textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 507 PM MDT Fri Apr 24 2026

- Critical fire weather conditions will produce a risk of rapid fire spread locally over northeast and east central areas today, then over more of eastern New Mexico Saturday through Tuesday.

- Strong southwest and west winds will produce difficult crosswinds for high profile vehicles, especially by Sunday where some wind gusts could be approaching 60 mph.

- Saturday night and Sunday, showers and thunderstorms from the northern mountains westward, and over west central areas, will be capable of producing erratic wind gusts with hazardous crosswinds and blowing dust, as well as cloud-to-ground lightning.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Saturday night) Issued at 1217 PM MDT Fri Apr 24 2026

Another great start to the day across northern and central New Mexico. Winds are generally light, until you get west of the Rio Grande Valley where some breezy SW winds reported along the I-40 corridor. Otherwise a nice day in store with temperatures this afternoon to be near to slightly above average for late April. Going into the first half of the weekend, main H500 longwave pattern across the SW CONUS should enhance UL convergence across the region. This will result in continued dry and breezy conditions, especially for the eastern Plains where critical fire weather conditions are expected Saturday afternoon. Temperatures are expected to be near to above average topping out as high as the low to the mid 80s for the valley and Plains locations.

LONG TERM

(Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 1217 PM MDT Fri Apr 24 2026

Latest global model and numerical guidance showing a mid level perturbation by Sunday wrapping around a main H500 low centered within the Canadian Prairies. With rapid H500 height falls ahead of the main perturbation approaching the Four Corners Region by Sunday afternoon, some strong SW winds with gusts approaching 60 mph, especially for the eastern Plains and low RH values will result in some critical fire weather conditions once again for parts of the region. Lift along the northern portions of the state and mountains ahead of the perturbation could result in some light precipitation and/or virga. Will watch closely for some dry storms with lightning that may also add to the fire danger on Sunday. Dry conditions overall will return through mid week, where fire weather conditions for some areas will continue through mid week, before a second low pressure system off the coast of southern California moves across the SW CONUS and could bring a more widespread chance of rain by the end of the forecast period. Tracking and exact details of moisture availability with this next system will be available as we get closer over the next few days. Temperatures overall remain above average as we close out the month of April.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 507 PM MDT Fri Apr 24 2026

Breezy conditions will prevail through sunset, and then wind speeds will decrease for most locations. Breezes will resume late Saturday morning into the afternoon when gusts of 20 to 25 kt will become common again with a few isolated higher gusts to 30 kt. VFR conditions will prevail with a few weak and paltry showers developing in northwestern New Mexico Saturday evening with much of the rainfall from these showers evaporating before it reaches the ground. This evaporating rainfall (virga) will produce localized and enhanced wind gusts to 40 kt.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1217 PM MDT Fri Apr 24 2026

Critical fire weather conditions are expected throughout the coming weekend and into early next week through Tuesday. Persistent SW winds, peaking Sunday where gusts could approach 60 mph, along with low RH values will result in critical fire weather conditions. Max RFTI values of 4 to 6 Saturday and 5 to 7 Sunday through Tuesday are expected. On Sunday, we are also watching for dry thunderstorm potential where lightning strikes could also start fires.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 42 72 46 64 / 0 5 50 80 Dulce........................... 31 67 33 59 / 10 5 60 90 Cuba............................ 36 67 38 64 / 0 5 30 70 Gallup.......................... 32 66 36 62 / 0 10 20 40 El Morro........................ 36 64 37 61 / 0 10 10 30 Grants.......................... 34 69 35 67 / 0 5 10 30 Quemado......................... 37 67 39 65 / 0 5 5 10 Magdalena....................... 43 71 44 70 / 0 0 0 5 Datil........................... 38 66 40 63 / 0 0 0 10 Reserve......................... 35 73 37 69 / 0 5 0 5 Glenwood........................ 38 77 40 74 / 0 5 5 5 Chama........................... 30 61 32 52 / 10 5 50 90 Los Alamos...................... 43 67 43 64 / 0 5 20 50 Pecos........................... 38 68 40 66 / 5 0 20 20 Cerro/Questa.................... 36 64 38 59 / 10 0 30 70 Red River....................... 32 55 32 49 / 10 0 30 70 Angel Fire...................... 26 61 27 57 / 5 0 20 50 Taos............................ 31 69 34 64 / 10 0 30 70 Mora............................ 37 68 37 65 / 5 0 20 40 Espanola........................ 40 74 41 71 / 5 0 20 50 Santa Fe........................ 42 68 42 67 / 5 0 20 30 Santa Fe Airport................ 40 72 41 70 / 0 0 20 30 Albuquerque Foothills........... 49 75 50 74 / 0 0 10 30 Albuquerque Heights............. 47 77 47 76 / 0 5 5 20 Albuquerque Valley.............. 46 79 45 79 / 0 5 5 20 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 48 77 48 76 / 0 5 10 30 Belen........................... 41 79 42 79 / 0 5 5 20 Bernalillo...................... 47 78 48 77 / 0 5 10 30 Bosque Farms.................... 42 79 42 79 / 0 5 5 20 Corrales........................ 47 79 48 78 / 0 5 10 30 Los Lunas....................... 43 79 43 78 / 0 5 5 20 Placitas........................ 49 73 48 72 / 0 0 10 30 Rio Rancho...................... 48 77 48 76 / 0 5 10 30 Socorro......................... 46 82 48 82 / 0 5 0 5 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 44 70 45 69 / 0 5 20 30 Tijeras......................... 44 71 45 70 / 0 0 10 20 Edgewood........................ 40 72 40 72 / 0 0 10 20 Moriarty/Estancia............... 37 74 36 74 / 0 0 10 20 Clines Corners.................. 41 69 41 70 / 0 0 5 20 Mountainair..................... 41 73 42 73 / 0 0 5 20 Gran Quivira.................... 43 72 43 72 / 0 0 5 10 Carrizozo....................... 49 75 51 76 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 48 69 49 70 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 35 69 37 68 / 0 0 20 20 Raton........................... 33 72 36 71 / 0 0 10 30 Springer........................ 36 74 38 73 / 0 0 10 20 Las Vegas....................... 40 71 40 69 / 0 0 10 20 Clayton......................... 45 77 46 78 / 0 0 20 10 Roy............................. 41 75 42 74 / 0 0 5 20 Conchas......................... 44 82 48 83 / 0 0 0 10 Santa Rosa...................... 44 78 45 78 / 0 0 0 10 Tucumcari....................... 48 85 49 85 / 0 0 0 5 Clovis.......................... 50 85 50 87 / 0 0 0 5 Portales........................ 49 86 49 88 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 47 84 46 85 / 0 0 0 5 Roswell......................... 51 89 53 90 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 49 82 52 81 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 48 79 50 79 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Red Flag Warning from noon to 8 PM MDT Saturday for NMZ104-123- 125-126.

Fire Weather Watch from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening for NMZ104-106-123>126.

High Wind Watch from Sunday morning through Sunday evening for NMZ215-221>224-226>229-233-239-240.