Alert archive / New Mexico / Red Flag Warnings in 2026
Red Flag Warning 21, NWS Albuquerque, NM
NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this red flag warning at Apr 2, 2026, 12:32 PM MDT for 8 counties in New Mexico. It took effect at Apr 3, 2026, 12:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 8 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 2, 2026, 12:32 PM MDT (18:32 UTC)
- In effect from
- Apr 3, 2026, 12:00 PM MDT
- Expired
- Apr 3, 2026, 8:00 PM MDT
- In force
- 8 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Albuquerque, NM
Counties Curry County, NM, De Baca County, NM, Guadalupe County, NM, Quay County, NM, Roosevelt County, NM, San Miguel County, NM, Santa Fe County, NM, Torrance County, NM
The radar
The Cannon AFB radar (KFDX), 86 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:37 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
The nearest sounding before it
Santa Teresa, NM (KEPZ), launched 12:00Z, 6.5 hours before the alert went out and 385 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2032 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 34 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 97 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 121 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
425 WWUS85 KABQ 021832 RFWABQ URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1232 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM UNTIL 8 PM TODAY ACROSS THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS AND PLAINS, CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM UNTIL 8 PM FRIDAY ACROSS THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... .The combination of southwest wind gusts of 30 to 45 mph and very low humidity will elevate the risk of rapid fire spread across northeast and east central New Mexico today. Wind speeds will weaken for most of the area and relative humidity values will climb after sunset today, easing fire weather concerns. Strong northwest winds, with similar speeds to today, and very low humidity will return Friday along the I-40 corridor of eastern NM from Clines Corners to the Texas border. Northwest winds will weaken and turn northerly and relative humidity values rise after sunset Friday. NMZ125-126-030200- /O.UPG.KABQ.FW.A.0023.260403T1900Z-260404T0200Z/ /O.NEW.KABQ.FW.W.0021.260403T1800Z-260404T0200Z/ /O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0020.260402T1900Z-260403T0200Z/ Central Highlands-East Central Plains- 1232 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY... The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Red Flag Warning...which is in effect from noon to 8 PM MDT Friday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AREA AND TIMING...Central Highlands (Zone 125) and East Central Plains (Zone 126). * 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph today. Northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph Friday. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values 10 to 15 percent today and 7 to 11 percent Friday. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommend. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning. && $$ NMZ104-123-030200- /O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0020.260402T1900Z-260403T0200Z/ Northeast Plains-Northeast Highlands- 1232 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING... * AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Plains (Zone 104) and Northeast Highlands (Zone 123). * 20 FOOT WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values 12 to 17 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommend. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning. && $$
3 follow-up statements
624 WWUS85 KABQ 030150 RFWABQ URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 750 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM UNTIL 8 PM FRIDAY ACROSS THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... .Strong northwest winds and very low humidity will return Friday along the I-40 corridor of eastern New Mexico from Clines Corners to the Texas border. Northwest winds will weaken and turn northerly and relative humidity values rise after sunset Friday. NMZ125-126-031300- /O.EXP.KABQ.FW.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260403T0200Z/ /O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0021.260403T1800Z-260404T0200Z/ Central Highlands-East Central Plains- 750 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY... ...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING... * AREA AND TIMING...Central Highlands (Zone 125) and East Central Plains (Zone 126). * 20 FOOT WINDS...Northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph Friday. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values 7 to 11 percent Friday. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommend. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning. && $$ NMZ104-123-030300- /O.EXP.KABQ.FW.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260403T0200Z/ Northeast Plains-Northeast Highlands- 750 PM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING... Dry conditions will persist through the evening hours with gusty winds, but critical fire weather conditions have subsided. $$
004 WWUS85 KABQ 031058 RFWABQ URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 458 AM MDT Fri Apr 3 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM TO 8 PM TODAY ACROSS THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY... .Strong northwest winds and very low humidity will return today along the I-40 corridor of eastern New Mexico from Clines Corners to the Texas border. Northwest winds will weaken and turn northerly while relative humidity rises after sunset today. NMZ125-126-040200- /O.CON.KABQ.FW.W.0021.260403T1800Z-260404T0200Z/ Central Highlands-East Central Plains- 458 AM MDT Fri Apr 3 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING... * AREA AND TIMING...Central Highlands (Zone 125) and East Central Plains (Zone 126). * 20 FOOT WINDS...Northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph Friday. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Minimum values 7 to 11 percent Friday. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommend. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning. && $$
811 WWUS85 KABQ 040152 RFWABQ URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 752 PM MDT Fri Apr 3 2026 NMZ125-126-040300- /O.EXP.KABQ.FW.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260404T0200Z/ Central Highlands-East Central Plains- 752 PM MDT Fri Apr 3 2026 ...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING... Dry and breezy conditions will persist through the evening hours, but critical fire weather conditions have subsided. $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this red flag warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Albuquerque, NM wrote its last area forecast discussion before this red flag warning went out at Apr 2, 11:38 AM MDT, 54 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Updated at 1138 AM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026
- Strong west/southwest winds today and northwest winds Friday will create hazardous crosswinds for high profile vehicles, especially over eastern New Mexico.
