textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 435 AM MST Sat Feb 14 2026

- Brisk northerly winds over eastern New Mexico today will create difficult crosswinds along west to east roadways like I-40. - The jet stream will bring strong to potentially damaging westerly winds to eastern New Mexico Tuesday through Thursday, with potential for more rain and high terrain snow across western and north central New Mexico.

- There is an increasing threat for the rapid spread of fire across eastern New Mexico and portions of south central New Mexico Tuesday through Thursday.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Sunday) Issued at 1240 AM MST Sat Feb 14 2026

The storm system Friday produced precip amounts of 0.15 to 0.30" over much of northern, central, and western NM with locally higher amounts near 0.60" in the Sandia/Manzanos and southern Sangre de Cristos. Three to 7" of snowfall have been reported above 8,000'. A Pacific cold front moving across NM early this morning will force a west/northwest wind shift thru the region with clearing from west to east. 700mb winds near 40kt on the backside of the departing wave will help to support windy conditions over parts of eastern NM with northerly gusts of 30 to 40 mph for a few hours today.

A shortwave ridge will approach from the west tonight with clear skies, light winds, and colder low temps. Remnant surface moisture over northern and western NM may help support a period of patchy freezing fog but confidence is low. The ridge will crest over NM Sunday with warmer temps, lighter winds, and increasing high clouds.

LONG TERM

(Sunday night through Thursday) Issued at 1240 AM MST Sat Feb 14 2026

The upper ridge will break down Sunday night with increasing ridge top winds and a deepening lee trough over eastern NM. Downslope flow will help to boost max temps up to 20F above normal over eastern NM. Despite the warm temps, forecast mixing heights are limited for now so even with 700mb winds near 35kt over eastern, southwest winds may only remain in the breezy category.

Ridge top winds will strengthen more Monday night as a 160kt speed max slides into northwest NM. 700mb winds of 50 to 70kt over eastern NM Tuesday will have a better shot at mixing down ahead of a Pacific frontal passage. Widespread Wind Advisory gusts near 50 mph are likely with localized areas of High Wind Warning gusts near 60 mph Tuesday. Meanwhile, abundant moisture along the Pacific front may squeeze out several inches of snow in the northern and western high terrain. Strong winds will continue into Wednesday ahead of yet another Pacific shortwave trough. Additional snow is possible for the northern and western high terrain while strong west winds continue over eastern NM. More strong winds may develop Thursday with the base of the trough passing thru the southern Rockies. Temps will be progressively colder with each the trough passages.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 435 AM MST Sat Feb 14 2026

Multiple hazards continue across the airspace early this morning, including; IFR cigs/vsbys with fog and low cigs, mt obscurations, icing, LLWS, and turbulence. Clearing will occur from west to east over northern and western NM thru late this morning, while patchy MVFR cigs persist at times over northeast and east-central NM thru late afternoon. Northerly winds will also increase after 9am with gusts of 30 to 35kt common over eastern NM thru sunset. There is a very low chance (<10%) that patchy freezing fog redevelops late tonight near the northern high terrain.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1240 AM MST Sat Feb 14 2026

Widespread wetting precip over northern, central, and western NM with the system from Friday will give way to brisk northerly winds today. Sunday will feature a ridge cresting over NM with warmer temps and relatively light winds.

A prolonged fire growing pattern is still expected beginning over eastern NM Monday with elevated to locally critical conditions. The strongest winds will come Tuesday through Thursday with humidity falling below 10% in some areas of eastern NM. Localized extreme fire weather is possible Wednesday. Humidity recoveries at night will be borderline poor to fair as well with well above normal temps. Fuel conditions are also receptive across the plains as evidenced by several fires over the past couple weeks.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 56 29 60 35 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 53 19 58 23 / 20 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 50 24 56 29 / 30 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 55 17 62 23 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 51 25 62 30 / 10 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 55 20 64 24 / 5 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 49 25 63 31 / 10 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 55 32 62 37 / 5 0 0 0 Datil........................... 50 27 62 32 / 5 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 58 23 63 27 / 10 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 64 27 67 30 / 5 0 0 0 Chama........................... 47 20 52 24 / 30 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 52 31 57 34 / 20 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 53 26 60 31 / 10 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 48 27 55 30 / 30 0 0 0 Red River....................... 40 22 48 26 / 50 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 46 12 55 21 / 50 0 0 0 Taos............................ 53 21 59 25 / 30 0 0 0 Mora............................ 53 24 63 29 / 30 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 59 25 64 28 / 20 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 53 31 58 34 / 20 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 56 28 60 32 / 20 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 58 36 63 40 / 10 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 60 33 65 37 / 10 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 63 30 67 34 / 10 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 60 32 65 36 / 10 0 0 0 Belen........................... 63 27 67 30 / 10 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 61 32 65 36 / 10 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 62 27 67 31 / 10 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 61 31 66 35 / 10 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 62 28 66 32 / 10 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 56 35 62 38 / 20 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 60 32 65 36 / 10 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 66 32 68 35 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 52 32 59 36 / 20 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 53 32 61 37 / 10 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 55 27 63 32 / 10 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 57 22 65 25 / 5 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 53 28 60 32 / 5 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 56 28 61 34 / 10 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 56 28 62 34 / 5 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 58 33 63 38 / 10 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 52 32 60 39 / 10 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 46 24 61 30 / 30 0 0 0 Raton........................... 51 22 64 27 / 30 0 0 0 Springer........................ 56 21 68 24 / 10 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 55 26 65 32 / 10 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 53 31 67 39 / 30 0 0 0 Roy............................. 56 27 65 29 / 10 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 64 28 73 36 / 10 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 61 30 70 34 / 10 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 62 30 73 37 / 10 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 62 34 69 37 / 10 0 0 0 Portales........................ 63 31 70 37 / 10 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 63 29 69 31 / 10 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 67 35 70 34 / 5 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 63 32 69 35 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 63 30 67 35 / 5 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.