951  
FXUS65 KABQ 031720 AAB  
AFDABQ  
 
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM  
1120 AM MDT SAT MAY 3 2025  
   
..NEW AVIATION  
 
   
KEY MESSAGES  
 
UPDATED AT 1023 AM MDT SAT MAY 3 2025  
 
- HIGHER PRECIPITATION CHANCES ARE EXPECTED THROUGH MID NEXT WEEK  
WITH NORTHERN AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO FAVORED FOR HEAVIER  
RAINFALL AMOUNTS. LOW FORECAST CONFIDENCE EXISTS IN  
PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS IN THE COMING WORK WEEK.  
 
- FLOOD WATCH FOR FLASH FLOODING IN EFFECT SATURDAY FROM NOON  
UNTIL 9 PM MDT, AND POTENTIALLY AGAIN FOR MORE OF THE BURN SCARS  
ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN SUNDAY.  
 
- ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL  
IMPACT PARTS OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO ON SUNDAY, AND AGAIN  
MONDAY.  
 
- A FEW HOURS OF LOCALLY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE  
FORECAST FOR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL AREAS ON SUNDAY  
AFTERNOON.  
 
 
   
SHORT TERM  
 
(TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY)  
ISSUED AT 246 AM MDT SAT MAY 3 2025  
 
THE WEAK UPPER LOW OVER AZ WILL CONTINUE TO FILL AND SHIFT  
NORTHEASTWARD TODAY. THIS WILL PROVIDE ENOUGH FORCING, WHEN COMBINED  
WITH THE MODEST MOISTURE IN PLACE, FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND  
THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. STORMS WILL INITIATE OVER THE HIGH  
TERRAIN, BEFORE GENERALLY MOVING NORTHWARD AROUND 10-15 MPH.  
HOWEVER, OUTFLOW BOUNDARY INTERACTIONS MAY RESULT IN ERRATIC STORM  
MOTIONS. GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL WILL BE A CONCERN AGAIN THIS  
AFTERNOON WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS. MODELS CONTINUE TO SUGGEST  
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER AND NEAR THE SACRAMENTO  
MOUNTAIN BURN SCARS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. MULTIPLE  
ROUNDS OF PRECIPITATION MAY OCCUR. THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN  
EFFECT BETWEEN NOON AND 9PM FOR AREAS WITHIN AND JUST DOWNSTREAM OF  
THE BURN SCARS, INCLUDING RUIDOSO. THE LIFT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS  
WAVE SHOULD EXIT THE STATE BY MIDNIGHT, ALLOWING STORMS TO DECREASE  
IN COVERAGE. HOWEVER, MODELS ALSO SUGGEST A WEAK VORT MAX WILL SLIDE  
NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST NM OVERNIGHT. THE  
NAM, IN PARTICULAR, IS QUITE BULLISH ON ANOTHER ROUND OF  
PRECIPITATION FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, BUT CURRENT THINKING  
IS THAT THE AMOUNTS ARE OVERDONE. SOME SHOWERS MAY DEVELOP, BUT  
SHOULD BE WEAKER IN INTENSITY.  
 
WHILE THE FIRST WAVE WEAKENS AND CROSSES NM TODAY, THE NEXT SYSTEM  
WILL BE DIG SOUTHWARD OVER CA. OVERNIGHT, IT SHOULD CLOSE OFF INTO A  
LOW OVER SOCAL AND ON SUNDAY, IT WILL INCH EASTWARD OVER SOUTHERN  
AZ. AS THIS OCCURS, SEVERAL THINGS WILL HAPPEN ACROSS NM SUNDAY. 1.  
GULF MOISTURE WILL INCREASE ACROSS EASTERN NM IN STIFF SOUTHEASTERLY  
BREEZES. SURFACE DEWPOINTS SHOULD INCREASE INTO THE LOW TO MID 40S.  
2. SOUTH-SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL ALSO INCREASE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL  
AND SOUTHWEST NM, BUT WILL BE DRIER. 3. UPPER LEVEL DIFFLUENCE WILL  
INCREASE AND 4. LARGE SCALE ASCENT WILL ALLOW SHOWERS AND  
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ACROSS NORTHERN AND EASTERN NM WHERE THE  
BEST MOISTURE AND UPSLOPE FLOW EXISTS. WHILE CAPE VALUES AREN'T  
TERRIBLE EXCITING - GENERALLY <800 J/KG FOR SURFACE-BASED CAPE,  
BULK SHEAR IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE SOUTH OF I-40 WHERE 0-6KM BULK  
SHEAR IS GREATER THAN 50KT. THEREFORE, WHILE SEVERAL STRONG STORMS  
ARE EXPECTED ACROSS EASTERN NM, THE FAVORED SPOT FOR SEVERE  
STORMS LOOK TO BE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE CWA - OR  
NEAR/EAST OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND  
GUSTS WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERN WITH THIS ACTIVITY.  
 