- Dry and windy conditions will increase the risk of rapid fire spread east of the central mountain chain today and Friday.
- A widespread hard freeze will impact much of northern and western New Mexico Friday night, including the Santa Fe metro area. Freezing temperatures are also possible in parts of the Albuquerque metro area and eastern New Mexico. Folks should be prepared to protect plants, pets, and pipes from a damaging freeze event.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 2, 11:38 AM MDT, 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1138 AM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1138 AM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026 - Strong west/southwest winds today and northwest winds Friday will create hazardous crosswinds for high profile vehicles, especially over eastern New Mexico. - Dry and windy conditions will increase the risk of rapid fire spread east of the central mountain chain today and Friday. - A widespread hard freeze will impact much of northern and western New Mexico Friday night, including the Santa Fe metro area. Freezing temperatures are also possible in parts of the Albuquerque metro area and eastern New Mexico. Folks should be prepared to protect plants, pets, and pipes from a damaging freeze event. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Friday Night) Issued at 114 AM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026 Fast zonal flow aloft in the wake of a moist storm system from Wednesday will spread dry west/southwest winds across much of northern NM today. Water vapor imagery is capturing mt waves to the lee of the central mt chain with surface wind gusts near 45 mph reported along the Sangre de Cristo Mts. 700-500mb layer winds of 30-40KT will continue to focus north of I-40 and translate to west/southwest gusts of 30-40 mph today. Low humidity and above normal temps once again will elevate the risk of rapid fire spread over northeast and east-central NM (Red Flag Warning in effect). Flow aloft will strengthen further tonight as a 543dm H5 low moves east thru the northern Rockies. A strong Pacific cold front will surge southeast into western NM after midnight with strong cold air advection and blustery northwest winds thru sunrise Friday. The cold front will move thru the ABQ and Santa Fe metro areas around sunrise then across southern and southeast NM by sunset Friday. Temps will trend much cooler for the northwest half of NM in the wake of this front. The backdoor portion of the cold front has trended slower and weaker with a delay of the stronger northeast winds over eastern NM until Friday night. It will be exceptionally dry in the wake of the Pacific cold front Friday so the combination of low humidity and blustery winds will continue the risk of rapid fire spread over parts of central and eastern NM. Friday night will be cold as strong surface high pressure, light winds, and clear skies lead to efficient radiational cooling. Min temps will fall into the teens and lower 20s across northern and western NM with freezing temps possible in parts of the ABQ metro and eastern NM. Freeze Watches may be prudent in some areas given the stretch of historic warmth from March. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Wednesday) Issued at 114 AM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026 A negatively-tilted 576dm H5 ridge will build west of NM Saturday and Sunday with surface winds veering back around to the south then southwest. Tranquil weather is expected Saturday with light winds and warmer temps. A weak shortwave trough approaching from northern Sonora Sunday will undercut the upper ridge and allow mid and upper level moisture to advect into southwest NM. Models have come into better agreement with increasing precip chances over the southwest half of NM Sunday, especially in the Gila region. The NBM prob QPF >0.05" is now 20-40% southwest of ABQ Sunday. Elsewhere, it will likely remain dry and warm with slightly breezier south/southwest winds. An active pattern may continue thru early next week as yet another shortwave trough moves into the southern Rockies Monday and Tuesday. This wave may draw even better low level moisture northward into the region with improving chances for QPF >0.05" across much of central and western NM, especially Tuesday. The latest NBM median 72-hr QPF ending Tuesday night shows 0.10-0.25" over most high terrain areas with 0.05 to 0.15" in the lower terrain of central and western NM. Temps may also trend closer to early April normals thru this period. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1138 AM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026 Breezy southwest-west winds this afternoon with peak gusts of 25 to 40 mph and increasing upper level clouds. Winds taper off a little across lower elevations but remain elevated overnight. Some LLWS across the upper RGV and northeast plains overnight. A Pacific front moves into northwest NM just after midnight reaching KAEG, KABQ, and KSAF around sunrise. Clearing skies with increasing northwest winds for most at the end of the TAF period. Breezy north winds across far northeast NM behind a backdoor front. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 114 AM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026 Critical fire weather will return to eastern NM today with strong west/southwest winds, min humidity <15%, above normal temps, ERC percentiles near the 90th percentile, and RFTI values in the 3 to 6 range. A Red Flag Warning is in effect this afternoon and early evening. A strong Pacific cold front will then surge thru NM late tonight and Friday with cooler temps, strong northwest winds, and very low humidity. ERCs will likely hover between the 75th and 90th percentile over eastern NM with RFTI values of 3 to 5 along the I-40 corridor east of Edgewood. A Fire Weather Watch will be issued for this area Friday. Much colder temps and lighter winds will arrive Friday night followed by tranquil conditions Saturday. A pattern change toward less wind, higher min humidity, closer to normal temps, and more frequent precip chances may return early next week. