textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 144 AM MDT Fri Jun 26 2026

- Scattered showers and storms Friday may produce strong and erratic outflow wind gusts. A few severe storms may produce damaging wind gusts. - Dry and windy weather will develop this weekend, increasing the threat of rapid fire spread across much of northern and central New Mexico.

- There will be a moderate risk of heat-induced illness in eastern New Mexico through Sunday.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Saturday) Issued at 144 AM MDT Fri Jun 26 2026

The 00Z ABQ Sounding boasted a 1.04" PWAT after the storms late yesterday afternoon. With additional showers ongoing now, little change is expected this morning, though the PWAT will likely drop a bit this afternoon. Another round of showers and thunderstorms will erupt this afternoon as additional weak upper level disturbances pass overhead. Storm motions will remain quick, around 15 to 25 mph toward the east. Similarly to yesterday, most areas will receive less than one quarter inch of rainfall, but some lucky folks will receive up to one half inch or so. In addition to the rain, abundant lightning and gusty/erratic winds will be the rule once again. Any storm will be capable of wind speeds in excess of 50 mph, but also like yesterday, a few will likely produce damaging wind gusts. A remnant outflow boundary will remain poised over far northeast NM this afternoon and evening. This will be a focus for a few severe storms with large hail in addition to damaging wind gusts. Storms will decrease in coverage and intensity after sunset through the midnight hour.

Overnight, an upper level trough will slide eastward across the Great Basin and drier southwest flow will shift over NM. Daytime mixing on Saturday afternoon will mix out today's moisture and replace it with much drier conditions. Southwest wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph will be common, but a few locations, including Gallup, will likely see gusts around 50 mph. Thus, a few Wind Advisories may be needed for Saturday afternoon. Daytime humidities will fall to 15 percent or lower. This will result in widespread critical fire weather conditions. More on that below.

LONG TERM

(Saturday night through Thursday) Issued at 144 AM MDT Fri Jun 26 2026

Winds will diminish Saturday evening, except across the high terrain where breezy to windy conditions will persist. Winds will quickly ramp back up areawide Sunday morning. Winds will be as strong as Saturday, but humidities will fall a few more percent. Another round of critical fire weather conditions are expected. There is a low chance of a stray shower or thunderstorm across east central and southeast NM both Saturday and Sunday aftn/evening where the low level moisture gradient resides.

With a strong upper high across the eastern CONUS and a large trough across the western CONUS, southerly flow will gradually bring moisture back into NM. The main question is how fast will the moisture shift westward. Initially, the return flow will be focused across far eastern NM on Monday, while dry and breezy to windy conditions persist elsewhere. Even on Monday, storms across eastern NM will be few and far between. It looks like better storm chances return on Tuesday across eastern NM where the moisture plume may be focused and then even more storm coverage can be expected Wednesday and Thursday as the plume shifts slightly westward each day. However, the EC is much slower to shift the moisture plume westward. If this solution is correct, precipitation across central and western NM will be minimal until after next week.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1119 PM MDT Thu Jun 25 2026

An area of showers and isolated thunderstorms is shifting eastward toward the Rio Grande Valley late tonight. It will continue to lose strength as it does so, but gusty westerly winds to 30kt remain possible for the next few hours. Additionally, thunderstorms across NE AZ will continue to move into NW NM, potentially impacting KFMN over the next few hours. Another round of showers and thunderstorms are expected Friday afternoon. All showers and thunderstorms will be capable of brief downpours and gusty winds, but a few could produce gusts in excess of 50kt. Localized blowing dust is likely. Storms will diminish around 04-05Z Sat.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 144 AM MDT Fri Jun 26 2026

