textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1244 AM MST Sun Jan 25 2026

- Winter storm conditions continue through Sunday morning focused over central, east-central, and southeastern NM. Accumulating snow will keep persistent hazardous travel conditions in these areas before improving conditions arrive later this afternoon.

- Subfreezing temperatures are forecast to continue across the northeast plains until Monday afternoon, and across the southeast plains until Tuesday afternoon.

- Dry weather returns early next week as temperatures struggle to climb back to seasonal averages.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Monday) Issued at 1244 AM MST Sun Jan 25 2026

Tonight is heading into the final stretch of this winter storm event across New Mexico. The initial H5 low has opened and is being ejected eastward over west TX while the shortwave embedded within the polar jet is making its way across western NM. As such, the WAA ahead of initial H5 low has moved east of the region and the threat of mixed phase wintry precipitation like freezing rain has dwindled with snow levels falling to valley floors across south-central and western portions of the forecast area tonight.

Radar shows a batch of snow making its way into the Rio Grande Valley from the Continental Divide including the Albuquerque metro. This will be Albuquerque's best and only chance at some accumulating snow from this event with light amounts of an inch or two with locally higher amounts into the Foothills by Sunday morning. Similar amounts are forecast to reach portions of northern and central Socorro County as well. Further south, a robust batch of snow perhaps with some melting involved is making its way westward across the White Sands Missile Range toward the Sacramento Mts and Ruidoso area. This will bring additional snow there overnight, with the aforementioned batch near Albuquerque expected to reach that same area near sunrise Sunday morning. Lighter snow will continue over portions of the northern mountains like the Jemez and southern Sangre de Cristo's keeping wintry conditions going there a few more hours in places ranging from Espanola to Los Alamos to Santa Fe. Otherwise, snow will also linger longest over portions of Guadalupe, Lincoln, De Baca and Chaves County through the night and Sunday morning before finally clearing midday. Cancellations and expirations of current winter storm highlights will commence overnight into Sunday morning.

Bitter cold remains entrenched across all areas along and east of the central mountain chain. Single-digit low temperatures in these areas tonight will warm into the 20s Sunday, falling back to near or just below zero Sunday night into Monday morning. Cold Weather Advisories and Extreme Cold Warnings will be issued for these areas of eastern NM, including the Rio Grande Valley from Santa Fe northward through Espanola to Taos.

While many areas will see clearing conditions by late day Sunday, the northeastern plains and highlands will see a weak shortwave clip that portion of the state Sunday evening and night. Light flurries and light snow accumulations of a dusting are likely from this over areas of Colfax, Mora, Union, and Harding Counties by Monday morning. Monday will feature the warming trend continuing with many areas across eastern NM finally reaching back above freezing for the first time since before this winter event began. The exception to this will likely be areas of east-central NM southward into Chaves County where snow on the ground will limit diurnal heating.

LONG TERM

(Monday night through Saturday) Issued at 1244 AM MST Sun Jan 25 2026

Tuesday morning begins the long term period with continued very cold low temperatures over a large portion of the forecast area. Many areas are forecast to again fall into the single-digits to teens. However, the warming trend continues this day with many areas climbing back into the 40s and 50s. Wednesday and Thursday takes these high temperatures a few to several more degrees warmer. Those areas along the central highlands, east-central plains down toward Roswell that are seeing the highest snow accumulations from this winter event will see a tempered warming trend, even this far out into the week. Highs in these areas will finally make it into the 40s by Wednesday and Thursday. A continued stable weather pattern looks favored to end the work week and into next weekend.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1036 PM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

