Albuquerque, NM – An extreme fire danger is in effect for much of New Mexico through Tuesday evening as gusty winds and critically low humidity combine to create dangerous conditions. The primary threat will be any new or existing fires, which could spread rapidly and unpredictably. Residents are urged to avoid any outdoor burning and remain vigilant.
According to the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, a Red Flag Warning is active from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday for the Northwest Plateau, West Central Mountains, and the Middle Rio Grande Valley. Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph are expected, with some gusts reaching as high as 35 mph. The already dry fuels from recent lightning strikes, paired with single-digit relative humidity, will elevate the fire risk significantly.
Looking ahead to the rest of the week, conditions will remain hot and mostly dry. Wednesday is expected to be sunny with a high near 99 degrees, though winds will be lighter. For the Juneteenth holiday on Thursday, temperatures are set to climb even higher, topping out near 101 degrees under sunny skies. The heat continues into the weekend with clear conditions prevailing.
A slight chance for isolated storms may not arrive until early next week, offering little immediate relief from the dry conditions. Officials remind the public that the Red Flag Warning means that outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Any spark could ignite a blaze that spreads quickly.
Here is the five-day forecast for Albuquerque:
- Tuesday: [HOT] Sunny with a high near 98. Windy.
- Wednesday: [CLEAR] Sunny with a high near 99.
- Thursday: [HOT] Sunny with a high near 101.
- Friday: [HOT] Sunny with a high near 102.
- Saturday: [HOT] Sunny with a high near 101.
