Weather Alert in New Mexico

Recent Locations: Saint Clairsville, OH   Rio Rancho, NM  

Fire Weather Watch issued February 16 at 12:23PM MST until February 18 at 7:00PM MST by NWS Albuquerque NM

AREAS AFFECTED: Middle Rio Grande Valley; Central Highlands

DESCRIPTION: ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 6 PM TODAY FOR THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM TUESDAY FOR THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NORTHEAST PLAINS, AND EAST-CENTRAL PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM WEDNESDAY FOR ALL OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... .Increasing southwest winds today combined with relative humidity values in the low teens will continue to result in critical fire weather conditions through this afternoon across the Northeast Highlands. Much stronger to damaging southwest to west winds will impact New Mexico Tuesday with critical fire weather over a larger area of eastern NM. Potential for peak wind gusts of 55 to 70 mph with minimum humidity values of 15 to 20% will allow for rapid fire spread among fine fuels. Another day of strong to potentially damaging winds are expected on Wednesday, and humidity values will be much lower than on Tuesday. Minimum humidity values on Wednesday will be between 8 and 18% across central and eastern NM. Any fires that are started on Tuesday may continue to burn through Wednesday. Critical fire weather conditions may also return on Thursday across eastern NM. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Fire Weather Watch...which is in effect from Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening. * AREA AND TIMING...Middle Rio Grande Valley (Zone 106) and Central Highlands (Zone 125) from late Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening. * 20 FOOT WINDS...West to southwest 20 to 35 mph with peak gusts between 45 and 55 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 11 and 18%. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

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

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Weather Topic: What are Mammatus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Mammatus Clouds

Mammatus Clouds Next Topic: Nimbostratus Clouds

A mammatus cloud is a cloud with a unique feature which resembles a web of pouches hanging along the base of the cloud.

In the United States, mammatus clouds tend to form in the warmer months, commonly in the Midwest and eastern regions.

While they usually form at the bottom of a cumulonimbis cloud, they can also form under altostratus, altocumulus, stratocumulus, and cirrus clouds. Mammatus clouds warn that severe weather is close.

Next Topic: Nimbostratus Clouds

Weather Topic: What is Precipitation?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Precipitation

Precipitation Next Topic: Rain

Precipitation can refer to many different forms of water that may fall from clouds. Precipitation occurs after a cloud has become saturated to the point where its water particles are more dense than the air below the cloud.

In most cases, precipitation will reach the ground, but it is not uncommon for precipitation to evaporate before it reaches the earth's surface. When precipitation evaporates before it contacts the ground it is called Virga. Graupel, hail, sleet, rain, drizzle, and snow are forms of precipitation, but fog and mist are not considered precipitation because the water vapor which constitutes them isn't dense enough to fall to the ground.

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