Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Albuquerque, NM

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720 FXUS65 KABQ 082002 AFDABQ Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 202 PM MDT Sat Jun 8 2024 ...New SYNOPSIS, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, FIRE WEATHER... .SYNOPSIS...
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Issued at 202 PM MDT Sat Jun 8 2024 A significant flash flood threat is expected beginning Sunday afternoon across northeast and east central NM as higher moisture behind a backdoor front combined with a disturbance moving in from the southwest, will set the stage for widespread showers and storms along and east of the central mountain chain. Considerable to destructive burn scar flash flooding is becoming more likely across the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Sunday afternoon through Sunday night. Showers and storms will continue across northeast areas Monday as the low moves through the region. Some severe storms could be possible across southeast areas Monday afternoon. High pressure then develops over the region Tuesday. A few showers and storms will still be possible across northeast NM Tuesday afternoon. High pressure intensifies overhead Wednesday and Thursday resulting in little if any storm coverage and extremely hot temperatures once again. Another disturbance moves across northern NM Friday possibly bringing some showers and storms to northern areas with some stronger winds elsewhere.
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&& .SHORT TERM...
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(This evening through Sunday night) Issued at 202 PM MDT Sat Jun 8 2024 A slightly drier atmosphere prevails over northern and central NM, with surface dewpoint temperatures generally 5-10 degrees less than 24hrs ago. Also working against a repeat of yesterday is pressure heights coming down a couple decameters, which should result in high temperatures that are 1-3 degree less than yesterday`s. Virga is still possible west of the central mountain chain this afternoon, but all of the modeling for showers and storms are near and east of where the current crop is growing, which is along/east of a Raton to Santa Rosa to Ruidoso line. Strong/erratic wind gusts are the main convective hazard today, with a limited hail threat and very little wetting rainfall. A moisture-rich backdoor front will slide down the eastern plains overnight and bank up against the central mountain chain, setting the stage for a robust round of storms Sunday afternoon that will have surface dewpoint temps in the 50s to work with. Convective initiation is expected along the central mountain chain mid day Sunday, with maturation between 21-00Z. In addition to upslope flow provided by the backdoor front, added forcing will come from an approaching and weak Pacific low. 12Z model data 700-500mb mean winds suggest relatively slow northeast movement of storms, but will be erratic or even near-stationary over the Sangre De Cristos where the 500mb ridge axis will be slower to break-down. This is the main area of concern for flash flooding given impressive instability and sustained upslope inflow. The 12Z NAM continued with run-to-run consistency showing considerable qpf across the Sangre De Cristos late Sunday, which then shifts east with time Sunday evening and overnight across the adjacent highlands and into the plains. Even the most recent GFS gets in on the qpf party and provides a very wet solution as PWATs surge well above normal Sunday night. Will go ahead and issue a Flash Flood Watch, mainly for the HPCC burn scar and areas downstream, with the potential for eastward expansion by the midnight shift given more model run-to-run consistency. Worthy of note is that the WPC did include much of northeast NM, including the HPCC burn scar, in a day2 slight risk for excessive rainfall. Our storm total qpf shows 1-1.5" over the HPCC from Sunday through Monday, with higher amounts over the highlands and east central plains in excess of 2.0". Those are generalized amounts and for higher-end point totals we`d need to double those. So, definitely an enhanced risk for flash flooding and potential for major impacts on/near the HPCC late Sunday through Monday. The flash flood risk will rank highest through Sunday night, but there is also a severe threat Sunday afternoon/evening along/east of the central mountain chain, with the highest chances across the east central plains where the necessary combination of shear and instability will reside, although the shear is marginal for severe. Locales from Fort Sumner to Clovis and Portales south through Roosevelt County should be on the lookout for strong to severe storms Sunday afternoon/evening. Convection west of the central mountain chain on Sunday will be of the drier variety and favor strong/erratic wind gusts with the potential for dry lightning. Outflow from storms along the central mountain chain Sunday afternoon/evening will create strong/gusty east canyon winds into the RGV Sunday night and will transport more favorable low level moisture westward, setting the stage for Monday.
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&& .LONG TERM...