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 70 35 56 24 / 0 5 0 0 Dulce........................... 63 24 54 18 / 5 5 0 0 Cuba............................ 66 31 51 24 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 67 24 57 14 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 65 31 57 22 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 70 29 58 18 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 70 33 61 23 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 73 41 69 32 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 69 36 64 27 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 73 31 70 26 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 76 37 74 37 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 57 26 49 19 / 5 5 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 65 39 59 28 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 66 36 58 28 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 60 34 55 21 / 0 5 0 0 Red River....................... 50 29 44 18 / 0 5 5 0 Angel Fire...................... 57 24 52 16 / 0 0 0 0 Taos............................ 65 30 59 18 / 0 5 0 0 Mora............................ 66 36 58 26 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 73 36 63 24 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 67 39 59 29 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 70 38 61 26 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 75 45 63 36 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 77 42 66 35 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 80 41 69 34 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 78 44 64 34 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 80 41 72 30 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 78 44 64 31 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 79 39 70 30 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 79 42 65 33 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 79 41 71 30 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 73 44 61 33 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 78 43 64 32 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 82 46 77 38 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 69 41 58 31 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 70 41 60 32 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 71 39 60 27 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 73 36 63 21 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 68 39 60 27 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 71 40 64 29 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 70 41 65 32 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 73 45 71 41 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 68 46 67 36 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 68 35 62 23 / 0 0 5 10 Raton........................... 70 34 63 23 / 0 0 5 5 Springer........................ 73 36 67 22 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 69 38 63 25 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 76 45 67 32 / 0 0 5 10 Roy............................. 74 40 69 29 / 0 0 5 0 Conchas......................... 80 48 78 35 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 76 46 73 34 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 83 49 80 37 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 83 49 80 42 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 83 49 81 41 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 82 46 79 37 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 86 50 86 45 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 82 46 80 40 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 80 46 78 37 / 0 0 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for NMZ104-123-125- 126. Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through Friday evening for NMZ125-126. && SHORT TERM...42 LONG TERM....42 AVIATION...71
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 2, 8:04 AM MDT, 4 hours 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
804 AM MDT Thu Apr 2 2026
...FINAL SNOWFALL REPORTS FOR APRIL 1ST...
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1000 PM Snow 2 S Taos Ski Valley 36.57N 105.45W
04/01/2026 M12.8 Inch Taos NM Public
Taos Ski Valley Shalako Gully Lift 4.
1000 PM Snow 1 SSW Taos Ski Valley 36.58N 105.45W
04/01/2026 E12.0 Inch Taos NM Other Federal
Taos Powderhorn SNOTEL.
1000 PM Snow 5 WNW Eagle Nest Lake S 36.53N 105.37W
04/01/2026 E11.0 Inch Taos NM Other Federal
Taos Pueblo SNOTEL.
1000 PM Snow 2 SSW Taos Ski Valley 36.57N 105.45W
04/01/2026 M10.2 Inch Taos NM Public
Taos Ski Valley Top 7.
0500 PM Snow 2 SSE Santa Fe Ski Area 35.76N 105.78W
04/01/2026 E6.0 Inch Santa Fe NM Other Federal
Santa Fe SNOTEL.
0500 PM Snow 8 SW Rociada 35.76N 105.53W
04/01/2026 E5.0 Inch San Miguel NM Other Federal
Wesner Springs SNOTEL.
0600 PM Snow 5 SSE Llano Largo 36.07N 105.63W
04/01/2026 E4.0 Inch Taos NM Other Federal
Rio Santa Barbara SNOTEL.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Albuquerque, NM issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2:03 AM MDT | Fire Weather Watch | ABQ | Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe, Quay, Roosevelt, San Miguel and 2 more | 10 hr |
| Apr 2, 12:00 PM MDT | Freeze Watch | ABQ | Bernalillo, McKinley, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, Santa Fe and 2 more | 14 hr |
Nearby
Red Flag Warnings in New Mexico, 2026Every red flag warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.