textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1103 PM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

- Strong and gusty spring winds will continue through this evening, then return Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, with the strongest winds each day across eastern NM. Hazardous crosswinds will create difficult travel for large and high-profile vehicles.

- Critical fire weather conditions with also return to New Mexico several days this week. Critical fire weather conditions will persist this afternoon across northeast NM, then return across portions of the area Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

- Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing Friday night across many areas. Take precautions to protect early blooming plants.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Tuesday night) Issued at 158 PM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

Strong southwest winds have developed across much of the area today. These winds will persist through early evening before slowly diminishing. Light rain and virga showers are also developing across western NM early this afternoon ahead of the upper level low over SoCal. These will continue to expand, and slightly increase in intensity, through the evening hours. Wetting precipitation remains unlikely through sunset. Showers will continue off and on overnight across the northern mountains. Snow levels will fall to near 8500 feet, so a changeover to snow is expected across the high peaks and a few inches of accumulation is possible at the highest elevations.

The upper level low will lift northeastward and weaken on Tuesday as it crosses SE UT and moves into CO. As the system crosses SE UT Tuesday morning, another round of light showers and a few thunderstorms will impact northwest and north central NM. These showers will be brief, then strong southwest to west winds will develop once again. Winds will be a bit stronger on Tuesday than they are today areawide. Northeast NM will see the strongest winds as a sfc low deepens to near 995-998mb across SE CO and some of the H7 flow of 35 to 40kt mixes to the surface. Gusts near 50 mph appear likely, thus have issued a Wind Advisory for much of NE NM between noon and 7pm. Temperatures on Tuesday will fall a few degrees from today's readings, thanks to a Pacific cold front tracking from west to east through the aftn.

LONG TERM

(Wednesday through Sunday) Issued at 158 PM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

A weak trough, loosely attendant to the main upper low, will cross NM on Wednesday with little fanfare. A few breezes will be noted across east central NM, but far lighter than today or Tuesday.

The next storm system will dive southward toward northern UT from the PacNW on Thursday before crossing CO on Friday. Southwest flow will increase on Thursday in response to the approaching system. By late afternoon, H7 winds will be near 30kt, but mixing heights will approach H5 where winds will be closer to 40-45kt. Breezy to windy conditions will be felt areawide, though likely shy of any Wind Advisories. That will change on Friday, however. As the system crosses CO, the base of the trough will cross squarely over NM. In addition to mountain wave activity that morning as H7 winds approach 50kt, daytime mixing and a Pacific front will bring strong and gusty winds to most areas. Strongest winds will be felt across northern NM, and provided the timing remains the same, the strongest gusts may very well be with the frontal passage. Blowing dust will be possible, especially as moisture from recent rainfall will have evaporated after several days of dry and windy conditions.

Once the winds relax Friday night, excellent radiational cooling conditions are expected. Many areas are expected to drop below freezing, with hard freezes possible and many northern and western locations. Even portions of the ABQ metro will get close to freezing.

Quiet conditions are expected for Saturday. There are some indications that Gulf moisture will begin to seep back into NM on Sunday, though not looking like much precipitation will occur, yet.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1103 PM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

An upper low currently over Las Vegas, NV is continuing to spin up strong southwesterly winds into New Mexico this evening. This will continue at many locations overnight with gusts of 12 to 20kts continuing. There are however some protected valley locations like KABQ and KSAF seeing wind speeds already abating this hour. Southwesterly winds increase notably Tuesday morning, peaking in strength Tuesday afternoon with widespread gusts of 25 to 35 kts. Precipitation tonight will be relegated mainly to areas along and west of the Continental Divide and north of I-40, including KGUP and KFMN. Have included TEMPOs at these terminals for MVFR conditions during the predawn hours Tuesday morning. Localized IFR conditions can't entirely be ruled out but are currently unlikely. LLWS will also be widespread tonight mainly along the and immediately east of the central mountain chain before subsiding Tuesday morning as stronger winds at the surface pick up.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 158 PM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

