textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1217 AM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

- Gusty southwest to west winds are forecast today and will increase some Tuesday, with a moderate chance (60-70%) of exceeding advisory criteria across northeast and east central NM. Gusty southwest to west winds will return on Thursday and Friday. Hazardous crosswinds will create difficult travel for large and high-profile vehicles.

- Areas of critical fire weather conditions return today and Tuesday across eastern and portions of central New Mexico. Critical fire weather conditions are more likely toward the end of the week across central and eastern areas with continued drying.

- Gusty virga showers and a dry storm or two will create localized gusty outflow winds in central and northern New Mexico this afternoon. Low potential for new fire starts in receptive fuels.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Tuesday) Issued at 1217 AM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

Southwest flow aloft will trend up ahead of an approaching upper level low, currently moving southeast over northern NV/CA per the latest water vapor satellite imagery. Pacific moisture advection is already resulting in multiple cloud layers across the area and showers are forecast to develop later today across western NM as the upper low approaches Las Vegas, NV. Showers will favor strong/erratic wind gusts this afternoon vs wetting (>0.10") rainfall given weak forcing and a fairly dry lower boundary layer. Gusty southwest wind are forecast to develop today, especially across northeast NM where a deepening lee side trough will boost speeds. Moistening of the atmosphere will continue across western NM overnight as the upper low moves east toward the Four Corners, providing sufficient forcing for showers and a few thunderstorms favoring the western mountains and the Four Corners area. A couple to a few inches of snow are likely across the higher terrain of the west central and northwest mountains overnight into Tuesday, but impacts will be minimal and relegated to non- populated areas. The upper low will pull northeast over CO on Tuesday and drag a Pacific cold front across our area late day, bringing gusty west and southwest winds. The strongest winds on Tuesday will be across northeast and east central NM, where moderate chances (60-70%) exist to exceed advisory criteria.

LONG TERM

(Tuesday night through Sunday) Issued at 1217 AM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

Gusty westerly winds will persist behind the Pacific cold front Tuesday evening, then trend down overnight. Wednesday will be the most pleasant day of the week, with much less wind, plenty of sunshine and temperatures within a few degrees of average. Backing and increasing flow aloft and a deepening lee side trough will be the story on Thursday in advance of an upper level trough/low dropping rapidly southeast out of the Pacific NW. As a result, breezy to locally windy and warmer conditions are forecast Thursday, with low chances (20-30%) for wind speeds to exceed advisory criteria. The potent trough will move east across the southern Rockies and NM on Friday, bringing stronger winds and a cold front. Moderate chances (50-60%) exist for wind speeds to exceed advisory criteria on Friday. The weekend is looking much less active and cooler behind the cold front.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1217 AM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

VFR conditions prevail and are forecast to persist through the TAF period with the gradual lowering of VFR cigs. Showers will develop across western and central NM Monday afternoon, potentially impacting terminals with gusts to between 35-40kts. Otherwise, gusty southwest winds are forecast Monday, which will be slow to diminish Monday evening.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1217 AM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

