textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 529 PM MDT Fri May 29 2026 - Critical fire weather will increase the risk of rapid fire spread mainly over western areas through early this evening.

- Daily rounds of thunderstorms are forecast Tuesday through Friday east of the Continental Divide with a risk of lightning, erratic wind gusts, brief downpours, and flash flooding below vulnerable burn scars. Some storms west of the central mountain chain will produce gusty winds with little rain and a risk of new fire starts.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Saturday night) Issued at 1220 PM MDT Fri May 29 2026

An upper level low is lifting northeast into southwest UT and steering dry westerlies east across central NM per the latest water vapor satellite imagery. The 18Z KFGZ upper air sounding showed 500mb wind speeds of 60kts and this corridor of stronger winds aloft are now pivoting over far western NM, resulting in windy conditions this afternoon. A Wind Advisory has been issued for the West Central Plateau, including Gallup, where gusts to between 50-55mph are likely from 3PM through 7PM MDT. Isolated thunderstorms are still likely across northeast and far eastern NM this afternoon/evening, but probabilities for severe are on the wane per the latest RAP13 convective analysis and the SPC has moved the marginal risk area east of the NM/TX border. The upper low will push a weak Pacific cold front east across the area this evening and overnight, drying out eastern NM and resulting in a beautiful Saturday with daytime temperatures slightly below average most areas.

LONG TERM

(Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 1220 PM MDT Fri May 29 2026

Pressure heights rebound Sunday and warmer conditions are forecast, with high temperatures generally within a few degrees of average. Flow aloft will weaken and turn more southwesterly Sunday into Monday allowing Gulf moisture to return to the eastern plains and South Central Mountains, resulting in a round of storms by Monday afternoon. A weak Pacific trough near SoCal will allow low level moisture to transport westward to near the AZ state line Tue/Wed, resulting in a couple of active days with fairly widespread chances for afternoon/evening thunderstorms. The threat for burn scar flash flooding in the South Central Mountains will return on Monday, then be elevated on Tue/Wed. An upper high is forecast to strengthen over northwest NM Thu/Fri, effectively shutting down daily rounds of convection there while areas along/east of the central mountain chain remain favored. The threat for burn scar flash flooding in the South Central Mountains will remain elevated Thu/Fri. Due to the added moisture resulting in cloud cover and rain-cooling, high temperatures will generally be below average from Wednesday onward.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 529 PM MDT Fri May 29 2026

A few high-based virga showers moving toward the northeast over northwest NM today will enhance strong and erratic wind gusts up to 45KT thru sunset. Elsewhere, southwest wind gusts of 30 to 40KT will be common as a low pressure system passes north of the area. Winds will diminish slowly after sunset and give way to areas of LLWS over eastern NM overnight. Saturday will feature clear skies and lighter winds with westerly gusts near 35KT still possible along the I-40 corridor of eastern NM.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1220 PM MDT Fri May 29 2026

An upper low moving east into UT is steering strong southwest winds and dry air into western NM and resulting in critical fire weather conditions west of the Continental Divide this afternoon. Dry westerlies will progress east across NM overnight into Saturday and dry conditions will persist into Sunday, although with less wind and little to no concern for the rapid spread of fire. Gulf moisture will come back to the eastern plains and south central areas Monday, resulting in a round of afternoon/evening wetting storms while hot and dry conditions prevail across western and north central NM. Moisture will surge west to near the AZ border on Tuesday and result in higher than average humidity and chances for wetting storms through the middle of next week.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 45 76 44 82 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 38 72 33 79 / 5 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 40 71 41 79 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 37 74 38 80 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 39 72 41 78 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 40 76 40 83 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 41 74 43 81 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 49 78 51 82 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 43 75 45 80 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 38 80 40 86 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 42 83 44 90 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 36 67 34 73 / 5 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 49 73 49 78 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 44 74 43 80 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 43 70 42 76 / 5 0 0 0 Red River....................... 37 61 33 67 / 10 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 32 65 29 72 / 10 0 0 0 Taos............................ 44 73 39 79 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 44 73 41 79 / 5 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 48 80 45 86 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 47 75 50 79 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 46 77 46 82 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 55 79 56 85 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 54 82 52 86 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 53 83 51 89 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 53 81 53 87 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 51 85 48 89 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 53 82 52 87 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 49 83 47 88 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 52 82 52 88 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 50 84 49 88 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 54 78 53 83 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 54 81 52 87 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 56 87 56 93 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 50 74 49 80 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 50 76 49 81 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 48 77 44 83 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 43 78 39 84 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 47 74 45 80 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 48 77 45 83 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 48 77 46 82 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 56 80 56 87 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 51 75 52 81 / 5 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 44 76 41 77 / 20 0 0 0 Raton........................... 44 80 40 83 / 20 0 0 0 Springer........................ 46 81 41 84 / 10 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 47 75 42 81 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 52 84 50 85 / 10 0 0 0 Roy............................. 49 81 46 83 / 10 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 55 88 49 91 / 10 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 55 84 48 88 / 5 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 56 90 50 93 / 10 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 57 88 53 94 / 10 0 0 0 Portales........................ 58 90 52 95 / 10 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 55 88 50 91 / 10 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 59 94 55 97 / 10 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 55 86 53 92 / 5 0 0 0 Elk............................. 53 83 51 91 / 5 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for NMZ101-105-109.

Wind Advisory until 7 PM MDT this evening for NMZ205.