{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.8bac88ba6321cf0b9da6de521b438a1d18323f31.003.2","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Red Flag Warning issued May 16 at 11:14AM MDT until May 18 at 12:00AM 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%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.8bac88ba6321cf0b9da6de521b438a1d18323f31.003.2","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":458,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Red Flag Warning: Red Flag Warning issued May 16 at 11:14AM MDT until May 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM\n\n**Severity:** Severe\n**Certainty:** Likely\n**Urgency:** Expected\n**Areas:** Capitan And Sacramento Mountains\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 IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT 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 from\n7 AM Sunday to midnight MDT Sunday night. A Fire Weather Watch\nhas also been issued from late Sunday night through Monday\nevening.\n\n* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 113 Capitan and Sacramento\nMountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ.\n\n* TIMING...Near Red Flag conditions will develop this afternoon\nalong north and east facing mountain slopes. Winds may diminish\nbriefly in the evening, but will begin to ramp up again late in\nthe night. Relative humidity recovery will be very poor in these\nlocations, and Red Flag Conditions will develop by early morning\nas winds increase further. Red Flag conditions will develop over\na wider area by late morning. Strong winds and poor RH recovery\nare expected again Sunday night along north and east facing\nslopes. This is a rare situation where Red Flag conditions may\nlast through the night in favored downslope wind areas. Thus, a\nFire Weather Watch is in effect starting Midnight Sunday night,\nand through the day Monday, when stronger winds will develop\nacross a wider area again.\n\n* WINDS...Southwest 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.\n\n* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 5 to 8 percent with very poor\nrecovery along north and east facing slopes.\n\n* EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...5 to 6.\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."}