Another red flag warning will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Sandoval County. 

A warning is issued when the relative humidity of 15 percent or less is combined with sustained surface winds, or frequent gusts, of 25 mph or more. Both conditions must occur simultaneously for at least three hours in a 12-hour period. 

Temps are expected to reach the low 70s, about 15 degrees cooler than Tuesday, but winds will increase to 15-25 mph in the afternoon with gusts reaching 35 mph, according to the National Weather Service of Albuquerque. 

Wednesday will also be a no burn day, Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Ryan Floersheim said.

To check on the City of Rio Rancho’s burn status, call 505-891-7268. 

The parched conditions is not only a concern to the city but to those battling flames in the area. 

Crews help battle the Cerro Pelado Fire on April 30. (U.S. Forest Service Courtesy Photo)

Cerro Pelado Fire update 

On Tuesday afternoon, Santa Fe National Forest issued a closure order restricting public access to the area surrounding the base camp for firefighters battling the Cerro Pelado Fire. 

The order is in effect until the end of the year unless it is rescinded earlier. 

As of Wednesday morning, only 13 percent of the fire has been contained. The total number of acres burned has increased to 26,927, according to the Incident Information System website.  

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. 

The Cerro Pelado Fire started on April 22 about 7 miles east of Jemez Springs in the Jemez Ranger District. 

On April 26, the SFNF issued a fire area closure order prohibiting people from entering all Forest Service lands and trails within an area roughly defined by New Mexico Highway 4 to the west, Valles Caldera National Preserve to the north, Bandelier National Monument to the east, and Zia Pueblo and Santo Domingo Pueblo to the south. 

The recent order applies to all Forest Service land roughly defined by the Rio Guadalupe on the west, picking up Forest Road 376 and following it north/northeast, turning to the south at La Cueva and following the Jemez River to its confluence with the Rio Guadalupe. 

Federal, state and local officers, firefighters and members of an organized rescue team, and any others authorized by Forest Service permit are exempt from the closure order. 

Violation of the closure order is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, and six months in prison or both. 

For more information, visit the SFNF website, www.nmfireinfo.com, Inciweb and facebook.com/2022.CerroPeladoFire.