333
FXUS65 KABQ 202303 AAA
AFDABQ
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
503 PM MDT FRI MAR 20 2026
..NEW AVIATION
KEY MESSAGES
UPDATED AT 446 PM MDT FRI MAR 20 2026
- AN UNPRECEDENTED HEATWAVE FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH WILL CONTINUE
SATURDAY PRODUCING A RISK OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS FOR THOSE MOST
SENSITIVE TO HEAT. ADDITIONAL RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES LOOK
INCREASINGLY LIKELY TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
- CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL PRODUCE A RISK OF RAPID
FIRE SPREAD ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS ON SUNDAY.
- EAST WIND GUSTS BELOW CANYONS OPENING INTO THE CENTRAL VALLEY
SUNDAY NIGHT WILL PRODUCE CROSSWINDS UP TO 45 MPH ON NORTH-TO-
SOUTH ROADS FROM SANTA FE TO ALBUQUERQUE, INCLUDING I-25.
SHORT TERM
(THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 1250 PM MDT FRI MAR 20 2026
HAPPY ASTRONOMICAL SPRING, AS TODAY IS THE SPRING EQUINOX! YOU
WOULDN'T KNOW IT THOUGH, AS WE CONTINUE TO MIMIC LATE MAY RATHER
THAN LATE MARCH. THE ANOMALOUSLY STRONG DOME OF HIGH PRESSURE
CONTINUES TO REIGN OVER AZ WITH GEOPOTENTIAL HEIGHTS STILL BOASTING
IMPRESSIVE VALUES NEAR 593-595 DECAMETERS, OR 3 TO ALMOST 4 STANDARD
DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL. A WEAK EAST NORTHEAST WIND SHIFT AT THE
SURFACE IS SLIDING INTO THE EASTERN PLAINS, BUT WILL NOT DO MUCH TO
ALTER TEMPERATURES. BREEZES WILL REMAIN LIGHT TO MODERATE INTO THE
LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING WITH CLOUDLESS SKIES. THE LIGHT
BREEZES AND CLEAR SKIES WILL LEAD TO OPTIMAL RADIATIONAL COOLING
OVERNIGHT WITH STILL ALMOST 12 HOURS OF DARKNESS THAT WILL YIELD
COOL TO CHILLY OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES WITH LARGE DIURNAL SWINGS
CONTINUING.
HEIGHTS WILL LOWER A COUPLE OF DECAMETERS INTO SATURDAY AS THE HIGH
SAGS SOUTHWARD A BIT. THIS WILL INTRODUCE A BELT OF WESTERLIES ALOFT
TO NORTHERN NM THAT WE HAVE NOT OBSERVED FOR A FEW DAYS NOW, SO
BREEZES WILL RESPOND UPWARD. OCCASIONAL GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 MPH WILL
BE COMMON SATURDAY AFTERNOON. DESPITE THE LOWERING HEIGHTS,
DOWNSLOPING WILL ACTUALLY BOOST HIGH TEMPERATURES BY A COUPLE TO A
FEW DEGREES SATURDAY, ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS. THIS
INCLUDES LOTS OF MID TO UPPER 90'S FORECAST IN SOUTHEASTERN ZONES,
AND FARTHER WEST A FORECAST HIGH OF 90 F IN ABQ WHICH WOULD BE THE
EARLIEST ON RECORD (PREVIOUS EARLIEST 90-F WAS MAY 3RD).
LONG TERM
(SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)
ISSUED AT 1250 PM MDT FRI MAR 20 2026
TEMPERATURE DROPS ARE COMING TO NORTHERN ZONES SUNDAY AS THE UPPER
HIGH SAGS FARTHER SOUTH INTO SONORA AND CHIHUAHUA AND A NOTABLE
SURFACE FRONT SLIDES IN. THE FRONTAL PASSAGE WILL USHER IN SOME
HIGHER DEWPOINTS INTO THE UPPER 20'S AND LOW 30'S, BUT THESE WILL BE
FAR TOO LOW TO PRODUCE ANY LOW TO MID LAYER CLOUDS, SO THE WEATHER
WILL REMAIN DRY WITH MOSTLY JUST HIGH CIRRUS OVERHEAD. THE BACKDOOR
FRONT WILL PACK A PUNCH OF STRONGER WINDS WITH ISOBARS MODELED TO
PACK TIGHTLY IN NORTHEASTERN ZONES LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE
SPREADING OVER THE REST OF THE PLAINS AND EVENTUALLY WESTERN NM
EARLY MONDAY MORNING. GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE FORECAST BEHIND THE
BOUNDARY, POTENTIALLY RISING TO 45 TO 50 MPH IN EASTERN PORTIONS OF
THE ABQ METRO AS THE FRONT ACCELERATES THROUGH GAPS/CANYONS WITHIN
THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN.
