textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1108 AM MDT Wed Apr 8 2026

- A few high-based and gusty showers and thunderstorms Thursday over central and eastern NM may produce strong and erratic downburst winds with localized blowing dust.

- Showers and thunderstorms will return Friday through the weekend. High chances exist for widespread beneficial rainfall across eastern New Mexico. Visibility may be reduced at times from road spray and ponding of water.

- Strong west to southwest winds may return as early as Saturday then peak Sunday and Monday afternoons. Strong crosswinds may create difficult travel for large and high- profile vehicles.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Thursday) Issued at 140 AM MDT Wed Apr 8 2026

Quieter conditions expected today as drier air aloft filters in from the west and mixes down to the surface. Even so, cumulus clouds should still build up over the high terrain and isolated virga showers with gusty winds will be possible. Otherwise, temperatures will climb several degrees over yesterday's readings thanks to more sunshine. All areas will be above normal for early April.

Tonight, Gulf moisture is still expected to return to eastern NM, though much of it will mix out Thursday afternoon. Nonetheless, across eastern NM near the moisture gradient, a few showers or storms may develop Thursday aftn. Gusty and erratic winds will be possible with these storms. CAMs are a little more enthusiastic about isolated storms across west central NM on Thursday afternoon as well. These storms would likely be of the drier variety, but they would still be capable of gusty and erratic winds. Otherwise, expect temperatures to climb a few more degrees over today's readings.

LONG TERM

(Thursday night through Tuesday) Issued at 140 AM MDT Wed Apr 8 2026

On Thursday night, return flow should bring Gulf moisture a bit farther into NM, perhaps nudging up to the east slopes of the Central Mountain Chain. Additional moisture may also come up the Rio Grande Valley. Meanwhile, southwesterly flow aloft will strengthen ahead of a Pacific low pressure system just west of northern CA. A significant perturbation within the southwest flow is forecast by all operational models to cross NM Friday through Friday night. This feature will aid in storm initiation by early to mid afternoon. Storms should be most numerous near and just east of the east slopes of the Central Mountain Chain where the better low level moisture will reside, but enough moisture should exist west of the Central Mountain Chain for a mix of wet and dry storms. One point of concern is a back door cold front that will push into at least Union County in the afternoon. If storms develop on or roll off the Sangre de Cristo Mountains onto the boundary, this would be where the highest chances of a strong or severe thunderstorm could occur as shear and forcing will be maximized. Elsewhere, shear values will be marginal for severe weather and nearly unidirectional. As the perturbation continues to cross eastern NM Friday night, and low level return flow ramps back up, precipitation should continue to regenerate across central and eastern NM. Instability will wane as the atmosphere is repeatedly worked over, so beneficial rainfall will be the main focus. While most areas will welcome the rainfall, we will be watching the area around Ruidoso closely to see how the burn scars react. Between one quarter and three- quarters of an inch of rain seem likely for much of central and eastern NM, but some areas could pick up over an inch. As the perturbation shifts into west Texas around mid day Saturday, most of the storms should as well. Then it will depend on how fast the atmosphere can recover and destabilize for additional thunderstorms in the afternoon. Better chances for severe weather Saturday appear to be just across the border in Texas, but a few storms may initialize in far eastern NM.

Meanwhile, the once Pacific low will have weakened into an open wave and will cross the Four Corners Saturday. This will bring additional showers and thunderstorms to northwest and north central areas, as well as increase winds across much of central and western NM in the afternoon. Breezy to locally windy conditions are expected.

Models are trending drier for Sunday as a potent dry slot races across the state. Instead, strong spring winds will return. Deep mixing combined with a 996mb surface low over eastern CO will allow for southwesterly winds to increase areawide. A few Wind Advisories may be needed for northeast NM, though all areas will be windy. This will start drying out fuels across the area as well. As the next system approaches NM on Monday, winds may increase further though they should be at least as strong as Sunday. This will depend largely on the orientation and timing of the system. When the system passes either Monday night or Tuesday, additional showers will be possible across northern NM.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1108 AM MDT Wed Apr 8 2026

VFR will prevail all terminals the next 18 hrs with light winds, fair weather cumulus, and increasing high clouds later today. Low level moisture will return to far southeast NM after midnight and there is a 5-10% chance of MVFR stratus or fog at KROW by sunrise.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 140 AM MDT Wed Apr 8 2026

