407
FXUS65 KABQ 181230
AFDABQ
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
530 AM MST THU DEC 18 2025
..NEW UPDATE
KEY MESSAGES
UPDATED AT 527 AM MST THU DEC 18 2025
- HIGH WINDS WILL FAVOR AREAS ALONG AND IMMEDIATELY EAST OF THE
SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS AND CENTRAL HIGHLANDS THROUGH EARLY
THURSDAY MORNING. SPORADIC AND ERRATIC WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 65
MPH WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS CROSSWINDS ON AREA HIGHWAYS,
ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH-PROFILE VEHICLES.
- DRY AND UNSEASONABLY WARM WEATHER PERSISTS WITH NUMEROUS HIGH
TEMPERATURE RECORDS THREATENED THROUGH THE NEXT WEEK.
UPDATE
ISSUED AT 527 AM MST THU DEC 18 2025
THE BACKDOOR COLD FRONT HAS MOVED INTO NORTHEAST NM, SWITCHING
WINDS AROUND TO THE NORTHEAST AND EAST. STRONG WINDS DUE TO
MOUNTAIN WAVES ARE NO LONGER EXPECTED ACROSS UNION, HARDING AND
EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTIES SO THE WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN
CANCELLED.
SHORT TERM
(TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 1255 AM MST THU DEC 18 2025
HIGH WINDS ARE UNDERWAY DUE TO MOUNTAIN WAVE ACTIVITY AS BOTH LAS
VEGAS AND RATON AIRPORTS HAVE REACHED 60 MPH. SINCE THESE
REPORTS, WINDS HAVE COME DOWN AT THESE LOCATIONS, BUT IT'S LIKELY
THE MOUNTAIN WAVE IS JUST CRASHING ELSEWHERE, AND IT MAY RETURN TO
THESE LOCATIONS. THESE HERKY JERKY WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
THE REMAINDER OF THE OVERNIGHT HOURS INTO THURSDAY MORNING BEFORE
DECREASING. WILL BE WATCHING KSRR'S WINDS CLOSELY FOR A POTENTIAL
EXPANSION OF THE WIND ADVISORY AS WELL.
THE BACKDOOR COLD FRONT IS QUICKLY PUSHING THROUGH SOUTHEAST CO
EARLY THIS MORNING AND WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS INTO NORTHEAST NM
TODAY. THE FRONT WILL BRING COOLER TEMPERATURES TO EASTERN NM, ON
THE ORDER OF 10 TO 20 DEGREES. MEANWHILE, WARM CONDITIONS WILL
PERSIST ELSEWHERE WITH A FEW RECORDS IN JEOPARDY. THOUGH THE
STRONG TO DAMAGING WIND POTENTIAL WILL DIMINISH AROUND MID
MORNING, NORTHWEST BREEZES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY FOR MUCH
OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NM. GUSTS NEAR 25-30 MPH WILL PERSIST IN
THESE AREAS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.
THE BACKDOOR FRONT WILL QUICKLY WASH OUT TONIGHT AND WINDS WILL
VEER BACK AROUND TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST. STRONG ZONAL FLOW
ALOFT WILL ALLOW A LEE SIDE TROUGH TO DEEPEN THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON AND WILL VEER SURFACE WINDS AROUND TO THE WEST. H7 WINDS
WILL ALSO INCREASE AGAIN FRIDAY MORNING, TO AROUND 40-50KT BY
18Z. H7 WINDS WILL INCREASE FURTHER FRIDAY NIGHT TO NEAR 60KT
ALONG AND JUST EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN. THUS, BREEZY TO
WINDY CONDITIONS WILL BE FELT NEARLY AREAWIDE FRIDAY AFTERNOON,
WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MTN CHAIN.
FRIDAY NIGHT, CONDITIONS DO NOT LOOK TO BE AS FAVORABLE FOR
MOUNTAIN WAVE CRASHES EAST OF THE CENTRAL MTN CHAIN, SO HIGH WINDS
WILL BE FAVORED ACROSS THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MTNS WHILE WINDS
SLOWLY DECOUPLE ELSEWHERE. A FEW WIND ADVISORIES OR HIGH WIND
WARNINGS MAY BE NEEDED FOR THE MOUNTAINS.
