textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1243 AM MST Tue Dec 16 2025

- Dry and unseasonably warm weather will be on tap through the end of the week. Numerous high temperature records will be in jeopardy through Saturday.

- Breezy to windy conditions on Wednesday and Friday along and east of the Central Mountain Chain will create difficult crosswinds for large and high-profile vehicles.

SHORT TERM

(Tonight through Wednesday night) Issued at 1243 AM MST Tue Dec 16 2025

The baggy upper level trough will continue to cross NM through Tuesday morning. Much of the cirrus has shifted out of NM already, but a few mid level clouds persist. Additional cirrus will slide into northwest NM this morning. Northwest flow will set up over NM by the afternoon, and normally windy northwest flow locations (FMN, AEG, CQC, etc) will become breezy this afternoon. A weak surface boundary will move into northeast NM as well, but will only drop temps a few degrees. In general, temperatures will be within a few degrees of yesterday's readings, except across east central NM where temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees warmer. A few records will be in jeopardy once again.

A potent upper level jet is still set to dive from the PacNW toward CO on Wednesday and Wednesday night. Though the strongest core of the jet will remain north of NM, winds will increase. By mid to late Wed aftn, H7 winds will increase to between 40 and 60kt across much of northern and central NM. With temperatures expected to be 15 to 22 degrees above normal, near 75th percentile mixing heights will allow some of this momentum to reach the surface. NBM winds are much too light in this scenario and have been adjusted upward. H7 winds will continue to increase Wednesday evening and overnight to between 50 and 70 kts along and east of the Central Mountain Chain. Thus, some of the strongest winds can be expected during the evening and overnight hours. Chances are moderate to high (>50%) that high wind gusts (>=58mph) will be observed across the high peaks and the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and a High Wind Watch may be needed by subsequent shifts. Mountain wave activity may still bring this momentum to areas further east, including the I-25 corridor between Raton and Las Vegas as well as near Clines Corners and Vaughn. These crosswinds could have dangerous consequences for high-profile vehicles along I-25 and other north-to-south oriented roads. These winds will persist right through sunrise Thursday before slowly decreasing Thursday morning.

LONG TERM

(Thursday through next Monday) Issued at 1243 AM MST Tue Dec 16 2025

A backdoor cold front is still expected to push into eastern NM on Thursday, switching winds around to the east and bringing temperatures down closer to where they should be for this time of year. Nonetheless, it's likely most areas across eastern NM will still be a few degrees above normal. Central and western areas will remain around 10 to 15 degrees above normal.

The front will mix out Friday as a lee side surface low deepens to around 998-999mb across eastern CO allowing for westerly flow to resume over eastern NM. 35-50kt winds at H7 combined with the surface gradient, high temperatures 15-25 degrees above normal and 75th percentile mixing for this time of year will again yield breezy to windy conditions, especially along and east of the Central Mountain Chain. Records at most locations will be in jeopardy. Basically, Friday will feel more like late March or April than six days before Christmas. This story doesn't change a lot for Saturday, though a weak front may push into northeast NM in the afternoon. Sunday and Monday will remain warm (15-25 degrees above normal) with afternoon breezes as the upper level ridge pumps up a little more over NM, especially Monday.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1025 PM MST Mon Dec 15 2025

VFR conditions are in place and are expected to prevail through the next 24 hours. High, fair weather clouds are extensive now, but will gradually thin tonight into Tuesday. Breezes could turn stronger in a few locations Tuesday afternoon as stronger flow aloft builds in behind an exiting upper level disturbance. Locations extending from the Four Corners to the middle Rio Grande valley and central highlands would be most prone to experience gusts of 20 to 25 kt.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1243 AM MST Tue Dec 16 2025

Warm and dry conditions will persist for the next 7 days. With the exception of eastern NM on Thursday, high temperatures will be 10 to 25 degrees above normal daily. Main concern is Wednesday when westerly winds will ramp up during the afternoon and evening. Relative humidity values near or below 15 percent combined with wind gusts between 30 and 50 mph will create elevated to near- critical conditions across northeast and east central NM. Low ERC values will preclude critical conditions. Erratic but strong westerly winds will continue through the overnight hours Wednesday night and will finally decrease Thursday morning. A backdoor front on Thursday will lower temperatures closer to normal for this time of year, but that will be short-lived. Westerly winds will return for Friday. Though winds won't be as strong as Wednesday, Friday's winds will be sufficient for elevated to near-critical conditions once again.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 25 51 27 55 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 19 53 21 53 / 0 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 23 51 25 56 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 16 58 21 61 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 21 55 23 59 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 19 59 21 64 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 23 55 25 62 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 32 60 32 65 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 27 56 27 62 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 23 65 26 67 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 29 70 30 69 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 23 51 24 47 / 0 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 32 54 34 56 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 30 61 30 56 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 27 53 28 52 / 0 0 0 0 Red River....................... 16 50 19 47 / 0 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 6 54 8 50 / 0 0 0 0 Taos............................ 21 57 22 55 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 30 61 29 59 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 26 60 25 60 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 30 56 29 56 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 27 58 26 58 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 34 58 35 59 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 33 60 34 61 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 26 62 27 63 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 31 60 31 61 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 26 60 26 63 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 30 60 31 62 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 24 60 24 62 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 29 61 30 62 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 25 60 26 63 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 32 57 32 59 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 31 59 32 61 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 31 63 32 67 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 32 54 31 56 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 32 55 32 57 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 30 55 29 58 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 24 58 23 61 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 29 55 29 58 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 29 58 29 60 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 30 58 29 61 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 35 61 34 63 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 32 59 30 60 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 29 60 28 62 / 0 0 0 0 Raton........................... 27 64 25 64 / 0 0 0 0 Springer........................ 24 67 24 67 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 30 65 30 64 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 34 67 34 67 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 29 66 30 68 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 27 69 28 73 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 33 68 30 70 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 29 69 28 72 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 32 68 33 69 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 31 69 29 70 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 29 69 29 70 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 30 73 31 70 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 37 69 36 72 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 35 68 32 69 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.