Single Publication

Current conditions at the prescribed fire location, which is south of Tres Piedras and west of Highway 285, remain damp. Snow is patchy and fuel moisture levels are too high for an effective prescribed fire. The first potential day of ignitions, April 17, will be pushed back, possibly into May. Fire staff will be looking for opportunities when both on-site fuels conditions and weather are within prescription.

The La Niña climate pattern, which brought several consecutive seasons of much drier-than-average conditions for Northern New Mexico between spring 2019 and spring 2022 officially ended last month. For the first time in three years, a neutral pattern that favors neither La Niña nor El Niño is expected through the remainder of spring and early summer with NOAA forecasters predicting elevated chances of an El Niño climate pattern developing afterwards. The transition away from La Niña is likely to result in periods wetter than average conditions for Northern New Mexico, especially going into May. A neutral climate pattern also tends to favor an average to below average number of significant springtime high wind events for our area.

With that in mind, fire staff will look for opportunities to move forward with ignitions, but will postpone the project to a later time if such conditions and weather do not pan out.

This week's community meeting will still be held. Please join us in person to discuss and ask questions about the prescribed fire.