991 FXUS65 KABQ 151822 AFDABQArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1222 PM MDT Mon Sep 15 2025
...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER...
.KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1108 AM MDT Mon Sep 15 2025
- After mostly dry weather again today, showers and thunderstorms return over southern, central, and eastern parts of the forecast area Tuesday and Wednesday, then continue east of the central mountain chain Wednesday night.
- Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible east of the central mountain chain Tuesday afternoon and evening, then scattered severe thunderstorms are increasingly likely across northeast NM Wednesday afternoon and evening with some producing locally heavy rainfall.
- There will be a minor risk of burn scar flash flooding on Tuesday and a minor to moderate risk on Wednesday.
- Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast across much of the area Thursday and Friday, with potential for burn scar flash flooding.
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.SHORT TERM... (This evening through Tuesday night) Issued at 1108 AM MDT Mon Sep 15 2025
Another quiet day prevails across northern and central NM as dry westerly winds prevail over the state. However, low level moisture is creeping north from southern NM and that trend is forecast to continue through Tuesday night, bringing PWATs back above normal for most areas. As a result, we`re expecting a notable uptick in coverage of convection Tuesday afternoon/evening except for across northwest NM where a relatively dry atmosphere will persist. Storm motion will be strongest across northern NM Tuesday as westerly winds aloft trend up in advance of a slowly approaching upper level trough/low, currently moving east from over the Great Basin. Storm motion across southern NM will be light Tuesday, brining at least a minor risk for burn scar flash flooding to the Ruidoso area. Shear and instability will be sufficient to support a few strong storms across northeast NM Tuesday/afternoon, with low probabilities for pulse-severe type storms.
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.LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Sunday) Issued at 1108 AM MDT Mon Sep 15 2025
Wednesday is still looking active, especially across northeast NM where 0-6km bulk shear will approach 50kts and sbCAPE values will approach 2000J/kg. The 12Z NAM isn`t as bullish as previous runs with the southward progression of the backdoor front and holds it up in CO through 03Z Thursday, whereas the 12Z GFS brings it into far northeast NM between 21-00Z. This boundary is a key ingredient for forcing convection late Wednesday and will be associated with a risk for severe storms. The backdoor front will progress southwest to the central mountain chain Wednesday night and set the stage for Thursday, which is trending increasingly active. Thursday will likely be the highest threat day for burn scar flash flooding in the Ruidoso area with an above normal PWAT atmosphere persisting over much of southern and eastern NM.
The forecast for the weekend and into early next week is more uncertain with the 12Z medium range model solutions showing little agreement and changing from run-to-run. For now, we`ll trend PoPs down and high temperatures up with the idea of a building ridge late in the weekend and into early next week. However, if the 12Z GFS works out, then the weekend may be more unsettled with higher PWATs and a Pacific low on approach.
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.AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1108 AM MDT Mon Sep 15 2025
VFR conditions prevail and are forecast to persist through the TAF period with mostly light winds. There are very low probabilities for MVFR and IFR conditions in low status/fog across eastern NM tonight. A few showers may move in the vicinity of KROW this evening and create gusty winds.
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.FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1108 AM MDT Mon Sep 15 2025
Critical fire weather conditions are not expected through at least the next seven days as a Monsoon pattern persists. Today is another down day with regard to wetting storms as dry westerlies continue over the region. Humidity recovery will still be good to excellent through at least Friday for most areas due to recent rainfall and increasing moisture. Expect an uptick in coverage of wetting storms beginning Tuesday, except for mostly dry conditions northwest. Drying and warming is forecast for the weekend into early next week as an upper high strengthens over the Desert SW and NM.
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.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 53 84 52 81 / 0 5 0 0 Dulce........................... 41 79 40 78 / 5 10 10 5 Cuba............................ 49 78 47 78 / 0 20 20 10 Gallup.......................... 47 81 47 81 / 0 5 0 0 El Morro........................ 50 78 49 78 / 0 30 20 10 Grants.......................... 49 81 48 81 / 0 30 20 10 Quemado......................... 51 78 50 79 / 10 40 30 20 Magdalena....................... 57 77 55 77 / 10 50 30 40 Datil........................... 51 76 50 76 / 20 60 40 40 Reserve......................... 51 85 51 84 / 10 60 40 30 Glenwood........................ 56 87 55 87 / 10 60 30 30 Chama........................... 43 73 41 72 / 0 20 20 20 Los Alamos...................... 54 76 52 75 / 0 30 30 30 Pecos........................... 49 77 49 76 / 0 30 30 30 Cerro/Questa.................... 48 75 47 74 / 0 20 30 30 Red River....................... 40 67 39 65 / 0 20 30 50 Angel Fire...................... 34 70 35 69 / 0 20 20 50 Taos............................ 44 78 45 77 / 0 20 20 20 Mora............................ 45 73 44 72 / 0 30 30 50 Espanola........................ 50 82 51 81 / 0 20 30 20 Santa Fe........................ 54 77 53 76 / 0 20 30 20 Santa Fe Airport................ 50 80 50 80 / 0 20 30 20 Albuquerque Foothills........... 61 84 60 83 / 5 30 30 20 Albuquerque Heights............. 58 85 58 84 / 0 30 20 20 Albuquerque Valley.............. 57 87 57 87 / 0 20 20 20 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 59 85 58 85 / 0 20 20 20 Belen........................... 54 87 55 86 / 5 30 20 20 Bernalillo...................... 56 87 57 86 / 0 20 20 20 Bosque Farms.................... 54 86 55 85 / 0 30 20 20 Corrales........................ 57 87 58 87 / 0 20 20 20 Los Lunas....................... 56 86 56 85 / 0 30 20 20 Placitas........................ 57 82 56 81 / 5 20 30 20 Rio Rancho...................... 57 86 58 85 / 0 20 20 20 Socorro......................... 59 87 59 87 / 5 40 20 30 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 53 78 52 77 / 0 30 30 20 Tijeras......................... 54 80 53 79 / 5 30 30 20 Edgewood........................ 49 80 49 79 / 0 30 30 20 Moriarty/Estancia............... 46 80 48 81 / 0 30 30 30 Clines Corners.................. 51 75 50 74 / 0 30 30 30 Mountainair..................... 51 79 51 78 / 5 40 30 40 Gran Quivira.................... 51 78 52 77 / 5 40 30 40 Carrizozo....................... 57 81 57 79 / 10 40 20 50 Ruidoso......................... 52 73 52 71 / 20 50 20 60 Capulin......................... 49 77 46 71 / 0 20 30 60 Raton........................... 46 80 46 75 / 0 20 20 60 Springer........................ 46 81 48 76 / 0 20 20 40 Las Vegas....................... 49 75 47 74 / 0 40 30 50 Clayton......................... 57 83 55 78 / 0 20 20 30 Roy............................. 53 80 51 77 / 0 20 20 40 Conchas......................... 58 85 58 84 / 0 20 20 30 Santa Rosa...................... 54 81 55 81 / 0 30 20 40 Tucumcari....................... 57 82 57 81 / 0 10 20 30 Clovis.......................... 61 85 60 84 / 10 5 10 30 Portales........................ 61 85 60 85 / 10 5 5 30 Fort Sumner..................... 59 85 60 84 / 0 20 10 30 Roswell......................... 62 87 62 86 / 20 5 5 20 Picacho......................... 54 83 55 81 / 10 30 10 50 Elk............................. 52 80 53 79 / 20 40 10 50
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.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
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SHORT TERM...11 LONG TERM....11 AVIATION...11
NWS ABQ Office Area Forecast Discussion