Full Notification

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THURSDAY LATE MORNING THROUGH EARLY EVENING FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITY... .Critical to extreme fire weather conditions are expected Thursday across portions of central New Mexico and all of eastern New Mexico as an upper level disturbance approaches the area. Southwest winds will strengthen in the presence of widespread low double digit and single digit minimum relative humidity. Durations of single digit relative humidity will exceed 5 hours in some areas of heavier fuels. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Fire Weather Watch...which is in effect from Thursday morning through Thursday evening.

* AREA AND TIMING...West Central Basin and Range (Zone 109), Middle Rio Grande Valley (Zone 106), Sandia and Manzano Mountains (Zone 124), Central Highlands (Zone 125), East Central Plains (Zone 126), Upper Rio Grande Valley and Lower Chama River Valley (Zone 121), Northeast Highlands (Zone 123), Northeast Plains (Zone 104).

* 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts between 45 and 55 mph. The strongest winds are expected across the highlands of the central mountains.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 7 and 15 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

* AFFECTED AREAS: NORTHEAST PLAINS ... MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY ... WEST CENTRAL BASIN AND RANGE ... UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY ... NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS ... SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS ... CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ... EAST CENTRAL PLAINS

Instructions:

Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Fire Weather Watch.