Warmer and drier conditions expected today, though a few virga showers with gusty winds can't be ruled out. A few degrees warmer Thursday, but isolated showers and thunderstorms will be possible across portions of eastern and west central NM. Gusty winds will be possible with this activity as well. Numerous showers and thunderstorms are still on tap for Friday through early Saturday with beneficial rainfall expected for most areas along and east of the Continental Divide. Southwest breezes will pick up Saturday afternoon, but a few storms will remain possible as well. Drier conditions and strong southwesterly winds will return Sunday and Monday. Critical fire weather conditions could be felt as early as Monday across eastern NM pending how much precipitation falls and how wet fuels will be.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 76 41 77 46 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 72 29 74 33 / 0 0 5 0 Cuba............................ 71 38 72 43 / 0 0 10 10 Gallup.......................... 73 32 73 37 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 69 39 70 42 / 0 0 10 5 Grants.......................... 74 36 75 39 / 0 0 10 10 Quemado......................... 70 40 72 42 / 0 0 10 0 Magdalena....................... 73 47 74 48 / 5 0 20 10 Datil........................... 69 43 71 44 / 5 5 20 10 Reserve......................... 76 38 78 40 / 5 0 10 0 Glenwood........................ 81 42 83 45 / 0 0 5 0 Chama........................... 65 33 67 36 / 5 0 10 5 Los Alamos...................... 69 46 71 48 / 5 0 10 10 Pecos........................... 71 39 73 42 / 0 0 20 20 Cerro/Questa.................... 67 40 69 41 / 10 5 10 10 Red River....................... 62 29 65 33 / 10 5 20 20 Angel Fire...................... 63 26 66 29 / 10 5 20 20 Taos............................ 71 32 73 37 / 5 0 10 10 Mora............................ 69 38 72 40 / 5 0 20 20 Espanola........................ 76 39 78 43 / 5 0 10 10 Santa Fe........................ 71 46 73 47 / 5 0 10 20 Santa Fe Airport................ 73 42 76 46 / 5 0 10 10 Albuquerque Foothills........... 77 52 79 54 / 0 0 10 20 Albuquerque Heights............. 79 48 80 52 / 0 0 10 20 Albuquerque Valley.............. 82 46 83 50 / 0 0 20 20 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 80 49 81 52 / 0 0 10 20 Belen........................... 80 41 83 46 / 0 0 20 20 Bernalillo...................... 80 47 82 50 / 0 0 10 10 Bosque Farms.................... 81 41 83 47 / 0 0 20 20 Corrales........................ 81 48 83 50 / 0 0 10 20 Los Lunas....................... 80 43 83 48 / 0 0 20 20 Placitas........................ 75 50 78 52 / 0 0 10 20 Rio Rancho...................... 80 48 82 52 / 0 0 10 20 Socorro......................... 81 48 84 51 / 0 0 20 20 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 71 47 74 49 / 0 0 10 20 Tijeras......................... 73 43 77 47 / 0 0 10 20 Edgewood........................ 74 38 78 43 / 0 0 10 20 Moriarty/Estancia............... 75 35 78 39 / 0 0 10 20 Clines Corners.................. 70 42 74 44 / 0 0 20 20 Mountainair..................... 74 43 77 45 / 0 0 10 20 Gran Quivira.................... 73 43 75 46 / 0 0 10 20 Carrizozo....................... 74 48 78 50 / 0 0 20 10 Ruidoso......................... 68 46 71 47 / 5 0 20 10 Capulin......................... 70 38 72 38 / 5 10 20 30 Raton........................... 75 35 75 38 / 5 10 20 20 Springer........................ 76 36 77 38 / 5 5 20 20 Las Vegas....................... 72 39 75 42 / 0 0 20 20 Clayton......................... 78 43 80 47 / 5 10 30 30 Roy............................. 75 41 77 42 / 0 5 20 30 Conchas......................... 83 43 85 48 / 0 0 30 20 Santa Rosa...................... 79 42 80 46 / 0 0 20 20 Tucumcari....................... 83 49 87 52 / 0 0 20 20 Clovis.......................... 80 47 85 50 / 0 0 20 10 Portales........................ 82 46 85 50 / 0 0 20 10 Fort Sumner..................... 82 43 84 49 / 5 5 20 20 Roswell......................... 81 48 85 53 / 0 0 10 5 Picacho......................... 78 46 80 46 / 5 0 20 5 Elk............................. 76 43 79 45 / 5 0 20 5

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.