ADDED UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND WEST CENTRAL BASIN AND RANGE TOTHE FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR THURSDAY

...RED FLAG WARNING TODAY FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT FOR THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, EAST CENTRAL PLAINS, AND FROM THE UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY EASTWARD DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH THURSDAY FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM MDT FOR THE UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, WEST CENTRAL BASIN AND RANGE, AND ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...

.AN ACTIVE STORM TRACK OVER THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ROCKIES WILL STRENGTHEN THE FLOW ALOFT OVER NEW MEXICO TODAY AND MORESO THURSDAY, WHILE A POTENT SURFACE TROUGH PERSISTS IN THE LEE OF THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES. THIS WILL RESULT IN SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH TODAY, AND WEST AND NORTHWEST WIND GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH ON THURSDAY, WHILE HUMIDITIES PLUMMET MOSTLY INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS BOTH DAYS. THE STRONGEST WINDS ALOFT ARE NOW FORECAST TO CROSS WESTERN AREAS TONIGHT, SO THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST NEW MEXICO TODAY HAS BEEN CANCELLED. HOWEVER, LOCALLY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE STILL LIKELY TODAY, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS AND ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.

* AREA AND TIMING...SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS (ZONE 124) THURSDAY FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM MDT.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...WEST WINDS 20 TO 35 MPH, WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM VALUES AROUND 9 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.