Full Notification

The following message is transmitted at the request of the New Mexico Departments of Health and Environment.

* WHAT...Westerly transport winds will diminish through late afternoon and evening with significantly lighter westerly transport winds expected on Friday. Smoke transport from winds blowing to the east- southeast until around sunset will flow down-drainage or down valley tonight into Friday morning.

* WHERE...Diminishing transport winds with a shift to more down valley winds will increase the potential for impacts in areas that have not seen significant smoke in the past 24 to 48 hours. Of particular concern will be areas between Las Vegas and Sapello extending eastward to the I-25 corridor near Watrous and Valmora. Smoke impacts are likely to extend event farther southeast toward the I-40 corridor from near Santa Rosa to the NM/TX line. Although not as significant, smoke from the Cerro Pelado Fire will have the greatest impact along the Rio Grande Valley near White Rock and Cochiti Pueblo extending to Pena Blanca and Kewa Pueblo. Locations likely to be most impacted include, but are not limited to, the following communities: Cochiti Pueblo, Kewa Pueblo, La Cueva, Las Vegas, Mora, Ocate, Pena Blanca, Pojoaque, Santa Clara Pueblo, Sapello, Watrous, White Rock, and Valmora.

* WHEN...Remainder of this afternoon through noon MDT Friday, May 13th.

* IMPACTS...Those with conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, and heart disease will be especially vulnerable to impacts from poor air quality, as will adults over age 65, young children, and pregnant women if smoke concentrations become unhealthy.

* HEALTH INFORMATION...Remember, your eyes are your best tools to determine if it is safe to be outside. Use the 5-3-1 Method available at https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html. If visibility is: Under 5 miles, the air quality is unhealthy for young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness. Outdoor activity should be minimized. Around 3 miles, young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness should avoid all outdoor activities. Around 1 mile, the air quality is unhealthy for everyone. People should remain indoors and avoid all outdoor activities including running errands. Unless an evacuation has been issued, stay inside your home, indoor workplace, or in a safe shelter. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting New Mexico and with the wildfire season underway, New Mexicans will need to take extra precautions. Smoke from wildfires may cause people to have more severe reactions if they are infected COVID-19. The best way to protect against the potentially harmful effects of wildfire smoke and to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home and create a clean indoor air space. NMDOH offers tips here: https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/IndoorQuality.html and https://cv.nmhealth.org New Mexicans will also need to take steps to keep their homes cool to avoid heat-related illnesses. NMDOH offers tips here: https://nmtracking.org/health/heatstress/Heat.html. For smoke forecast outlooks from the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program please visit: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net.

* AFFECTED AREAS: SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS ... JEMEZ MOUNTAINS ... GLORIETA MESA INCLUDING GLORIETA PASS ... SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ... EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ... ESPANOLA VALLEY ... SANTA FE METRO AREA ... FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS ... NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS ... HARDING COUNTY ... EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY ... GUADALUPE COUNTY ... QUAY COUNTY ... DE BACA COUNTY ... SAN AGUSTIN PLAINS AND ADJACENT LOWLANDS