FNUS74 KEPZ 262314
FWSEPZ

FIRE WEATHER PLANNING FORECAST FOR POTATO...NM-LNF
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
514 PM MDT SAT MAY 26 2012

FORECAST IS BASED ON REQUEST TIME OF 1636 MDT ON MAY 26.
IF CONDITIONS BECOME UNREPRESENTATIVE...CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING...

.DISCUSSION...
UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER UTAH IS MOVING INTO THE CENTRAL ROCKIES
TONIGHT AND SUNDAY RESULTING IN BREEZY TO  GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS

DRIER AIR WILL PUSH EASTWARD TOMORROW...LOWERING HUMIDITY VALUES
IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS.  LINGERING
WINDS MAY REACH LOW-END RED FLAG CRITERIA AND A FIRE WEATHER WATCH
REMAINS IN PLACE FOR SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

LIGHTER NORTHWESTERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED ON MONDAY ACROSS THE AREA
AND THIS MAY CAUSE A SOUTHWARD DRIFT IN THE WHITEWATER-BALDY SMOKE
PLUME FOR THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK.  WINDS WILL REMAIN LIGHTER...
BUT A VERY DRY AIR MASS AND STEEP LOW AND MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES
WILL RESULT IN A HIGH HAINES INDEX IN THE 4 - 5 RANGE. THERE WILL BE SOME
BUT NOT GREAT RH RECOVERY OVERNIGHT.


.TONIGHT...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY CLEAR (20-30 PERCENT).
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MIN TEMPERATURE.....45-50.
MAX HUMIDITY........37-42 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........SW 08 TO 16 MPH ISOLD GUST 22 MPH GUST 25-30 MPH
                    RIDGE TOPS AND EXPOSED AREAS.  BECOMING AFTER MIDNIGHT
                    WSW 8 TO 13 MPH.
MIXING HEIGHT.......7000-8300 FT AGL DECREASING TO 900-2800 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....SOUTHWEST AROUND 22 KNOTS. GOOD EVENING THEN FAIR LATE.


.SUNDAY...

SKY/WEATHER.........MOSTLY SUNNY (5-15 PERCENT).
CWR.................0 PERCENT.
MAX TEMPERATURE.....63-68.
MIN HUMIDITY........11-16 PERCENT.
WIND (20 FT)........SW 08 TO 13 MPH MORNING THEN BY MIDDAY INCREASING TO
                    10 TO 20 MPH WITH ISOLATED GUSTS TO 25-30 MPH AND
                    EVEN HIGHER RIDGE TOPS AND EXPOSED AREAS.
MIXING HEIGHT.......800-2600 FT AGL INCREASING TO 5700-6100 FT AGL.
TRANSPORT WINDS.....WEST AROUND 21 KNOTS. EXCELLENT.


$$
FORECASTER...NOVLAN
REQUESTED BY...NM-LNF
REASON FOR REQUEST...WILDFIRE
.TAG 20120526.POTAT.01/EPZ