NEW MEXICO SNOW REPORT

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS WEEKEND FOR LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST, PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS... An approaching upper level disturbance will bring increasing west winds to the area this afternoon, and near-critical fire weather conditions to the lowlands. Winds will generally diminish after sunset, but stronger winds are expected to return to the Sacramento Mountains and nearby areas of New Mexico Fire Zone 113 late tonight into Sunday morning, while relative humidity values remain low. The timing of critical fire weather conditions is unusual. Also. rapid drying of fuels over Lincoln National Forest over the past few weeks have increased the risk of fire spread. A strong jet stream will continue crossing the central Rockies on Sunday, leading to more windy conditions in the afternoon, with conditions potentially reaching critical thresholds in the afternoon again, though winds will be on the lower end of critical. * AFFECTED AREA...Far West Texas, South-Central New Mexico, and the Gila Region in Southwestern New Mexico. Including Texas Fire Weather Zones 055 and 056, and New Mexico Fire Weather Zones 110 and 112. * TIMING...Noon to 6 PM Sunday. * WINDS...Northwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 7 percent. * EXPERIMENTAL RFTI... 3 to 4 Near Critical. * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS WEEKEND FOR LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST, PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS... An approaching upper level disturbance will bring increasing west winds to the area this afternoon, and near-critical fire weather conditions to the lowlands. Winds will generally diminish after sunset, but stronger winds are expected to return to the Sacramento Mountains and nearby areas of New Mexico Fire Zone 113 late tonight into Sunday morning, while relative humidity values remain low. The timing of critical fire weather conditions is unusual. Also. rapid drying of fuels over Lincoln National Forest over the past few weeks have increased the risk of fire spread. A strong jet stream will continue crossing the central Rockies on Sunday, leading to more windy conditions in the afternoon, with conditions potentially reaching critical thresholds in the afternoon again, though winds will be on the lower end of critical. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 113 Capitan and Sacramento Mountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ. * TIMING...3 PM Saturday afternoon through 6 PM Sunday evening. * WINDS...West 20 to 30 with gusts to 40 mph this afternoon. Increasing in the predawn hours Sunday to 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 7 percent, with poor overnight recovery. * EXPERIMENTAL RFTI... 4 to 5 Near Critical to Critical. * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

* WHAT...Northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...The Sacramento Mountains above 7500 feet, and the east slopes down to 6000 feet. * WHEN...From 3 AM to 6 PM MDT Sunday. The strongest winds will occur between 5 AM and Noon. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Localized power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

* WHAT...Northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts around 70 mph possible. * WHERE...Central Highlands, Eastern Lincoln County, South Central Mountains, De Baca County, Guadalupe County, East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and Northeast Highlands. * WHEN...From 3 AM to 4 PM MDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Areas of blowing dust may reduce visibility below one mile at times in dust prone locations.

* WHAT...Northwest to north winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts around 70 mph possible. * WHERE...Curry County, Quay County, Roosevelt County, Eastern San Miguel County, Far Northeast Highlands, Harding County, Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass, and Union County. * WHEN...From 6 AM to 4 PM MDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Areas of blowing dust may reduce visibility below one-half mile at times.

* WHAT...Northwest winds 30 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Southwest Mountains and West Central Mountains. * WHEN...From late tonight through Sunday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Areas of blowing dust may reduce visibility below one mile at times in dust prone locations.

* WHAT...Northwest winds 30 to 45 mph with gusts of 60 to 70 mph possible. * WHERE...Jemez Mountains and West Central Highlands. * WHEN...From late tonight through Sunday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Areas of blowing dust may reduce visibility below one mile at times in dust prone locations.

* WHAT...Northwest winds 30 to 45 mph with gusts of 60 to 70 mph possible. * WHERE...Middle Rio Grande Valley including the Albuquerque Metro Area, Sandia and Manzano Mountains including Edgewood, Glorieta Mesa Including Glorieta Pass, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe Metro Area, Estancia Valley, South Central Highlands, Chaves County Plains, and Southwest Chaves County. * WHEN...From late tonight through Sunday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Areas of blowing dust may reduce visibility below one-half mile at times in dust prone locations.

