WWUS84 KEPZ 261128
RFWEPZ

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
528 AM MDT Thu Mar 26 2026

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY FOR GILA AND APACHE
NATIONAL FORESTS IN SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO...

Abnormally warm and critically dry conditions will persist
today with temperatures 15 to 20 degrees warmer than average and
afternoon relative humidity dropping to single-digits. Wind will
increase out of the west during the afternoon hours, with
sustained speeds 15 to 20 mph and gusts up to 30 mph. This will
lead to a few hours of critical fire weather conditions for
portions of southwest New Mexico including Gila National Forest,
the Black Range, and surrounding areas in Grant, Sierra, and
Catron Counties. Dead, dieback fuels and ERCs at the 90th
percentile add to increasing wildfire risk.

NMZ110-270300-
/O.CON.KEPZ.FW.W.0005.260326T1900Z-260327T0300Z/
Southwest Mountains/Gila NF/Apache NF/GLZ-
528 AM MDT Thu Mar 26 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR BREEZY CONDITIONS, LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY, AND VERY DRY FUELS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONE 110...

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 110 Southwest Mountains/Gila
  NF/Apache NF/GLZ.

* WIND...West 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* HUMIDITY...5 to 10 percent.

* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...4 to 5, Near Critical to Critical.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.

&&

$$