textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1033 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

- Breezy to windy conditions this afternoon will create difficult crosswinds.

- Record high temperatures are forecast in many locations this weekend as lower elevation temperatures climb into the 70s and mid 80s.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Friday) Issued at 1231 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

A backdoor front has nudged into northeastern NM tonight and will slide southward down the eastern plains tonight through tomorrow morning. The pressure and temperature gradient associated with this front isn't particularly strong, but it will be enough to keep high temps below record levels this afternoon eastern NM. Breezy northwest winds will develop across central and western NM once again, but 700mb winds are much weaker than yesterday so not expecting max gusts to be as high in areas like the Central Highlands. Quiet weather continues into Friday as northwest flow remains over New Mexico. Winds won't be quite as strong as the past couple days and temperatures will rise a couple of degrees in most areas.

LONG TERM

(Friday night through Wednesday) Issued at 1231 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

It will be a pleasant and exceptionally warm weekend around the Land of Enchantment. High temperatures will rise into the 70s and 80s areawide everywhere except the northern mountains where highs will be in the 60s. There will be light westerly breezes each day, with partly cloudy skies prevailing.

The ridge that will dominate The Great Basin this weekend will begin to break down early next week as a moisture-straved Pacific trough ejects into California and Arizona. Both the GEFS and EPS have trended more progressive with this trough, bringing it into the Four Corners and eventually over northern New Mexico by Tuesday/Tuesday night. There is still a low chance (~15%) that the trough stalls out as it cuts off over northern Mexico but that appears less likely now. Light rain/snow will favor northern and eastern NM, with seasonably high snow levels (8-9,000 feet). and very minor snow accumulations. LIs of -1 to -3C also suggest there could be a few rumbles of thunder on Tuesday afternoon as this storm passes through. The progressive pattern will likely continue later into the week, with additional chances for rain/mountain snow.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1033 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

VFR conditions persist and are expected to throughout the TAF period. Breezy northwest winds are beginning to ramp up across most of New Mexico, with peak gusts likely between 25-30kts across central NM, including KABQ, KAEG, near KCQC and up to KFMN. 15-25kt gusts will be commonplace across the rest of the area. There is uncertainty in the timing of if/when the northwest winds reach KROW. The most likely timing of the wind shift has been placed in the TAF, but would not be surprised to see it delayed by a few hours. High clouds continue to streak into NM through the afternoon and evening hours.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1231 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

Moderate to strong northwest breezes will create widespread elevated and localized near-critcal fire weather conditions today in central NM then in eastern NM on Friday. Minimum humidities will trend lower today into Friday with single digit humidities in portions of eastern NM Friday afternoon. These very dry conditions along with record breaking warmth will continue through the weekend, with widespread elevated fire weather each day. Moisture begins to increase Monday as a Pacific trough approaches from the west. Scattered rain/mountain snow showers will favor the eastern half of the state Tuesday into Wednesday and there is a low chance of a few storms in eastern NM as well. Ventilation will be a mixed bag over the next 7 days, with fair to good ventilation generally prevailing.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 66 33 67 35 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 63 24 63 26 / 0 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 63 32 65 34 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 68 28 70 30 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 66 34 67 37 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 69 29 71 31 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 67 35 70 37 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 71 40 72 43 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 66 36 69 39 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 76 36 78 38 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 81 40 82 42 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 55 24 57 28 / 0 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 63 37 64 40 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 65 34 68 38 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 60 31 60 34 / 0 0 0 0 Red River....................... 50 27 52 30 / 0 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 58 21 59 25 / 0 0 0 0 Taos............................ 64 25 64 28 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 63 32 68 36 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 71 31 71 34 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 66 38 66 41 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 69 34 69 36 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 71 43 72 46 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 73 40 74 42 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 76 38 76 40 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 73 40 74 41 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 76 35 75 37 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 74 38 75 40 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 76 34 75 37 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 74 38 76 40 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 75 35 75 38 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 69 41 70 43 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 73 39 75 40 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 79 42 78 44 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 65 40 67 41 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 66 40 67 42 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 68 37 70 38 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 70 33 71 33 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 66 35 66 37 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 69 37 70 40 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 69 37 70 40 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 74 43 74 46 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 67 43 70 46 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 63 27 67 33 / 0 0 0 0 Raton........................... 67 25 71 30 / 0 0 0 0 Springer........................ 69 26 73 30 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 68 31 72 35 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 70 35 72 38 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 69 32 72 36 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 78 34 78 37 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 75 38 77 41 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 77 35 77 37 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 76 40 79 42 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 78 38 80 41 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 79 38 81 41 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 81 43 84 44 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 79 43 82 46 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 79 42 83 45 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.