Full Notification

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT SATURDAY BETWEEN 1PM AND 8PM FOR THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS AND PLAINS, UPPER RIO GRANDE AND LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEYS AND WEST CENTRAL NM AND DUE TO STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY AND AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE... .Above normal temperatures, very low humidity values, strengthening westerly winds and an unstable atmosphere will result in critical fire weather conditions on Saturday afternoon and evening. High temperatures will be 15 to 20 degrees above normal and between 6 and 12 hours of single digit humidity values are expected. Westerly winds will increase early Saturday afternoon before peaking during the mid afternoon hours. Saturday will be the first of two days with critical fire weather concerns. One potential mitigating factor is if any fuels have experienced green-up after last weekend's precipitation. If so, that would help mitigate fire spread, if a fire starts. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Fire Weather Watch...which is in effect from Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening.

* AREA AND TIMING...This includes the Northeast Highlands and Plains (Zones 123 and 104), the upper Rio Grande and lower Chama River Valleys (Zone 121), the West Central Mountains and the West Central Basin and Range (Zones 105 and 109) Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening.

* 20 FOOT WINDS...West to southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts between 35 and 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 4 and 8 percent.

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

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

Instructions:

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