COUNTY News:
WHAT IS A RED FLAG WARNING?
A Red Flag Warning is issued by National Weather Service (NWS) to call attention to critical weather conditions that may result in extreme fire behavior.
Critical weather conditions include: sustained winds, low relative humidity, high temperatures and high fire danger. A combination of any of these conditions must occur simultaneously for three or more hours across any portion of a fire weather zone.
WHEN AND WHY IS THE RED FLAG FLYING AT CARSON NATIONAL FOREST AND OTHER AGENCIES OFFICES?
A red flag will be flown only when the NWS has issued a Red Flag Warning for the area. The flag will forewarn the public on the day that actual weather conditions are favorable to wildfires, extreme burning conditions, and/or exceptional fire behavior.
WHAT SHOULD I DO DURING A RED FLAG WARNING?
Always observe local fire restrictions and closures – they are put into effect to protect lives and property during dry, fire-prone periods.
And, as always but especially during Red Flag Warning periods, be extremely careful with activities that:
- Involve open flames (smoking, campfires, ditch burning, etc.)
- Generate sparks (welding, weed-whacking, lawn mowing, etc.), or
- Create intense heat (Don’t park on dry grass – your catalytic converter is hot, etc.)
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT RED FLAG WARNINGS IN MY AREA?
- http://www.srh.noaa.gov/abq/ (Zoom in or out on the map, if necessary, to see all of New Mexico. Official Red Flag Warnings are shown in bright pink)
