High winds today have contributed to rapid growth of wildfires today in New Mexico. A monsoon pattern sets up late this week bringing widespread chances for rain.
Windy weather and very dry air are contributing to a high fire danger across New Mexico Monday afternoon. Southwest winds have been gusting anywhere from 20 mph to over 45 mph at times across the state. These conditions are also causing rapid fire growth on the South Fork Fire that developed west of the Village of Ruidoso. This fire is growing quickly to the east and northeast due to the dry and windy conditions. Winds will die down through the evening with calmer condition by Tuesday morning, but conditions will stay very dry. Temperatures across the state have again today been hot.
Winds will be lighter Tuesday afternoon, but there will still be some breezy conditions, especially in eastern New Mexico. Temperatures will again be hot both Tuesday and Wednesday. Changes are in store though Wednesday night as a surge of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico moves into the state through Thursday morning. This will bring a gusty canyon wind into the Rio Grande Valley Wednesday night. This moisture surge will be our first really good surge of monsoon moisture and will set the stage for a wet end to the week.
Rain chances increase statewide on Thursday with the increase in monsoon moisture. The best chances for rain will be Friday, with showers possibly ongoing Thursday night into Friday. Isolated, afternoon storms will continue to be possible into the weekend as well.
