Alert archive / New Mexico / Wind Advisories in 2026
Wind Advisory 22, NWS Albuquerque, NM
NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this wind advisory at Apr 29, 2026, 11:29 PM MDT for 5 counties in New Mexico. It took effect at Apr 30, 2026, 8:00 PM MDT. It was in force for 9 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 29, 2026, 11:29 PM MDT (05:29 UTC)
- In effect from
- Apr 30, 2026, 8:00 PM MDT
- Expired
- May 1, 2026, 5:18 AM MDT
- In force
- 9 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Albuquerque, NM
Counties Bernalillo County, NM, Cibola County, NM, Sandoval County, NM, Torrance County, NM, Valencia County, NM
The radar
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 17 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:30 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
Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 00:00Z, 5.5 hours before the alert went out and 22 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
- 5072 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 65 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 34 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 47 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
348 WWUS75 KABQ 300529 NPWABQ URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1129 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 NMZ219-301900- /O.NEW.KABQ.WI.Y.0022.260501T0200Z-260501T1200Z/ Middle Rio Grande Valley including the Albuquerque Metro Area- 1129 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THURSDAY TO 6 AM MDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...East winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Middle Rio Grande Valley including the Albuquerque Metro Area. * WHEN...From 8 PM Thursday to 6 AM MDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs may be blown down. Expect strong crosswinds on area roadways. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Areas of blowing dust will develop near open fields and other dust prone locations. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. && $$ Shoemake
3 follow-up statements
860 WWUS75 KABQ 301826 NPWABQ URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1226 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026 NMZ219-010200- /O.CON.KABQ.WI.Y.0022.260501T0200Z-260501T1200Z/ Middle Rio Grande Valley including the Albuquerque Metro Area- 1226 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM MDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...East winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Middle Rio Grande Valley including the Albuquerque Metro Area. * WHEN...From 8 PM this evening to 6 AM MDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs may be blown down. Expect strong crosswinds on area roadways. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Areas of blowing dust will develop near open fields and other dust prone locations. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. && $$ 24
906 WWUS75 KABQ 010126 NPWABQ URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 726 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026 NMZ219-011200- /O.CON.KABQ.WI.Y.0022.260501T0200Z-260501T1200Z/ Middle Rio Grande Valley including the Albuquerque Metro Area- 726 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...East winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Middle Rio Grande Valley including the Albuquerque Metro Area. * WHEN...Until 6 AM MDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs may be blown down. Expect strong crosswinds on area roadways, including I-25. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Areas of blowing dust will develop near open fields and other dust prone locations. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. && $$ 34
683 WWUS75 KABQ 011118 NPWABQ URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 518 AM MDT Fri May 1 2026 NMZ219-011230- /O.CAN.KABQ.WI.Y.0022.000000T0000Z-260501T1200Z/ Middle Rio Grande Valley including the Albuquerque Metro Area- 518 AM MDT Fri May 1 2026 ...WIND ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... Winds have decreased below hazardous speeds, therefore the Wind Advisory has been cancelled. $$ Shoemake
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this wind advisory 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 wind advisory went out at Apr 29, 7:47 PM MDT, 3 hours 42 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Updated at 745 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026
- Widespread rain arrives late Thursday through early Saturday with several inches of high mountain snow accumulating in northern New Mexico. Winter travel conditions are likely in the northern mountains, especially Thursday night and Friday.