THE STAGE WILL THEN BE SET FOR COOLER READINGS ON MONDAY, MOSTLY IN
CENTRAL AND ESPECIALLY EASTERN NM, BUT ALL AREAS SHOULD STILL STAY
SLIGHTLY ABOVE SEASONAL AVERAGES. WESTERN NM ZONES WILL NOT OBSERVE
MUCH IN THE WAY OF COOLING, AS ANY WIND SHIFT WILL QUICKLY RETREAT
EASTWARD BY MONDAY AFTERNOON WITH WARM WESTERLY BREEZES REPLACING.
INTO TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY THE UPPER HIGH MAKES A MORE
INTRUSIVE PRESENCE, INITIALLY STRENGTHENING NEAR THE UPPER GULF OF
CA TUESDAY BEFORE SLIDING EASTWARD ALONG THE US-MEXICO BORDERLANDS
INTO WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. HIGH TEMPERATURES SOAR ABOVE NORMAL
AGAIN THROUGH THIS TIME FRAME. THERE ARE FAINT INDICATIONS FOR WEAK
BACKDOOR FRONTS ENTERING NORTHEASTERN ZONES WITH POOR MODEL MEMBER-
TO-MEMBER CONTINUITY EACH DAY, HOWEVER THERE IS BETTER CONSENSUS FOR
A MORE SUBSTANTIAL FRONTAL PUSH BY LATE THURSDAY OR THURSDAY NIGHT.
ONCE AGAIN, THIS FRONT MAY ADVECT HIGHER DEWPOINTS INTO NM, BUT NOT
ENOUGH FOR SUBSTANTIAL CLOUD INCREASES, MUCH LESS PRECIPITATION.
RATHER, IT WILL ONLY TEMPER THE HEAT GOING INTO FRIDAY WITH
TEMPERATURES DROPPING BACK TO NEAR NORMAL IN EASTERN ZONES AND
STAYING ABOVE IN WESTERN ONES.
AVIATION
(00Z TAFS)
ISSUED AT 502 PM MDT FRI MAR 20 2026
VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. RECORD HEAT
WILL LIKELY RESULT IN HIGHER DENSITY ALTITUDE READINGS THAN NORMAL
FOR LATE MARCH. WEST TO SOUTHWEST BREEZES WILL INCREASE SATURDAY
AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 15 AND 25KT.
FIRE WEATHER
ISSUED AT 1250 PM MDT FRI MAR 20 2026
ANOMALOUS WARMTH CONTINUES TODAY INTO SATURDAY WITH MONTHLY AND
DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURES LIKELY BREAKING BOTH DAYS. WITH DEWPOINTS IN
THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS, VERY LOW AFTERNOON RH WILL CONTINUE
EACH AFTERNOON. BREEZES WILL REMAIN MOSTLY LIGHT TODAY, BUT WILL
START TO TURN A BIT MORE GUSTY INTO SATURDAY AFTERNOON FROM THE WEST
WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 MPH. WHILE BELOW CRITICAL SPEEDS,
THIS WILL ELEVATE CONCERNS FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON GIVEN SUCH DRY
FUEL STATUS.
A BACKDOOR FRONT WILL ENTER NORTHEASTERN NM ON SUNDAY BEFORE
SPILLING INTO MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF THE STATE LATE SUNDAY NIGHT
AND EARLY MONDAY MORNING. THE NORTHERLY GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ALONG
AND BEHIND THE FRONT WILL BRING CONDITIONS UP TO, OR JUST SLIGHTLY
OVER, CRITICAL WIND THRESHOLDS, AND WHILE A COOLING TREND WILL TAKE
HOLD, TEMPERATURES WILL STAY SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE WITH VERY LOW RH
BELOW 10%. CONSEQUENTLY, A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR
THE EASTERN PLAINS SUNDAY. IN A TYPICAL SETTING, THE BORDERLINE OR
MARGINAL WINDS MIGHT PRECLUDE THE NEED FOR A WATCH, BUT THE CURED
FINE FUELS FROM ONGOING DROUGHT ARE PUSHING THE NEEDLE MORE TOWARDS
CRITICAL CONDITIONS.
BREEZY TO LOCALLY WINDY CONDITIONS WILL REPEATEDLY REDEVELOP IN THE
FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS AND PLAINS MONDAY ONWARD THROUGH THE MIDDLE
OF THE WEEK. ANY SETBACK IN TEMPERATURES ON MONDAY FROM THE COLD
FRONT WILL BE LOST AND REVERTED INTO TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND
THURSDAY WITH READINGS SOARING 18 TO 25 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL AGAIN.
