textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 134 AM MDT Sat Apr 4 2026

- A widespread hard freeze will impact much of northern and western New Mexico tonight, including the Farmington and Santa Fe areas. Freezing temperatures are expected in valley locations of the Albuquerque metro area and northeast New Mexico. Folks should be prepared to protect plants, pets, and pipes from a damaging freeze event.

- Seasonable temperatures with chances for showers and storms early next week. Main hazards will be gusty and erratic winds and dry lightning, which could lead to future fire starts. Low confidence exists for wetting rainfall.

SHORT TERM

(Tonight through Sunday night) Issued at 134 AM MDT Sat Apr 4 2026

Much colder temperatures remain on tap overnight in the wake of a cold front. Winds behind the front will continue to diminish, but once they do, temperatures will fall rather quickly where clouds are scarce. We're already seeing this across portions of northern NM where clear skies and light winds are the rule. A hard freeze is expected for most locations across northern and western NM, as well as the Estancia Valley. Freezing temps are also expected across the Albuquerque Valley and near KAEG. A Freeze Warning remains in effect until 8am for the central NM valleys, Santa Fe Metro and the NW Plateau.

The upper level trough that passed over northern NM Friday will continue to slide eastward allowing heights to rise over NM today. Temperatures will warm across northern and western NM, but high temperatures across eastern NM will be cooler than yesterday as cold air advection continues early this morning behind the front. Nonetheless, most areas will be in the 60s to low 70s this aftn. Surface winds will veer around to the east and southeast throughout the day which will become more important Sunday.

Moisture pooling over Texas late Saturday night will take the scenic route into southern/southwestern NM on Sunday as a mid level high develops over the Texas Panhandle. This high will allow for deep southeasterly flow to develop across the southern half of NM which will slowly draw the moisture over Texas into NM. Enough mid level moisture will be in place by Sunday afternoon for a few showers across the Southwest Mountains. Can't rule out a stray lightning strike, but erratic gusts from the showers appear more likely. Overall forcing is minimal but there is a weak disturbance at upper levels that may aid in shower development. Nonetheless, top-down moistening should increase low level dewpoints throughout the afternoon and evening across south and southwest NM. On Sunday night, winds from the surface to mid levels will continue to veer around to the south, which will allow the moisture across southern NM to advect northward.

LONG TERM

(Monday through next Friday) Issued at 134 AM MDT Sat Apr 4 2026

Southerly flow will persist over NM on Monday and temps will change little from Sunday. Meanwhile, a weak shortwave will move over the northern Baja into southern AZ and then across southern NM Monday night thru Tuesday. Moisture arriving with the shortwave combined with the modest moisture already in place will allow for showers and a few thunderstorms to develop Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. Precipitation will begin across western NM Monday afternoon, then will spread eastward Monday night and Tuesday. Despite the increase in moisture, wetting rainfall (>=0.10") will still be hard to come by for most locations. Thus, a mix of wet and dry thunderstorms are likely. Several operational models suggest precipitation will linger well into Tuesday evening across eastern NM, but the trough axis and best forcing will be well past NM by then so that seems unlikely and this general thinking agrees with most AI models.

Quieter conditions are expected Wednesday, though enough mid level moisture will remain for a few virga showers and gusty winds. Overall, more sunshine is expected which will allow temperatures to climb back above normal for all areas.

