Weather Alert in New Mexico

Recent Locations: Silver City, NM

Red Flag Warning issued May 12 at 4:02AM MDT until May 12 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

AREAS AFFECTED: Southwest Deserts and Lowlands

DESCRIPTION: ...EXTENDED DURATION OF CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS AREAWIDE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... .Approaching low pressure system moving on shore over the Pacific Northwest will induce stronger flow aloft across the Desert Southwest this week. The currently present ridge of high pressure will begin breaking down today, with winds strengthening across the southwest deserts and lowlands amongst very low humidity. Winds will strengthen further Tuesday through Wednesday areawide, with gusts around 50 mph common in the afternoon. Already present dry air will create critical to extreme fire weather conditions for southern New Mexico and far west Texas for both Tuesday and Wednesday. ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS... The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has issued a Red Flag Warning for Elevated to Critical fire weather conditions across the lowlands of Southwest New Mexico, which is in effect from 2 PM to 8 PM MDT Monday. A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued for Critical and Extreme fire weather conditions for both Tuesday and Wednesday. * AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 111 Southwest Deserts and Lowlands/Las Cruces BLM/GLZ. * TIMING...Monday and Tuesday afternoon and evening. * WINDS...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph for Monday; 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph for Tuesday and Wednesday. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 8 percent. * TEMPERATURES...Up to 93. * EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...4 to 5 or Critical on Monday and 6 to 7 or Critical to Extreme on Tuesday and Wednesday. * 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. A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.

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Weather Topic: What are Cirrostratus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cirrostratus Clouds

Next Topic: Cirrus Clouds

Cirrostratus clouds are high, thin clouds that form above 20,000 feet and are made mostly of ice crystals. They sometimes look like giant feathers, horse tails, or curls of hair in the sky. These clouds are pushed by the jet stream and can move at high speeds reaching 100 mph.

What do they indicate?
They indicate that a precipitation is likely within 24 hours.

Next Topic: Cirrus Clouds

Weather Topic: What is Condensation?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Condensation

Next Topic: Contrails

Condensation is the process which creates clouds, and therefore it is a crucial process in the water cycle. Condensation is the change of matter from a state of gas into a state of liquid, and it happens because water molecules release heat into the atmosphere and become organized into a more closely packed structure, what we might see as water droplets.

Water is always present in the air around us as a vapor, but it's too small for us to see. When water undergoes the process of condensation it becomes organized into visible water droplets. You've probably seen condensation happen before on the surface of a cold drink!

Next Topic: Contrails