...RED FLAG WARNING TODAY FROM NOON UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NORTHEAST PLAINS, AND CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...RED FLAG WARNING FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM SUNDAY FOR ALL OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NM DUE TO STRONG TO SEVERE WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... .Critical fire weather conditions will impact much of central and northern NM through Sunday. For today, westerly winds will linger longer across the central to northeast highlands and into the northeastern plains of New Mexico through late this evening. On Sunday, widespread critical fire weather will develop. Winds will turn very strong to potentially damaging as both a Pacific and backdoor cold front pass through the area. With gusts between 40 and 65 mph and single digit humidity values in many areas, critical to extreme fire weather conditions are likely despite cooling temperatures. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag Warning...which is in effect from 9 AM to 8 PM MDT Sunday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Plains (Zone 104), Northeast Highlands (Zone 123), and Central Highlands (Zone 125) through midnight tonight and again Sunday from 9 AM through 8 PM. * 20 FOOT WINDS...For today, west winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 35 to 40 mph. On Sunday, northwest and north winds of 30 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...For today, minimum values between 6 and 10 percent. On Sunday, minimum values between 6 and 15 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is discouraged. On Sunday, any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and will be hard to control. Long range spotting and extreme fire behavior will be possible. Outdoor burning should not be done.

...RED FLAG WARNING TODAY FROM NOON UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NORTHEAST PLAINS, AND CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...RED FLAG WARNING FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM SUNDAY FOR ALL OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NM DUE TO STRONG TO SEVERE WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... .Critical fire weather conditions will impact much of central and northern NM through Sunday. For today, westerly winds will linger longer across the central to northeast highlands and into the northeastern plains of New Mexico through late this evening. On Sunday, widespread critical fire weather will develop. Winds will turn very strong to potentially damaging as both a Pacific and backdoor cold front pass through the area. With gusts between 40 and 65 mph and single digit humidity values in many areas, critical to extreme fire weather conditions are likely despite cooling temperatures. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag Warning...which is in effect from 9 AM to 8 PM MDT Sunday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AREA AND TIMING...Northwest Plateau (Zone 101), West Central Mountains (Zone 105), Middle Rio Grande Valley (Zone 106), West Central Basin and Range (Zone 109), North Central Mountains (Zone 120), Upper Rio Grande Valley and Lower Chama River Valley (Zone 121), Sangre de Cristo Mountains (Zone 122), Sandia and Manzano Mountains (Zone 124), and East Central Plains (Zone 126) on Sunday from 9 AM through 8 PM. * 20 FOOT WINDS...North northwest winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts between 45 and 65 mph Sunday. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 6 and 15 percent with locally higher values across the peaks of the Tusas Mountains and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

...RED FLAG WARNING TODAY FROM NOON UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NORTHEAST PLAINS, AND CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...RED FLAG WARNING FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM SUNDAY FOR ALL OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NM DUE TO STRONG TO SEVERE WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... .Critical fire weather conditions will impact much of central and northern NM through Sunday. For today, westerly winds will linger longer across the central to northeast highlands and into the northeastern plains of New Mexico through late this evening. On Sunday, widespread critical fire weather will develop. Winds will turn very strong to potentially damaging as both a Pacific and backdoor cold front pass through the area. With gusts between 40 and 65 mph and single digit humidity values in many areas, critical to extreme fire weather conditions are likely despite cooling temperatures. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag Warning...which is in effect from 9 AM to 8 PM MDT Sunday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Plains (Zone 104), Northeast Highlands (Zone 123), and Central Highlands (Zone 125) through midnight tonight and again Sunday from 9 AM through 8 PM. * 20 FOOT WINDS...For today, west winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 35 to 40 mph. On Sunday, northwest and north winds of 30 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...For today, minimum values between 6 and 10 percent. On Sunday, minimum values between 6 and 15 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is discouraged. On Sunday, any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and will be hard to control. Long range spotting and extreme fire behavior will be possible. Outdoor burning should not be done.