{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.8bac88ba6321cf0b9da6de521b438a1d18323f31.002.3","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Fire Weather Watch issued May 16 at 11:14AM MDT until May 18 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-05-16","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.8bac88ba6321cf0b9da6de521b438a1d18323f31.002.3","accession_number":null,"cik":null,"ticker":null,"issuer_name":null,"edgar_url":null,"primary_entity_key":null,"primary_entity_name":"NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM"},"word_count":384,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Fire Weather Watch: Fire Weather Watch issued May 16 at 11:14AM MDT until May 18 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM\n\n**Severity:** Severe\n**Certainty:** Possible\n**Urgency:** Future\n**Areas:** Southwest Mountains; Southwest Deserts and Lowlands; South Central Lowlands And Southern Rio Grande Valley; El Paso\n**Issued by:** NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM\n**Sent:** 2026-05-16T11:14:00-06:00\n**Effective:** 2026-05-16T11:14:00-06:00\n**Expires:** 2026-05-17T06:00:00-06:00\n\n## Description\n...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS POSSIBLE SUNDAY...\n\n.An upper level trough carving out over the Central Rockies will\nbring increasing southwest winds to the region over the next\ncouple of days, while Relative Humidity values remain very low,\nand fuels remain critically dry. Winds aloft will begin to\nincrease late tonight, with favored downslope areas seeing near-\nRed Flag conditions during the overnight and pre-dawn hours, as\ngusty winds help to create very poor RH recovery. Winds will stay\nstrong along north and east-facing slopes Sunday night, and Red\nFlag conditions may persist through Sunday Night into Monday in\nthose favored areas.\n\n...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH\nMONDAY EVENING FOR THE SAME AREA...\n\nThe National Weather Service in El Paso has issued a Red Flag\nWarning for strong winds and low humidity, which is in effect\nfrom noon Sunday to midnight MDT Sunday night. A Fire Weather\nWatch has also been issued from Monday afternoon through Monday\nevening.\n\n* AFFECTED AREA...All of southwest and south-central New Mexico,\nincluding the Gila Region and the lowland deserts. Also, El Paso\nCounty in Texas. This area includes New Mexico Fire Weather\nZones 110, 111, and 112, and Texas Fire Weather Zone 055.\n\n* TIMING...Red Flag Warning on Sunday from Noon through Midnight.\nFire Weather Watch for Monday afternoon and evening.\n\n* WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph on\nSunday, and slightly lower on Monday.\n\n* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 5 percent.\n\n* TEMPERATURES...Up to 90.\n\n* LIGHTNING...None expected.\n\n* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...4 to 5.\n\n* IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.\nOutdoor burning is not recommended.\n\n## Instructions\nA Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions\nare either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of\nstrong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can\ncontribute to extreme fire behavior.\n\nA Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions\nare forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible\nRed Flag Warnings."}