textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1020 PM MST Mon Jan 26 2026

- Wind chill temperatures as low as 15 below below zero will pose a risk to people, pets, plants, and pipes in southeastern New Mexico tonight.

- Freezing fog is once again expected to develop over the lower Pecos River valley in Chaves County late tonight and into tomorrow morning, dropping visibility to 1/2 a mile or less.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Tuesday night) Issued at 1244 PM MST Mon Jan 26 2026

Mostly clear skies and light winds across New Mexico today. Yet, despite the ample sunshine, the widespread snow on the ground and the colder modified airmass in eastern New Mexico will keep temperatures below freezing across southeastern parts of the state today. Some areas such as Roswell, Clovis, and Portales will be going on 96 hours and counting with temperatures below freezing. Elsewhere across the state, highs look to climb into the upper 30s and low 40s. Overall, high temperatures will range from 35 degrees below normal in southeast New Mexico to 5 degrees below normal for this time of year in western New Mexico.

Synoptically, longwave troughing remains entrenched over eastern CONUS, while ridging begins to build over the Pacific coast. The previously mentioned shortwave feature that clipped New Mexico last night will continue to usher in drier northwesterly air into the region, along with some slightly breezier WNW winds this afternoon. Pressure heights will generally be rising over the next couple of days as a western ridge approaches the intermountain west, raising temperatures slightly. Some sparse upper level cloud cover will move across the state this evening, which may also limit the maximum amount of radiational cooling for tonight. As a result, temperatures for tonight will be 5 to 10 degrees warmer in some areas. Cold Weather Advisories have been issued for the Chaves County Plains, DeBaca County, Roosevelt County, and Curry County for tonight where temperatures may be as cold as 5 below zero. Across the state there will be widespread lows in the teens and single digits, but unlike last night, only very localized locations will see negative wind chills or temperatures. Freezing fog is once again expected to develop across the lower Pecos River valley in Chaves County, where visibility during the early morning hours may fall to half a mile or less. After the fog erodes in the morning, temperatures should be able to heat up enough in southeastern New Mexico for highs to climb above freezing for the first time in several days. Highs for the rest of the state will climb into the mid to upper 40s.

LONG TERM

(Wednesday through Sunday) Issued at 1244 PM MST Mon Jan 26 2026

The western upper level ridge will translate east across the state on Wednesday, leading to another day of warming temperatures (highs in the upper 40s and low 50s). Immediately behind the ridge, a shortwave trough will dig into southern Colorado and bring increased westerly flow aloft. A 1010 to 1015 mb lee side surface low will also aid in creating some breezy winds across the central highlands and east-central areas. A backdoor front then looks to push through eastern New Mexico early on Thursday morning, shifting winds north and cooling temperatures a few degrees. A secondary backdoor push (associated with an Arctic front digging into the midwestern US) looks to make it through west Texas on Friday, but there is still some disparities among numerical model guidance on whether it will extend into eastern New Mexico. Ensemble cluster analysis indicates increased chances of upper level ridging through the weekend, continuing the warming trend and keeping things dry through the period.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1020 PM MST Mon Jan 26 2026

Predominately VFR conditions, light winds, and some high clouds moving across the airspace overnight with two exceptions. First, today's snowmelt is resulting in the development of low clouds/mist and freezing fog in the lower Pecos River Valley, including KROW. Associated LIFR conditions from mist and freezing fog should burn off mid to late Tuesday morning. Second, a brisk drainage wind will develop at KSAF Tuesday morning.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1244 PM MST Mon Jan 26 2026

Minimal fire weather concerns through the period for New Mexico. Northwest flow will continue to usher in some drier air into the region, lowering minimum humidity values into the low 20s and teens for western and northern New Mexico over the next couple of days. Humidity recovers slightly for the latter half of the week. Ventilation rates will generally be poor areawide throughout the next seven days, except for some slight improvements in eastern and northern areas from breezier conditions on Thursday. Despite some slight fluctuations in eastern New Mexico in the mid to late week period, most areas will see a warming trend going into the weekend.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 15 42 18 46 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 5 44 9 49 / 0 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 11 43 15 48 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 6 48 10 52 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 15 47 19 52 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 7 49 11 54 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 14 47 18 54 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 22 46 26 50 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 19 48 22 52 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 17 58 19 59 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 20 60 23 62 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 5 39 10 43 / 0 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 15 41 20 44 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 15 47 18 49 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 11 39 17 44 / 0 0 0 0 Red River....................... 8 33 13 38 / 0 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... -11 39 -10 43 / 0 0 0 0 Taos............................ 2 42 8 46 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 13 47 15 53 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 8 47 12 50 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 16 42 21 44 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 12 42 17 44 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 22 47 26 48 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 20 47 23 49 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 17 49 20 51 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 20 48 23 49 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 11 47 14 48 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 17 47 22 49 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 13 48 16 50 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 19 49 21 50 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 15 48 18 49 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 20 43 24 45 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 20 48 23 49 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 17 48 21 51 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 17 41 21 44 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 19 42 23 44 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 12 43 16 46 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 3 44 7 47 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 12 39 17 44 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 13 44 17 46 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 11 44 16 46 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 16 44 23 47 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 17 47 23 48 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 14 45 16 50 / 0 0 0 0 Raton........................... 10 47 13 51 / 0 0 0 0 Springer........................ 9 49 11 54 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 12 49 16 54 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 19 47 21 54 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 13 47 15 49 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 11 50 14 57 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 16 49 16 54 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 8 49 12 56 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 10 45 15 49 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 8 43 11 49 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 3 47 12 48 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... -4 33 9 39 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 14 49 21 52 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 13 53 20 57 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Cold Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST Tuesday for NMZ222-223- 235>237.

Extreme Cold Warning until 9 AM MST Tuesday for NMZ238.