Fire Weather Watch Thursday for Central Highlands Amid Record Heat and Critical Wind Conditions
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Fire Weather Watch for the Sandia and Manzano Mountains, Central Highlands, Northeast Highlands, and Northeast Plains, in effect Thursday, March 26, from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. MDT.
This watch comes as the region enters an extended stretch of record high temperatures, with forecasters predicting conditions 20 to 30 degrees above average for late March. The combination of extreme heat, strong winds, and dangerously low humidity will create critical fire weather across Torrance County and surrounding areas.
West and southwest winds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are forecast throughout the day, with wind direction shifting to the northwest late in the afternoon. These wind speeds are driven by an upper level trough moving eastward along the Colorado and New Mexico border, combined with a potent surface trough in the lee of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Relative humidity will plummet to between 5 and 12 percent, creating exceptionally dry conditions across the region.
Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. The combination of record heat, strong gusty winds, and single-digit humidity will make fire containment extremely difficult. Residents of Mountainair, Estancia, and the Central Highlands are strongly urged to avoid any outdoor burning on Thursday. Those with scheduled prescribed burns or controlled fires should postpone operations until conditions improve.
Residents should also be alert to the fire risk posed by equipment use, discarded items, or unattended campfires during these critical conditions. A single spark in these conditions could result in a rapidly spreading fire that overwhelms local response capabilities.
For the latest forecast updates, visit the Albuquerque office of the National Weather Service. Torrance County residents can receive timely alerts by signing up for TextMyGov notifications:
- Text TORRANCE COUNTY to 80946 for general and emergency alerts
- Text TORRANCE FIRE ALERTS to 80946 for information on prescribed burns or active fires in the area
- Text TORRANCE NWS to 80946 for weather-related alerts