 
   
LONG TERM  
 
(SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY)  
ISSUED AT 246 AM MDT SAT MAY 3 2025  
 
CONVECTION IS POISED TO CONTINUE ALONG THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN  
SUNDAY EVENING AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. STOUT SOUTHEAST  
SURFACE UPSLOPE FLOW UNDER DIFFLUENCE ALOFT COMBINES FOR AN ACTIVE  
SUNDAY NIGHT IN TERMS OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. SBCAPE VALUES  
STILL HOVERING AROUND 500 J/KG AND BULK SHEAR IN THE RANGE OF  
40-50KTS SUPPORT EVENING TO OVERNIGHT DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW STRONG  
TO SEVERE STORMS, WITH A FAVORED LOCATION BEING ALONG THE EAST  
SLOPES OF THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS. SHOWERS AND STORMS THAT DO  
DEVELOP PUSH NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT  
INTO MONDAY. WHILE STABLE NOCTURNAL BOUNDARY LAYERS LIMIT ANY  
STRONGER STORMS, LIGHTNING ACTIVITY WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE WITH  
ANY ASSOCIATED STORMS. WITH REGARD TO BURN SCAR COMPLEXES, THE  
RUIDOSO AREA FACES THE THREAT OF REPEATED ROUNDS OF STORMS THROUGH  
THE NIGHT, SO EVEN WITH FASTER STORM MOTION (20-30MPH), HIGHER  
RAINFALL AMOUNTS MAY LEAD TO BURN SCAR FLASH FLOODING. THE HPCC  
AREA IS LIKELY TO SEE STORMS THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT AS WELL, THOUGH  
CONFIDENCE IS LOW TO MODERATE IN WHETHER STORMS WILL BE MORE  
MATURE (I.E. HIGHER RAINFALL RATES) OR MORE STRATIFORM IN NATURE.  
WHILE CONFIDENCE IS NOT AS HIGH FOR THE THREAT OF BURN SCAR FLASH  
FLOODING FOR HPCC (QPF AMOUNTS ARE NOT IMPRESSIVE), IT WILL STILL  
NEED TO BE MONITORED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY HIGHER RAINFALL  
RATES ASSOCIATED WITH STRONGER STORMS, AND ESPECIALLY REPEATED  
ROUNDS OF STORMS. ONE LAST ITEM OF NOTE FOR SUNDAY NIGHT IS THE  
LIKELY PRESENCE OF A GUSTY EAST CANYON WIND THROUGH ABQ AND SANTA  
FE. MOS AND MODEL GUIDANCE IS SUPPORTIVE OF A PRESSURE AND  
MOISTURE GRADIENT PUSHING UP AGAINST THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN,  
WHICH MAY CAUSE WINDS TO GUST UP TO 40-50MPH.  
 