Critical fire weather conditions are expected on several days this week. For the remainder of today, strong southwesterly winds will persist through early evening areawide, but the lowest RH values will remain across northeast NM. The Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 7pm. Several locations across Colfax and Union counties received near or less than a tenth of an inch over the weekend, and this moisture has likely already evaporated in the fine fuels. On Tuesday, the Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for eastern NM. Some areas of east central NM received between one half inch and 2 inches of rainfall recently (mainly Curry and Roosevelt counties), so ERCs are quite a bit more marginal in this area. Nonetheless, strong southwest winds will redevelop Tuesday afternoon, and will be somewhat stronger than today with gusts up to 50 mph. RH values will fall to near 15 percent across the area as well. Will let the next shift make the final call on which zones to upgrade. Quieter conditions are expected Wednesday, though locally critical fire weather conditions may develop around Clines Corners in the afternoon. Stronger winds return Thursday and Friday. Breezy to windy conditions will be felt nearly areawide on Thursday, but the strongest winds will be across eastern NM. Much drier conditions are also anticipated with RH values dropping below 10 percent for 6 to 10 hours across eastern NM and portions of central NM. By this time, any moisture that fell over the weekend will have little impact, thus critical fire weather conditions appear likely for eastern NM. Even stronger winds are expected on Friday, with gusts topping 50 mph for many areas near and north of I-40. In fact, Friday will likely feature the strongest winds of the week. RH values will again fall below 10 percent across eastern NM, but sub-15% will be common elsewhere. Widespread critical fire conditions will be likely. Quieter conditions on tap for the weekend.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 40 59 34 67 / 70 40 10 0 Dulce........................... 29 54 21 62 / 80 80 10 0 Cuba............................ 36 57 29 61 / 70 40 5 0 Gallup.......................... 30 56 23 65 / 50 50 5 0 El Morro........................ 34 55 29 61 / 40 10 0 0 Grants.......................... 32 61 26 67 / 40 10 0 0 Quemado......................... 35 60 29 63 / 20 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 43 65 36 66 / 10 0 0 0 Datil........................... 38 59 31 62 / 20 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 34 65 26 70 / 40 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 37 69 30 74 / 50 0 0 0 Chama........................... 28 47 21 54 / 90 90 10 5 Los Alamos...................... 41 57 35 60 / 80 20 5 5 Pecos........................... 37 60 31 62 / 60 10 5 5 Cerro/Questa.................... 36 53 29 57 / 70 20 5 5 Red River....................... 31 45 24 48 / 60 20 5 10 Angel Fire...................... 25 52 18 54 / 50 10 5 10 Taos............................ 32 58 24 62 / 70 20 5 5 Mora............................ 35 59 29 60 / 50 10 5 5 Espanola........................ 39 65 32 68 / 70 20 5 0 Santa Fe........................ 40 60 35 62 / 70 10 5 5 Santa Fe Airport................ 40 63 33 65 / 70 10 5 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 48 68 42 68 / 50 5 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 46 70 39 70 / 50 5 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 45 72 38 73 / 50 5 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 48 69 40 70 / 50 5 0 0 Belen........................... 43 74 35 73 / 30 5 5 0 Bernalillo...................... 46 70 39 71 / 60 5 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 42 73 34 73 / 40 5 0 0 Corrales........................ 47 71 39 72 / 50 5 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 43 73 36 73 / 40 5 0 0 Placitas........................ 46 65 40 66 / 60 10 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 47 69 40 70 / 50 5 0 0 Socorro......................... 46 76 40 75 / 10 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 43 63 37 63 / 60 5 5 0 Tijeras......................... 43 64 37 64 / 50 5 5 0 Edgewood........................ 40 65 33 65 / 40 5 5 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 35 67 29 66 / 40 5 5 0 Clines Corners.................. 39 63 32 62 / 30 5 5 0 Mountainair..................... 42 67 33 65 / 30 5 5 0 Gran Quivira.................... 43 66 34 65 / 20 0 5 0 Carrizozo....................... 51 69 40 68 / 20 5 5 0 Ruidoso......................... 46 62 38 61 / 10 5 5 0 Capulin......................... 38 65 29 62 / 0 0 0 10 Raton........................... 33 67 28 66 / 10 0 0 5 Springer........................ 36 70 30 68 / 10 0 0 5 Las Vegas....................... 39 63 31 64 / 30 5 0 5 Clayton......................... 47 74 39 70 / 0 0 0 5 Roy............................. 43 69 35 67 / 5 0 5 5 Conchas......................... 48 78 38 76 / 10 5 5 5 Santa Rosa...................... 46 74 39 71 / 10 5 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 51 81 42 77 / 5 5 5 0 Clovis.......................... 52 80 45 76 / 0 5 10 0 Portales........................ 52 81 45 78 / 0 5 10 0 Fort Sumner..................... 48 79 41 76 / 5 5 0 0 Roswell......................... 53 83 47 80 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 49 74 41 73 / 5 0 0 0 Elk............................. 48 71 39 71 / 5 5 5 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from noon to 8 PM MDT Tuesday for NMZ104-123- 125-126.

Wind Advisory from noon to 7 PM MDT Tuesday for NMZ223-226>236- 240.