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(Monday through Friday) Issued at 202 PM MDT Sat Jun 8 2024 Showers and storms could still be ongoing across northeast NM Monday morning as a newly developed upper low spins over the region The coverage of showers and storms in northeast NM Monday afternoon could be lower than currently forecasted. There will be good lift and dynamics in the area due to being in the vicinity of the upper level trough; however, lots of cloud cover, much cooler temperatures, and low instability will be present in the wake of Sunday evening and night`s showers and storms. The question will be if the atmosphere can recover enough instability to produce another round of showers and storms Monday afternoon and early evening. Across southeast NM, there could be enough clearing to build up instability for some showers and storms during the afternoon and early evening. The NAM depicts this with MLCAPE around 1500 J/kg and also has some effective bulk shear values of around 30 kts which means some of these storms will be capable of becoming strong to severe. Activity will exit east into Texas shortly after sunset Monday with clearing skies and mild temperatures overnight. The story beginning Tuesday returns once again to the hotter temperatures and eventually extreme heat. Upper level high pressure redevelops over the AZ/NM border Tuesday at around 591 to 592 dm. Temperatures across most of the lower elevations will heat back up to the low to mid 90s with near triple digits across southern NM. Temperatures will be cooler and in the 80s across northeast NM due to possible afternoon showers and storms from a trailing upper level trough on the backside of the departed upper low over the southern plains. The upper level high moves over the state and intensifies to 595 dm on Wednesday allowing temperatures to heat up even more. Widespread 90s are expected across lower elevations with Albuquerque and Farmington possibly getting to 100 degrees again. Socorro and Roswell could get close to 105 and satisfying their Heat Advisory criteria. The hot temperatures look to peak on Thursday as the high overhead intensifies to 596 to 597 dm. Albuquerque and Farmington are forecast to reach the low 100s with mid to upper 100s possible across the lower RGV and southeast NM. Some mid level moisture ahead of a Pacific low moving into southern CA could allow for a few virga showers and dry storms to develop in the high terrain Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, but mid level subsidence will help to limit this. The aforementioned Pacific low looks to weaken and open up as it moves towards the Four Corners Friday squashing the upper high south. This will help to cool temperatures a little areawide. Midlevel moisture will help result in some afternoon and evening virga showers and dry storms across northwest and north central NM with some wetter showers and storms across northeast NM due to higher low level moisture. Elsewhere, stronger south to southwest winds look possible due to deep daytime mixing tapping into the stronger 500 to 700 mb winds aloft.
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&& .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1136 AM MDT Sat Jun 8 2024 VFR conditions prevail and are forecast to persist, with a couple of potential exceptions. Strong westerly winds associated with convective outflow will hit KROW again late this afternoon or early evening and will likely create brief MVFR conditions in blowing dust. Iso/Sct showers and storms across central/eastern NM later today will favor strong/erratic wind gusts and may create areas of blowing dust in drier areas. A backdoor front will slide down the eastern plains overnight into Sunday morning, resulting in a wind shift and gusty northerly winds at KLVS, KTCC and KROW. && .FIRE WEATHER...
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Issued at 202 PM MDT Sat Jun 8 2024 Hot, dry and unstable conditions persist across much of the area with a crop of anemic showers and storms across central/eastern NM that will favor strong/erratic wind gusts over wetting rainfall through this evening. A backdoor front will provide much needed moisture on Sun/Mon for wetting storms that will favor areas along/east of the central mountain chain. Soaking rains are forecast, with the potential for flash flooding on the HPCC burn scar and a lower threat on the McBride. Cooler conditions with higher humidity will prevail Monday, especially across eastern NM, as a weak Pacific low moves east over northern NM. Chances for wetting storms will continue along/east of the central mountain chain Tuesday as an upper level ridge strengthens over the Desert SW and shifts east into western NM, bringing the return of hot, dry and unstable conditions. High haines values will then work east across the area through Thursday as temperatures soar with the ridge pumping up directly over the state. A Pacific low is forecast to impact the area next Fri/Sat with chances for wetting storms and increased winds. Winds may reach critical threshold across western NM Friday afternoon.