Upper level flow will back on Thursday as the next storm system moves toward the Great Basin. Though the details are still blurry on the timing, placement and strength of this system late in the week, Thursday into next weekend look to be unsettled with better chances for precipitation.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1121 PM MDT Fri Apr 3 2026

VFR conditions will prevail for the next 24 hours. Gusty north to northwest winds behind the cold front will continue to decrease through 10-11Z at KAEG and KROW as well as other portions of eastern NM. Winds will veer around to the east and southeast Saturday but speeds will be much less than today. High clouds will continue to cross the state through the period.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 134 AM MDT Sat Apr 4 2026

Critical fire weather conditions will be limited over the next seven days as moisture increases and winds will largely stay below critical criteria. There are a few exceptions, however. After light winds today, southerly winds will increase on Sunday, especially across eastern NM. Daytime RH values will also decrease below 15 percent across northeast NM. A few hours of critical fire weather conditions are expected across the Northeast Highlands and Northeast Plains (Zones 123 and 104), with greater confidence over the highlands. Breezy southerly winds will return across eastern NM on Monday, but RH values will also be increasing. Showers and a few thunderstorms will impact the state Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon, and lightning strikes in receptive fuels will be a concern for new fire starts. Wetting rains will be hard to come by overall. Breezy westerly winds on Wednesday will mix out much of the moisture across the state and widespread elevated fire weather conditions are likely. There is some uncertainty with how a storm system will impact the state late in the week, but there is potential for additional critical fire weather conditions on Thursday across northeast NM. Unsettled weather will persist into the weekend with increasing chances for precipitation.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 23 64 31 71 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 17 64 21 68 / 0 0 0 5 Cuba............................ 23 61 30 65 / 0 0 0 5 Gallup.......................... 16 65 24 70 / 0 0 0 5 El Morro........................ 25 63 35 66 / 0 0 0 10 Grants.......................... 16 64 27 68 / 0 0 0 5 Quemado......................... 24 67 35 67 / 0 0 0 20 Magdalena....................... 31 64 38 65 / 0 0 0 10 Datil........................... 28 63 34 64 / 0 0 0 10 Reserve......................... 25 72 32 70 / 0 0 0 20 Glenwood........................ 33 77 36 74 / 0 0 0 20 Chama........................... 19 58 24 61 / 0 0 0 5 Los Alamos...................... 33 59 37 63 / 0 0 0 5 Pecos........................... 26 60 30 62 / 0 0 0 5 Cerro/Questa.................... 26 59 31 61 / 0 0 0 10 Red River....................... 19 49 24 52 / 0 0 0 10 Angel Fire...................... 13 56 16 58 / 0 0 0 10 Taos............................ 15 61 24 65 / 0 0 0 10 Mora............................ 24 60 27 60 / 0 0 0 5 Espanola........................ 26 67 31 70 / 0 0 0 5 Santa Fe........................ 29 61 36 64 / 0 0 0 5 Santa Fe Airport................ 25 63 32 67 / 0 0 0 5 Albuquerque Foothills........... 38 68 42 69 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 34 69 40 71 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 31 71 37 73 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 36 69 40 71 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 30 71 34 73 / 0 0 0 5 Bernalillo...................... 34 70 38 72 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 28 71 33 73 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 34 71 38 72 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 31 70 35 73 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 35 65 40 68 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 35 69 40 71 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 38 73 40 72 / 0 0 0 5 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 32 61 35 64 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 34 63 34 66 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 27 63 29 65 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 21 64 26 66 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 29 59 31 61 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 29 64 31 66 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 31 63 34 65 / 0 0 0 5 Carrizozo....................... 39 67 39 66 / 0 0 0 10 Ruidoso......................... 35 59 35 56 / 0 0 0 10 Capulin......................... 24 58 27 62 / 10 0 0 0 Raton........................... 23 62 24 67 / 5 0 0 5 Springer........................ 24 64 26 68 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 26 59 30 62 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 31 62 35 69 / 10 0 0 0 Roy............................. 29 61 32 65 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 34 68 33 73 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 34 65 33 68 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 36 69 35 74 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 42 69 37 70 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 41 69 35 72 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 37 69 34 71 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 45 70 40 69 / 0 0 0 5 Picacho......................... 39 66 37 62 / 0 0 0 10 Elk............................. 36 64 33 58 / 0 0 0 20

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Freeze Warning until 8 AM MDT Saturday for NMZ201-217>219-222.