textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 358 AM MST Mon Jan 12 2026

- Low forecast confidence exists that patches of freezing fog will result in hazardous driving conditions across some northern and western valley locations through early Monday morning. - A backdoor cold front entering eastern New Mexico Tuesday night will create breezy northeast winds through Wednesday. Difficult travel is possible for large and high profile vehicles on west to east roadways.

- A stronger cold front will impact the area Friday, with notably colder temperatures and brisk northerly winds over eastern New Mexico. Difficult travel is possible for large and high profile vehicles on west to east roadways.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Wednesday) Issued at 105 AM MST Mon Jan 12 2026

Weak flow aloft remains in place over NM between an H5 ridge building along the west coast and an H5 low moving east across northern MX. Tranquil weather with light winds, warmer temps, and passing cirrus will continue today. Highs will be tempered again over the Four Corners region due to existing snow cover. Strong inversions will develop again tonight with efficient radiational cooling, especially north and west.

Northerly flow aloft will strengthen over NM Tuesday as a 140kt polar jet dives south from the northern plains. A surface low will deepen over eastern NM and allow westerly breezes to develop over the east slopes and nearby high plains Tuesday afternoon. High temps will trend roughly 5-10F above normal. The polar jet will continue advancing southward down the Great Plains Tuesday night. A backdoor cold front will enter eastern NM with breezy northerly winds before sunrise Wednesday. The front has trended stronger and faster on recent model guidance. There may even be a brief period of canyon winds in the RGV Wednesday morning. Highs will trend about 5-10F cooler over eastern NM Wednesday but still slightly above normal.

LONG TERM

(Wednesday night through Sunday) Issued at 105 AM MST Mon Jan 12 2026

Flow aloft will become more west/northwest on Thursday ahead of the next upper level wave diving southeast from the northern Rockies. Westerly breezes may increase again over eastern NM with warming temps once again. There are some timing differences amongst models with the approach of the next, stronger cold front over NM by late Thursday. Breezy northerly winds are likely Friday with temps closer to normal for mid January. Any chances for light snow in the Sangre de Cristos Mts and northeast NM has vanished from guidance Friday and Friday night. Cooler temps are expected to continue Saturday with continued northwest flow aloft. A slight warming trend is in store Sunday followed by another possible backdoor cold front over eastern NM Monday.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 358 AM MST Mon Jan 12 2026

There is a 5-10% chance for IFR freezing fog early this morning near KFMN. Otherwise, VFR will prevail with light winds and patchy cirrus today. Drainage winds at KSAF will peak from 15 to 20KT this morning and again Tuesday morning.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 105 AM MST Mon Jan 12 2026

There are no critical fire weather conditions forecast for the next seven days. The main impact to burning ops will be poor vent rates over nearly the entire region thru next weekend, except Wednesday when values trend toward fair/good in some areas. Tranquil and dry weather will persist on most days with above normal temps. Periodic cold frontal passages will bring some brief stronger wind shifts and temporary cool downs.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 38 18 43 22 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 51 16 53 18 / 0 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 45 16 47 20 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 46 9 48 14 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 50 16 51 20 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 50 11 54 15 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 48 14 49 17 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 47 25 53 29 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 46 20 52 24 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 55 17 60 19 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 58 19 62 22 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 48 19 51 22 / 0 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 47 29 49 29 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 52 23 55 26 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 45 17 50 26 / 0 0 0 0 Red River....................... 41 14 43 19 / 0 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 43 1 47 11 / 0 0 0 0 Taos............................ 49 12 51 18 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 53 23 56 24 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 52 18 55 21 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 47 25 51 28 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 49 22 52 25 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 49 28 53 32 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 50 26 55 30 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 52 23 57 26 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 51 27 55 29 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 50 18 55 21 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 52 25 56 28 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 51 19 56 21 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 52 25 57 28 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 51 20 56 23 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 48 27 52 30 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 51 26 55 29 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 53 25 58 29 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 46 27 49 28 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 47 27 49 29 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 49 23 52 27 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 52 16 56 21 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 50 23 52 27 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 48 21 54 25 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 50 22 55 26 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 52 26 58 30 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 50 28 55 30 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 46 21 54 24 / 0 0 0 0 Raton........................... 48 18 56 22 / 0 0 0 0 Springer........................ 50 14 55 20 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 55 22 60 26 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 55 27 62 31 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 53 22 59 27 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 60 21 65 28 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 56 23 63 28 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 61 23 66 29 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 58 26 66 33 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 59 23 66 30 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 55 20 64 28 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 56 21 63 30 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 58 25 65 33 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 58 22 65 28 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.