textproduct: Albuquerque

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 415 PM MST Sat Jan 17 2026

- Temperatures will yo-yo up and down across eastern New Mexico over the next week as several backdoor cold fronts push through the area. Warmest conditions are expected Sunday and again mid week, while the coldest conditions are expected today.

- Dry conditions will prevail for the next several days. Low chances of precipitation return Friday into next weekend.

SHORT TERM

(This afternoon through Sunday) Issued at 1044 AM MST Sat Jan 17 2026

A highly amplified synoptic pattern persists, with a west coast ridge and central/eastern US trough. This pattern is steering strong northerly winds aloft over the region, with the 18Z KABQ upper air sounding showing 75kts at 500mb. At the same time, a cold front is moving south through the region and is more notable across the eastern plains where temperatures are currently in the 20s and 30s. Pressure heights will trend up overnight as the flow aloft backs some to the northwest. Warming will be the result on Sunday, with westerly flow in the lowest portions of the boundary layer lifting temperatures 15-25 degrees higher than today's across eastern NM and bringing temperatures above average areawide.

LONG TERM

(Sunday night through next Friday) Issued at 1044 AM MST Sat Jan 17 2026

The next in an ongoing series of backdoor cold fronts will slide into northeast NM Sunday evening and then advance southwest through the overnight hours, creating a gusty east canyon wind into the RGV through Monday morning. The temperature rollercoaster will be in full-effect across eastern NM on Monday, where temperatures will be around 20 degrees lower than Sunday's. The front will slide out and be replaced with westerly downslope winds on Tuesday across eastern NM, bringing 10-20 degrees of warming relative to Monday. Wednesday will be warmer areawide ahead of the next backdoor cold front, forecast to push south across eastern NM Wednesday night and provide some cooling going into Thursday. Moisture advection will be the rule toward then end of the week and into next weekend as the pattern shifts and allows for a Pacific trough/low to approach from the southwest. However, there is notable model spread for Fri/Sat at this time and run-to-run consistency is poor with regard to a northern stream trough/low. So, will refrain from getting lost in the weeds on the Fri/Sat period, but PoPs do come back to the forecast and there is at least some potential for winter weather impacts in the mountains next weekend.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 415 PM MST Sat Jan 17 2026

Prevailing winds taper off areawide past sunset. The exception will be a northerly drainage wind setting up at KSAF late tonight into Sunday morning. Prevailing winds remain relatively light through Sunday areawide.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1044 AM MST Sat Jan 17 2026

Critical fire weather conditions are not forecast through at least the next seven days. A series of backdoor cold fronts will impact eastern NM through mid week, with continued dry conditions areawide and vent rates ranging from poor to fair. Moisture advection will ramp up toward the end of the week and into next weekend ahead of an approaching upper level trough, bringing increased humidity and chances for wetting precipitation to the forecast.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Farmington...................... 18 47 21 48 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 14 49 17 49 / 0 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 17 48 21 47 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 12 53 17 52 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 19 52 24 53 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 13 56 18 54 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 19 54 25 54 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 26 55 31 52 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 22 54 27 54 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 20 64 23 63 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 23 66 27 66 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 16 44 18 44 / 0 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 24 47 27 44 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 20 52 21 44 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 15 47 20 43 / 0 0 0 0 Red River....................... 15 40 18 35 / 0 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 3 45 9 38 / 0 0 0 5 Taos............................ 11 49 18 45 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 17 56 19 42 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 17 53 21 51 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 22 48 25 44 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 20 49 23 47 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 27 52 30 51 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 26 52 29 53 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 23 54 26 55 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 25 54 27 53 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 20 53 23 54 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 25 55 27 53 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 19 53 21 54 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 24 55 27 54 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 18 53 21 54 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 27 50 29 49 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 26 54 29 53 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 26 57 29 57 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 25 48 26 46 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 26 48 27 47 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 24 51 25 47 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 16 53 17 47 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 20 47 21 37 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 22 52 23 47 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 22 52 24 49 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 25 54 30 54 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 24 53 29 50 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 12 53 15 35 / 0 0 0 5 Raton........................... 10 56 15 38 / 0 0 0 0 Springer........................ 9 58 16 39 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 16 57 18 38 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 20 58 18 36 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 16 57 19 36 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 16 61 21 42 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 19 60 23 40 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 16 62 21 41 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 19 59 23 41 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 15 61 19 43 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 16 63 22 44 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 19 61 26 49 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 22 64 28 48 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 20 65 26 52 / 0 0 0 0

ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.