Strong wind gusts are picking up across the state leading to a high fire risk in eastern New Mexico. At the same time, our next winter storm is bringing snow and rainfall to western New Mexico. The strong wind gusts have returned this afternoon.

The National Weather Service issued a Fire Weather Watch for parts of New Mexico and Texas, citing strong winds and low humidity.

Much of the El Paso region, far West Texas and southern New Mexico could face "extreme fire danger" on Monday, including the Gila and Lincoln national forests, the National Weather Service warned. The National Weather Service office for El Paso has issued a "red flag warning" for the region in place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 3.

Many parts of New Mexico were covered in clouds of dust Monday, resulting in poor visibility, road closures and health alerts to be issued. In Roswell, 77 mph wind gusts, according to the National Weather Service of Albuquerque,

Officials rushed to reschedule Mardi Gras celebrations and warned revelers as powerful storms were expected to strike Louisiana.

The Trump administration reportedly began carrying out hundreds of layoffs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday, though so far the National Weather Service office for New Orleans and Baton Rouge was not affected, an official there said.

The National Weather Service cautions that strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures could create "critical fire weather conditions" in southern New Mexico and far West Texas ...