textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 837 AM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

- A strong area of high pressure will move over the region Tuesday through the end of the week resulting in record warmth for March.

UPDATE

Issued at 837 AM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

Very cold temps across northern and eastern NM this morning will struggle to warm up as thick cirrus streams overhead. Max temps have been nudged down several degrees over eastern NM where high clouds will hold on the longest.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Tuesday) Issued at 107 AM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

Yesterday's wind machine is now a closed low moving into the upper Midwest. The polar jet streak that plunged southward on the backside of the feature has shifted well east of NM, but another weaker, yet still strong (135 to 145 kt at 300 mb), jet streak is filling in behind it. This jet streak will stretch from western MT down to the Four Corners, and this will translate to breezy to windy conditions over our northwestern to central zones today. Model projections of 700 mb winds of 25 to 35 kt should serve as a reasonable proxy for max wind gusts there today. Farther east, surface winds will continue to veer southerly over the plains today with surface high pressure sidestepping farther east. Temperatures are still modeled to stay below normal by 8 to 18 degrees in the eastern plains today while remaining areas enjoy a final day of seasonable readings.

The western ConUS jet streak will drop southeastward and exit to our east going into Tuesday. Still, fairly stiff flow will linger around 700 mb with speeds of 20 to 30 kt persisting near the Four Corners. This will keep breezy to windy conditions going in similar zones on Tuesday, stretching across the northwestern plateau into the central valleys and highlands of NM with gusts running 5 to 10 mph less than today's. The other significant change to sensible weather on Tuesday will be a stark warm-up by 10 to 25 degrees. Pressure heights will soar as an upper ridge strengthens over southern CA, and a lee side surface trough will drive downsloping (compressional warming) breezes into the eastern plains of NM.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1122 PM MDT Sun Mar 15 2026

Lots of high cirrus clouds continue to move southward into NM, but VFR conditions will prevail. Winds will strengthen late this morning and into the afternoon, mostly over northwestern to central zones, with other remaining areas staying moderately breezy. Gusts of 30 to 40 kt will impact KFMN, KGNT, and nearby locations while remaining areas observe lower wind speeds, generally within a 10 to 25 kt range. Winds will decrease around sunset.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1122 PM MDT Sun Mar 15 2026

Lots of high cirrus clouds continue to move southward into NM, but VFR conditions will prevail. Winds will strengthen late this morning and into the afternoon, mostly over northwestern to central zones, with other remaining areas staying moderately breezy. Gusts of 30 to 40 kt will impact KFMN, KGNT, and nearby locations while remaining areas observe lower wind speeds, generally within a 10 to 25 kt range. Winds will decrease around sunset.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 107 AM MDT Mon Mar 16 2026

A welcome reduction in wind speeds is slated for today, however breezy to windy conditions will still stretch from the Four Corners down to the central highlands as a lagging jet streak aloft settles into the area. Temperatures will run near average in western and central zones today with widespread 15 to 20% humidity in the afternoon. This will produce some spotty marginal or localized critical conditions, particularly over the northwest plateau (Farmington area) where a couple to a few hours of gusts to 35 mph are forecast for this afternoon.

On Tuesday, wind speeds will decrease slightly, but breezy to locally windy conditions will not fully abate over northwestern to central areas where wind gusts will occasionally reach 30 mph. Temperatures are still forecast to soar above normal Tuesday and again each day through the end of the week as a very stout ridge of high pressure slowly slides over the southwestern states. Minimum humidity on Tuesday will range from 10 to 20%, but values will drop towards 5% on a widespread basis late in the week as dewpoints continue to decline amid the very warm temperatures. Several high temperature records are likely each day. Fortunately, wind speeds will lower significantly by Wednesday and through the rest of the week. This will limit the critical fire weather threat, but will detrimental to fuels.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 64 34 73 38 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 62 25 71 29 / 0 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 57 29 68 36 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 62 26 73 30 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 60 31 71 37 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 63 29 73 33 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 62 32 71 36 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 64 38 74 44 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 61 33 70 40 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 70 30 78 37 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 75 32 85 41 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 56 27 65 32 / 0 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 58 37 69 43 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 56 30 70 39 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 54 30 67 36 / 0 0 0 0 Red River....................... 43 28 57 32 / 0 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 51 19 63 24 / 0 0 0 0 Taos............................ 58 24 72 29 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 53 30 70 37 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 65 31 77 38 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 59 36 71 43 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 62 31 74 40 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 64 43 75 46 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 66 39 77 45 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 68 37 80 44 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 67 38 78 45 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 68 34 80 40 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 67 38 78 44 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 67 33 80 40 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 68 36 79 44 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 67 32 80 41 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 62 40 73 45 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 67 39 78 44 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 71 40 82 47 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 58 38 69 42 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 59 38 70 42 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 59 35 72 40 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 59 24 73 36 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 55 31 68 39 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 60 33 71 40 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 59 32 71 41 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 59 36 72 45 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 54 35 66 44 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 46 24 69 35 / 0 0 0 0 Raton........................... 45 21 74 33 / 0 0 0 0 Springer........................ 49 22 75 33 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 50 28 72 38 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 47 30 74 43 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 45 24 72 38 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 53 25 80 39 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 50 25 78 40 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 52 26 79 39 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 50 28 76 42 / 5 0 0 0 Portales........................ 51 25 77 37 / 5 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 50 24 79 39 / 5 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 50 28 78 43 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 53 32 78 48 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 56 31 78 45 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.