A hazardous weather outlook issued by the National Weather Service for Monday warns of dangerous fire conditions in northern and central New Mexico.
The warning will be in effect from noon to 9 p.m. MDT and is the result of single-digit humidity levels and gusty winds.
A strong weather system passing off to the north will crank up strong southwest and west winds this afternoon and evening.
While the Albuquerque metro will see winds 15-30 mph sustained with peak gusts around 40 mph, the higher terrain on both the east and west sides of the state have been placed under a wind advisory for peak gusts in the 55 mph range. Those gusts are potentially strong enough to result in wind damage.
The metro area is included on this afternoon's areas of extreme fire danger because of the warm temperatures and low humidity levels that will come with the gusty afternoon winds, and atmospheric conditions will allow for rapidly rising air.
That means a wildfire would spread rapidly if it does get started.
Tuesday will still have a fairly stiff breeze associated with it, but the sustained winds and gusts won't be as strong.