Another round of showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. All storms will be capable of gusty and erratic wind gusts in excess of 50 mph. Wetting rainfall will be spotty, but like Thursday, some areas may pick up over one half inch of rain. Unfortunately, quite a bit of lightning was noted yesterday, and more is expected today. Much of what occurred was over dry fuels, thus there is extreme concern that lightning- started fires will make themselves known over the weekend when critical fire weather conditions return. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for Saturday for much of northern and western NM as well as the Central Highlands. Additionally, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for Sunday for the same areas. Southwest wind gusts around 35 to 45 mph, potentially higher in a few areas, with humidity values falling near or below 15 percent are expected both days. Fuels are driest across northwest NM and this is where the greatest concern lies for critical fire weather conditions. A mosaic of fuels (some green up, some not) exist elsewhere. Additionally, there as been some spotty areas of wetting rainfall over the last few days, and more will occur today. This will do little to mitigate fuel dryness across northwest NM, but will exacerbate the mosaic of fuels and fire reception elsewhere. Saturday will likely help dry out fuels from this weeks rainfall, and Sunday we may see more holdover fires appear and grow. Dry and breezy to windy conditions return on Monday as well. Critical fire weather conditions will be most likely across northeast NM. A moisture plume will set up across at least eastern NM after Monday, increasing chances for storms in that area, but western areas may remain dry.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 90 58 92 59 / 60 40 0 0 Dulce........................... 85 46 87 47 / 70 70 5 0 Cuba............................ 84 53 87 54 / 70 50 0 0 Gallup.......................... 86 53 87 53 / 40 10 0 0 El Morro........................ 83 53 84 53 / 50 10 0 0 Grants.......................... 87 53 89 53 / 60 20 0 0 Quemado......................... 84 55 86 55 / 60 10 0 0 Magdalena....................... 86 61 89 62 / 70 20 0 0 Datil........................... 84 57 85 57 / 50 20 0 0 Reserve......................... 90 52 90 52 / 20 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 95 57 95 56 / 10 5 0 0 Chama........................... 78 45 79 46 / 70 80 5 0 Los Alamos...................... 83 59 86 62 / 70 40 0 0 Pecos........................... 86 55 88 57 / 30 30 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 82 52 82 54 / 50 60 10 0 Red River....................... 75 43 75 45 / 50 60 5 0 Angel Fire...................... 78 42 78 43 / 40 50 0 0 Taos............................ 84 51 86 53 / 50 50 5 0 Mora............................ 82 52 84 53 / 40 40 0 0 Espanola........................ 89 57 93 58 / 60 50 10 0 Santa Fe........................ 85 59 88 60 / 40 40 5 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 89 57 92 58 / 40 30 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 92 64 95 66 / 50 30 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 92 66 95 67 / 50 30 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 94 59 97 60 / 50 30 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 93 62 96 64 / 50 30 0 0 Belen........................... 95 60 98 62 / 50 30 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 93 61 96 64 / 60 30 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 93 58 96 60 / 50 30 0 0 Corrales........................ 94 61 97 64 / 50 30 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 93 59 97 61 / 50 30 0 0 Placitas........................ 89 63 93 65 / 60 30 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 92 62 95 64 / 60 30 0 0 Socorro......................... 96 67 100 68 / 50 20 5 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 86 58 89 61 / 50 30 0 0 Tijeras......................... 88 59 90 61 / 40 30 0 0 Edgewood........................ 88 56 91 60 / 40 20 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 90 53 92 56 / 30 20 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 86 56 87 58 / 30 20 0 0 Mountainair..................... 89 58 92 60 / 40 20 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 88 59 90 61 / 30 20 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 93 66 94 67 / 10 20 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 87 59 87 59 / 20 20 5 0 Capulin......................... 85 52 88 55 / 30 30 0 0 Raton........................... 89 52 91 55 / 30 20 0 0 Springer........................ 91 55 93 57 / 30 20 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 87 57 88 60 / 30 20 0 0 Clayton......................... 89 61 96 65 / 50 50 0 0 Roy............................. 89 59 92 61 / 20 30 0 0 Conchas......................... 97 64 100 67 / 20 20 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 94 64 96 66 / 20 30 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 97 67 100 70 / 20 40 5 0 Clovis.......................... 96 67 99 69 / 10 30 0 5 Portales........................ 98 68 100 70 / 10 30 5 10 Fort Sumner..................... 97 66 100 68 / 20 30 5 0 Roswell......................... 101 70 104 71 / 20 20 5 5 Picacho......................... 95 65 97 67 / 40 20 5 0 Elk............................. 92 63 93 64 / 40 20 5 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from 11 AM to 8 PM MDT Saturday for NMZ101-104- 105-109-120-121-123-125.

Fire Weather Watch from Sunday morning through Sunday evening for NMZ101-104-105-109-120-121-123-125.