Wildfire danger high across New Mexico

MUCH OF THE STATE IS UNDER A RED FLAG WILDFIRE WARNING THIS EVENING -- A PRODUCT OF THIS UN...  More »

MUCH OF THE STATE IS UNDER A RED FLAG WILDFIRE WARNING THIS EVENING -- A PRODUCT OF THIS UNSEASONABLY WARM, DRY WEATHER. STUART DYSON IS LIVE ON THE ROLLING PRAIRIES OF TORRANCE COUNTY -- WHERE THE RISK IS HIGH -- STU. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE TALL TIMBER IN THE FOREST -- NEW MEXICO MOUNTAIN RANGES GOT A GOOD SNOW PACK EARLY IN THE WINTER. ITS OUT HERE ON THE PRAIRIE WHERE THE GRASSES AND THE BRUSH ARE BONE DRY. THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST - BUT THE HORSES CAN'T EAT ALL THE DRY GRASS IN TORRANCE COUNTY -- AND ITS PLENTIFUL THANKS TO RAIN LAST SUMMER -- LEFT TO WITHER AND DIE IN THE DRY NEW YEAR. THROW IN SOME WIND - LIKE WE'VE HAD TODAY - AND ALL THAT'S MISSING IS A SPARK. well the primary issue across the eastern part of the state is that we have been abnormally dry and that has allowed that vegetation to dry out quite a bit. So when you get a circumstance where you have windy conditions a dry air mass with low humidity. with that combination -- there's potential for a catastrophic wildfire -- something big can happen if you wanna call it the perfect storm that's coming into play if you have a force of ignition its gonna take off. THE RED FLAG WARNING COVERS NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO AND THE EAST CENTRAL PLAINS WHERE HUMIDITY IS DOWN TO 15% AND LOWER... AND WINDS ARE BLOWING AT A GOOD STEADY 20 MILES PER HOUR. ALL IT TAKES IS A CIGARETTE BUTT TOSSED OUT OF A CAR WINDOW AND SUDDENLY YOU'RE SMELLING SMOKE. BUT THERE IS RELIEF JUST AROUND THE CORNER -- THIS FIRE DANGER WILL NOT LAST AROUND THE WEEKEND.... MORE ON THAT COMING UP TONIGHT AT 6-30... WHERE DO WE  « Less