Font ResizeLAS CRUCES - If you've got plans outside this weekend, the weather can be summed up in one word: crummy.
Or, maybe "windy" is better. The National Weather Service in Santa Teresa upgraded what initially was a fire weather watch to a red flag warning for today as peak south-to-southwest wind gusts could reach 45 mph. The red flag warning is for sustained winds of more than 20 mph and humidity less than 15 percent, with high fire danger ratings.
The warning will be in effect from noon to 7 p.m. today.
The weather service has also issued a fire weather watch for Sunday. Winds from the west to southwest could gust to more than 30 mph, but aren't expected to be as strong as today's winds.
A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create extreme fire growth potential.
A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur.
Daytime temperatures this weekend are expected to be warm. Today's high is forecast at 78 degrees, with Sunday's high expected to be near 69.