AS THE OVERNIGHT PRECIPITATION TAPERS OFF TO THE NORTHEAST, THE  
ATMOSPHERE BEGINS TO REBOUND ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS MONDAY. A  
DRYLINE BEGINS TO FORM IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON TO EVENING HOURS, AND  
SOUTHEASTERLY SURFACE FLOW REMAINS IN PLACE. SBCAPE IN EXCESS OF  
1000 J/KG, SUFFICIENT BULK SHEAR REACHING 50-60KTS, AND MID-LEVEL  
LAPSE RATES PEAKING NEAR 7 C/KM SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG TO  
SEVERE STORMS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. LARGE HAIL AND  
DAMAGING WINDS WOULD BE THE MAIN THREATS, WITH A LOW TORNADO THREAT.  
THERE ALSO IS MODERATE CONFIDENCE IN A LOW THREAT FOR BURN SCAR  
FLASH FLOODING MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EVENING AS STORM MOTION  
WILL BE FAST AND REPEATED ROUNDS OF STORMS APPEAR UNLIKELY AT THIS  
MOMENT. LOW CHANCES ARE ALSO IN PLACE FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH  
FLOODING AWAY FROM BURN SCARS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR REPEATED ROUNDS  
OF RAINFALL AS WELL AS SATURATED SOILS BEING IN PLACE.  
 
AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW (THE CATALYST FOR MUCH OF THE ABOVE ACTION)  
SHIFTS EASTWARD THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, DAILY ROUNDS OF  
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE A CHANCE OF OCCURRING MAINLY ACROSS  
THE NORTHERN 2/3 OF THE FORECAST AREA. MOISTURE REMAINS MODEST  
(PWATS REMAINING AROUND 0.5", NEAR TO ABOVE AVERAGE FOR MAY), AND AS  
THE LOW PASSES OVER THE STATE, WRAP AROUND PRECIPITATION AND COOLER  
700MB TEMPERATURES MAY LEAD TO SNOW AS LOW AS 9,000FT MONDAY NIGHT  
INTO TUESDAY, THOUGH AMOUNTS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO CAUSE ANYTHING MORE  
THAN SLICK ROADS AT THIS MOMENT. A BACKDOOR FRONT ACROSS THE EASTERN  
PLAINS MAY INDUCE HIGHER PRECIPITATION RATES ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY  
EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.  
 
 
   
AVIATION  
 
(18Z TAFS)  
ISSUED AT 1023 AM MDT SAT MAY 3 2025  
 
ISO/SCT STORMS THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH  
GUSTY/ERRATIC WINDS, OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING, SMALL HAIL AND VERY  
SHORT-LIVED MVFR CONDITIONS. TERMINALS MOST LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED  
TODAY ARE KGUP AND KAEG. LOW TO NO CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORM  
IMPACTS AT KTCC OR KROW TODAY. MOISTURE WILL TREND UP OVERNIGHT IN  
ADVANCE OF AN APPROACHING STORM SYSTEM AND RESULT IN THE  
DEVELOPMENT AND LOWERING OF VFR CIGS AND INCREASE IN SOUTHEAST  
FLOW IN THE LOWER LEVELS. AREAS OF MVFR CIGS MAY DEVELOP IN  
CENTRAL NM EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, BUT FORECAST CONFIDENCE TOO LOW  
TO INCLUDE IN TAFS AT THIS TIME.  
 
 
   
FIRE WEATHER  
 
ISSUED AT 246 AM MDT SAT MAY 3 2025  
 
AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE HUMIDITY AND  
BRING CHANCES FOR WETTING RAIN THROUGH THE WEEKEND. STRONG SOUTHERLY  
WINDS WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MPH WILL BE COMMON ACROSS CENTRAL  
AND WESTERN NM SUNDAY, BUT HUMIDITY VALUES WILL BE GREATER THAN 15  
PERCENT ACROSS MOST AREAS. HOWEVER, 1-3 HOURS OF CRITICAL FIRE  
WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY  
AND SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS. A DRY SLOT WILL PUSH INTO MUCH OF WESTERN  
AND CENTRAL NM MONDAY, BUT EASTERN NM WILL STILL HAVE CHANCES FOR  
WETTING RAIN AND HUMIDITY VALUES WILL REMAIN TOO HIGH FOR CRITICAL  
CONDITIONS ELSEWHERE. LOW TO MODERATE CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION  
CONTINUE TUESDAY THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. THE CLOUD COVER AND  
PRECIPITATION WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES BELOW NORMAL. STRONGEST WINDS,  
OUTSIDE OF SUNDAY, WILL COME WITH THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOWS.  
 
