New Mexico
Critical to Extremely Critical Fire Weather expected in much of New Mexico and parts of Texas, Colorado, and eastern Arizona
Temperatures across the Central and Southern Plains are forecast to reach between 27°C and 37°C (80°F to 99°F), representing anomalies of 11°C to 17°C (20°F to 30°F) above seasonal norms. This warming is driven by a strong upper ridge positioned over the central part of the country, which is channeling warm southerly air into the region.
As the upper ridge gradually shifts eastward, an amplifying upper-level system over the Four Corners region is expected to move east as well. This pattern will bring very dry air and strong winds into the Southern High Plains beginning late this week, further increasing the potential for wildfires.
As a result, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a series of Critical to Extremely Critical Fire Weather Outlooks for the region beginning today and extending into the weekend.
A critical fire weather area has been designated for parts of eastern Arizona and much of New Mexico, valid April 16, where ongoing dry and windy conditions will increase fire risk.
Across eastern Arizona, New Mexico, and into the southern High Plains, moderate wind speeds of 24–40 km/h (15–25 mph) are expected throughout the afternoon, with the strongest winds anticipated in eastern Arizona and New Mexico.
Relative humidity values will range from 10–15%, with some local areas experiencing values as low as 5–10%, creating an environment conducive to wildfire ignition and spread.
In the Central High Plains, specifically in western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming, downslope winds of 24–32 km/h (15–20 mph) are expected during the afternoon, while relative humidity may drop to between 10–20%, supporting elevated fire weather conditions.
In the Mid-Missouri Valley, southerly to southeasterly winds reaching 24–32 km/h (15–20 mph) are forecast from late morning into the mid-afternoon.
While there is significant uncertainty regarding afternoon humidity levels due to varying model predictions about cloud cover, dry fuels in the region could support locally elevated fire weather risks.
An extremely critical fire weather area has been issued for parts of central to northeast New Mexico for April 17, while a broader critical area extends from southeastern Arizona into parts of the southern High Plains.
A significant fire weather event is expected in much of New Mexico, where surface winds of 40–64 km/h (25–40 mph) are likely, with gusts reaching 80–97 km/h (50–60 mph) in some areas. Ongoing severe drought has left the region’s fuels at or above the 90th percentile in terms of combustibility. Afternoon relative humidity levels are expected to fall to 5–10%, increasing the likelihood of extreme fire behavior.
Relative humidity values around 10% are forecast for the southern High Plains—including eastern Colorado, western and central Kansas, and the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. Wind speeds will range from 32–48 km/h (20–30 mph), with the strongest winds expected in northwest Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, southeast Colorado, and far southwest Kansas.
Critical fire weather will occur where the strongest winds overlap with sufficiently dry fuels.
Although parts of the Texas Panhandle and South Plains have not been included in the critical area due to greenup reducing fuel receptiveness, several hours of elevated to critical fire weather are anticipated in surrounding regions.
The northward extent of fire weather risks will be limited by a southward-moving cold front that will bring shifting winds and increased humidity to northeast Colorado and northwest Kansas.
References:
1 Short Range Forecast Discussion – NWS/WPC – April 16, 2025
2 Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook – NWS/SPC – April 16, 2025
3 Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook – NWS/SPC – April 16, 2025
Information and photos provided by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Eli Rodarte caught a 24-inch rainbow trout using worms in the bait…
New Mexico
Running hot and cold: New Mexico runners earn 17 All American awards at national XC championships
YOUTH SPORTS
Gianna Chavez earns fourth in boys 8-and-under race
New Mexico had 17 athletes earn All American awards at the 2025 National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship meet held Saturday at snowy Blue River Cross Country Course in Shelbyville, Indiana.
Gianni Chavez, of Albuquerque Athletics Track, earned his fourth USA Track & Field All American award with a fourth place finish in the 8-and-under boys 2K race. Chavez, an Osuna Elementary third-grader, ran his 2K race in a personal best time of 7 minutes, 44.9 seconds.
