textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 438 AM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

- Significant winter impacts will continue over much of central and northern New Mexico through Sunday morning. Snow, wintry mix, frigid temperatures, blowing snow, and treacherous travel conditions will impact travel and infrastructure, especially along and east of the central mountain chain.

- Temperatures will continue to plummet in eastern New Mexico, with cold air spreading into central New Mexico Saturday through Monday morning. An extended period of bitterly cold temperatures will increase the risk of frostbite and hypothermia, with the highest threat in the eastern plains.

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

SHORT TERM

(Today through Sunday) Issued at 126 AM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

..SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM IMPACTING A LARGE PORTION OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO WITH AREAS OF HEAVY SNOW AND BITTERLY COLD TEMPERATURES...

The season's most significant winter storm thus far has settled in across much of New Mexico tonight. The overall weather pattern is featuring a well advertised shallow surface Arctic airmass across much of eastern NM. The leading edge of this airmass has reached into the highlands just east of the central mountain chain, and along the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo's. Meanwhile, a 558dm H5 closed low just off the Baja Peninsula continues to spin up abundant subtropical moisture into the state. Much of this moisture is falling as a mix of valley rain and mountain snow across the western half of the state, as a mixed phase of sleet and freezing rain along the leading edge of the Arctic airmass, and as snow further east over the plains toward TX. There's also a third shortwave trough embedded within the polar jet digging southward over NV/UT helping to bring further showers into northwestern NM.

Given the complexity and geographic scope of this system across the state, will break this discussion into separate regions to discuss the varying weather types and resulting impacts. The Arctic airmass and eastern NM gets first dibs, and as mentioned this airmass has reached to areas along the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo's and into the highlands southward to central Lincoln County and along the east slopes of the Sacramento Mts. The main impacts of concern are the mixed phase sleet and freezing rain potential along the leading edge in the aforementioned areas mainly south of U.S. 60 from Torrance into Lincoln, and then Chaves Counties. Model soundings in these areas continue to advertise a pronounced warm nose poking just a few degrees above the 0C isotherm allowing for snow aloft to partially melt before refreezing at the surface. This will waffle back and forth some tonight before a break in precipitation is expected late this morning when the H5 low opens over the Sonoran Desert and phases with the shortwave trough as it digs into AZ. Thereafter, a secondary round of precipitation follows with snow levels falling quickly. The Arctic airmass advances further west through the gaps of the central mountain chain and into the RGV some Saturday night. This looks to be the end of the sleet and freezing rain potential. As such, ice accumulations look to be fairly light compared to our neighboring states to the east with a few hundredths to 0.10" of inch favored in these areas stretching from the Manzanos southward to the Sacramento's and portions of Chaves and Roosevelt Counties.

The long duration bitter cold and low visibility from snow is the main concern over the eastern plains of course. A batch of snow is currently progressing across this region of the state tonight with somewhat of a break by Saturday morning. A second round of snow arrives over eastern NM as the shortwave embedded within the polar jet approaches the area Saturday night into Sunday morning. Thanks to abundant subtropical moisture overriding the Arctic airmass via isentropic upglide, this second round will feature efficient snow accumulation. Event totals still favor 4 to 8 inches for much of east-central NM mainly alone and south of I-40 when all is said and done by Sunday afternoon. Persistent CAA into eastern NM Saturday will keep temperatures in the teens to low 20s at their warmest Saturday with many areas just barely reaching near freezing at their warmest Sunday. Wind chills will be dangerously cold here falling below zero with -10s across northeastern NM, repeating again Sunday night into Monday morning.

Areas along and west of the Rio Grande Valley will be more straightforward with regards to precipitation types; valley rain and mountain snow tonight and favored to stay that way through Saturday as snow levels will remain 6,000' over the northwest at 7,500' through west-central NM and ~8,200' over the Gila NF. It's not until Saturday evening and night that snow levels here fall to valley floors as colder air from the shortwave trough or the western edge of the Arctic airmass spills into the middle RGV. It's here the Albuquerque metro area has its best chance at accumulating snow. An east canyon wind is likely to develop thru Tijeras Canyon into eastern Albuquerque during this time as well, but any "ABQ Snow Hole" effect looks to be tamed, meaning snow accumulation should still be seen over much of the city despite the east winds. The window for accumulation will be relatively brief with 1 to 3 inches still favored by Sunday morning. Black ice from snow on rain soaked roadways will likely be the main concern here for travel impacts in the metro area and across the middle RGV. Santa Fe meanwhile has already seen some of the Arctic air reach there via southeasterly winds and has already transitioned to snow there. Temperatures will fall behind the Pacific cold front across the western half of the state, but not nearly as cold as over eastern NM. Highs will rise into the 30s Sunday and Monday with lows in the single-digits to 10s Saturday and Sunday nights.

