER THE HIGHER POPULATION CENTERS OF THE
STATE...SOME SMOKE MAY SINK INTO THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE DURING THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS OF THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL FOR
RESIDENTS IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY...FROM SOCORRO TO ALBUQUERQUE TO
SANTA FE...TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS SMOKE. RESIDENTS OUTSIDE OF THE
VALLEY IN OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE MAY BE AFFECTED AS WELL. THE
IMPACTS WOULD BE FELT IN SOCORRO THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING...THEN
ON TO ALBUQUERQUE AND SANTA FE BY FRIDAY MORNING. SMOKE
CONCENTRATIONS WILL INCREASE IN THESE AREAS THROUGH SATURDAY
MORNING.

IMPACTS WOULD INCLUDE REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN SMOKE AND ASSOCIATED
POTENTIAL HEALTH IMPACTS. MORE INFORMATION WILL BE FORTHCOMING FROM
LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS AS FORECAST CONFIDENCE INCREASES AND THE
WEEK PROGRESSES.

STAY INFORMED WITH NOAA WEATHER RADIO...THE WEATHER SERVICE WEB SITE
AT WEATHER.GOV/ABQ...OR YOUR PREFERRED BROADCAST...PRINT...OR
INTERNET WEATHER INFORMATION SOURCE FOR THE LATEST ON THIS
POTENTIAL SMOKE SITUATION.

11