Weather Alert in New Mexico
Red Flag Warning issued March 13 at 1:23PM MDT until March 15 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
AREAS AFFECTED: Capitan And Sacramento Mountains
DESCRIPTION: ...CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ACROSS SOUTHWEST, SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS... High pressure nudging in from the west is causing temperatures to be well above seasonal averages, and relative humidity to be critically low. Daily highs this weekend will average over 10 degrees above normal, as relative humidity drops into the low teens and single-digits both days, with very poor overnight recovery. A two-day trough passage to our north will add increased winds mid afternoon on Saturday, which will continue and further strengthen overnight into Sunday. These winds combined with single digit RH's, warm temperatures, and drying fuels will lead to critical fire weather conditions. The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions across the Sacramento mountains, which is in effect from 3 PM Saturday to 6 PM MDT Sunday. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 113, the Capitan and Sacramento Mountains, including the Lincoln National Forest. * TIMING...Mid afternoon Saturday, Saturday night, through Sunday afternoon. * WINDS...West 30 to 40 mph with gusts 50 to 60 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 7 to 10 percent, recovering only to 18-28 percent overnight * TEMPERATURES...Above normal, up to 76. * WIND...West to southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph on Saturday. Northwest winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 55 mph Saturday night through Sunday afternoon. * HUMIDITY...7 to 14 percent. * HIGHEST THREAT...is located on the eastern slopes of the Sacramento Mountains. * EXPERIMENTAL RFTI... 4 to 5 Marginally critical to critical. * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
INSTRUCTION: 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.
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Weather Topic: What is Rain?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Rain
Next Topic: Shelf Clouds
Precipitation in the form of water droplets is called rain.
Rain generally has a tendency to fall with less intensity over a greater period
of time, and when rainfall is more severe it is usually less sustained.
Rain is the most common form of precipitation and happens with greater frequency
depending on the season and regional influences. Cities have been shown to have
an observable effect on rainfall, due to an effect called the urban heat island.
Compared to upwind, monthly rainfall between twenty and forty miles downwind of
cities is 30% greater.
Next Topic: Shelf Clouds
Weather Topic: What is Sleet?
Home - Education - Precipitation - Sleet
Next Topic: Snow
Sleet is a form of precipitation in which small ice pellets are the primary
components. These ice pellets are smaller and more translucent than hailstones,
and harder than graupel. Sleet is caused by specific atmospheric conditions and
therefore typically doesn't last for extended periods of time.
The condition which leads to sleet formation requires a warmer body of air to be
wedged in between two sub-freezing bodies of air. When snow falls through a warmer
layer of air it melts, and as it falls through the next sub-freezing body of air
it freezes again, forming ice pellets known as sleet. In some cases, water
droplets don't have time to freeze before reaching the surface and the result is
freezing rain.
Next Topic: Snow
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