RED FLAG WARNING
RED FLAG WARNING ISSUED APRIL 26 AT 12:25PM MDT UNTIL APRIL 26 AT 8:00PM MDT
Effective: 2026-04-26 12:25:00 Local Time
Expires: 2026-04-26 20:00:00 Local Time
Issued by: NWS Albuquerque NM
Alert Text
...RED FLAG WARNING THROUGH 8 PM MDT ALONG AND EAST OF I-25, ANDALSO OVER THE WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, BASIN, AND RANGE, DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...
...RED FLAG WARNING MONDAY FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY...
.SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 60 MPH WITH VERY LOW HUMIDITY AND DRY VEGETATION ARE CREATING WIDESPREAD CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON. LOCALIZED EXTREMELY CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR ACROSS PARTS OF THE EASTERN PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON. IN ADDITION, ISOLATED VIRGA SHOWERS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DRY LIGHTNING THIS AFTERNOON ALONG AND WEST OF I-25 IN THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, AND FROM RATON EASTWARD ALONG THE COLORADO BORDER. AN ACTIVE STORM TRACK OVER THE WESTERN US, AND A PERSISTENT SURFACE TROUGH IN THE LEE OF THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES, WILL CAUSE WINDY CONDITIONS TO RETURN TO EASTERN AREAS WITH MORE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS BOTH MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
* AREA AND TIMING...RIO GRANDE VALLEY (ZONE 106); SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS (ZONE 124); WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, BASIN, AND RANGE (ZONES 105 AND 109) TODAY FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT.
* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST TO WEST 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 45 TO 60 MPH. THE STRONGEST GUSTS WILL BE OVER THE MOUNTAINS.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...MINIMUM VALUES 10 TO 15 PERCENT, EXCEPT AROUND 20 PERCENT ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, AND AROUND 30 PERCENT IN THE CHUSKA MOUNTAINS.
* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
More Information
Target Area
WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, WEST CENTRAL BASIN AND RANGE, SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS