Weather Alert in New Mexico

Recent Locations: Newton Lower Falls, MA Montesano, WA Rowe, NM

Fire Weather Watch issued March 12 at 8:02PM MDT until March 14 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

AREAS AFFECTED: Northwest Plateau; West Central Mountains; West Central Basin and Range; North Central Mountains; Upper Rio Grande Valley and Lower Chama River Valley; Sangre de Cristo Mountains; Sandia and Manzano Mountains

DESCRIPTION: ...RED FLAG WARNING FRIDAY FROM NOON UNTIL 8 PM FOR THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH SATURDAY FROM NOON UNTIL 10 PM FOR WEST CENTRAL NM, NORTHERN NM, SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS, AND CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WIND AND LOW HUMIDITY... Lighter winds across the eastern plains and northeast highlands on Friday, but they will remain strong enough across the Central Highlands for another round of critical fire weather conditions during the afternoon and early evening hours. Critical fire weather conditions will then become more extreme and widespread this weekend as a sharp upper level trough crossing the northern and central Rockies steers a strong jetstream over New Mexico with a potent surface trough in the lee of the southern Rockies. * AREA AND TIMING...West Central Basin and Range (Zone 109), West Central Mountains (Zone 105), Northwest Plateau (Zone 101), North Central Mountains (Zone 120), Upper Rio Grande and Lower Chama River Valley (Zone 121), Sangre de Cristo Mountains (Zone 122), and Sandia and Manzano Mountains (Zone 124) Saturday from noon until 10 PM. * 20 FOOT WINDS...West winds 20 to 40 mph with peak gusts of 45 to 60 mph. The strongest winds will be during the evening. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 6 and 15 percent with locally higher values across the peaks of the Tusas Mountains and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and will be hard to control. Long range spotting and extreme fire behavior will be possible. Outdoor burning is discouraged.

INSTRUCTION: Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Fire Weather Watch.

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Weather Topic: What are Fractus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Fractus Clouds

Fractus Clouds Next Topic: Freezing Rain

A fractus cloud (scud) is a fragmented, tattered cloud which has likely been sheared off of another cloud. They are accessory clouds, meaning they develop from parent clouds, and are named in a way which describes the original cloud which contained them.

Fractus clouds which have originated from cumulus clouds are referred to as cumulus fractus, while fractus clouds which have originated from stratus clouds are referred to as stratus fractus. Under certain conditions a fractus cloud might merge with another cloud, or develop into a cumulus cloud, but usually a fractus cloud seen by itself will dissipate rapidly.

They are often observed on the leading and trailing edges of storm clouds, and are a display of wind activity.

Next Topic: Freezing Rain

Weather Topic: What is Graupel?

Home - Education - Precipitation - Graupel

Graupel Next Topic: Hail

Graupel is a form of precipitation that is created by atmospheric conditions which cause supercooled water droplets to contact snow crystals and freeze to their surface.

Sometimes known as soft hail or snow pellets, graupel is delicate and easily destroyed by touch. Whereas hail usually falls during severe weather, graupel doesn't require such conditions to form, and can form in mild precipitation similar to situations which produce snowfall.

Next Topic: Hail