IFR conditions from snow across the south central mountains and southeast plains, including KSRR and KROW, through late Sunday morning. Meanwhile, MVFR ceilings and visibility on the northern end of the snow shield across east central NM through mid Sunday morning. Snow showers moving east and southeast across the west central NM and the middle and lower RGV overnight will result in periods of MVFR to IFR conditions. Coverage will be highest across KBRG, KONM, and the southwest mountains where IFR conditions will be likely. Uncertainty still exists for better coverage of snow at KAEG, KABQ, and KSAF early Sunday morning, but the latest hi res guidance shows an slight nudge northward. An Airport Weather Warning has been issued for KABQ due to expected snowfall accumulation of around 1 inch. Clearing low ceilings from northwest to southeast across northern, western and central NM mid to late Sunday morning. Snow will linger longest across southeast NM, including KROW, before clearing out midday to early afternoon Sunday. Potential for MVFR conditions from very light snow across far northeast NM (Raton Pass and northern Union County) late Sunday evening. Finally, freezing fog developing in the lower Pecos River Valley, including KROW, at the end of the TAF period due to the fresh snow cover.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1244 AM MST Sun Jan 25 2026

No fire weather conditions forecast through the next 7 days. Winter weather exits the state today west to east, lasting the longest over the central highlands and eastern plains zones. Bitter cold remains each night through Tuesday morning when lows fall into the single- digits and teens. Some northern areas will see lows dip below zero. Conditions dry out and warm up through next week.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 36 12 37 12 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 34 -2 38 -1 / 20 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 33 6 35 8 / 10 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 38 2 41 3 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 35 9 39 14 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 39 4 43 6 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 32 8 39 12 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 35 17 37 20 / 40 0 0 0 Datil........................... 32 12 37 17 / 20 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 44 10 50 13 / 20 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 51 15 53 17 / 30 0 0 0 Chama........................... 27 -4 32 2 / 20 5 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 29 10 33 13 / 20 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 27 4 36 11 / 30 5 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 29 4 33 10 / 20 20 0 0 Red River....................... 20 0 26 7 / 30 20 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 24 -12 32 -8 / 20 20 0 0 Taos............................ 30 -2 34 1 / 20 20 0 0 Mora............................ 31 4 42 11 / 20 10 0 0 Espanola........................ 35 4 39 6 / 20 5 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 28 10 32 14 / 30 5 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 30 7 32 11 / 30 5 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 36 19 38 20 / 30 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 38 19 40 20 / 30 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 41 16 43 16 / 30 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 40 18 41 19 / 20 0 0 0 Belen........................... 38 10 40 9 / 30 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 40 16 41 16 / 20 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 39 11 41 11 / 30 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 41 16 42 17 / 20 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 39 13 41 13 / 30 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 35 17 36 18 / 30 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 40 17 41 18 / 20 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 40 15 42 15 / 50 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 29 13 34 14 / 30 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 30 16 34 17 / 40 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 29 7 35 8 / 30 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 29 0 36 0 / 40 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 22 5 30 10 / 40 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 30 9 34 10 / 50 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 27 6 34 7 / 50 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 30 9 35 12 / 80 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 29 10 35 13 / 90 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 26 0 39 13 / 5 30 0 0 Raton........................... 27 -2 42 9 / 10 30 0 0 Springer........................ 30 -2 45 7 / 5 10 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 27 1 41 11 / 20 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 26 2 40 19 / 0 40 0 0 Roy............................. 26 0 37 11 / 5 20 0 0 Conchas......................... 30 1 39 7 / 20 5 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 25 2 35 12 / 40 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 27 -2 35 5 / 20 5 0 0 Clovis.......................... 22 0 28 8 / 40 0 0 0 Portales........................ 23 -4 28 5 / 50 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 24 -5 29 -1 / 50 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 23 -2 25 -1 / 60 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 27 5 36 10 / 70 0 0 0 Elk............................. 30 5 41 9 / 80 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM MST early this morning for NMZ202>204-206-208-227-228-230-231.

Winter Storm Warning until 8 AM MST this morning for NMZ210>218- 221>224-229-232>234-237.

Cold Weather Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 9 AM MST Monday for NMZ212-216>218-221>234-239.

Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM MST this morning for NMZ207- 219-220-225-241.

Winter Storm Warning until 11 AM MST this morning for NMZ226-235- 236-238>240.

Extreme Cold Warning from 7 PM this evening to 9 AM MST Monday for NMZ235>238-240.