 
   
PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS  
 
FARMINGTON...................... 77 49 69 42 / 20 30 80 90  
DULCE........................... 72 36 67 34 / 30 30 90 90  
CUBA............................ 69 40 65 36 / 20 20 70 90  
GALLUP.......................... 70 39 65 30 / 40 20 60 70  
EL MORRO........................ 65 40 63 33 / 50 30 50 60  
GRANTS.......................... 67 37 67 31 / 50 30 60 60  
QUEMADO......................... 67 40 66 32 / 60 20 20 30  
MAGDALENA....................... 67 45 66 40 / 40 40 40 30  
DATIL........................... 64 40 64 35 / 60 40 20 30  
RESERVE......................... 71 34 69 30 / 50 20 10 20  
GLENWOOD........................ 77 39 72 33 / 40 20 10 20  
CHAMA........................... 65 35 61 33 / 40 30 90 90  
LOS ALAMOS...................... 66 45 60 43 / 30 20 90 90  
PECOS........................... 68 40 60 40 / 30 30 90 90  
CERRO/QUESTA.................... 67 38 63 38 / 30 20 90 90  
RED RIVER....................... 56 31 51 32 / 50 30 90 90  
ANGEL FIRE...................... 60 29 54 31 / 50 30 90 90  
TAOS............................ 69 33 64 35 / 30 20 90 90  
MORA............................ 64 35 58 36 / 50 30 100 100  
ESPANOLA........................ 74 44 70 43 / 20 20 90 90  
SANTA FE........................ 68 44 63 43 / 30 30 90 90  
SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 72 43 67 42 / 20 20 90 90  
ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 73 51 69 49 / 20 40 80 80  
ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 74 50 70 46 / 20 40 70 70  
ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 76 49 72 45 / 20 40 70 70  
ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 75 49 71 47 / 20 30 70 70  
BELEN........................... 76 45 74 42 / 20 40 60 60  
BERNALILLO...................... 75 47 72 46 / 20 30 80 80  
BOSQUE FARMS.................... 76 45 73 41 / 20 40 70 70  
CORRALES........................ 76 47 72 46 / 20 30 80 80  
LOS LUNAS....................... 76 45 73 43 / 20 40 60 60  
PLACITAS........................ 72 48 68 47 / 20 30 80 80  
RIO RANCHO...................... 74 48 72 47 / 20 30 80 80  
SOCORRO......................... 77 49 76 45 / 30 40 40 30  
SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 67 43 63 42 / 30 40 80 80  
TIJERAS......................... 69 45 66 43 / 30 40 80 80  
EDGEWOOD........................ 68 41 66 39 / 40 30 90 80  
MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 70 36 68 36 / 40 30 90 80  
CLINES CORNERS.................. 66 39 60 38 / 50 30 90 80  
MOUNTAINAIR..................... 69 42 66 39 / 40 30 70 70  
GRAN QUIVIRA.................... 68 41 65 39 / 40 30 80 60  
CARRIZOZO....................... 70 46 71 44 / 40 30 80 70  
RUIDOSO......................... 62 42 61 41 / 50 40 80 70  
CAPULIN......................... 68 39 63 37 / 20 20 50 70  
RATON........................... 72 39 65 38 / 20 20 60 70  
SPRINGER........................ 73 38 66 40 / 20 30 70 90  
LAS VEGAS....................... 67 39 58 39 / 30 30 90 100  
CLAYTON......................... 73 44 70 44 / 5 5 30 50  
ROY............................. 69 41 64 42 / 5 10 70 90  
CONCHAS......................... 76 46 71 47 / 5 5 70 90  
SANTA ROSA...................... 72 45 66 45 / 10 5 90 90  
TUCUMCARI....................... 74 46 71 47 / 0 0 50 80  
CLOVIS.......................... 74 47 70 49 / 0 0 40 80  
PORTALES........................ 74 46 70 48 / 0 5 40 80  
FORT SUMNER..................... 74 47 69 48 / 0 5 70 90  
ROSWELL......................... 78 50 73 54 / 5 10 80 80  
PICACHO......................... 73 45 68 44 / 20 20 80 80  
ELK............................. 71 42 68 41 / 30 30 80 60  
 
 
   
ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES  
 
FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR NMZ226.  
 
 
 
 
 
SHORT TERM...34  
LONG TERM....77  
AVIATION...11  
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