Weather

Southern Gila Foothills/Mimbres Valley-
Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley-Lowlands of the Bootheel- Uplands of the Bootheel-Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin- Sierra County Lakes-Northern Dona Ana County- Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley-Otero Mesa- Central Grant County/Silver City Area- West Central Tularosa Basin/White Sands- East Central Tularosa Basin/Alamogordo-Southeast Tularosa Basin- Western El Paso County-Eastern/Central El Paso County- Northern Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains-Salt Basin-
Southern Hudspeth Highlands- Rio Grande Valley of Eastern El Paso/Western Hudspeth Counties- Rio Grande Valley of Eastern Hudspeth County-

Including the cities of Hurley, Faywood, Grant County Airport, Lordsburg, Red Rock, Virden, Antelope Wells, Animas, Hachita, Cloverdale, Deming, Columbus,

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS SUNDAY FOR FAR WEST TEXAS AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO... A passing upper level disturbance will bring breezy to strong west-northwest winds and critical fire weather conditions to the area today. Relative humidity values remain low for Fire Weather Zone 113 this morning as winds strengthen. The timing of critical fire weather conditions is unusual today as winds subside this afternoon; the strongest winds will overlap higher relative humidities. Also, rapid drying of fuels and presence of dead fuels in both the Gila and Lincoln National Forests have increased the risk of fire spread. Winds will shift northwesterly then north later in the day as a strong cold front arrives.

Southwest Mountains/Gila NF/Apache NF/GLZ-
South Central Lowlands and Southern Rio Grande Valley/BLM/GLZ- Texas Fire Weather Zone 055
El Paso County- Texas Fire Weather Zone 056
Hudspeth County-
1229 AM MDT Sun Mar 15 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR BREEZY CONDITIONS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
FAR WEST TEXAS AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO...

CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ACROSS SOUTHWEST, SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS... High pressure nudging in from the west is causing temperatures to be well above seasonal averages, and relative humidity to be critically low. Daily highs this weekend will average over 10 degrees above normal, as relative humidity drops into the low teens and single-digits both days, with very poor overnight recovery. A two-day trough passage to our north will add increased winds mid afternoon on Saturday, which will continue and further strengthen overnight into Sunday. These winds combined with single digit RH's, warm temperatures, and drying fuels will lead to critical fire weather conditions.

123 PM MDT Fri Mar 13 2026

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM TO 10 PM MDT SATURDAY FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE GILA REGION AND BLACK
RANGE...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH NOW IN EFFECT SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR
GUSTY WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS...

CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY... Gusty winds and very low relative humidities are expected for Saturday ahead of a strong upper level trough moving into the Rockies. West to southwest winds of 15-25 mph with gusts over 35 mph are possible in the Sacramento Mountains. These winds combined with single digit RH's and drying fuels will lead to critical fire weather conditions. A second day of gusty winds is expected on Sunday with winds of 15-25 mph, overspreading all of South Central and Southwestern NM, which will combine with very low relative humidities to create critical fire weather conditions. ERCs are relatively higher across the Gila National Forest, but with recent beetle die-off, the Gila is included within the Fire Weather Watch for Sunday.

Southwest Mountains/Gila NF/Apache NF/GLZ-
South Central Lowlands and Southern Rio Grande Valley/BLM/GLZ-
Texas Fire Weather Zone 055 El Paso County- Texas Fire Weather Zone 056 Hudspeth County-331 AM MDT Fri Mar 13 2026

DEMING: Closure
Closure, NM 549 eastbound and westbound at mile marker 22, will have lanes closed due to CMV blocking travel lanes.

DEMING: Lane Closure
Lane Closure, I 10 westbound at mile marker 110, 25 miles east of Deming, will have lane closed with maintainers in the area performing guardrail maintenance. This closure will be lifted at approximately 3:00 pm.

Eastern Black Range Foothills NM-
Southern Gila Foothills/Mimbres Valley NM-Uplands of the Bootheel NM-
Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin NM-Lowlands of the Bootheel NM-
Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley NM-
Upper Gila River Valley NM-
Southern Gila Region Highlands/Black Range NM-
Central Grant County/Silver City Area NM-
820 PM MDT Mon Mar 9 2026

...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY SHOWERS WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN
NEW MEXICO THIS EVENING...

At 816 PM MDT, radar showed scattered showers and a few isolated thunderstorms over southwestern New Mexico, moving north. These storms have pushed into a very dry environment, which will cause much of the rain to evaporate before reaching the ground. But lightning strikes are occurring, and the evaporative cooling could
result in gusty outflow winds of 35 to 45 mph. That is enough to loft dust in some areas. Dangerous blowing dust conditions cannot be ruled out along I-10 at Lordsburg Playa this evening.

LORDSBURG: Lane Closure

Lane Closure, NM 90 northbound and southbound from mile marker 24, 1 mile south of White Signal to mile marker 25, White Signal, will have lanes intermittently closed with maintainers in the area performing road maintenance. A flagging operation will be in place. This closure will be lifted at approximately 4:30 pm.

DEMING: Lane Closure
Lane Closure, NM 11 northbound and southbound from mile marker 6, 2 miles north of Columbus to mile marker 20, 6 miles south of Sunshine, will have lanes intermittently closed with maintainers in the area performing road maintenance. A flagging operation will be in place. This closure will be lifted at approximately 4:30 pm.

HATCH: Lane Closure
Hatch Patrol Maintainers will begin making repairs to NM 26 from mile marker 38 to 39 just past the Uvas Dairy. Lanes closures will be in place with a flagging operation, be prepared to stop. Operations will be in place daily from 7 am to 4 pm from Monday, March 2 through Friday, March 6, 2026.

ANIMAS: Lane Closure
Lane Closure, NM 9 westbound from mile marker 31, 11 miles east of Antelope to mile marker 32, 12 miles east of Antelope, will have lanes intermittently closed with maintainers in the area performing shoulder maintenance. A flagging operation will be in place. This closure will be lifted at approximately 3:30 pm.

LORDSBURG: Lane Closure
Lane Closure, NM 90 northbound and southbound from mile marker 24, 1 mile south of White Signal to mile marker 25, White Signal, will have lanes intermittently closed with maintainers in the area performing road maintenance. A flagging operation will be in place. This closure will be lifted at approximately 4:30 pm.

SILVER CITY: Lane Closure
Lane Closure, NM 15 northbound and southbound from mile marker 1, Silver City to mile marker 6, 1 mile south of Pinos Altos, will have lanes intermittently closed with maintainers in the area performing tree trimming. A flagging operation will be in place. This closure will be lifted at approximately 4:00 pm.