Albuquerque, N.M. – High fire danger grips much of the Southwest today as gusty winds and bone-dry air trigger Red Flag Warnings across New Mexico, Arizona, and far West Texas.
According to the National Weather Service, sustained winds from 25 to 40 mph—with gusts up to 60 mph—will sweep through regions including Albuquerque, the White Mountains, and the Tularosa Basin. The warnings remain in effect until 9 p.m. MDT for areas such as the Middle Rio Grande Valley, Sandia Mountains, and El Paso County, where relative humidity is expected to drop to 5–12 percent.
In Arizona, the most at-risk zones stretch from the Chuska Mountains to Cochise County, with the Flagstaff and Tucson offices noting wind gusts up to 45 mph and humidity plunging to 8 percent. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged as fire can ignite and spread rapidly under these conditions…