We're looking at a mild sunny day, with a high temperature right at the seasonal average of 67, today, and a northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

But the winds that have buffeted us over the past several days are expected to return to the Albuquerque area on Saturday, with south winds of 5-10 mph become west between 15 and 20 mph, possibly gusting to 30, the weather service said.

Meanwhile, critical fire weather conditions are expected to return to much of northern and central New Mexico, with the weather service posting a fire weather watch from Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening, thanks to strong winds and low humidities.

High fire danger exists when the relative humidity is 15 percent or lower and sustained winds reach 20 mph when measured 20 feet off the ground, according to the weather service.

Looking ahead, the weathermen say they could be posting wind advisories on Saturday along and east of the central and north central mountains, where southwest winds could gust as high as 50 mph from Clines Corners to Clayton as temperatures rise to above normal, according to this morning's area forecast discussion.

The forecasters say next week could bring new fire weather concerns with breezy to windy days on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday -- and at this long range, it's even possible that the area north of Interstate 40 could get some spotty precipitation around the middle of the week.

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