Areas in red are where Red Flag Warning Criteria (Winds ≥ 20 mph & Relative Humidity ≤15%) are likely for at least a short duration. Courtesy/NWS

Courtesy/NWS

Courtesy/NWS

From National Weather Service – Albuquerque:

Fire Weather: Critical fire weather conditions continue through this evening across eastern New Mexico and widespread critical to extreme fire weather conditions are expected Sunday.

Fire danger will increase in the forests of western and northern New Mexico for the first time this season.

High Winds: Gusty winds this afternoon become even stronger tonight through Sunday. Strongest winds expected along and east of the Central Mountain Chain.

Patchy blowing dust Sunday afternoon.

Rollercoaster Temperatures: High temperatures threaten records today, then plummet Sunday. A hard freeze is likely for most areas Monday morning. A historic March heatwave will shatter record highs mid next week through next weekend.

Precipitation: No wetting precipitation is in the forecast through at least the next 10 days so drought conditions will continue to deteriorate and the snowpack will dwindle.