Record High Temps - High Winds - Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions!

Bulldog Bowl Flag In Artesia, NM.

Long May It Wave Over Our Great Nation!

Hot, Dry, Windy Weekend!

A strong storm will move eastward from the West Coast, and towards New Mexico this weekend. The models haven't resolved the fine details concerning this impacts upon the state that this system will have, even so southeastern New Mexico looks to remain high and dry.

Ahead of the approaching storm and its associated cold front, very hot weather will be on tap for the local area today into Sunday. Near record to record high temperatures are forecast. Highs will range from near 90 today, to 95-100 on Saturday, and the low-mid 90's on Sunday. A few spots may even tie or set new all-time April high temperature records this weekend, especially on Sunday when some of us will approach or possibly exceed 100 degrees. A cold front will slide eastward across the area sometime between Sunday night and Monday night, and this should drop out high temperatures down into the 60's on Monday.

As has been the case all winter long and so far this spring; hot, dry southwesterly winds are forecast across the area this weekend. These winds will gust up to around 35-40 mph on Saturday. Sunday will see sustained winds in the 20-30 mph range with gusts up to around 45-55 mph across the lower elevations of SE NM. A High Wind Watch has been posted for the Guadalupe Mountains on Sunday for southwesterly winds of around 35 - 45G60 mph.

Critically Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions are forecast for the area today into Sunday. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for today, and a Fire Weather Watch has been posted for the area on Saturday. I wouldn't be surprised to see Extremely Critically Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions develop on Sunday. Red Flag Warnings can be anticipated for Saturday and Sunday. There will be the potential for large wind driven fires across the local area on Sunday in the high winds and extremely dry conditions should any accidental fires break out.

Areas of blowing dust may cause some travel problems across the area on Sunday in the high winds. This will be especially true near freshly plowed or exposed farmlands, fields, lots, and construction sites. Sudden drops in the visibility down to near zero at times with little to no advanced warning will be possible in these areas.

The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction!