The entire state of New Mexico Friday is under a Red Flag warning.

The warning, according to the National Weather Service office in Albuquerque, runs from late Friday morning to mid-evening “for all areas due to strong winds, low relative humidity, well above average temperatures and an unstable airmass.”

“Extreme fire weather conditions will develop in all areas today, ahead of a strong surface cold front. Winds will taper off slowly after sunset while relative humidity begins rising in the region,” according to the NWS. “Critical conditions are possible once again for the middle and lower Rio Grande Valley as well as the west central highlands Saturday afternoon in to early evening.”

The warning could spell big problems for firefighters battling wildfires in the state. Local fire officials are working under a fire alert.

The Village of Corrales is under a weed burning ban, according to the fire department’s web site.

Residents can also register for emergency notifications, the web site says.

“The Village and all of Sandoval County uses CodeRed as an emergency contact provider. You can register your phone numbers and emails  where you would like to receive notifications. Your contact information is kept private. https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BFB7CC4C6C0A

The National Weather Service defines a Red Flag Warning as warm temperatures, very low humidities and stronger winds that are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger.” 

Temperatures are expected to moderate a bit, with the high Saturday around 87 and Sunday at 83 degrees.

Here’s a few things to consider during a Red Flag Warning.

  •  If you are allowed to burn in your area, all burn barrels must be covered with a weighted metal cover, with holes no larger than 3/4 of an inch.
  •  Do not throw cigarettes or matches out of a moving vehicle. They may ignite dry grass on the side of the road and become a wildfire.
  •  Extinguish all outdoor fires properly. Drown fires with plenty of water and stir to make sure everything is cold to the touch. Dunk charcoal in water until cold. Do not throw live charcoal on the ground and leave it.
  •  Never leave a fire unattended. Sparks or embers can blow into leaves or grass, ignite a fire, and quickly spread.Source. NWS