textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 443 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

- Widespread hazardous crosswinds today will create difficult travel for large and high-profile vehicles today. The main focus for hazardous travel will shift into eastern New Mexico this evening.

- Critical fire weather will continue today for the southeastern half of New Mexico, increasing the threat of rapid fire spread from any new spark. Locally critical conditions are also likely in the Rio Grande Valley. Another period of critical fire weather may occur Sunday over northeast New Mexico with rapid fire spread possible.

- A hard freeze will occur tonight into Saturday morning across portions of central, western, and northern New Mexico. Take precautions to protect exposed plumbing and early blooming plants.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Saturday night) Issued at 131 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Southwest to west winds have gusted to between 35 and 45 mph in many areas today ahead of an approaching upper level trough and surface cold front. It is exceptionally dry as well with humidity falling below 10% east of the central mt chain. Peak winds will occur between 2pm and 6pm as the Pacific cold front surges southeast into central and eastern NM during peak mixing. The focus will shift to strong north winds over eastern NM in the wake of the backdoor cold front this evening. The latest MET/MAV MOS guidance continues to show a brief period with gusts near 60 mph possible around Curry County, while the REFS, NBM, and HREF struggle to produce wind gusts of that magnitude. For now, a high-end Wind Advisory will remain in place for far eastern NM. Winds will gradually decouple overnight with efficient radiational cooling expected for several hours before sunrise. Min temps have trended a tad cooler so a couple locations were added to the Freeze Warning.

Saturday will be gorgeous as a dry upper level shortwave ridge crests east over NM. Expect mild temps, very low humidity, lighter winds, and sunny skies. Saturday night will be cold again with sub- freezing temps likely again across all of northern and western NM. Freeze zones that may need another Freeze Warning include the area from Raton to Las Vegas and Moriarty.

LONG TERM

(Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 131 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

By Sunday, southwest flow aloft will increase as the next shortwave trough approaches from the west. A surface low deepening to near 1004mb over southeast CO will allow stronger southwest winds over all of eastern NM. Gusts of 30 to 40 mph will be common over the northeast. Max temps will trend several degrees warmer with very low humidity again. Sunday night will also trend much warmer with increasing moisture advection and continued breezy south/southwest winds.

Monday is likely to start out pleasant followed by increasing coverage of high-based and gusty showers by mid to late afternoon. Guidance is in good agreement increasing PWATs to near 0.50" over central and southern NM along with SBCAPE of 200-400 J/kg, lifted indices of -1 to -3, DCAPE of 500-1000 J/kg, and an approaching 40-60kt upper level speed max. The potential for dry storms is increasing south and west of the ABQ metro (NBM PoPs 20-40%). The greatest chance for a "wetter" storm will be in the Gila region where PWATs may rise closer to 0.75". Otherwise, any dry lightning strikes will be a concern for fire starts with windy conditions possible for the rest of next week.

Forecast confidence decreases rather quickly beyond Monday given the overall uncertainty with how the upper level pattern evolves over the western CONUS. A broad troughing pattern appears likely but extended models are showing several perturbations embedded within the trough ejecting thru the southern Rockies. Strength and timing of each wave is likely to change considerably over the next several days. For now, an extended period of stronger winds is possible with warmer temps next week.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 443 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Wind speeds over central and western areas will gradually weaken through early and mid evening. Meanwhile, a strong backdoor cold front will continue to plunge southwestward through the eastern plains reaching Roswell during late evening. North and northeast wind gusts with the backdoor front will peak around 45 KT along the TX border this evening from Clovis northward. Near and after midnight, gusts will continue to reach 35 KT from Clovis southward and southwestward to Roswell. East canyon wind gusts up to 30 KT are likely in Carrizozo late tonight into early Saturday morning. The front will bank up against the east slopes of the central mountain chain tonight producing areas of MVFR conditions until mid morning on Saturday.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 131 PM MDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Widespread critical fire weather is ongoing over eastern NM with locally critical areas along the central mt chain and the Rio Grande Valley. Strong southwest winds will turn west then northwest as the day progresses in the wake of a strong cold front. A backdoor cold front over eastern NM will bring strong north winds to the plains this evening. Humidity will rise quickly over eastern NM with good recoveries expected. Poor to fair recoveries will continue across western NM where dewpoints remain below zero overnight.

Winds will be lighter Saturday but with RH below 10% in most areas. Southwest winds increase again Sunday with more critical fire weather over northeast NM. A Fire Weather Watch will be forthcoming over the weekend. Moisture will begin advancing northward Monday with increasing chances for gusty showers and dry storms, mainly south and west of Albuquerque. Any dry lightning strikes will be a concern as winds may trend much stronger with more critically low humidity Tuesday thru Thursday, and perhaps even Friday.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 22 61 32 74 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 14 60 19 70 / 0 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 21 59 29 67 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 16 60 23 73 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 22 61 33 69 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 20 63 26 71 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 26 65 34 71 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 32 62 36 67 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 29 62 34 65 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 29 73 31 75 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 33 78 35 77 / 0 0 0 5 Chama........................... 14 55 22 63 / 0 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 28 60 34 66 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 22 59 28 67 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 20 55 28 65 / 0 0 0 0 Red River....................... 14 51 19 60 / 0 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 12 52 15 61 / 0 0 0 0 Taos............................ 17 58 21 68 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 20 57 25 67 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 24 64 29 74 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 27 59 34 68 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 25 61 32 71 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 34 66 40 74 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 36 68 37 75 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 32 70 36 77 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 34 67 38 75 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 30 68 32 76 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 30 68 37 76 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 29 69 31 77 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 32 69 37 76 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 30 69 33 76 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 30 63 39 72 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 32 67 38 75 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 36 72 38 76 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 28 61 35 69 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 26 64 32 72 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 23 64 27 72 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 21 64 25 72 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 24 58 29 65 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 26 64 30 70 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 29 63 32 69 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 37 67 38 70 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 32 59 33 62 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 19 52 26 64 / 10 0 0 0 Raton........................... 20 57 23 70 / 10 0 0 0 Springer........................ 22 59 25 71 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 22 56 26 65 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 28 59 33 69 / 5 0 0 0 Roy............................. 25 57 30 66 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 31 63 32 74 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 30 61 31 68 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 31 64 32 74 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 35 65 33 72 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 36 67 32 73 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 32 65 32 71 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 43 69 38 72 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 35 63 34 67 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 33 63 30 67 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM MDT Saturday for NMZ201-217>219-222>224-228>234-241.

Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for NMZ104-106- 123>126.

Wind Advisory until 3 AM MDT Saturday for NMZ231-232.

Wind Advisory until 6 PM MDT this evening for NMZ213>215-223-226- 228-229-240.

Wind Advisory until 3 AM MDT Saturday for NMZ230-234-235.