textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 522 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026

- Critical fire weather conditions and a risk of rapid fire spread will plague central and eastern areas through this evening and Thursday, then again Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday. Extremely critical fire weather conditions are possible on Sunday across eastern NM.

- Strong southwest and west winds will also produce difficult crosswinds for high profile vehicles on north-south roads through this evening, Thursday, Saturday, especially Sunday, and Tuesday. - There is a low to moderate chance (30-50%) of damaging wind gusts in the mountains and across parts of central and eastern New Mexico on Sunday and Sunday night.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Thursday night) Issued at 1218 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026

A large and wobbly upper level low will continue moving east across the Great Basin and northern/central Rockies through Thursday, steering stronger westerly flow aloft over the Desert SW and NM. Windy conditions are the result, aided by a deepening lee side trough this afternoon. The upper level trough will push a weak Pacific cold front through on Thursday, turning winds out of the west or northwest and bringing 5-10 degrees of cooling relative to today's temperatures. The strongest westerly winds aloft will round the base of the trough over NM Thursday, resulting in advisory level speeds across the Central Highlands where a Wind Advisory has been issued. The advisory may need to be expanded to nearby forecast zones given the latest forecast trends. Downslope westerly winds at Roswell will negate any weak cold air advection and spike the high temperatures to near 90 degrees Thursday afternoon.

LONG TERM

(Friday through Tuesday) Issued at 1218 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026

Moderate westerly flow aloft will persist on Friday in the wake of the departing trough, with warm and breezy conditions by afternoon. Increasing and backing southwest flow aloft is forecast Saturday in advance of a west coast trough/low, bringing breezy to locally windy conditions by afternoon. Warmer conditions on Saturday will be most notable across eastern NM thanks to downslope warming, where highs will reach a little over 10 degrees above average. The jet stream is forecast to orient directly over NM on Sunday as the west coast trough ejects and accelerates toward the Four Corners, bringing very windy conditions areawide with the potential for damaging wind gusts along/east of the central mountain chain. 300mb wind speeds are modeled to reach 115-120kts over the area on Sunday. At this time, there is a high chance (70-90%) of advisory level wind speeds on Sunday, with a low to moderate chance (30-50%) for damaging wind gusts of 58mph or greater along/east of the central mountain chain. The upper level trough will also bring sufficient moisture and forcing for a round of showers on Sunday, favoring the west central and northern mountains. Look for a break from the winds on Monday behind the departing trough, followed by a ramp-up on Tuesday in advance of the next approaching upper level low/trough.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 522 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026

Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions will prevail through tonight into Thursday with mostly high clouds (cloud bases at 15,000 to 25,000 ft) prevailing. Winds will be the primary aviation weather hazard with gusts of 25 to 40 kt being common through sunset this evening. Winds will then decrease in speed in most locations with ridge tops and exposed slopes staying gusty through Thursday morning. This will lead to overnight low level wind shear in more mid elevation sites such as KSAF, KLVS, and KSRR. The gusty west winds will spread to lower elevations again late Thursday morning into the afternoon when gusts of 25 to 45 kt will be observed. Highest gusts will favor the higher terrain areas of New Mexico, especially along and just east of the central mountain chain.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1218 PM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY, THURSDAY, THIS WEEKEND AND POSSIBLY EARLY NEXT WEEK...

An upper level trough moving east across the Intermountain West will bring windy and continued dry conditions to the region through Thursday, with critical fire weather conditions favoring eastern, southern and portions of central NM. Winds will decrease Friday, but continued very dry conditions will bring elevated to near critical conditions most areas. Increasing southwest flow aloft and a deepening lee side trough will bring back the threat for critical fire weather conditions to eastern NM on Saturday, with elevated to near critical conditions across western areas. A classic spring wind and fire weather event is shaping up for Sunday, with critical fire weather conditions across central NM and the potential for extreme conditions along/east of the central mountain chain where the strongest winds are forecast. Winds trend down Monday and then bounce back up on Tuesday with continued strong southwest flow aloft, bringing back the potential for critical fire weather conditions. Humidity and chances for wetting precipitation will trend up going into the middle of next week as an upper level low approaches from the west and taps Pacific moisture.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 41 66 35 70 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 33 63 22 66 / 5 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 37 63 31 67 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 33 66 28 68 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 37 63 32 65 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 36 67 29 70 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 38 67 33 69 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 43 72 41 72 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 39 67 36 68 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 35 73 32 75 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 38 76 37 78 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 32 57 25 60 / 0 5 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 45 65 38 66 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 39 65 35 67 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 38 60 31 63 / 0 0 0 0 Red River....................... 33 50 26 54 / 0 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 29 56 20 60 / 0 0 0 0 Taos............................ 36 65 24 67 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 39 64 32 67 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 42 71 34 73 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 42 66 38 67 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 40 69 35 70 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 50 72 45 74 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 48 74 42 76 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 46 76 40 79 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 47 74 42 76 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 43 78 39 79 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 46 74 40 77 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 42 77 37 78 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 46 75 41 78 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 42 77 39 78 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 48 71 43 72 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 48 74 42 77 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 48 82 44 82 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 45 67 40 68 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 46 69 40 70 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 43 69 35 71 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 36 71 30 73 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 41 67 35 68 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 43 70 38 72 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 42 72 40 71 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 51 76 46 75 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 48 68 44 68 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 37 68 31 66 / 0 0 0 0 Raton........................... 37 71 29 70 / 0 0 0 0 Springer........................ 39 73 30 73 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 42 68 33 69 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 48 78 38 73 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 43 74 35 72 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 48 82 39 81 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 47 78 39 76 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 51 84 41 81 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 51 83 45 83 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 51 84 45 84 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 50 83 41 82 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 52 89 50 86 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 50 80 45 80 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 48 77 43 78 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for NMZ104-121>123- 125-126.

Red Flag Warning from 9 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday for NMZ104-106- 109-121>126.

Wind Advisory from 9 AM to 6 PM MDT Thursday for NMZ223.