textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1122 AM MST Mon Nov 2 2026 - A few inches of snow will fall over the northern mountains above 9000 feet today.

- While precipitation chances diminish late today, rivers across northwestern and north-central New Mexico will remain near or above bankfull.

- Breezy to windy conditions will occur today across the Sacramento Mountains, Central Highlands and Eastern Plains.

- Drier conditions arrive Tuesday and persist through the rest of the week.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Tuesday night) Issued at 1122 AM MST Mon Nov 2 2026

The deep upper level low is pushing over the northeast corner of NM with a strong gradient aloft overlaying the state. The Pacific front has swept through much of the area as well, and gusty veering winds will strengthen through the afternoon. Through the mid afternoon, wind highlights remain unchanged with the Warnings in the central to south central highlands and Advisories in surrounding areas and into the east central plains. However, the strong gradient, both at the surface and aloft, looks to be stubborn, if not intensifying over the northeast (Union county) this evening and tonight. This has prompted a Wind Advisory there that will run from 4 PM MST through the overnight.

As for precipitation, the coverage and intensity has really subsided with wrap-around dynamics and orographic flow keeping the northern mountains in some showers. Light snow is even being reported at KAXX, but snow levels should rise a bit through the late afternoon. Additional QPF and snow will remain light through the afternoon and early evening with another 0.25 inch of liquid equivalent over the Sangre de Cristos and Raton Pass area through the evening and lighter amounts of just a few hundredths of an inch in Union county.

The winds will remain gusty on the higher terrain and ridges along the Continental Divide and central mountain chain tonight, but speeds will reduce notably from today's readings. The breezes may be enough to keep fog from developing into early Tuesday morning, and instead force a layer of low stratus clouds, particularly in west central to northwestern zones. However, given the tendency for full decoupling in lower elevation and sheltered areas, felt it best to include mention of fog/freezing fog in some of these west central, northwestern, and even north central zones through Tuesday morning. Any fog should remain patchy, tending to favor the most saturated soils and areas of standing water.

Much more tranquility arrives on Tuesday via lighter and drier northwest flow aloft. It will be a chilly, but seasonable start to the day with daytime temperatures rising near to just slightly under normal values for early November. Winds will be notably lighter, making for a pleasant day.

LONG TERM

(Wednesday through Sunday) Issued at 1122 AM MST Mon Nov 2 2026

A relatively weak Pacific low is still slated to move inland, crossing the Great Basin Tuesday night and moving into CO on Wednesday. This low still looks to carry scant showers within its core, but no moisture tap will sync up with it while it remains void of strong dynamics aloft. Therefore, just a smattering of light showers is in the forecast along the NM-CO border for Wednesday with temperatures rising a few degrees. Winds would increase a bit, but most areas will just stay in the breezy category with a few west southwesterly gusts of 30 to 35 mph along the central mountain chain into the northeast highlands.

Into Thursday, the CO low will drop southeastward into the southern plains with cooler air filtering into NM on the backside. Cold air advection will be modest with daytime highs running slightly below normal. The backdoor segment of this front would lead to strong northerly winds in the far eastern plains. Currently gusts are forecast to reach about 30-35 mph in the far eastern plains Thursday, but these might need to trend upward on future shifts.

The next upstream feature will be a baggy, weak trough that will stretch from the central Rockies into the southwestern states on Friday. This will keep winds aloft light over NM with low prospects for precipitation due to a lack of forcing. This feature will slide southeastward into Saturday, and a ridge of high pressure will then build over NM and surrounding areas Sunday into Monday of next week. There are hints of a weak upstream cut-off low developing over or just west of the Baja on deterministic model runs by next Monday, but subsequently this feature does not look to ingest much subtropical moisture or pose large impacts to NM at this time.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1113 AM MST Mon Nov 2 2026

