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Published: 23 April 2013 23 April 2013


URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
758 AM MDT TUE APR 23 2013

...DANGEROUS RED FLAG CONDITIONS EXPECTED THURSDAY ACROSS THE GILA
REGION...SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO LOWLANDS INCLUDING THE BOOTHEEL AND
FAR WEST TEXAS...

.AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
COAST...WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION OVERNIGHT ON WEDNESDAY. AS THE
LOW APPROACHES EARLY THURSDAY...STRENGTHENING WINDS ALOFT WILL
BEGIN TO MIX DOWN TO THE SURFACE. TRACK OF LOW WILL ALSO GENERATE
A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH OVER SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
COMBINED EFFECTS FROM MIX DOWN OF THESE WINDS AND SURFACE TROUGH
DEVELOPMENT...WILL SUPPORT SUSTAINED SOUTHWEST 20-FOOT WINDS OF
20 MPH OR MORE WITH GUSTS OF 35 MPH OR MORE STARTING THURSDAY
AFTERNOON. THIS WILL OCCUR IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES UNDER 15% ARE EXPECTED...ALONG WITH HIGH OR GREATER
FORECAST FIRE DANGERS. AS A RESULT...DANGEROUS RED FLAG CRITICAL
FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY
THURSDAY EVENING.

NMZ110>112-TXZ055-240200-
/O.NEW.KEPZ.FW.A.0017.130425T1900Z-130426T0300Z/
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS-
SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE VALLEY-EL PASO-
758 AM MDT TUE APR 23 2013

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 055...110...111 AND 112...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA HAS
ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING.

* EVENT: FIRE WEATHER ...ZONE 110 SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS. FIRE
  WEATHER ZONE 111 SOUTHWEST DESERTS AND LOWLANDS. FIRE WEATHER
  ZONE 112 SOUTH CENTRAL LOWLANDS AND SOUTHERN RIO GRANDE
  VALLEY. FIRE WEATHER ZONE 055 EL PASO.

* TIMING: ...1 PM THURSDAY TO 9 PM THURSDAY EVENING.

* WIND: WEST-SOUTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH OR
  MORE.

* HUMIDITY: 8% TO 15%

* IMPACTS...ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY.
  OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.