Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Albuquerque, NM
Issued by NWS Albuquerque, NM
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930 FXUS65 KABQ 191819 AAA AFDABQ Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1119 AM MST Wed Nov 19 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1056 AM MST Wed Nov 19 2025 - A moist Pacific storm system will bring cooler and unsettled weather through Thursday night, with high chances for mountain snow and valley rain. - Accumulating snow will be favored above 9000 feet tonight through Thursday night. - Another Pacific storm system will bring more precipitation to the region late this weekend and into early Monday. There is a moderate chance that a Winter Weather Advisory will be required for the northern mountains late this weekend. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Thursday) Issued at 1206 AM MST Wed Nov 19 2025 A 555dam 500mb low is currently progressing east across SoCal, with a deep tap of Pacific moisture streaming over the region per the latest water vapor satellite imagery. Moisture advection will continue into Thursday morning, with PWATS rising to near daily record high values as the upper low swings east across AZ. The result will be abundant cloud cover and increasing chances for valley rain and mountain snow through Thursday. Occasional lightning strikes can not be ruled out, especially on Thursday as the filling upper low moves over central NM. Soaking rains are expected for much of central and south central NM, with qpf amounts of 0.50-1.00". Southwest areas will see higher amounts due to stronger forcing as the upper low pivots toward the AZ/NM border Thursday morning. Snow levels will start off high, around 9kft or higher, but lower to around 8kft late Thursday. These high snow levels will limit impacts from snow accumulation mainly to the high terrain well above our population centers. The highest peaks of the southwest mountains (mainly just Whitewater Baldy) could pick up between 12-18" of snow, with 5-10" forecast across the higher terrain of the northern mountains. Will issue a Winter Weather Advisory for Wednesday night through Thursday night for the northern mountains where higher mountain passes will be impacted, but refrain from issuing for the southwest mountains with no populations or infrastructure impacts expected. Temperatures will be notably colder on Thursday, with highs forecast to be 5-15 degrees below average across much of the area. && .LONG TERM... (Thursday night through Tuesday) Issued at 1206 AM MST Wed Nov 19 2025 The upper low is forecast to eject northeast out of NM Thursday night as the another upper low dives southeast along the CA coast, following a similar track to the first system. Precipitation will slowly wind-down Thursday night across north central and northeast NM, but snow will continue to accumulate in the northern mountains. Expect a short-lived break from the active weather pattern Friday into Saturday as a shortwave ridge develops overhead and moves slowly east into the southern plains. Moisture advection will ramp back up Saturday into Saturday night as the upper low moves inland over the northern Baja Peninsula and then lifts northeast toward southern AZ. The 00Z medium range models solutions agree on a filling upper low impacting NM with another round of precipitation beginning Saturday night and ramping up Sunday, but differ on the exact placement and progression of the upper level feature. Snow levels will be high with this upper low as well and 500mb heights are forecast to be an unimpressive 562-565dam as the system moves over NM. So, more valley rain and high terrain snow, with a moderate chance (30-50%) of a Winter Weather Advisory being required for the northern mountains. Warming and drying is forecast early next week behind the departing upper low with moderate west-northwest flow aloft. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1119 AM MST Wed Nov 19 2025 Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will develop through the afternoon across western and central NM while the showers across eastern NM will diminish. A few additional thunderstorms may develop late this afternoon across far eastern NM but confidence is low. Higher confidence exists that showers will become more widespread and steady this evening and overnight as they spread northeastward. Showers will slowly break up Thursday morning as they become more focused across the northeast half of the state. MVFR cigs/vsbys will be likely overnight with the rainfall. Light winds will prevail. