The combination of a heat wave, long-term drought and relentlessly high winds is yielding a historically prolonged period of high wildfire risk across the Southwest. The fire danger may not significantly ease in New Mexico until Friday, according to the National Weather Service, which describes the situation as "dangerous and dire."
Why it matters: The wildfires and broader-scale heat wave threaten lives today, as any fires will spread rapidly.
Why it matters: High winds, low humidity and near-record heat are combining to make already difficult conditions for firefighters even harder, amid long-term and dangerous drought conditions that ignited new blazes, which rapidly spread over the weekend.
