{"url_path":"/weather/alerts/2.49.0.1.840.0.9ff00673ef19780018fcb16d73c76605ac89cb9c.001.1","section_key":"alert","section_title":"Fire Weather Watch issued May 13 at 2:22PM MDT until May 14 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM","topic":"weather","document":{"doc_type":"alert","doc_date":"2026-05-13","source_url":"https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.9ff00673ef19780018fcb16d73c76605ac89cb9c.001.1","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":360,"has_tables":false,"body_markdown":"# Fire Weather Watch: Fire Weather Watch issued May 13 at 2:22PM MDT until May 14 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM\n\n**Severity:** Severe\n**Certainty:** Possible\n**Urgency:** Future\n**Areas:** Southwest Deserts and Lowlands; South Central Lowlands And Southern Rio Grande Valley; Capitan And Sacramento Mountains\n**Issued by:** NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM\n**Sent:** 2026-05-13T14:22:00-06:00\n**Effective:** 2026-05-13T14:22:00-06:00\n**Expires:** 2026-05-14T07:00:00-06:00\n\n## Description\n...MARGINALLY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR MUCH OF\nSOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO ON THURSDAY...\n\n.Hot and dry conditions will continue tomorrow, but as an upper\nlevel ridge shifts east of the area and breaks down, west to\nsouthwest winds will ramp up to around 18 to 22 mph with gusts\n30 to 35 mph in the afternoon. Meanwhile, minimum RH values will\ndip into the single digits in the lowlands, and the lower 10s\nbelow about 7500 feet. ERC values are around the 85th percentile,\nand continue to trend upwards, warranting a watch despite the\nmarginal winds.\n\nThe National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has\nissued a Fire Weather Watch for breezy and gusty winds and low\nrelative humidity, which is in effect from Thursday afternoon\nthrough Thursday evening.\n\n* AFFECTED AREA...New Mexico Fire Weather Zones 111, 112, and 113,\nencompassing the lowland deserts of southwest and south-central\nNew Mexico, and the Capitan and Sacramento Mountains and Lincoln\nNational Forest, particularly below 7500 feet.\n\n* TIMING...Winds will increase after 11 AM, peaking the afternoon\nand early evening.\n\n* WINDS...Southwest 18 to 22 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.\n\n* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum RH 7 to 9 percent in the desert\nlowlands, and 10 to 15 percent in the mountains below 7500 feet.\nMinimum RH values will be closer to 20 percent at the highest\nelevations.\n\n* TEMPERATURES...Highs in the middle 90s across the lowlands,\ndropping to the 70s above 7500 feet. Generally, 5 to 10 degrees\nabove normal.\n\n* LIGHTNING...None expected, though dry lightning strikes are a\nconcern in southwestern New Mexico today (Wednesday).\n\n* IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.\nOutdoor burning is not recommended.\n.\n\n## Instructions\nA Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions\nare forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible\nRed Flag Warnings."}