LONG TERM

(Sunday night through Friday) Issued at 126 AM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

Remnants of the by then modified Arctic airmass will continue to loiter over portions of eastern NM Monday. Sunny conditions and highs climbing toward the 40F mark will begin to allow for some icy and snowy surfaces to begin slowly melting a little. However, temperatures are likely to struggle to reach freezing over east- central NM down into Chaves County where the heaviest snow amounts are forecast to fall. Therefore, it probably won't be until Tuesday before surface melting begins in these areas. High temperatures will climb at least through Wednesday before plateauing Thursday. Long range guidance is showing another winter system crossing the region Friday, but not nearly as strong or as cold as this current system.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 438 AM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

Widespread LIFR/IFR conditions continue mainly along and east of the central mountain chain where an Arctic airmass has pushed in. Snow and low ceilings will hold onto many areas thru the northeastern quadrant of the state. KROW continues to bounce between freezing rain and snow with the mixed wintry precipitation favored along the east slopes of the Sacramento Mts. Valley rain and mountain snow will be favored for areas along and west of the Rio Grande Valley. Snow levels have fallen to ground level at KSAF where the colder Arctic air is beginning to push in via the southeasterly winds there. Sleet may fall as far north at times at KSAF as well. An east canyon wind at KABQ is becoming more favorable to develop Saturday evening as snow showers near the terminal. Precipitation and clearer conditions will begin to move into the Four Corners region around KFMN Saturday mid- day, with a mix of MVFR and clearer conditions over portions of western and central NM. Widespread LIFR/IFR will maintain its grip on eastern NM but with a break mid-day in precipitation. Snow will again intensity for areas along and east of the central mountain chain late Saturday afternoon and Saturday night, with the exception of far northeastern NM.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 126 AM MST Sat Jan 24 2026

No fire weather concerns thru the next 7 days. Valley rain and mountain snow tonight and Saturday turns all snow Saturday night along and west of the Rio Grande Valley. Bitter Arctic cold holds onto eastern NM thru Sunday night. Temperatures warn and conditions dry out Monday through Thursday.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 41 18 37 13 / 70 20 0 0 Dulce........................... 39 8 33 -2 / 90 40 20 5 Cuba............................ 38 9 32 5 / 90 60 20 0 Gallup.......................... 40 9 38 3 / 90 60 0 0 El Morro........................ 38 12 34 8 / 70 80 10 0 Grants.......................... 43 11 38 6 / 70 80 10 0 Quemado......................... 40 13 33 8 / 90 80 20 0 Magdalena....................... 44 20 36 17 / 90 90 40 0 Datil........................... 41 18 33 13 / 80 90 30 0 Reserve......................... 48 16 45 11 / 90 90 30 0 Glenwood........................ 52 21 49 16 / 90 90 30 0 Chama........................... 34 8 26 -3 / 90 50 30 10 Los Alamos...................... 34 16 32 10 / 90 70 30 10 Pecos........................... 27 9 27 5 / 90 80 50 10 Cerro/Questa.................... 36 12 27 4 / 80 70 30 20 Red River....................... 27 5 18 0 / 80 80 40 30 Angel Fire...................... 27 1 25 -5 / 90 80 40 30 Taos............................ 37 10 30 -1 / 90 70 30 20 Mora............................ 31 8 31 5 / 90 80 40 20 Espanola........................ 42 13 36 5 / 90 70 30 10 Santa Fe........................ 32 13 27 9 / 90 80 40 10 Santa Fe Airport................ 33 11 30 5 / 90 80 40 10 Albuquerque Foothills........... 40 20 34 18 / 90 80 40 5 Albuquerque Heights............. 43 19 37 16 / 90 80 40 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 46 19 40 15 / 90 80 40 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 43 20 37 16 / 80 80 30 0 Belen........................... 48 18 39 10 / 90 80 40 0 Bernalillo...................... 42 18 37 12 / 90 80 40 0 Bosque Farms.................... 47 16 39 11 / 90 80 40 0 Corrales........................ 43 19 38 13 / 90 80 30 0 Los Lunas....................... 47 18 39 13 / 90 90 40 0 Placitas........................ 37 19 34 13 / 90 80 40 5 Rio Rancho...................... 42 19 37 15 / 90 80 30 0 Socorro......................... 51 22 41 16 / 90 90 40 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 33 11 29 11 / 90 90 50 5 Tijeras......................... 36 14 31 12 / 90 90 50 5 Edgewood........................ 32 8 30 5 / 90 90 50 5 Moriarty/Estancia............... 31 4 30 -1 / 90 90 50 0 Clines Corners.................. 18 5 23 3 / 90 90 50 5 Mountainair..................... 39 8 30 8 / 90 90 50 0 Gran Quivira.................... 39 8 29 6 / 100 90 60 0 Carrizozo....................... 43 14 32 11 / 100 100 70 0 Ruidoso......................... 37 10 30 12 / 90 100 70 0 Capulin......................... 14 4 25 -2 / 40 60 20 40 Raton........................... 17 5 28 -2 / 50 60 20 40 Springer........................ 19 6 32 -2 / 40 60 10 20 Las Vegas....................... 18 5 29 2 / 80 80 30 10 Clayton......................... 10 5 28 1 / 60 70 10 50 Roy............................. 13 5 27 0 / 70 80 20 30 Conchas......................... 16 5 33 3 / 80 90 30 20 Santa Rosa...................... 15 5 29 0 / 90 90 40 10 Tucumcari....................... 14 3 31 2 / 80 90 30 20 Clovis.......................... 13 6 27 2 / 90 100 40 10 Portales........................ 14 6 27 -1 / 90 100 40 5 Fort Sumner..................... 17 5 28 -1 / 90 100 50 10 Roswell......................... 23 10 27 4 / 90 90 60 0 Picacho......................... 27 8 30 6 / 90 90 60 0 Elk............................. 32 6 32 6 / 100 90 70 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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

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

Winter Weather Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 8 AM MST Sunday for NMZ207-219-225-241.

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