Weather Alert in New Mexico

Recent Locations: Chili, WI Fort Wingate, NM

Red Flag Warning issued March 12 at 1:37PM MDT until March 12 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

AREAS AFFECTED: Central Highlands

DESCRIPTION: ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM TODAY EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...RED FLAG WARNING FRIDAY FROM NOON UNTIL 8 PM FOR THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH SATURDAY FROM NOON UNTIL 10 PM FOR WEST CENTRAL NM, NORTHERN NM, SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS, AND CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY... .Brisk northwest flow aloft, a lee-side surface trough, single digit humidities, and ample atmospheric mixing with high temperatures 8 to 15 degrees above 1991-2020 averages will cause critical fire weather conditions to continue east of the central mountain chain this afternoon through early evening. Winds will weaken most places on Friday, but they will remain strong enough for another round of critical fire weather conditions in the Central Highlands during the afternoon and early evening. Critical fire weather conditions will then become more extreme and widespread this weekend as a sharp upper level trough crossing the northern and central Rockies steers a strong jetstream over New Mexico with a potent surface trough in the lee of the southern Rockies. * AREA AND TIMING...Central Highlands (Zone 125) for the remainder of this afternoon until 8 PM this evening, Friday from noon until 8 PM, and on Saturday from noon until 10 PM. * 20 FOOT WINDS...West northwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph today and Friday, then up to 55 mph Saturday with the strongest winds Saturday evening. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values today between 10 and 13 percent, then Friday and Saturday between 8 and 9 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. On Saturday, Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and will be hard to control. Long range spotting and extreme fire behavior will be possible. Outdoor burning should not be done.

INSTRUCTION: Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Fire Weather Watch.

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Weather Topic: What are Cirrostratus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cirrostratus Clouds

Next Topic: Cirrus Clouds

Cirrostratus clouds are high, thin clouds that form above 20,000 feet and are made mostly of ice crystals. They sometimes look like giant feathers, horse tails, or curls of hair in the sky. These clouds are pushed by the jet stream and can move at high speeds reaching 100 mph.

What do they indicate?
They indicate that a precipitation is likely within 24 hours.

Next Topic: Cirrus Clouds

Weather Topic: What is Condensation?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Condensation

Next Topic: Contrails

Condensation is the process which creates clouds, and therefore it is a crucial process in the water cycle. Condensation is the change of matter from a state of gas into a state of liquid, and it happens because water molecules release heat into the atmosphere and become organized into a more closely packed structure, what we might see as water droplets.

Water is always present in the air around us as a vapor, but it's too small for us to see. When water undergoes the process of condensation it becomes organized into visible water droplets. You've probably seen condensation happen before on the surface of a cold drink!

Next Topic: Contrails