textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 215 AM MDT Sat Aug 8 2026

- Moderate to major heat risk remains across much of New Mexico, especially the Rio Grande Valley. Record high temperatures are expected for several days over central and western New Mexico.

- Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue through the weekend. Stronger storms will produce gusty outflow winds, heavy rainfall, and frequent lightning strikes.

- Smoke from wildfires in Utah, Nevada, and Colorado may continue to impact air quality across northern New Mexico.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Sunday) Issued at 215 AM MDT Sat Aug 8 2026

The latest water vapor imagery and derived-motion winds shows the main upper level high center focused over the Four Corners. The H5 high was analyzed at 600dm with several surrounding RAOBs at 599dm! Guidance indicates a significant downtick in storm coverage today as a more stable airmass spreads west over the region. Model QPF shows very few QPF footprints >0.25" which are mainly in the far northern and western high terrain. Temps will remain very hot with another crop of Heat Advisories in place for parts of central and western NM.

An uptick in storm coverage may occur Sunday as the H5 high weakens to near 595dm near the Four Corners. PWATs begin to trend slightly higher over the region but otherwise there is no real discernible difference in the overall pattern. Model QPF footprints increase in coverage and intensity with a few more >0.50" in the northern and western high terrain. A more stable airmass will remain over the southeastern half of NM. Temps remain very hot areawide with more Heat Advisories in store.

LONG TERM

(Sunday night through Friday) Issued at 215 AM MDT Sat Aug 8 2026

There isn't much change Monday with the 595dm H5 high center still over northern NM. Storm coverage remains focused over northern and western NM where PWATs continue to rise slightly. QPF footprints >0.50" are still shown over the northern and western high terrain.

Changes may begin by Tuesday as the H5 high shifts eastward into eastern NM and west TX. This pattern allows for a moist fetch of south/southeast flow to develop into northwest MX. The upper high may remain centered to the east of NM Wednesday thru Friday while abundant monsoon moisture slides north into AZ and NM. PWATs are shown rising to near 1.2" at KABQ with H5 heights decreasing to near 590dm by Thursday. Model QPF remains bullish mid to late week but confidence is still low to moderate given the stubborn pattern in place the past couple weeks.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1134 PM MDT Fri Aug 7 2026

An area of light rain, isolated TSRA, and strong outflow wind gusts over eastern NM will dissipate thru 2am. Canyon winds will strengthen in the Rio Grande Valley tonight with gusts up to 40KT for a few hours thru 3am from near KSAF to KABQ and Carrizozo. Saturday will be drier with lower storm chances areawide. Any convection that does form will produce brief rain and strong downburst wind gusts.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 215 AM MDT Sat Aug 8 2026

There are no critical fire weather conditions forecast for the foreseeable future. However, temperatures will remain very hot with minimum humidity falling below 15% each day thru Monday over parts of northern and western NM. Fortunately, winds will be light with the exception of strong thunderstorm outflows. The main concern is for new wildfire starts from lightning in dry fuels. The coverage of showers and storms may trend higher beyond Monday with the main focus over northern and western NM.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 101 65 100 66 / 5 5 0 10 Dulce........................... 98 56 98 56 / 5 5 10 10 Cuba............................ 95 61 95 61 / 10 10 10 20 Gallup.......................... 95 60 95 60 / 10 10 20 30 El Morro........................ 90 57 90 57 / 20 10 40 30 Grants.......................... 95 60 95 60 / 10 10 20 20 Quemado......................... 92 61 91 59 / 20 10 30 50 Magdalena....................... 91 65 92 64 / 5 5 20 20 Datil........................... 88 59 88 58 / 10 10 50 20 Reserve......................... 96 59 95 58 / 20 10 40 30 Glenwood........................ 99 64 99 63 / 30 20 30 30 Chama........................... 91 55 91 55 / 10 10 20 10 Los Alamos...................... 92 65 92 65 / 20 10 30 20 Pecos........................... 91 59 93 59 / 10 10 30 20 Cerro/Questa.................... 91 57 91 57 / 10 10 20 10 Red River....................... 85 49 86 50 / 10 10 30 10 Angel Fire...................... 85 43 86 43 / 20 20 40 20 Taos............................ 95 58 95 59 / 10 10 10 20 Mora............................ 89 55 90 55 / 20 20 50 20 Espanola........................ 99 65 100 65 / 10 10 10 20 Santa Fe........................ 93 62 94 62 / 10 10 20 20 Santa Fe Airport................ 95 62 96 61 / 10 10 10 10 Albuquerque Foothills........... 100 70 101 69 / 10 10 5 10 Albuquerque Heights............. 99 71 100 70 / 5 10 5 10 Albuquerque Valley.............. 102 69 102 69 / 5 10 5 10 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 100 70 101 69 / 5 5 5 10 Belen........................... 100 67 101 68 / 5 5 5 10 Bernalillo...................... 101 69 102 68 / 5 5 5 10 Bosque Farms.................... 101 66 101 66 / 5 10 5 10 Corrales........................ 102 69 103 69 / 5 5 5 10 Los Lunas....................... 100 66 100 65 / 5 10 5 10 Placitas........................ 97 68 98 68 / 5 10 10 10 Rio Rancho...................... 101 70 101 70 / 5 5 5 10 Socorro......................... 102 71 102 71 / 5 5 5 10 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 93 64 94 64 / 10 10 10 20 Tijeras......................... 97 65 97 64 / 10 10 10 20 Edgewood........................ 97 62 98 62 / 10 10 20 20 Moriarty/Estancia............... 96 58 97 57 / 10 10 20 30 Clines Corners.................. 91 62 93 61 / 10 10 20 30 Mountainair..................... 95 63 95 62 / 5 10 10 30 Gran Quivira.................... 92 61 92 61 / 5 5 10 20 Carrizozo....................... 94 66 94 67 / 5 5 10 10 Ruidoso......................... 86 59 88 61 / 20 10 20 5 Capulin......................... 90 60 92 60 / 10 10 30 20 Raton........................... 93 56 95 57 / 20 20 20 20 Springer........................ 97 56 98 57 / 20 10 20 20 Las Vegas....................... 92 58 94 58 / 10 20 30 20 Clayton......................... 98 69 99 68 / 5 5 20 20 Roy............................. 93 64 96 64 / 5 10 20 20 Conchas......................... 101 69 103 69 / 5 0 10 10 Santa Rosa...................... 95 67 97 67 / 5 0 10 10 Tucumcari....................... 101 70 102 70 / 0 0 0 5 Clovis.......................... 98 68 99 67 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 98 68 99 68 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 98 69 99 69 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 99 70 100 70 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 95 65 96 66 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 92 61 94 62 / 10 0 10 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Heat Advisory from noon today to 8 PM MDT this evening for NMZ201-217-219-221.