Red Flag Warning 24, NWS Albuquerque, NM

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
620 AM MDT SUN MAY 15 2016

.AVIATION...
12Z TAF CYCLE
Drier air will push into western areas today with wind gusts in
the 25 to 35 kt range along and W of the CONTDVD. Meanwhile,
better moisture farther E will result in SCT-NMRS showers and
storms. One N-S oriented wave of modest convection will continue
to shift eastward from the central MT chain across the E plains
through mid morning. Another round will develop mainly over the N
MTs and central MT chain this aftn and shift eastward across the
plains late this aftn and evening. Some storms could be severe
across the plains this aftn and evening with large hail and
damaging winds. Models indicate parts of the E central and NE
plains will again develop low clouds this evening, but these
should break up from the W late tonight into early Monday morning
as the drier air migrates eastward with gusty winds.

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&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...343 AM MDT SUN MAY 15 2016...
.SYNOPSIS...
An active weather pattern will continue through next week. A
closed low churning over the Pacific Northwest will gradually
drop south through early in the week then cross New Mexico
Wednesday into Thursday. The most active days should be today
into tonight and Tuesday through Thursday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Plenty of moisture over the area based on satellites...radar and
surface obs. Dewpoints generally in the 40s except in the far
northwest and north central areas. A short wave over Mexico will
cross the state today helping to destabilize the atmosphere even
more. This will result in widespread showers and scattered
thunderstorms today into tonight favoring central and eastern
zones. Some of the storms over the far south central and southeast
areas could be severe...with strong storms over portions of the
east. The activity will continue well into tonight.

Despite another short wave trough crossing New Mexico Monday there
should be Less coverage than today. Isolated to scattered showers
and thunderstorms will favor areas from I 40 on north. A few storms
in the far northeast could be severe. A back door cold front will
reach the far northeast late Monday then blast south and west
monday night. A strong east canyon wind into the Rio Grande Valley
will be possible.

The storm in the northwest will crawl south...reaching AZ by
Tuesday night. The low will then turn east and weaken as it crosses
NM as an open wave Thursday. Moisture will continue to stream north
into NM with widespread showers and storms from Tuesday through
Thursday. High temperatures each day will be below to well below
normal.

Friday through next weekend will be less active with only isolated
convection. Temperatures will warm to around normal each day. 40

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
After a slight chance of light rain showers in the west this
morning, fire weather concerns will develop this afternoon as a mid
level dry slot moves over that part of the forecast area. Critical
fire weather conditions are expected across much of the NW Highlands
and W Central Highlands this afternoon where strong SW winds and
critically low humidities will juxtapose with temperatures a few to
several degrees above normal. Haines values of 6 will also be
common across the western half of the forecast area. Farther
east, better moisture will be in place with more moderate Haines
values. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are
expected this afternoon mainly along and east of the central
mountain chain, where many areas could receive a tenth to a
quarter inch of rain with locally higher amounts.

The dry slot will migrate over eastern NM with gusty winds on
Monday, resulting in some fire weather concerns for the east central
plains. Most of the east central plains should see critical fire
weather conditions Monday afternoon, but the fire danger is too low
there to issue any sort of headline. Weaker winds are expected
across the west Monday with higher humidities. Northern areas
will still have a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Monday as
a shortwave trough aloft crosses the Four Corners region.

A wet weather pattern will establish across the forecast area
Tuesday through Thursday as an upper level low drops southward
through the Great Basin, then east northeastward over the forecast
area. The system will draw another gusty and moist back door cold
front into the state Tuesday.  East canyon wind gusts in parts of
the Rio Grande Valley could reach 50 mph Tuesday and Tuesday evening.
Good coverage of wetting thunderstorms is looking more likely. The
latest GFS run slowed down the weather system, now bringing it
across the state on Thursday. The ECMWF however, stuck closer to its
previous timing. A slower passing would produce a third day of
potentially broad coverage of wetting showers and thunderstorms.
Most of the activity should favor the east by then. High
temperatures will begin to trend upward Thu after readings a around
6 to 20 degrees below normal on Tuesday and 5 to 12 degrees below
normal Wednesday.

Friday looks to bring drier air and further warming as an upper
level ridge of high pressure crosses.  The dry line could become
active across the east, especially Friday night.

Saturday, a deepening trough over the Great Basin may draw moisture
into the state from the S and SE with stronger winds.  We could see
thunderstorm coverage begin to trend upward again. 44

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Red Flag Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to 8 PM MDT this evening
for the following zones... NMZ105-109.

&&

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
526 AM MDT SUN MAY 15 2016

NMZ501>540-161200-
NORTHWEST PLATEAU-CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-
NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-
SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET-
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-SANTA FE METRO AREA-
MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-
LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-ESTANCIA VALLEY-
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY-
SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA-
FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-UNION COUNTY-
HARDING COUNTY-EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY-GUADALUPE COUNTY-
QUAY COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY-
CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY-SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY-
526 AM MDT SUN MAY 15 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
NEW MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN 300 PM AND
MIDNIGHT MDT FOR LINCOLN AND CHAVES COUNTIES. LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY AFTERNOON
AND EVENING IN FAR NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO...WHICH INCLUDES UNION
COUNTY. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY
THREATS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT
ACROSS LINCOLN AND CHAVES COUNTIES DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.

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