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1206 AM MST Wed Nov 19 2025 Critical fire weather conditions are not forecast through at least the next seven days as two Pacific storm systems impact the region with cooler conditions, increased humidity and good chances for wetting precipitation. The first system will hit the area late today through Thursday night and the second system will begin impacting the region Saturday night. Vent rates will trend down later this week and be mostly poor through the weekend and into early next week. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 59 40 52 33 / 10 30 40 10 Dulce........................... 55 29 50 29 / 10 50 70 40 Cuba............................ 54 34 46 28 / 20 70 70 20 Gallup.......................... 55 31 46 25 / 10 30 50 10 El Morro........................ 54 34 44 28 / 10 60 80 20 Grants.......................... 58 34 46 25 / 10 70 70 10 Quemado......................... 55 34 47 28 / 20 60 70 5 Magdalena....................... 55 38 47 31 / 30 90 80 0 Datil........................... 53 34 44 27 / 30 80 70 10 Reserve......................... 58 32 49 24 / 40 90 70 0 Glenwood........................ 62 34 52 27 / 60 90 80 0 Chama........................... 50 30 46 27 / 10 60 70 50 Los Alamos...................... 52 38 45 33 / 20 80 80 40 Pecos........................... 53 33 47 28 / 20 80 80 30 Cerro/Questa.................... 51 32 46 29 / 20 40 70 40 Red River....................... 44 27 39 24 / 20 40 70 50 Angel Fire...................... 50 25 44 19 / 10 50 70 40 Taos............................ 55 31 47 29 / 20 50 70 40 Mora............................ 55 31 47 26 / 10 60 70 30 Espanola........................ 60 35 52 31 / 20 70 80 30 Santa Fe........................ 53 37 46 32 / 20 80 80 30 Santa Fe Airport................ 56 36 48 31 / 20 80 80 20 Albuquerque Foothills........... 59 44 49 36 / 20 90 80 20 Albuquerque Heights............. 61 43 50 35 / 20 80 80 10 Albuquerque Valley.............. 63 41 51 33 / 20 80 80 10 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 61 42 50 34 / 20 80 70 10 Belen........................... 63 40 53 29 / 20 80 80 10 Bernalillo...................... 62 41 52 34 / 20 80 80 20 Bosque Farms.................... 63 38 52 28 / 20 80 80 5 Corrales........................ 63 40 52 32 / 20 80 70 10 Los Lunas....................... 63 39 53 28 / 20 80 80 5 Placitas........................ 58 42 48 35 / 20 80 80 20 Rio Rancho...................... 61 43 52 35 / 20 80 70 10 Socorro......................... 63 42 53 33 / 30 90 80 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 54 38 46 32 / 20 90 80 20 Tijeras......................... 55 40 47 34 / 30 90 80 20 Edgewood........................ 57 38 48 31 / 20 90 80 10 Moriarty/Estancia............... 58 33 50 26 / 20 80 80 10 Clines Corners.................. 54 34 47 29 / 20 80 80 10 Mountainair..................... 55 38 48 30 / 20 90 90 10 Gran Quivira.................... 55 36 48 29 / 20 90 90 5 Carrizozo....................... 59 41 52 32 / 40 90 80 0 Ruidoso......................... 54 37 46 31 / 40 80 80 0 Capulin......................... 57 33 50 30 / 10 20 70 40 Raton........................... 61 33 53 29 / 5 20 70 50 Springer........................ 63 33 52 27 / 5 30 60 30 Las Vegas....................... 56 35 49 28 / 20 70 80 20 Clayton......................... 63 42 55 37 / 10 20 80 50 Roy............................. 60 38 52 31 / 20 30 70 20 Conchas......................... 67 41 58 33 / 30 40 70 10 Santa Rosa...................... 63 41 55 36 / 40 60 80 5 Tucumcari....................... 68 42 58 35 / 20 40 80 20 Clovis.......................... 68 46 59 37 / 30 30 90 20 Portales........................ 68 44 60 36 / 30 30 90 10 Fort Sumner..................... 66 42 58 35 / 40 70 80 10 Roswell......................... 69 47 61 36 / 30 40 70 0 Picacho......................... 66 43 58 34 / 30 60 70 0 Elk............................. 64 38 54 27 / 30 60 70 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 5 AM MST Friday for NMZ210-211-213-214. && $$ SHORT TERM...11 LONG TERM....11 AVIATION...34