An upper level low pressure system is moving into northeastern New Mexico, and a Pacific cold front has swept into most of the state. This will cause winds to remain strong and gusty today, turning more northwesterly in direction through the afternoon. Gusts of 30 to 45 knots will be common with the strongest gusts focused over the central highlands into the east central plains (KCQC, KSRR, KSXU, KTCC, KCVN, and KPRZ). While much of the precipitation has decreased, persistent showers will continue over the northern mountains of New Mexico through the late afternoon with a few also spreading into the northeastern corner of the state. Winds will begin to decrease in several areas after sunset, but several sites will remain stubborn and gusty, especially near high terrain areas and in the northeastern plains. Patchy fog and freezing fog cannot be ruled out over west central to northwestern New Mexico early Tuesday morning, especially where winds are able to settle overnight.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1122 AM MST Mon Nov 2 2026

Windy conditions will persist through the afternoon with gusts of 35 to 55 mph being common and the strongest gusts found in the central highlands and east central plains. Winds will start to decouple and decrease after sunset, but will remain gusty along ridges and higher exposed terrain overnight. The exception to this will be in the far northeastern corner of the state where the gradient will remain strong, keeping stiff northerly gusts continuing all night. Additional rain and high elevation snow will be light with generally less than a quarter of an inch over the Sangre de Cristos and Raton Pass areas through the late evening. Excellent humidity recovery is forecast tonight with cooler temperatures.

Other than a few exceptions, a generally drier and less windy period is then forecast for much of the forecast area through the remainder of the week. Conditions on Tuesday will be tranquil. Light showers will be possible over the NM-CO border on Wednesday, but will not provide any appreciable fuel moisture. Breezy conditions will develop Wednesday, but no critical conditions are foreseen. Winds turn stronger from the north on Thursday in the plains as cooler air sinks in. Lighter winds are then forecast Friday into the weekend.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 35 54 36 58 / 0 0 0 5 Dulce........................... 26 55 25 57 / 0 0 0 10 Cuba............................ 31 52 31 57 / 5 0 0 5 Gallup.......................... 27 58 29 60 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 26 57 30 59 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 30 58 31 62 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 29 60 31 63 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 35 59 36 65 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 30 59 32 63 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 29 66 31 66 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 34 67 36 69 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 23 49 26 50 / 5 0 0 10 Los Alamos...................... 34 54 34 57 / 0 0 0 5 Pecos........................... 30 55 30 58 / 10 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 29 51 32 53 / 20 0 0 10 Red River....................... 25 47 22 49 / 40 0 0 10 Angel Fire...................... 24 49 13 52 / 30 0 0 5 Taos............................ 26 53 24 56 / 20 0 0 10 Mora............................ 28 54 27 59 / 20 0 0 5 Espanola........................ 33 60 32 63 / 5 0 0 5 Santa Fe........................ 35 55 34 58 / 5 0 0 5 Santa Fe Airport................ 34 58 32 61 / 0 0 0 5 Albuquerque Foothills........... 38 59 38 63 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 39 61 39 65 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 33 63 31 66 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 39 61 38 65 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 37 63 36 68 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 37 62 35 66 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 34 63 32 67 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 37 61 36 65 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 36 63 36 67 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 37 59 37 63 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 38 60 37 64 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 40 64 39 70 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 33 55 33 59 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 35 57 36 60 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 33 57 30 61 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 31 59 26 64 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 33 54 34 59 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 33 58 32 62 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 34 58 32 61 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 39 61 39 64 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 35 58 32 63 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 32 49 29 57 / 60 0 0 5 Raton........................... 31 56 28 60 / 30 0 0 5 Springer........................ 31 58 28 64 / 20 0 0 5 Las Vegas....................... 31 55 30 60 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 40 56 36 63 / 60 0 0 0 Roy............................. 35 57 33 61 / 20 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 41 63 39 69 / 5 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 40 61 39 68 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 41 63 38 68 / 5 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 43 62 43 68 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 42 64 41 70 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 41 63 40 67 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 46 65 42 70 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 42 62 39 71 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 38 61 36 69 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wind Advisory until 6 PM MST this evening for NMZ221-222-224-229- 232-234>237-239-240.

High Wind Warning until 6 PM MST this evening for NMZ223-226-233.

Wind Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 5 AM MST Tuesday for NMZ230.