A volatile combination of wind and drought could spread wildfires today in the southwestern US.

The New Mexico wildfires seen from the air 0:36

(CNN) --

Authorities have issued an extremely critical fire risk level near the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire as powerful winds combined with extraordinary drought conditions threaten to fuel the largest wildfire currently burning in USA.

Places facing a Level 3 of 3 fire risk include northeastern New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, and western parts of the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles.

In addition to red flag warnings for dangerous fire conditions, much of the region is also under high wind warnings of 30 to 40 mph expected Monday, along with gusts to 50 to 60 mph. /h.

• 5 figures show the severity of the fires that devastate New Mexico

"The main concern today is going to be the wind," Chuck Jones, senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, told CNN Meteorologist Chad Myers.

"Those winds are going to be strong to potentially damaging in places," Jones said, adding that winds could reach over 110 km/h at some times Monday, including at and near the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak wildfire. —the largest in the country— which has burned almost 76,900 hectares and is 43% contained, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).

Much of the Southwest has suffered from a prolonged and severe drought fueled by the climate crisis, which has created critical conditions for fires.

Drought conditions have worsened in recent days across much of the Southwest and South, deepening a water crisis and fueling fires in several states, the US Drought Monitor wrote in its weekly summary on Thursday.

advertising

• California's two largest reservoirs are already at "critically low levels" and the dry season is just beginning

Over the weekend, three new large fires were registered: two in Arizona and one in Texas, the NIFC reported Monday.

"Currently 12 large uncontrolled fires have burned 130,433 hectares in four states... Evacuation orders are in effect," he said.

Rapid spread of new fires possible

In 2021 the fires devastated land equivalent to the size of Cuba 0:52

Conditions near the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire and within the Extremely Critical Hazard Zone remain incredibly arid, with relative humidity levels in the single digits.

A volatile mix of windy and dry conditions can lead to "extreme behavior among ongoing fires, as well as promote the rapid spread of new fires," the Storm Prediction Center said Monday morning.

More than four million people are in a critical fire risk zone—level 2 of 3—bordering extremely critical fire risk, including in Albuquerque;

Colorado Springs, Colorado;

and Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas.

That area will see sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph, stronger gusts, and very dry air.

A slight improvement in conditions is expected in the southwest on Tuesday.

However, critical fire risk will remain for much of the region.

"Winds will subside tonight, but wind gusts will redevelop over the eastern half of New Mexico on Tuesday, leading to another round of critical fire weather conditions," the Albuquerque weather service office said.

CNN Meteorologist Monica Garrett contributed to this report.

Fires