519
WWUS85 KABQ 171806
RFWABQ
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
1206 PM MDT SUN MAY 17 2026
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT TODAY
DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PARTS OF WESTERN,
MUCH OF CENTRAL, AND ALL EASTERN NEW MEXICO...
...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY DUE TO
STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHWESTERN, MUCH OF
CENTRAL, AND ALL OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO...
.AFTER A MORNING OF VERY POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERY, HUMIDITY VALUES
WILL PLUMMET EVEN LOWER THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO
INCREASE THROUGH THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS OF 35 TO 45
MPH BEING COMMON, SETTING THE STAGE FOR CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE
BEHAVIOR. WINDS WILL DECREASE SOME AROUND SUNSET, BUT WILL STILL
REMAIN BREEZY, IF NOT LOCALLY WINDY, IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS OVERNIGHT.
THIS WILL BE COUPLED WITH ANOTHER NIGHT OF POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERY.
ANOTHER ROUND OF CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS IS THEN
EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHWEST, CENTRAL AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO THROUGH
THE DAY MONDAY WITH EVEN STRONGER WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 60 MPH ACROSS
EASTERN NEW MEXICO. SEVERAL HOURS OF SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITY VALUES
ARE EXPECTED ACROSS EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AGAIN
MONDAY AFTERNOON.
NMZ104-106-109-121-123>126-180300-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0037.260518T1500Z-260519T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0038.260518T1500Z-260519T0300Z/
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0037.000000T0000Z-260518T0300Z/
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-
1206 PM MDT SUN MAY 17 2026
..RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
..RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE NM HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY.
* AFFECTED AREA...NORTHEAST PLAINS (ZONE 104), MIDDLE RIO GRANDE
VALLEY (ZONE 106), WEST CENTRAL BASIN AND RANGE (ZONE 109), UPPER
RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY (ZONE 121),
NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS (ZONE 123), SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS (ZONE
124), CENTRAL HIGHLANDS (ZONE 125), AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS (ZONE
126).
* TIMING...FOR THE FIRST RED FLAG WARNING, UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS
EVENING. FOR THE SECOND RED FLAG WARNING, FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM MDT
MONDAY.
* 20 FOOT WINDS...FOR THE FIRST RED FLAG WARNING SOUTHWEST WINDS 15
TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH, AND FOR THE SECOND RED FLAG
WARNING SOUTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...FOR THE FIRST RED FLAG WARNING RELATIVE
HUMIDITY BETWEEN 5 TO 12 PERCENT, AND FOR THE SECOND RED FLAG
WARNING RELATIVE HUMIDITY BETWEEN 7 TO 15 PERCENT.
* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR
BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD
OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.
NMZ122-180300-
/O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0037.260518T1500Z-260519T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0038.260518T1500Z-260519T0300Z/
SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
1206 PM MDT SUN MAY 17 2026
..RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE NM HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY.
* AFFECTED AREA...SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS (ZONE 122).
* TIMING...FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY.
* 20 FOOT WINDS...WEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY BETWEEN 12 TO 20 PERCENT.
* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR
BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD
OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.
NMZ105-180300-
/O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0037.000000T0000Z-260518T0300Z/
WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
1206 PM MDT SUN MAY 17 2026
..RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
* AFFECTED AREA...WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS (ZONE 105).
* TIMING...UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING.
* 20 FOOT WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40
MPH.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY BETWEEN 8 TO 15 PERCENT.
* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR
BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD
OF THIS RED FLAG WARNING.
SHOEMAKE
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page