The top 25 individual finishers and top three teams earn USATF All American awards.
The Cougar Track Club 8U girls team, based out of Albuquerque, placed second and was led by Antonette Marquez, who finished 12th. Other CTC 8U girls team members include Kimberly Reed (31st), Viola Crabbe Maple (55th), Payton Pacheco (61st), Chloe Chino (85th), Emery Grieco (113th) and Zay’a Cheromiah (149th).
Others individual All American award winners include Ava Denton, of AAT, 16th in 13/14 girls 4K; Brynlee Reed, of CTC, 22nd in 15/16 girls 5K; Sihasin Fleg, of Running Medicine, 21st in 8U girls 2K; Eden Pino, of Running Medicine, 12th in 9/10 girls 3K; Nizhoni Fleg, of Running Medicine, 14th in 17/18 girls 5K; Brady Garcia, of Running Medicine, seventh in 17/18 boys 5K; Justice Jones, of Zia, 14th in 9/10 girls 3K; Emilo Otero Soltero, of Dukes Track Club, 12th in 9/10 boys 3K; Miles Gray, unattached, 21st in 9/10 boys 3K.
Also Saturday, at the Brooks Cross Country Nationals in San Diego, Eldorado’s Gianna Rahmer placed 17th in the girls championship 5K with a time of 18:00.7 and Moriarty’s Carmen Dorsey-Spitz placed 25th 18:09.4.
El Paso police seek suspect in East Side robbery, burglary
An unidentified man is suspected in an East Side robbery and a restaurant burglary on Oct. 20, 2025, in Crime Stoppers of El Paso’s Crime of the Week.
Provided by Crime Stoppers of El Paso
An Anthony, New Mexico man was sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison for selling methamphetamine from a trailer on his parents’ property, authorities said.
A federal judge sentenced David Amaya, 43, to 19 years and seven months in prison on one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, New Mexico federal court records show. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release after he serves his prison term.
U.S. District Judge Margaret I. Strickland handed down the sentence on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the federal courthouse in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Williams prosecuted the case.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Ryan Ellison and FBI Albuquerque Field Office Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris announced Amaya’s sentencing in a joint news release.
Amaya pleaded guilty to the charge in September as part of a plea agreement that dismissed one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, court records show.
Anthony, New Mexico man sells meth on parents’ property
FBI agents began investigating Amaya after he sold methamphetamine to a “controlled buyer” in July and August 2024, the news release states. Controlled buys are when law enforcement uses an undercover agent or a witness to purchase drugs from a suspected drug dealer.
The agents obtained a search warrant on Aug. 22, 2024, for a “specific tow-behind type trailer that Amaya was known to be living in and conducting narcotics transfers out of,” a federal complaint affidavit states. The trailer was located on property owned by Amaya’s parents in Anthony, New Mexico, the news release states.
The trailer did not have a restroom, but agents found a small makeshift bathroom structure with a porta-potty inside next to the trailer. The agents then obtained a warrant to also search the small bathroom structure.
The agents found “a large quantity of white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine” throughout the trailer and bathroom structure, the affidavit states. In the bathroom, agents found a clothing hamper with “a gallon zip lock bag full of suspected methamphetamine” hidden inside.
Agents found a black Ruger .357 caliber handgun containing five rounds of .357 caliber ammunition and a black Mossberg 500 E410 gauge shotgun on the bed inside the trailer, the affidavit states. The news release states agents found “hundreds of rounds of ammunition.”
They also found about 4.42 grams of methamphetamine on the bed and another 26 grams under the bed, the affidavit states. Agents found eight more grams of methamphetamine on a nightstand.
Amaya told agents during an interview that the methamphetamine was his, he had acquired it over a period of time, and did not realize how much it was, the affidavit states. He added he “needed the guns for protection, so people would know he has them, making him safer,” the affidavit states.
In total, the agents found 1,183 grams of methamphetamine.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
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