textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1004 PM MST Sun Feb 22 2026

- A warming trend begins today and continues through next week. Temperatures will be near or at record levels mid to late week. - Critical fire weather conditions will increase the risk of rapid fire spread across northeast and east central areas Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Monday night) Issued at 1255 PM MST Sun Feb 22 2026

It's an ideal last Sunday of February across the Land of Enchantment with some high level clouds across west central and southern NM. High temperatures are around 5 to 10 degrees warmer than yesterday for many due to upper level ridging developing overhead. Some breezy south winds across the eastern plains this afternoon due to weak surface lee trough. Another night of typical valley inversions across the area, though low temperatures will be around 5 to 10 degrees warmer than this morning. High clouds across the state taper off Monday morning. High temperatures warm up a little more on Monday with low to mid 60s outside of the higher terrain. Some breezy south-southwest winds across the caprock due to another surface lee trough. Not as cold Monday night into Tuesday morning with breezy west winds developing across the peaks of the central mountain chain and adjacent highlands.

LONG TERM

(Tuesday through Saturday) Issued at 1255 PM MST Sun Feb 22 2026

The ridge across the Intermountain West flattens early on Tuesday due to a upper level trough moving entering the Pacific NW and another upper level trough moving across north central U.S. This will result in breezy to gusty west winds, especially along and east of the central mountain chain. The strongest winds will be across the I-40 corridor of east central NM with peak gusts of 40 to 50 mph. The downslope west winds will intensify the warmup areawide, especially along and east of the central mountain chain, with high temperatures 15 to 25 degrees above average. These warm temperatures and gusty west winds along with minimum RH values in the upper single digits to low teens will result in an increasing risk for rapid fire spread along and east of the central mountain chain. Wednesday will be similar to Tuesday with west-northwest winds slightly stronger areawide as the upper level trough over the Pacific NW Tuesday slides southeast across the northern and central Rockies. A moderate probability (50 to 70%) wind gusts to reach Wind Advisory criteria across the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and central highlands of Torrance and Guadalupe County Wednesday afternoon. Another day of a risk for rapid fire spread along and east of the central mountain chain, though minimum relative humidity values will be slightly higher in the mid teens to low 20s. Finally, a low chance (10 to 20%) for Roswell to have its first 90 degree day of the year!

High temperatures across the eastern plains on Thursday will be cooler by 10 to 15 degrees compared to Tuesday and Wednesday behind a morning backdoor front. Friday and Saturday high temperatures bounce back to readings similar to Tuesday and Wednesday due to returning downslope west winds. Breezy west winds across the central highlands both days. High temperatures across western and central NM remain steady and 10 to 15 degrees above average for late February. Albuquerque will see highs in the mid 70s Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Records could be challenged as we close out the month of February.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1004 PM MST Sun Feb 22 2026

VFR conditions prevail and are forecast to persist, although with periods of VFR cigs in the form of high clouds overnight. Winds will be light through the TAF period, except for gusty southerly winds at KROW Monday afternoon.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1255 PM MST Sun Feb 22 2026

Dry conditions through next weekend. A warming trend has begin with temperatures well above normal by 15 to 25 degrees come Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, warm temperatures along with dry air in place will result in minimum relative humidity values in the upper single digits to low teens along and east of the central mountain chain. Combine this with west wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph will likely result in critical fire weather conditions across the northeast and central highlands and plains. For that reason, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for the northeast and east central New Mexico. Winds strengthen a little areawide on Wednesday as a disturbance moves across the northern and central Rockies. However, surface moisture increases a little as well resulting in slightly higher minimum relative humidity values in the mid to upper teens across the northeast highlands and eastern plains. Even with the slightly higher moisture, potential still exists for critical fire weather conditions across these aforementioned areas. Cooler across the eastern plains Thursday behind a backdoor front before warming back up on Friday into next weekend. Some breezy west winds across the highlands will keep elevated fire weather conditions in play Thursday before spreading to the eastern plains on Friday and Saturday.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 25 57 28 62 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 15 55 17 56 / 0 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 24 57 28 60 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 17 62 21 66 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 26 62 31 63 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 20 63 25 67 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 25 65 30 66 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 30 62 36 69 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 26 62 32 66 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 25 70 28 72 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 27 71 31 74 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 18 49 21 50 / 0 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 29 56 33 61 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 25 61 32 63 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 22 54 30 57 / 0 0 0 0 Red River....................... 19 47 25 49 / 0 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 10 52 19 55 / 0 0 0 0 Taos............................ 17 57 23 61 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 24 62 33 63 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 22 63 26 67 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 27 58 33 63 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 25 60 29 66 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 34 62 38 68 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 32 62 34 70 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 29 65 31 72 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 30 63 33 71 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 25 64 27 75 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 29 65 33 71 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 25 65 27 73 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 29 65 33 71 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 26 64 28 73 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 31 60 36 67 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 30 64 33 70 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 30 67 33 77 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 30 57 34 63 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 30 57 34 65 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 26 61 30 66 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 18 64 23 68 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 25 59 31 63 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 27 60 32 67 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 26 60 32 68 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 30 62 35 68 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 29 60 38 64 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 20 62 31 70 / 0 0 0 0 Raton........................... 18 63 26 72 / 0 0 0 0 Springer........................ 16 65 25 73 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 22 64 33 69 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 25 61 36 78 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 20 60 31 74 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 24 68 31 81 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 24 67 38 76 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 26 67 35 84 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 26 62 36 81 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 24 63 35 81 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 23 62 30 80 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 26 62 31 82 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 27 64 37 77 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 25 66 36 75 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday morning through Tuesday afternoon for NMZ104-123-125-126.