textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 520 AM MDT Tue Mar 17 2026

- A strong area of high pressure will move over the area Wednesday through Saturday with widespread record warmth for March. Minor heat-related impacts are possible as the persistent record heat grips the region, particularly over southeast New Mexico.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Wednesday) Issued at 108 AM MDT Tue Mar 17 2026

The beginning of a dramatic warmup begins today as the state remains in dry northwest flow between a strong 592 to 593 dam high just off the coast of southern California and an upper level trough across the eastern U.S. High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 70s across most lower elevations, around 10 to 15 degrees above average for mid March. A weak disturbance embedded among the northwest flow will slide southeast across the state this afternoon resulting in breezy northwest winds across northwest and central NM between Farmington and Clines Corners. The northwest winds slowly taper off around sunset. The warmup continues on Wednesday as the upper high moves east to over Nevada, California and Arizona borders and strengthens to around 594 to 595 dam, easily breaking a record value at around 585 dam for mid March and nearly 4 standard deviations above average! Temperatures across the area will be 15 to 25 degrees above average likely resulting in new daily records highs for many locations. Efficient radiational cooling both Tuesday and Wednesday night due to the very dry air and clear skies.

LONG TERM

(Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 108 AM MDT Tue Mar 17 2026

A historic mid March heatwave will peak late this week, with Saturday likely being the warmest day of the forecast period, as a record strong upper high remains parked over the Desert Southwest. The upper high strength peaks at around 596 to 597 dam Thursday before gradually weakening to around 589 to 590 dam Saturday (still around 5 dam above the record for the date at Tucson)! For perspective, forecasted high temperatures in the 60 to 70s across the mountain ranges and mid 80s to mid 90s for lower elevations will be more typical for early June than mid March! All time highs for March will be broken with all time highs for April within reach by a degree to two as well! Temperatures look to finally cool down from these insane record values Sunday into Monday as the upper high flattens and a backdoor front sweeps through eastern NM. Highs next Monday across lower elevations are currently forecasted to be in the mid 70s to mid 80s, still 10 to 20 degrees above average for late March.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 520 AM MDT Tue Mar 17 2026

Less high clouds over the airspace Tuesday with breezy northwest winds developing once again between KFMN to KGNT to KCQC. Peak wind gusts between 24 to 32 kts across this zone. Northwest winds taper off slowly after sunset but remain a little brisk at KFMN and KAEG until around midnight. Elsewhere, light south winds across the southeast plains, including KROW, with light west winds across east central NM Tuesday afternoon.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 108 AM MDT Tue Mar 17 2026

Breezy northwest winds with peak gusts around 30 to 40 mph across northwest and central NM between Farmington and Clines Corners will result in elevated to near critical fire weather conditions this afternoon. A record strong high more typical of early to mid summer rather than early spring will move over the Desert Southwest mid to late this week. This will result in record high temperatures areawide Wednesday through Saturday and rapidly dry out grass and timber fuels. Any snowpack across the highest peaks of the northern mountains will melt rapidly. Thankfully, winds will be light during this period limiting critical fire weather conditions. Ventilation will be reduced to fair and good rates Thursday and Friday before improving to very good to excellent rates across the western and central highlands this weekend due to slightly stronger breezes. Gradually cooling down Sunday into Monday as the upper high flattens and a backdoor front sweeps through eastern New Mexico. Breezy northeast winds behind the front along with dry air in place will result in the potential for near critical to locally critical fire weather conditions across northeast NM Sunday afternoon.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 74 37 81 39 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 69 29 76 30 / 0 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 68 35 76 38 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 73 29 81 31 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 71 37 79 40 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 74 34 81 34 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 71 36 80 39 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 74 44 78 46 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 71 41 78 41 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 77 37 84 37 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 82 40 89 41 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 64 33 71 35 / 0 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 69 44 76 46 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 70 40 76 43 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 66 39 72 41 / 0 0 0 0 Red River....................... 56 34 63 38 / 0 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 63 25 69 27 / 0 0 0 0 Taos............................ 70 29 78 30 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 69 37 75 42 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 75 37 82 39 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 69 44 76 47 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 73 41 79 43 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 74 48 80 50 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 76 45 82 46 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 79 43 84 44 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 76 45 82 46 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 79 39 84 39 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 77 44 83 46 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 79 38 84 39 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 77 44 83 45 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 79 40 84 40 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 73 46 79 49 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 76 45 82 46 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 81 47 85 46 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 68 45 75 46 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 70 45 77 46 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 72 41 78 41 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 74 36 81 35 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 68 38 76 41 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 71 40 78 43 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 71 41 78 44 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 71 44 81 49 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 67 45 73 49 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 69 34 75 40 / 0 0 0 0 Raton........................... 75 32 81 36 / 0 0 0 0 Springer........................ 76 32 82 34 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 73 39 76 41 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 74 43 80 48 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 72 38 77 42 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 78 38 85 41 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 78 40 82 42 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 78 38 84 42 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 76 43 83 48 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 77 38 84 46 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 79 39 84 41 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 78 44 88 45 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 77 47 80 48 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 75 45 77 46 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.