Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Albuquerque, NM

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951 FXUS65 KABQ 091153 AAA AFDABQ Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 553 AM MDT Sun Jun 9 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 314 AM MDT Sun Jun 9 2024 Numerous storms will create an increased risk of flash flooding over recent burn scars and in eastern NM this afternoon through Monday afternoon. A few storms may become severe across eastern NM today and again Monday afternoon, with damaging wind gusts being the predominant severe threat. All the storms and clouds will keep temperatures below average the next couple days, but the cooldown will be short lived as the hot weather returns mid-week. Showers and storms will favor the northern high terrain Tuesday afternoon, although coverage will be significantly less than previous days. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Monday) Issued at 314 AM MDT Sun Jun 9 2024 The long-loitering Pacific low finally made its debut in the Sonoran Desert overnight, expecting to saddle up to the shortwave ridge currently overhead today. Meanwhile, a convectively-aided, moisture- rich backdoor front is surging southwestward having just passed through the east central plains. A swath of low clouds is following behind in the boundary`s wake, set to wash over the northern half of the eastern plains through the morning. As saturation fills into the west, an impressive density gradient will setup between the middle RGV and central highlands. A breezy morning gap wind is likely across the ABQ and SAF metros in the early morning hours in response. The low will weaken and become discombobulated as it tracks north with multiple lobes of vorticity forming as its center becomes ambiguous. This will provide enhanced lift amongst moderate instability and ample moisture to generate another crop of afternoon thunderstorms. With just enough shear and instability to be problematic, a few storms will have the juice needed to become severe, capable of large hail and damaging winds. Latest guidance suggests the best parameters for severe storms will favor the east central plains where CAPE of 3500 J/kg will meet with 25 to 30 kts of shear. The shear continues to be the limiting factor, being just a hair shy of optimal for storm organization. The higher PWATs will bring storms of a wetter fashion across the central mts and eastward, where localized heavy rainfall will lead to enhanced flash flooding risk, especially over the northern burn scars. As such, did maintain the previously issued Flash Flood Watch. Meanwhile, west of the central mts, storms will have less access to the higher moisture quality. This will force them to once again trend drier, capable of sudden and strong downburst winds. As storms in eastern NM persist into the evening, a convectively-aided outflow may allow for a reprise of gusty east canyon winds across the central valleys tonight. Showers and storms will be slow to exit across northeastern and east central NM overnight, with additional rounds of rainfall possible. Given the front`s enthusiastic progression southward overnight and model propensity to under perform with these types of boundaries, did trend daytime highs to the lower side of guidance, especially across eastern NM. Temperatures today will be 5F to 20F cooler areawide with some locales dipping below normal. The low center attempts to reform early Monday morning over northern NM, setting the stage for another active day. Rich moisture will remain in place, spreading further westward partially in thanks to the surging overnight outflows. This will allow for the coverage of wetting storms to increase to previously parched areas west of the central mts in the afternoon. Instability will trend down rather significantly in the presence of cooler temperatures and existing cloud cover. Still, pockets of CAPE around 1500 J/kg will exist east of the central mts and in the presence of better shear of 35 to 40 kts may still be able to pop off a handful more severe storms in the afternoon. && .LONG TERM...
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(Monday night through Saturday) Issued at 314 AM MDT Sun Jun 9 2024 Storms may continue into the overnight hours Monday, with the greatest likelihood in the southeast plains as outflow boundaries attempt to regenerate elevated convection. Tuesday will be drier than the previous two days, but a few showers and storms are still likely in the northern mountains and northeast plains. Previously, models indicated that a shortwave would graze the northeast corner of the state Tuesday afternoon, but now it looks like that feature will already be well off to the east by peak afternoon heating. PWATs will still hover around 0.6" over the northern mtns Tuesday afternoon so flash flooding cannot be ruled out over recent burn scars given that the soils will likely be primed from Sunday and Monday`s rainfall. A pattern change begins Wednesday as ridging amplifies over the desert southwest. The subsidence from a ~595dm High over northern Mexico and clear skies will help temps warm well-above average again, creating areas of major heat risk along the Rio Grande Valley, Four Corners Region, and the southeast plains. Thursday might end up being the hottest day of the week as the ridge shifts overhead and compressional heating will be at its greatest. Guidance is finally getting into better agreement about the Low will eject inland into the desert southwest Friday. As it moves over the Four Corners, it`ll generate some south to west winds, especially in the western and central portions of the state. Scattered convection will favor the high terrain of northern NM with some fast moving dry storms and virga showers across the west. After Friday, there is high uncertainty with regard to the synoptic pattern. Two out of four ensemble clusters favor a broad trough over the Great Basin which would create dry westerly breezes in New Mexico and prevent moisture from sloshing in from the east. The other two ensemble clusters place the trough over the Canadian Plains or over the Gulf of Alaska. None of these solutions point to more than isolated storm coverage and they would all favor near to above average temperatures.
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&& .AVIATION...
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(12Z TAFS) Issued at 543 AM MDT Sun Jun 9 2024 Unsettled weather will persist throughout the TAF period. A backdoor cold front surging south and westward is creating an impressive density gradient between the central highlands and middle Rio Grande Valley. This will result in a brisk ely wind at KABQ, persisting for the first few hours of the TAF period. Shwrs and tstms will return this aftn with the potential for strong winds, lcl heavy rainfall, hail, and frequent lightning. A few storms in the ern plains may become severe. Storms west of the central mts will remain drier in nature, capable of sudden and strong downburst winds. Any direct hits to terminals will result in brief MVFR/IFR cigs/vsbys. Shwrs will persist through the evening and overnight hours for portions of the ern plains.
