textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1129 AM MDT Sun Apr 12 2026

- Gusty west to southwest winds will return today and peak on Monday and Tuesday, then come back again toward the end of the work week. Strong crosswinds may create difficult travel for large and high-profile vehicles.

- Critical fire weather conditions may return Monday and Tuesday across eastern and portions of central New Mexico, but fuels may not be receptive to fire spread due to recent rainfall. Critical fire weather conditions are more likely toward the end of the week.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Monday) Issued at 1237 AM MDT Sun Apr 12 2026

A potent 536dam 500mb low is moving east into northern CA and a dry slot is pivoting over AZ/NM as southwest flow aloft increases within the broader circulation. Daytime mixing of stronger southwest winds aloft along with a deepening lee side trough will bring breezy to locally windy and warmer conditions today, especially across the eastern plains. The upper low is forecast to fill and advance southeast across the southern Great Basin and Desert Southwest through Monday, bringing even stronger southwest winds aloft and Pacific moisture advection. Breezy to locally windy conditions are forecast Monday, with a few late day showers across western and north central areas. The windiest conditions on Monday afternoon will be across the east central and northeast plains due to lee side troughing, but speeds forecast to remain below advisory criteria.

LONG TERM

(Monday night through Saturday) Issued at 1237 AM MDT Sun Apr 12 2026

The filling upper low will advance east across northern AZ Monday night and lift northeast into western CO Tuesday, then drag it's trough axis over NM Tuesday night along with a Pacific cold front. Westerly winds will trend up Tuesday, especially across east central and northeast NM where speeds have a good chance of exceeding advisory criteria. The upper level low/trough will also provide sufficient forcing for a round of showers and isolated thunderstorms Monday night through Tuesday that will favor the western/northern mountains and Four Corners area. A mix of rain/snow may work all the way down to near 6500ft Tuesday morning across western NM, but snow accumulation is expected to be relegated to to 9Kft and above. Impacts will be minimal at best and this will be a much needed round of precipitation for western areas. Windy conditions will persist well into the evening hours Tuesday across eastern NM as the Pacific cold front advances eastward. Temperatures will be below average behind the front across western and central NM Tuesday. Breezy conditions will persist across eastern NM behind the departing system on Wednesday.

Winds aloft will back and increase Thursday in advance of a potent upper level trough and associated strong cold front, forecast to move east across the southern Rockies and NM on Friday. Breezy to locally windy conditions are forecast Thursday with a deepening lee side trough, while Friday has the potential to be a classic spring wind event across the area, complete with areas of blowing dust. Below average temperatures are forecast behind the front on Saturday, with chances for temperatures to be up to 10 degrees below our current forecast.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1129 AM MDT Sun Apr 12 2026

VFR conditions will continue to prevail through the TAF period. A brisk SW breeze will develop around 18Z and persist through around 03Z this evening in most areas. Gusts of 20 to 30 kts will be commonplace, with a few stronger gusts mid-afternoon in typically windy areas. High clouds will spread across the area from west to east today, with gradually lowering VFR cigs this evening into the overnight hours.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1237 AM MDT Sun Apr 12 2026

Drying and warming are forecast today, with a deepening lee side trough and breezy to locally windy conditions. A mix of elevated to near critical fire weather conditions are forecast this afternoon and early evening, but areas of wetting rainfall from Fri/Sat are making for a challenging fuels assessment across eastern NM as ERCs have trended down. Lightning activity from Fri/Sat was more numerous across eastern NM where wetting rainfall was more plentiful, but a few strikes across western NM may have created ignitions. Gusty winds on Monday will favor northeast and east central NM, where critical fire weather conditions are possible after a day of drying. Chances for critical fire weather condtions trend up moreso Tuesday across east central and northeast NM ahead of an approaching trough and Pacific cold front. The trough will bring a round of wetting precipitation to western and north central areas Monday night through Tuesday. Winds and ERCs will trend back up Thu/Fri with increasing chances for critical fire weather conditions, especially across the eastern half of the area.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 72 44 67 41 / 0 5 20 50 Dulce........................... 67 32 63 33 / 5 5 30 70 Cuba............................ 68 40 62 34 / 5 5 20 50 Gallup.......................... 68 34 62 33 / 0 0 20 50 El Morro........................ 66 34 60 33 / 0 0 20 50 Grants.......................... 70 35 66 34 / 0 0 20 40 Quemado......................... 67 38 62 35 / 0 0 20 40 Magdalena....................... 70 46 67 41 / 0 0 10 20 Datil........................... 66 39 61 37 / 0 0 20 30 Reserve......................... 70 36 67 37 / 0 0 20 50 Glenwood........................ 76 40 72 41 / 0 5 30 50 Chama........................... 60 30 55 29 / 5 5 30 80 Los Alamos...................... 66 43 62 40 / 10 5 20 60 Pecos........................... 66 38 64 37 / 5 5 20 50 Cerro/Questa.................... 62 36 60 34 / 0 5 10 50 Red River....................... 53 31 50 29 / 0 5 10 50 Angel Fire...................... 59 28 57 29 / 0 5 10 50 Taos............................ 67 34 64 34 / 0 5 10 50 Mora............................ 66 37 63 35 / 0 5 10 40 Espanola........................ 74 43 69 41 / 5 5 10 50 Santa Fe........................ 67 41 64 39 / 5 5 20 60 Santa Fe Airport................ 71 42 67 40 / 5 5 10 50 Albuquerque Foothills........... 75 49 71 44 / 5 5 20 40 Albuquerque Heights............. 77 50 73 46 / 5 5 10 30 Albuquerque Valley.............. 80 50 75 46 / 5 0 10 30 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 77 51 73 46 / 5 0 10 30 Belen........................... 79 49 75 45 / 0 0 10 30 Bernalillo...................... 78 50 74 46 / 5 5 20 40 Bosque Farms.................... 79 48 75 45 / 5 0 10 30 Corrales........................ 79 50 74 46 / 5 5 10 40 Los Lunas....................... 79 49 75 46 / 0 0 10 30 Placitas........................ 73 48 69 44 / 5 5 20 50 Rio Rancho...................... 78 50 73 45 / 5 5 10 40 Socorro......................... 81 52 77 47 / 0 0 10 20 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 69 43 65 40 / 5 5 20 60 Tijeras......................... 71 44 67 41 / 5 5 20 50 Edgewood........................ 71 41 68 40 / 0 5 10 40 Moriarty/Estancia............... 73 39 69 39 / 0 0 10 30 Clines Corners.................. 68 40 66 38 / 0 0 10 20 Mountainair..................... 71 43 68 41 / 0 0 10 30 Gran Quivira.................... 70 45 68 42 / 0 0 10 20 Carrizozo....................... 72 50 71 48 / 0 0 10 20 Ruidoso......................... 65 45 64 44 / 0 0 10 20 Capulin......................... 68 38 66 39 / 0 0 0 0 Raton........................... 71 36 69 36 / 0 0 0 5 Springer........................ 74 39 71 38 / 0 0 0 5 Las Vegas....................... 68 40 67 39 / 0 0 5 20 Clayton......................... 76 46 75 46 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 72 43 71 43 / 0 0 0 5 Conchas......................... 81 49 80 49 / 0 0 0 5 Santa Rosa...................... 76 49 75 47 / 0 0 5 5 Tucumcari....................... 83 50 82 51 / 0 0 0 5 Clovis.......................... 81 51 82 51 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 83 51 82 52 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 81 50 80 50 / 0 0 5 5 Roswell......................... 84 53 83 53 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 76 51 76 50 / 0 0 0 5 Elk............................. 74 47 74 48 / 0 0 5 10

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.