An updated fire weather watch was released by the National Weather Service on Thursday at 4:08 p.m. valid for Saturday between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. for El Paso and Hudspeth counties.

Winds are expected to be west 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph and relative humidity 8 to 12 percent, up to 20 percent above 7500 feet.

“Increasing west to southwesterly flow aloft will induce lee surface troughing across the Front Range of Colorado and Eastern Plains of New Mexico Saturday afternoon. Breezy to low-end windy conditions will result across southern New Mexico. These winds in combination with very dry air and critically dry fuels will promote critical fire weather conditions,” says the NWS. “Any fire that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.”

A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible. Listen for later forecasts and possible red flag warnings.

Source: The National Weather Service