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&& .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
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Farmington...................... 57 93 61 87 / 0 5 10 10 Dulce........................... 46 89 49 78 / 0 20 20 40 Cuba............................ 53 84 52 77 / 0 10 30 40 Gallup.......................... 52 86 49 85 / 0 10 5 10 El Morro........................ 55 82 52 80 / 0 10 20 20 Grants.......................... 54 86 50 83 / 0 10 20 30 Quemado......................... 55 81 52 83 / 5 20 30 20 Magdalena....................... 63 84 57 81 / 20 20 40 40 Datil........................... 59 80 53 81 / 10 30 30 30 Reserve......................... 48 85 45 90 / 10 20 20 20 Glenwood........................ 62 90 60 93 / 10 20 20 10 Chama........................... 46 82 47 69 / 0 30 30 60 Los Alamos...................... 62 83 58 73 / 0 30 40 60 Pecos........................... 56 80 52 70 / 10 70 70 60 Cerro/Questa.................... 49 79 49 65 / 0 50 60 70 Red River....................... 45 71 45 60 / 10 70 70 70 Angel Fire...................... 39 74 42 62 / 10 70 70 70 Taos............................ 52 83 52 68 / 5 40 50 60 Mora............................ 50 76 48 68 / 10 70 80 70 Espanola........................ 59 89 59 78 / 0 30 40 50 Santa Fe........................ 61 84 57 71 / 5 50 60 60 Santa Fe Airport................ 59 87 57 76 / 0 30 50 50 Albuquerque Foothills........... 68 88 63 83 / 5 20 40 40 Albuquerque Heights............. 67 91 62 86 / 5 20 40 30 Albuquerque Valley.............. 66 92 62 88 / 5 20 30 30 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 67 91 63 86 / 0 20 30 30 Belen........................... 64 94 58 90 / 5 20 30 30 Bernalillo...................... 67 91 62 86 / 0 20 40 30 Bosque Farms.................... 63 93 58 88 / 5 20 30 30 Corrales........................ 64 91 60 87 / 0 20 40 30 Los Lunas....................... 63 93 58 88 / 5 20 30 30 Placitas........................ 67 88 61 81 / 0 20 40 40 Rio Rancho...................... 67 90 63 86 / 0 20 30 30 Socorro......................... 68 95 62 92 / 10 20 40 30 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 62 82 56 76 / 10 40 40 40 Tijeras......................... 63 85 57 79 / 10 40 40 40 Edgewood........................ 61 85 55 79 / 10 60 50 50 Moriarty/Estancia............... 57 86 51 79 / 10 60 60 50 Clines Corners.................. 57 79 51 73 / 10 60 60 50 Mountainair..................... 60 84 53 80 / 10 50 50 40 Gran Quivira.................... 58 85 51 80 / 20 50 50 40 Carrizozo....................... 65 89 58 86 / 20 30 40 40 Ruidoso......................... 59 80 52 78 / 20 50 30 50 Capulin......................... 54 73 52 67 / 20 60 70 70 Raton........................... 56 79 52 70 / 20 60 70 60 Springer........................ 57 80 53 72 / 20 60 70 60 Las Vegas....................... 55 77 51 70 / 20 60 80 60 Clayton......................... 59 76 57 69 / 20 40 70 60 Roy............................. 58 78 55 70 / 20 50 80 60 Conchas......................... 63 84 57 77 / 20 50 80 60 Santa Rosa...................... 63 85 56 76 / 20 50 80 60 Tucumcari....................... 63 86 58 78 / 30 30 80 60 Clovis.......................... 66 88 60 79 / 30 30 80 50 Portales........................ 66 91 60 81 / 30 30 80 50 Fort Sumner..................... 65 90 59 82 / 20 40 80 50 Roswell......................... 72 99 67 91 / 20 30 50 40 Picacho......................... 64 90 58 84 / 20 30 40 50 Elk............................. 62 89 54 83 / 20 30 30 50
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&& .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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Flood Watch from Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon for NMZ214-215-229.
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&& $$ SHORT TERM...11 LONG TERM....71 AVIATION...11