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&& .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 314 AM MDT Sun Jun 9 2024 A moisture-rich backdoor front will continuing surging southward and westward today, allowing for humidity values to increase in its wake. Afternoon storms will be possible again today and Monday, with the potential for wetting footprints increasing. Storms west of the central mountains today may still trend drier with erratic gusty winds before better moisture enters the domain on Monday. Storms in eastern New Mexico may become strong to severe, with large hail and damaging winds both days. A ridge of high pressure builds overhead on Tuesday, allowing for a warming and drying trend to take hold. Min RH values will fall steadily each day, reaching back into the low double and single digits west of the central mountains on Wednesday and Thursday. The ridge will begin breaking down Thursday night, allowing for winds aloft to increase. This will bring stronger south and southwest winds areawide on Friday. The breezy to locally windy conditions will combine with low min RH, particularly west of the central mountains, giving rise to critical fire conditions for western New Mexico and the middle Rio Grande Valley. Winds will subside quickly with the disturbance`s exit to the north on Saturday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 95 62 83 56 / 5 20 20 0 Dulce........................... 89 48 74 43 / 20 30 40 10 Cuba............................ 85 51 74 50 / 20 40 40 10 Gallup.......................... 86 49 82 45 / 10 10 10 0 El Morro........................ 79 51 77 50 / 10 30 30 5 Grants.......................... 84 48 81 47 / 20 30 40 10 Quemado......................... 78 50 81 51 / 20 30 20 5 Magdalena....................... 82 56 79 57 / 30 30 50 10 Datil........................... 79 51 79 54 / 30 40 50 10 Reserve......................... 83 44 88 45 / 20 10 20 5 Glenwood........................ 87 59 92 62 / 20 10 10 0 Chama........................... 81 45 67 44 / 30 40 70 20 Los Alamos...................... 81 57 71 58 / 60 60 70 20 Pecos........................... 82 52 73 53 / 60 80 80 20 Cerro/Questa.................... 78 46 67 46 / 80 50 80 30 Red River....................... 68 44 62 43 / 80 60 80 30 Angel Fire...................... 72 39 65 39 / 80 70 80 30 Taos............................ 84 50 72 47 / 70 50 70 20 Mora............................ 73 47 69 48 / 80 80 80 20 Espanola........................ 89 58 79 55 / 60 50 60 20 Santa Fe........................ 82 56 73 56 / 50 70 70 20 Santa Fe Airport................ 86 57 77 55 / 50 60 60 20 Albuquerque Foothills........... 87 62 78 62 / 40 60 50 10 Albuquerque Heights............. 88 62 80 61 / 30 50 40 10 Albuquerque Valley.............. 91 61 83 60 / 30 50 40 10 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 90 62 81 61 / 30 50 40 10 Belen........................... 91 58 85 56 / 30 40 40 10 Bernalillo...................... 90 62 81 61 / 40 50 40 10 Bosque Farms.................... 90 57 83 56 / 30 40 40 10 Corrales........................ 90 60 81 59 / 40 50 40 10 Los Lunas....................... 91 57 84 56 / 30 40 40 10 Placitas........................ 87 60 77 61 / 40 60 50 10 Rio Rancho...................... 89 62 80 61 / 30 50 40 10 Socorro......................... 92 62 89 63 / 30 30 40 10 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 81 55 74 56 / 40 60 50 10 Tijeras......................... 83 56 77 57 / 40 60 50 10 Edgewood........................ 81 55 77 54 / 40 70 60 10 Moriarty/Estancia............... 82 50 78 48 / 40 70 60 10 Clines Corners.................. 75 51 72 51 / 50 90 70 20 Mountainair..................... 81 53 78 54 / 40 50 50 10 Gran Quivira.................... 80 52 79 53 / 40 50 60 10 Carrizozo....................... 85 59 85 60 / 40 40 50 20 Ruidoso......................... 80 52 78 55 / 50 30 70 10 Capulin......................... 71 53 69 51 / 70 80 70 30 Raton........................... 78 53 73 52 / 70 80 70 20 Springer........................ 79 55 73 53 / 80 90 80 30 Las Vegas....................... 74 52 69 51 / 70 80 80 20 Clayton......................... 74 58 71 56 / 40 70 60 30 Roy............................. 74 56 69 54 / 60 90 70 30 Conchas......................... 80 59 76 58 / 50 90 70 30 Santa Rosa...................... 80 58 75 57 / 50 90 70 20 Tucumcari....................... 80 58 75 58 / 40 90 60 30 Clovis.......................... 84 61 77 61 / 40 80 60 50 Portales........................ 89 60 80 59 / 40 80 60 40 Fort Sumner..................... 85 61 80 59 / 40 90 60 30 Roswell......................... 94 67 86 68 / 30 30 40 20 Picacho......................... 86 58 83 58 / 50 50 70 10 Elk............................. 86 55 83 55 / 50 30 60 10 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch from noon MDT today through Monday afternoon for NMZ214-215-229. && $$ SHORT TERM...12 LONG TERM....16 AVIATION...12