Weather Alert in New Mexico

Recent Locations: Plant City, FL Plainfield, IL Lake Arthur, NM

Current Alerts for Lake Arthur, NM: High Wind Watch Red Flag Warning

Fire Weather Watch issued March 14 at 4:41AM MDT until March 15 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

AREAS AFFECTED: Northeast Plains; Northeast Highlands; Central Highlands

DESCRIPTION: ...RED FLAG WARNING TODAY FROM NOON UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NORTHEAST PLAINS, AND CENTRAL HIGHLANDS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH SUNDAY FOR ALL OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NM FROM 9 AM THROUGH 8 PM DUE TO STRONG TO SEVERE WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... .Critical fire weather conditions will impact much of central and northern NM through the weekend, particularly on Sunday. For today, westerly winds will increase areawide, but will start earlier and linger longer across the central to northeastern highlands and into the northeastern plains of New Mexico. On Sunday, much more widespread critical fire weather will develop. Winds will turn very strong to potentially damaging as both a Pacific and backdoor cold front pass through the area on Sunday. With gusts between 40 and 65 mph and single digit humidity values in many areas, critical to extreme fire weather conditions are likely despite cooling temperatures. * AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Plains (Zone 104), Northeast Highlands (Zone 123), and Central Highlands (Zone 125) today from noon until midnight and again on Sunday from 9 AM through 8 PM. * 20 FOOT WINDS...For today, west winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 35 to 40 mph. On Sunday, northwest and north winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...For today, minimum values between 6 and 10 percent. On Sunday, minimum values between 6 and 15 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is discouraged. On Sunday, 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 should not be done.

INSTRUCTION: Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning and 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