ANOTHER POTENTIAL DRY COLD FRONT WILL ARRIVE LATE THURSDAY WITH
GUSTY CONDITIONS LIKELY ACCOMPANYING INTO FRIDAY MORNING, BUT
CONFIDENCE IN THE DETAILS OF THIS BOUNDARY ARE LOW AT THIS TIME.
PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
FARMINGTON...................... 41 87 44 82 / 0 0 0 0
DULCE........................... 34 83 37 78 / 0 0 0 0
CUBA............................ 40 85 42 79 / 0 0 0 0
GALLUP.......................... 31 86 35 80 / 0 0 0 0
EL MORRO........................ 33 83 38 77 / 0 0 0 0
GRANTS.......................... 30 88 36 82 / 0 0 0 0
QUEMADO......................... 35 85 40 79 / 0 0 0 0
MAGDALENA....................... 48 86 50 83 / 0 0 0 0
DATIL........................... 40 83 44 79 / 0 0 0 0
RESERVE......................... 37 89 37 86 / 0 0 0 0
GLENWOOD........................ 43 93 43 90 / 0 0 0 0
CHAMA........................... 38 77 38 72 / 0 0 0 0
LOS ALAMOS...................... 51 83 53 78 / 0 0 0 0
PECOS........................... 44 84 46 80 / 0 0 0 0
CERRO/QUESTA.................... 43 80 45 76 / 0 0 0 0
RED RIVER....................... 33 73 35 69 / 0 0 0 0
ANGEL FIRE...................... 18 77 26 72 / 0 0 0 0
TAOS............................ 34 85 35 80 / 0 0 0 0
MORA............................ 44 84 46 78 / 0 0 0 0
ESPANOLA........................ 42 89 43 85 / 0 0 0 0
SANTA FE........................ 46 84 47 81 / 0 0 0 0
SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 43 87 44 85 / 0 0 0 0
ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 52 88 52 85 / 0 0 0 0
ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 53 90 53 88 / 0 0 0 0
ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 44 93 45 91 / 0 0 0 0
ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 50 91 51 88 / 0 0 0 0
BELEN........................... 43 92 45 90 / 0 0 0 0
BERNALILLO...................... 48 91 50 88 / 0 0 0 0
BOSQUE FARMS.................... 42 92 43 90 / 0 0 0 0
CORRALES........................ 48 91 49 88 / 0 0 0 0
LOS LUNAS....................... 43 91 44 90 / 0 0 0 0
PLACITAS........................ 50 87 51 83 / 0 0 0 0
RIO RANCHO...................... 50 90 52 87 / 0 0 0 0
SOCORRO......................... 51 93 53 92 / 0 0 0 0
SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 50 83 52 80 / 0 0 0 0
TIJERAS......................... 51 85 51 81 / 0 0 0 0
EDGEWOOD........................ 46 85 48 82 / 0 0 0 0
MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 35 88 37 84 / 0 0 0 0
CLINES CORNERS.................. 46 83 47 79 / 0 0 0 0
MOUNTAINAIR..................... 46 86 48 83 / 0 0 0 0
GRAN QUIVIRA.................... 47 85 47 83 / 0 0 0 0
CARRIZOZO....................... 53 87 54 87 / 0 0 0 0
RUIDOSO......................... 46 82 48 82 / 0 0 0 0
CAPULIN......................... 40 85 44 70 / 0 0 0 0
RATON........................... 37 88 42 77 / 0 0 0 0
SPRINGER........................ 38 91 41 83 / 0 0 0 0
LAS VEGAS....................... 44 86 48 81 / 0 0 0 0
CLAYTON......................... 50 91 54 76 / 0 0 0 0
ROY............................. 45 90 49 83 / 0 0 0 0
CONCHAS......................... 43 97 46 91 / 0 0 0 0
SANTA ROSA...................... 45 93 51 90 / 0 0 0 0
TUCUMCARI....................... 45 97 49 89 / 0 0 0 0
CLOVIS.......................... 51 96 53 92 / 0 0 0 0
PORTALES........................ 48 97 50 95 / 0 0 0 0
FORT SUMNER..................... 44 96 48 94 / 0 0 0 0
ROSWELL......................... 47 97 50 97 / 0 0 0 0
PICACHO......................... 52 93 55 92 / 0 0 0 0
ELK............................. 50 90 53 90 / 0 0 0 0
ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING
FOR NMZ104-126.
SHORT TERM...52
LONG TERM....52
AVIATION...34
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