El Prado Warnings, Watches and Advisories

Do not drive cars through flooded areas. The water depth and road condition may be unsafe. Additional information is available at https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/ Stay tuned for further updates by listening to NOAA weather radio... or your local radio and TV stations.

Flood Advisory issued April 24 at 8:11AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

...The National Weather Service in Albuquerque NM has issued a Flood Advisory for the following rivers in New Mexico... Rio Chama Below Abiquiu Dam affecting Rio Arriba County. .Snow melt and increased reservoir releases will cause the river flows to become high. Expect minor flooding downstream from the dam. * WHAT...Flooding caused by snowmelt is expected. * WHERE...Rio Chama Below Abiquiu Dam. * WHEN...From this morning until further notice. * IMPACTS...At 4.8 feet, BANKFULL STAGE, 1800 CFS. HOUSES NEAR HIGHWAY 84 ALONG RIVER WILL SEE WATER BEGIN TO ENCROACH THEIR YARDS. CATTLE THAT WANDER ACROSS THE RIVER AT LOWER FLOWS WILL BE TRAPPED ON THE OTHER SIDE. IF FLOWS OUT OF RIO OJO CALIENTE ARE 550 CFS OR HIGHER, PROPERTIES NEAR AND BELOW THE CONFLUENCE OF THE RIO CHAMA AND RIO OJO CALIENTE MAY SEE FLOODING IN THEIR LAND AND SIGNIFICANT BANK EROSION. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:15 AM MDT Wednesday the stage was 4.6 feet. - Bankfull stage is 4.8 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to remain steady below flood stage at 4.9 feet. - Action stage is 4.8 feet. - Flood stage is 5.4 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

Flood Warning issued April 24 at 8:07AM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in New Mexico... Rio Chama Below Chamita affecting Rio Arriba County. .Snow melt and increased reservoir releases will cause the river flows to become high. Expect minor flooding downstream from the dam. * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Rio Chama below Chamita. * WHEN...Until further notice. * IMPACTS...At 5.5 feet, BANKFULL STAGE. PROPERTIES IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE RIVER UPSTREAM OF THE BRIDGE ON SR -74 AND ESPECIALLY NEAR THE JUNCTION WITH THE RIO OJO CALIENTE MAY SEE WATER ENCROACH ONTO LOW LYING AREAS. At 6.0 feet, PROPERTIES IN FLOOD PLAIN ALONG RIO CHAMA AND NEAR THE JUNCTION OF RIO OJO CALIENTE WILL SEE WATER IN THEIR YARDS. BANK EROSION IS POSSIBLE. DAMAGE TO WELLS AND SEPTIC TANKS IS POSSIBLE. THESE IMPACTS WILL INCREASE IN SEVERITY AT HIGHER LEVELS. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:00 AM MDT Wednesday the stage was 6.1 feet. - Bankfull stage is 5.5 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 7:00 AM MDT Wednesday was 6.1 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to remain steady above flood stage at 6.3 feet. - Flood stage is 6.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 6.3 feet on 04/25/2008. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

High Wind Warning issued April 24 at 3:13AM MDT until April 25 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

* WHAT...Southwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...East Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet, Sacramento Mountains Above 7500 Feet, and West Central Tularosa Basin/White Sands. * WHEN...From 11 AM to 9 PM MDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds may blow down trees and power lines. Power outages will be possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

Wind Advisory issued April 24 at 3:13AM MDT until April 25 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

* WHAT...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Portions of south central and southwest New Mexico and far west Texas. * WHEN...From 11 AM to 9 PM MDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Areas of blowing dust may reduce visibility and cause impacts to air quality and travel.

Red Flag Warning issued April 24 at 3:11AM MDT until April 25 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THURSDAY LATE MORNING THROUGH EARLY EVENING FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND VERY LOW HUMIDITY... .Critical to extreme fire weather conditions are expected Thursday across portions of central New Mexico and all of eastern New Mexico as an upper level disturbance approaches the area. Southwest winds will strengthen in the presence of widespread low double digit and single digit minimum relative humidity. Durations of single digit relative humidity will exceed 5 hours in some areas of heavier fuels. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag Warning...which is in effect from 11 AM to 9 PM MDT Thursday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AREA AND TIMING...West Central Basin and Range (Zone 109), Middle Rio Grande Valley (Zone 106), Sandia and Manzano Mountains (Zone 124), Central Highlands (Zone 125), East Central Plains (Zone 126), Upper Rio Grande Valley and Lower Chama River Valley (Zone 121), Northeast Highlands (Zone 123), Northeast Plains (Zone 104). * 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts between 45 and 55 mph. The strongest winds are expected across ridgetops and the highlands of the central mountains. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values between 7 and 15 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

Red Flag Warning issued April 24 at 3:08AM MDT until April 25 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

...CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THURSDAY... .Deep southwest flow will increase this afternoon and peak on Thursday with the passage of an upper level jet streak. Deep surface low over eastern Colorado will extend a strong pressure gradient southward into New Mexico and west Texas, leading to strong winds area wide Thursday afternoon. West-southwest winds with sustained speeds of 30 to 40 mph and peak gusts around 55 mph combined with very low relative humidity values will lead to critical fire weather conditions and the risk of rapid fire start and spread through much of the daytime hours Thursday. Fuel moisture had dried rapidly this month, especially along the desert lowlands, due to preexisting drought status and lack of recent precipitation. Winds subsiding overnight into Friday morning, likely picking back up again Friday and Saturday afternoons. The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from 11 AM to 9 PM MDT Thursday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * WIND...West to southwest at 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 55 mph. * HUMIDITY...7 to 15 percent. * EXPERIMENTAL RFTI...6-8 Critical to Extreme in Southern New Mexico and Far West Texas desert lowlands. 5-7 Critical for Lincoln and Gila National Forests. * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

High Wind Watch issued April 24 at 2:41AM MDT until April 25 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NM

* WHAT...Southwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, northeast, and southeast New Mexico. * WHEN...From Thursday morning through Thursday evening. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles, and blowing dust could reduce visibility.

Fire Weather Watch issued April 24 at 3:30AM CDT until April 25 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 15% OR LESS, 20-FT WINDS OF 20 MPH OR MORE, AND HIGH TO VERY HIGH FIRE DANGER FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND MOST OF WEST TEXAS... * AFFECTED AREA...Gaines, Andrews, Loving, Winkler, Ward, Pecos, Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe Mountains, Chaves Plains, Eddy Plains, Lea, Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains, Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor, Eastern Culberson County, Reeves County Plains, Chinati Mountains, Marfa Plateau, Davis Mountains, Davis Mountains Foothills, Central Brewster County, Chisos Basin, Presidio Valley and Lower Brewster County. * TIMING...From Thursday morning through Thursday evening. * WINDS...Southwest 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 5 percent. * RFTI...6 or critical, or higher. * IMPACTS...Avoid the use of open flames or any activities that may generate sparks, such as outdoor burning or welding. Extinguish cigarettes in vehicles. Accidental ignitions will have the potential to grow into dangerous wind-driven wildfires.

High Wind Watch issued April 24 at 1:05AM MDT until April 25 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

* WHAT...West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 70 mph possible. * WHERE...Guadalupe Mountains of west Texas and Southeast New Mexico, Eddy County Plains, Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor, and Eastern Culberson County. * WHEN...From Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening. * IMPACTS...Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles like campers, vans, and tractor trailers. Severe turbulence near the mountains will be hazardous for low flying light aircraft.