Real Time

Areas

Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley; Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin; Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley; East Central Tularosa Basin/Alamogordo; Southeast Tularosa Basin; Western El Paso County; Eastern/Central El Paso County; Northern Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains; Salt Basin; Rio Grande Valley of Eastern El Paso/Western Hudspeth Counties

Note

Description

* WHAT...Visibility between one-quarter and one mile in blowing dust expected. * WHERE...In New Mexico, East Central Tularosa Basin/Alamogordo, Southeast Tularosa Basin, Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley, Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley, and Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin. In Texas, Eastern/Central El Paso County, Northern Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains, Rio Grande Valley of Eastern El Paso/Western Hudspeth Counties, Salt Basin, and Western El Paso County. * WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 8 PM MDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hazardous driving conditions due to reduced visibility. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Major roadways with the highest risk for hazardous driving conditions: - Interstate 10 between Las Cruces and Sierra Blanca TX - Interstate 10 between Lordsburg and AZ State Line - US Highway 54 between El Paso and Alamogordo - US Highway 62/180 between El Paso and Dell City

Instruction

Persons with respiratory problems should make preparations to stay indoors until the storm passes. Be ready for a sudden drop in visibility to near zero. If you encounter blowing dust or blowing sand on the roadway or see it approaching, pull off the road as far as possible and put your vehicle in park. Turn the lights all the way off and keep foot off the brake pedal. Remember, 'Pull Aside, Stay Alive'.

Areas

Luna, NM

Note

Description

The National Weather Service in El Paso has issued a * Dust Storm Warning for... Eastern Luna County in southwestern New Mexico... * Until 445 PM MDT. * At 1140 AM MDT, an area of blowing dust was over east central Luna County. HAZARD...Near zero visibility with strong winds up to 40 mph. SOURCE...Department of Transportation Officials. IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel. * This includes Interstate 10 in New Mexico between mile markers 80 and 109. Locations impacted include... Columbus, Deming, Akela, Sunshine, Rock Hound State Park, Uvas Valley, Spring Canyon State Park, and Camel Mountain.

Instruction

Dust storms lead to dangerous driving conditions with visibility reduced to near zero. If driving, avoid dust storms if possible. If caught in one, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your foot off the brake. Motorists should not drive into a dust storm. PULL ASIDE STAY ALIVE!

Areas

Southwest Mountains; Southwest Deserts and Lowlands; South Central Lowlands And Southern Rio Grande Valley; Capitan And Sacramento Mountains; El Paso; Hudspeth

Note

Description

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY AND MONDAY FOR SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS... .Jet streak of strong wind aloft crossing the Southern Rockies will induce low surface pressure over the southern High Plains this afternoon and again on Monday. Subsequent tightening of the surface pressure gradient will increase winds area wide from the west-southwest. Peak wind gusts to 45 mph over the high terrain, gaps, and east slopes are expected. Very dry air remains in place while winds increase, creating critical fire danger for southern New Mexico and far west Texas. Recent dryness has increased fuel ERCs back to above normal and any fires that develop have the potential to spread rapidly. ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS... * AFFECTED AREA...In Texas, Fire Weather Zone 055 El Paso County, Fire Weather Zone 056 Hudspeth County. In New Mexico, Fire Weather Zone 110 Southwest Mountains/Gila NF/Apache NF/GLZ, Fire Weather Zone 111 Southwest Deserts and Lowlands/Las Cruces BLM/GLZ, Fire Weather Zone 112 South Central Lowlands and Southern Rio Grande Valley/BLM/GLZ and Fire Weather Zone 113 Capitan and Sacramento Mountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ. * TIMING...For today, 11 AM to 9 PM. For Monday, 12 PM to 9 PM. * WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...5 to 10 percent. * EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...5 to 7 or Critical to Extreme. * 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.

Areas

Southwest Mountains; Southwest Deserts and Lowlands; South Central Lowlands And Southern Rio Grande Valley; Capitan And Sacramento Mountains; El Paso; Hudspeth

Note

Description

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY AND MONDAY FOR SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS... .Jet streak of strong wind aloft crossing the Southern Rockies will induce low surface pressure over the southern High Plains this afternoon and again on Monday. Subsequent tightening of the surface pressure gradient will increase winds area wide from the west-southwest. Peak wind gusts to 45 mph over the high terrain, gaps, and east slopes are expected. Very dry air remains in place while winds increase, creating critical fire danger for southern New Mexico and far west Texas. Recent dryness has increased fuel ERCs back to above normal and any fires that develop have the potential to spread rapidly. ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT MONDAY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS... * AFFECTED AREA...In Texas, Fire Weather Zone 055 El Paso County, Fire Weather Zone 056 Hudspeth County. In New Mexico, Fire Weather Zone 110 Southwest Mountains/Gila NF/Apache NF/GLZ, Fire Weather Zone 111 Southwest Deserts and Lowlands/Las Cruces BLM/GLZ, Fire Weather Zone 112 South Central Lowlands and Southern Rio Grande Valley/BLM/GLZ and Fire Weather Zone 113 Capitan and Sacramento Mountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ. * TIMING...For today, 11 AM to 9 PM. For Monday, 12 PM to 9 PM. * WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...5 to 10 percent. * EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...5 to 7 or Critical to Extreme. * 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.

Areas

Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley; Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin; Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley; East Central Tularosa Basin/Alamogordo; Southeast Tularosa Basin; Western El Paso County; Eastern/Central El Paso County; Northern Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains; Salt Basin; Rio Grande Valley of Eastern El Paso/Western Hudspeth Counties

Note

Description

* WHAT...Visibility between one-quarter and one mile in blowing dust expected. * WHERE...In New Mexico, East Central Tularosa Basin/Alamogordo, Southeast Tularosa Basin, Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley, Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley, and Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin. In Texas, Eastern/Central El Paso County, Northern Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains, Rio Grande Valley of Eastern El Paso/Western Hudspeth Counties, Salt Basin, and Western El Paso County. * WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 8 PM MDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hazardous driving conditions due to reduced visibility. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Major roadways with the highest risk for hazardous driving conditions: - Interstate 10 between Las Cruces and Sierra Blanca TX - Interstate 10 between Lordsburg and AZ State Line - US Highway 54 between El Paso and Alamogordo - US Highway 62/180 between El Paso and Dell City

Instruction

Persons with respiratory problems should make preparations to stay indoors until the storm passes. Be ready for a sudden drop in visibility to near zero. If you encounter blowing dust or blowing sand on the roadway or see it approaching, pull off the road as far as possible and put your vehicle in park. Turn the lights all the way off and keep foot off the brake pedal. Remember, 'Pull Aside, Stay Alive'.