A deepening lee side trough will bring gusty southwest winds to northeast NM today, where areas of critical fire weather conditions are forecast and a Red Flag Warning is in effect. Winds are forecast to strengthen further Tuesday ahead of a Pacific cold front, with even drier conditions. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for much of eastern NM for Tuesday. Higher humidity and chances for wetting precipitation will precede the front Monday night into Tuesday across much of west central and northwest NM. Dry and locally breezy conditions are forecast Wednesday, but more widespread critical fire weather conditions are likely Thursday and Friday as a potent upper level trough and associated cold front approach from the Pacific NW and move over the region. Expect a break from the wind on Saturday behind the cold front, but winds will crank back up by Sunday afternoon and bring back the threat for critical fire weather conditions.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 67 41 58 33 / 10 50 40 10 Dulce........................... 62 31 54 21 / 30 70 80 10 Cuba............................ 61 35 56 28 / 30 50 60 10 Gallup.......................... 63 31 56 22 / 10 40 30 10 El Morro........................ 60 34 54 29 / 20 40 30 5 Grants.......................... 65 34 59 26 / 10 30 40 5 Quemado......................... 62 36 59 29 / 10 20 10 0 Magdalena....................... 67 42 65 35 / 10 10 5 0 Datil........................... 61 38 59 31 / 10 10 10 0 Reserve......................... 67 34 64 25 / 20 30 10 0 Glenwood........................ 72 37 69 29 / 30 40 10 0 Chama........................... 55 30 47 22 / 30 80 80 20 Los Alamos...................... 61 42 57 35 / 20 50 50 10 Pecos........................... 63 36 60 30 / 10 30 30 10 Cerro/Questa.................... 60 36 53 29 / 10 60 30 10 Red River....................... 50 31 44 24 / 10 60 30 10 Angel Fire...................... 57 25 51 19 / 10 50 30 20 Taos............................ 64 34 58 24 / 10 60 30 10 Mora............................ 63 36 59 29 / 10 20 20 10 Espanola........................ 69 41 65 32 / 10 50 20 10 Santa Fe........................ 63 40 60 34 / 20 50 20 10 Santa Fe Airport................ 66 39 63 32 / 20 40 20 10 Albuquerque Foothills........... 70 48 67 41 / 10 40 10 5 Albuquerque Heights............. 72 47 69 39 / 10 30 10 5 Albuquerque Valley.............. 75 45 72 37 / 10 20 10 5 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 72 47 69 39 / 10 20 10 5 Belen........................... 75 44 73 34 / 10 20 5 5 Bernalillo...................... 73 46 70 38 / 10 30 10 5 Bosque Farms.................... 74 42 72 33 / 10 20 10 5 Corrales........................ 73 46 71 38 / 10 30 10 5 Los Lunas....................... 74 42 72 35 / 10 20 10 5 Placitas........................ 68 47 65 39 / 10 40 20 5 Rio Rancho...................... 73 48 69 39 / 10 30 10 5 Socorro......................... 78 47 76 39 / 10 20 5 5 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 64 43 62 37 / 20 40 20 10 Tijeras......................... 66 44 63 37 / 20 40 20 10 Edgewood........................ 67 43 65 33 / 20 30 20 10 Moriarty/Estancia............... 68 34 67 29 / 10 30 10 5 Clines Corners.................. 64 39 62 32 / 10 20 10 5 Mountainair..................... 67 43 67 33 / 20 30 10 5 Gran Quivira.................... 67 43 66 34 / 10 20 10 5 Carrizozo....................... 71 49 70 39 / 10 20 10 5 Ruidoso......................... 63 45 63 37 / 10 10 10 5 Capulin......................... 68 38 63 30 / 0 0 5 5 Raton........................... 70 34 65 28 / 0 5 5 5 Springer........................ 73 36 68 30 / 0 5 10 5 Las Vegas....................... 66 39 63 31 / 5 10 10 5 Clayton......................... 77 47 73 40 / 0 0 5 10 Roy............................. 72 43 68 35 / 0 0 10 10 Conchas......................... 80 47 78 39 / 0 5 10 10 Santa Rosa...................... 76 46 74 40 / 5 5 10 5 Tucumcari....................... 82 51 81 42 / 0 0 10 10 Clovis.......................... 80 51 81 45 / 0 0 10 10 Portales........................ 82 50 82 44 / 0 0 10 10 Fort Sumner..................... 80 48 79 41 / 0 5 10 5 Roswell......................... 84 51 83 47 / 0 0 5 0 Picacho......................... 75 49 75 40 / 0 0 5 5 Elk............................. 72 47 73 37 / 0 5 10 5

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from noon today to 7 PM MDT this evening for NMZ104-123.

Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday evening for NMZ104-123-125-126.