IN ADDITION TO THE WIND ON FRIDAY, THE OTHER MAIN STORY WILL BE
THE NUMEROUS HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORDS THAT ARE POISED TO BE
BROKEN, IF NOT SHATTERED. HIGH TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 15 AND 25
DEGREES NORMAL WILL BE THE RULE.
LONG TERM
(SATURDAY THROUGH NEXT WEDNESDAY)
ISSUED AT 1255 AM MST THU DEC 18 2025
STRONG ZONAL FLOW ALOFT WILL PERSIST ON SATURDAY WITH BREEZY
WESTERLY WINDS CONTINUING AT THE SURFACE. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN
WELL-ABOVE NORMAL. A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT WILL SLIDE INTO NORTHEAST
NM SATURDAY NIGHT BEFORE PRESSING UP TO THE EAST SLOPES OF THE
CENTRAL MTN CHAIN SUNDAY MORNING. HIGH TEMPERATURES SUNDAY WILL
FALL SEVERAL DEGREES, BUT WILL REMAIN AROUND 10 DEGREES ABOVE
NORMAL SUNDAY AFTERNOON. LITTLE CHANGE IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE
WEST. THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE PUMPS UP ON MONDAY, ALLOWING HEIGHTS
TO RISE OVER NM WHILE WEAK WESTERLY FLOW PERSISTS AT THE SURFACE.
THIS WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO TREND UPWARD AREAWIDE WITH MANY
MORE RECORDS IN JEOPARDY. THE RIDGE TRANSLATES EASTWARD ON
TUESDAY, ALLOWING SOUTHWEST FLOW TO DEVELOP OVER NM AS A POTENT
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ORGANIZES OVER THE PACIFIC. ON BOTH TUESDAY
AND CHRISTMAS EVE (WEDNESDAY), THE SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL BRING UP
SOME MODEST SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE INCREASING CLOUD COVER EACH DAY
AND BRINGING LOW (<20%) CHANCES OF LIGHT PRECIPITATION TO
NORTHWEST NM ON WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN WARM, HOWEVER.
AVIATION
(12Z TAFS)
ISSUED AT 418 AM MST THU DEC 18 2025
SPORADIC STRONG WIND GUSTS (~40-50KT) WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE
MID MORNING HOURS ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MTN CHAIN AS WELL
AS AROUND KLAM. WINDS WILL DECREASE DURING THE LATE MORNING HOURS,
BUT LIGHT TO MODERATE NORTHWEST BREEZES WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON ACROSS CENTRAL AND WESTERN NM. ACROSS EASTERN NM, A
BACKDOOR COLD FRONT HAS MOVED INTO FAR NORTHEAST NM AND IT WILL
CONTINUE TO PRESS SOUTHWESTWARD THROUGH THE DAY. GUSTS UP TO 25 KT
ARE POSSIBLE BEHIND THE FRONT. LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR ACROSS CENTRAL
AND EASTERN NM WILL DIMINISH BY MID MORNING, BUT WILL RETURN
TONIGHT ACROSS THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND PORTIONS OF EASTERN NM.
FIRE WEATHER
ISSUED AT 1255 AM MST THU DEC 18 2025
STRONG TO DAMAGING WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL PERSIST THIS
MORNING ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN. WINDS WILL
DECREASE ACROSS EASTERN NM TODAY AS A COLD FRONT PRESSES INTO THE
AREA BUT NORTHWEST BREEZES WILL PERSIST ELSEWHERE. WEST WINDS WILL
INCREASE ON FRIDAY ONCE AGAIN. ACROSS THE PLAINS, WEST WINDS OF
20-30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH WILL BE COMMON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
THESE WINDS COMBINED WITH RH VALUES NEAR 15% WILL YIELD ELEVATED
TO NEAR-CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. LOW ERC VALUES WILL
PRECLUDE ANY RED FLAG WARNINGS. THE STRONGEST WINDS EXPECTED OVER
THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS FRIDAY NIGHT WHERE GUSTS NEAR
50-60 MPH ARE FORECAST. OTHERWISE, ASIDE FROM COOLER TEMPERATURES
TODAY ACROSS EASTERN NM, UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES WILL BE
THE RULE FOR THE NEXT WEEK.
PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
FARMINGTON...................... 52 28 57 31 / 0 0 0 0
DULCE........................... 51 19 55 24 / 0 0 0 0
CUBA............................ 51 27 60 31 / 0 0 0 0
GALLUP.......................... 58 23 64 28 / 0 0 0 0
EL MORRO........................ 56 26 63 31 / 0 0 0 0
GRANTS.......................... 59 24 67 29 / 0 0 0 0
QUEMADO......................... 58 28 68 33 / 0 0 0 0
MAGDALENA....................... 61 36 69 39 / 0 0 0 0
DATIL........................... 59 31 67 34 / 0 0 0 0
RESERVE......................... 67 29 71 30 / 0 0 0 0
GLENWOOD........................ 71 33 72 33 / 0 0 0 0
CHAMA........................... 45 20 49 25 / 0 0 0 0
LOS ALAMOS...................... 52 33 59 37 / 0 0 0 0
PECOS........................... 55 31 58 37 / 0 0 0 0
CERRO/QUESTA.................... 48 27 54 32 / 0 0 0 0
RED RIVER....................... 43 24 49 26 / 0 0 0 0
ANGEL FIRE...................... 46 19 51 27 / 0 0 0 0
TAOS............................ 51 22 57 28 / 0 0 0 0
MORA............................ 54 31 60 37 / 0 0 0 0
ESPANOLA........................ 58 27 62 32 / 0 0 0 0
SANTA FE........................ 53 31 58 35 / 0 0 0 0
SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 56 28 61 33 / 0 0 0 0
ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 57 35 62 40 / 0 0 0 0
ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 59 34 64 39 / 0 0 0 0
ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 62 29 66 33 / 0 0 0 0
ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 60 33 63 37 / 0 0 0 0
BELEN........................... 61 30 68 36 / 0 0 0 0
BERNALILLO...................... 60 32 64 37 / 0 0 0 0
BOSQUE FARMS.................... 61 28 67 33 / 0 0 0 0
CORRALES........................ 60 32 64 36 / 0 0 0 0
LOS LUNAS....................... 61 30 67 35 / 0 0 0 0
PLACITAS........................ 57 34 62 39 / 0 0 0 0
RIO RANCHO...................... 59 33 63 37 / 0 0 0 0
SOCORRO......................... 64 35 70 39 / 0 0 0 0
SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 54 33 59 38 / 0 0 0 0
TIJERAS......................... 55 33 61 38 / 0 0 0 0
EDGEWOOD........................ 56 31 62 38 / 0 0 0 0
MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 58 27 64 36 / 0 0 0 0
CLINES CORNERS.................. 54 32 60 36 / 0 0 0 0
MOUNTAINAIR..................... 57 34 64 39 / 0 0 0 0
GRAN QUIVIRA.................... 58 34 63 38 / 0 0 0 0
CARRIZOZO....................... 62 39 65 41 / 0 0 0 0
RUIDOSO......................... 59 38 63 42 / 0 0 0 0
CAPULIN......................... 50 27 63 35 / 0 0 0 0
RATON........................... 54 24 66 35 / 0 0 0 0
SPRINGER........................ 58 27 68 36 / 0 0 0 0
LAS VEGAS....................... 57 32 65 40 / 0 0 0 0
CLAYTON......................... 51 32 73 44 / 0 0 0 0
ROY............................. 52 31 70 40 / 0 0 0 0
CONCHAS......................... 59 34 75 43 / 0 0 0 0
SANTA ROSA...................... 61 39 71 46 / 0 0 0 0
TUCUMCARI....................... 59 35 76 45 / 0 0 0 0
CLOVIS.......................... 58 32 72 45 / 0 0 0 0
PORTALES........................ 60 34 74 45 / 0 0 0 0
FORT SUMNER..................... 62 33 75 45 / 0 0 0 0
ROSWELL......................... 70 32 75 39 / 0 0 0 0
PICACHO......................... 68 39 76 47 / 0 0 0 0
ELK............................. 67 37 74 45 / 0 0 0 0
ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 9 AM MST THIS MORNING FOR NMZ212-214-215-
223-228-229-233.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 AM MST THIS MORNING FOR NMZ221-227.
SHORT TERM...34
LONG TERM....34
AVIATION...34
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