textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1125 PM MDT Mon Mar 16 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

(This evening through Tuesday night) Issued at 133 PM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

Temps have struggled to warm up today across eastern NM in the wake of a potent cold front and persistent cirrus. High clouds will clear from north to south tonight with dry air and light winds leading to another cold night across eastern NM.

Meanwhile, a narrow 130kt jet max aloft is diving south from western CO into western NM. Breezy northwest winds will continue today and Tuesday from near Farmington to the ABQ metro. A few gusts may approach 50 mph in the Four Corners today but most of the area will remain below 40 mph. Temps across the entire region will rebound several degrees on Tuesday.

LONG TERM

(Wednesday through Sunday) Issued at 133 PM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

Wednesday thru Saturday will feature a +3 to +4 standard deviation H5 high drifting east from SoCal into AZ. Pressure heights peaking near 596dm on the ECMWF would topple March record H5 heights in the vicinity from Flagstaff to Tuscon, Albuquerque, and El Paso. This sprawling area of high pressure is also exceptionally dry so diurnal swings will be impressive. There is high confidence that a historic heatwave will grip our region with max temps more typical of late May and early June. The most recent temperature guidance trended a degree or two cooler at ABQ, which lowers the risk of breaking the all-time April record high in March (89F). The trend has also decreased the chances of hitting our first 90 degree, six weeks before the earliest on record (May 3rd). The current max temp forecast will however break the all-time March record (85F: March 19, 1907 and March 26, 1971).

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1125 PM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

Breezy northwest winds at KFMN should taper off just before sunrise Tuesday. Less high clouds over the airspace Tuesday with breezy northwest winds developing once again between KFMN to KGNT to KCQC. Peak wind gusts between 20 to 30 kts across this zone. Northwest winds taper off slowly after sunset but remain a little brisk at KFMN and KAEG. Elsewhere, light south winds across the southeast plains, including KROW, with west winds across east central NM Tuesday afternoon.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 133 PM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

Northwest flow will continue over the region thru Tuesday between an exiting upper level trough to our east and a very strong upper ridge approaching from the west. Breezy northwest winds will impact the area from near Farmington to Cuba, Grants, and the ABQ metro today and Tuesday. Minimum relative humidity in the 13 to 18% range each afternoon will create elevated to locally critical fire weather in this area. The focus then shifts to a historic late March heatwave with widespread record high temps Wednesday thru Saturday. Single digit humidity is likely each afternoon but with much lighter winds. Vent rates will be fair to good with lighter winds from Wednesday to Friday before improving as stronger winds aloft arrive this weekend.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 35 73 37 80 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 23 69 29 76 / 0 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 28 68 35 76 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 24 73 29 81 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 31 71 37 79 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 26 73 34 80 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 30 71 36 80 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 36 74 44 78 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 34 71 41 78 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 29 77 37 84 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 32 82 40 89 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 26 64 33 71 / 0 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 36 69 44 76 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 30 70 40 76 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 31 66 39 72 / 0 0 0 0 Red River....................... 25 56 34 63 / 0 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 15 63 25 69 / 0 0 0 0 Taos............................ 23 70 29 78 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 28 69 37 75 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 28 75 37 82 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 35 69 44 76 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 31 72 41 79 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 40 74 48 80 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 37 76 45 82 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 33 79 43 84 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 38 76 45 82 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 30 79 39 84 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 37 77 44 83 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 27 79 38 84 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 37 77 44 83 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 30 79 40 84 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 39 73 46 79 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 38 76 45 82 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 36 81 47 85 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 37 68 45 75 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 35 70 45 77 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 32 71 41 78 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 27 73 36 79 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 31 68 38 75 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 31 71 40 78 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 31 71 41 78 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 33 71 44 81 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 34 66 45 73 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 23 69 34 75 / 0 0 0 0 Raton........................... 19 74 32 80 / 0 0 0 0 Springer........................ 20 75 32 81 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 27 73 39 76 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 29 74 43 80 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 23 72 38 77 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 24 78 38 85 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 23 78 40 82 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 25 78 38 84 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 28 76 43 83 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 25 77 38 84 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 23 79 39 84 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 27 78 44 86 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 31 77 47 80 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 30 75 45 77 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.