- Gusty east winds will develop below canyons opening into the Rio Grande and Upper Tularosa Valleys Thursday night and Friday.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 29, 7:47 PM MDT, 3 hours 42 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 747 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...New UPDATE... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 745 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 - Widespread rain arrives late Thursday through early Saturday with several inches of high mountain snow accumulating in northern New Mexico. Winter travel conditions are likely in the northern mountains, especially Thursday night and Friday. - Gusty east winds will develop below canyons opening into the Rio Grande and Upper Tularosa Valleys Thursday night and Friday. && .UPDATE... Issued at 745 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 Quick update to lower PoPs for this evening across northeast NM. Latest CAMs show the showers across southeast CO struggling to make it very far south. However, outflow from the showers will begin to push into NE NM shortly, switching winds around to the north and northeast. Updates out shortly. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Friday night) Issued at 241 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 Locally breezy conditions continue across New Mexico today as tightening 500mb and 700mb pressure gradients increase the momentum transfer to the surface. The 18z ABQ sounding showed a well-mixed layer up to 700mb, and would likely increase in height as the afternoon went on. The backdoor front that pushed through eastern NM last night has allowed southerly return flow across the area. With both the western winds in western and central NM, and the southerly winds in eastern NM, gusts up to 25-30mph are likely through the early evening hours. Alongside this, a weak shortwave is evident on water vapor imagery, traversing west to east across the NM/CO border. This feature has the low chance to develop a few showers across northeast NM this afternoon and evening, but likely nothing more than a few hundredths of an inch of liquid precipitation. Temperatures today remain near average, with highs in the high 60s to low 80s. The previous backdoor front/return flow gets a resurgent push late tonight and into tomorrow morning, providing an influx of near- surface moisture to much of eastern NM. This should be enough to generate some low clouds near the NM/TX border from Clayton down to Clovis. This surface moisture will also be beneficial to support the upcoming system and its desire to bring widespread rain and mountain snow. Before this, a 250mb jet streak will be exiting to the east, in an east-west orientation near the KS/OK border. The right entrance region of this jet may reside over far northeast NM just long enough to generate some showers across that portion of the state Thursday afternoon, but this is a lower confidence scenario. The higher confidence scenario resides in the approaching shortwave trough from the west. This trough is highly likely to move along the AZ/Mexico border through Thursday and remain as a closed low. It is then forecast to reach the bootheel of NM and open up into an open wave. Concurrently, the resurging moisture will be tracking east/southeast, and cross-sections of the moisture boundary show adequate omega values indicating sufficient lift. As the trough approaches NM, the dynamics of the downstream region of the trough and collocated diffluence aloft will produce widespread synoptic lift, especially across southeast NM. Additionally, the upslope easterly flow combined with subtle but apparent lift in the northern mountains will allow for several inches of snow, especially across the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Raton Pass. This precipitation event is likely to begin Thursday afternoon and evening, peak late Thursday night and early Friday morning, and then slowly taper off through Friday. Widespread liquid precipitation amounts of 0.5-1.25" are expected along and east of the central mountain chain from Thursday afternoon through late Friday night. Areas west of the central mountain chain should see up to 0.5", decreasing the further west you go. For snowfall, snow levels should initially be around 9,000-10,000ft Thursday afternoon, continuously decreasing through Thursday night into Friday morning behind a cold front to 7,000- 8,000ft. With this, the heaviest snowfall is expected late Thursday night into Friday morning, with a second period of heavier snow likely Friday afternoon. Snow amounts are favored to be around 3-8" between 7,500-9,500ft, with amounts 8-14" above 9,500ft. Locally higher amounts may be observed near the peaks of the mountains. With this, the Winter Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning. The Tusas Mountains are also forecast to get up to 6" across their higher elevations, however this is likely to come later in the day on Friday with that second period of heavier snowfall. They will likely need a Winter Weather Advisory, but will hold off on that issuance given the longer time until it occurs. Snow-liquid ratios should also sit at or below 10:1 (except above 9,500ft), which is a signal for a wetter, heavier snow. While confidence in this is low, there is a chance that wet accumulating snow could affect power lines and trees. While most of the atmosphere is forecast to be too stable for thunderstorms to develop, there is a low to moderate chance for a few rumbles of thunder. The first chance will be along the central mountain chain Thursday afternoon as upslope flow mixes with peak heating. A second, lower chance will be across southern NM, including the Sacramento Mountains overnight Thursday as the peak synoptic lift settles overhead. The third chance is on Friday as the front pushes into western NM through the afternoon. This third chance has the highest chances of thunder through the event. Outside of precipitation, the surging moisture/cold front is forecast to push up and through the gaps of the central mountain chain late Thursday into Friday morning and produce a gusty gap wind in ABQ and Santa Fe. MOS guidance has come up on the strength of the gap wind, and that is likely due to the track of the shortwave to our south. This is a good setup that can siphon the front through the mountains, increasing the speed. Gusts up to 45-50mph may be observed immediately downwind of the canyons, and it is possible a Wind Advisory may be needed (~50% chance). The system is forecast to move out of the area later in the day on Friday, though remnant rain and high elevation snow showers should remain as there should be abundant moisture present. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Tuesday) Issued at 241 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 Weak ridging with embedded shortwaves are the name of the game for the weekend. The remnant moisture from the late week system is likely going to remain in the area, and this should allow for the development of scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of the state on Saturday. Isolated showers and a stray thunderstorm are possible mainly across the high terrain on Sunday. An approaching, rather large in size low looks to move into western CONUS at the beginning of next week, and moving towards the state by the middle of next week. There is rather good agreement from the models on the strength of the low, but there is timing and evolution differences (mainly from the amount of moisture it provides and in what form it moves over the state). Nonetheless, it appears that precipitation is once again favored for the northern portions of New Mexico, especially on Tuesday, while southern NM looks favored for a more dry and windy pattern. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 527 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 A moisture boundary remains draped across eastern NM from just west of KRTN, to just east of KLVS, to just west of KROW. East of the boundary, southeast winds gusting near 20 or 25kt will persist or increase through the evening hours. After midnight, winds will becoming more easterly with the boundary backing up at least to the central mountain chain. In fact, a weak east wind should eek through the gaps of the central mountain chain around sunrise. Elsewhere, westerly winds gusting between 25 and 35kt will persist through approx 02Z, becoming light thereafter. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will develop Thursday afternoon along the east slope of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and portions of northeast NM. Another, likely much stronger, gap wind is expected in the Rio Grande Valley Thursday evening. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 241 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 After brief, locally critical fire weather conditions this afternoon, widespread rain and mountain snow looks to put a damper on fire concerns for the next few days. A surge of moisture looks to take place tonight behind another cold front, and minimum humidity values are likely going to be in the 40-50% across eastern NM Thursday while remaining below 15% in central and western NM (though with rather light winds, so no critical fire weather concerns). Precipitation looks to begin Thursday afternoon and evening, first across the northern mountains, then spreading to all of eastern NM Thursday night into Friday. Widespread amounts between 0.5-1" are likely in eastern NM, with amounts up to 0.5" west of the central mountain chain (decreasing the further west you go). Several inches of snow are likely in the northern mountains and specifically in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where up to 14" may fall mainly above 9,500ft, with 3-8" below. A gusty gap wind in ABQ early Friday morning will be the only wind concern for this system. Remnant showers and thunderstorms are favored Saturday and Sunday before an approaching system brings chances for more precipitation in the northern mountains, along with breezy and drier conditions in southern NM. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 38 70 39 67 / 0 0 5 40 Dulce........................... 25 67 29 60 / 0 10 40 90 Cuba............................ 36 67 35 56 / 0 10 60 90 Gallup.......................... 33 69 31 64 / 0 5 10 40 El Morro........................ 36 66 36 59 / 0 5 20 60 Grants.......................... 33 71 36 61 / 0 5 30 70 Quemado......................... 38 68 38 64 / 0 5 20 50 Magdalena....................... 47 70 43 56 / 0 5 60 70 Datil........................... 41 67 40 57 / 0 5 40 70 Reserve......................... 36 75 36 71 / 0 10 30 40 Glenwood........................ 41 78 40 77 / 0 10 40 40 Chama........................... 27 60 29 52 / 0 30 60 90 Los Alamos...................... 45 64 41 50 / 5 40 80 90 Pecos........................... 38 62 34 46 / 10 60 100 100 Cerro/Questa.................... 34 61 34 49 / 5 70 90 100 Red River....................... 27 49 27 37 / 10 80 100 100 Angel Fire...................... 23 53 23 40 / 10 80 100 100 Taos............................ 30 65 31 53 / 5 60 90 100 Mora............................ 34 57 29 42 / 10 80 100 100 Espanola........................ 41 71 41 58 / 5 40 80 90 Santa Fe........................ 44 65 41 50 / 5 50 90 90 Santa Fe Airport................ 42 68 40 53 / 5 40 90 90 Albuquerque Foothills........... 50 73 45 56 / 10 20 80 80 Albuquerque Heights............. 47 75 44 58 / 5 20 80 70 Albuquerque Valley.............. 45 78 44 61 / 5 10 80 70 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 48 75 47 60 / 5 10 70 70 Belen........................... 43 77 44 62 / 0 10 80 70 Bernalillo...................... 48 76 45 59 / 5 20 80 80 Bosque Farms.................... 41 77 42 61 / 0 10 80 70 Corrales........................ 48 77 46 61 / 5 20 80 70 Los Lunas....................... 43 77 44 61 / 0 10 80 70 Placitas........................ 48 71 44 54 / 10 20 80 80 Rio Rancho...................... 48 75 46 60 / 5 20 70 70 Socorro......................... 50 80 48 64 / 0 5 70 70 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 43 67 39 49 / 10 30 90 80 Tijeras......................... 44 69 40 51 / 10 20 90 80 Edgewood........................ 40 68 36 50 / 5 30 90 80 Moriarty/Estancia............... 35 68 31 50 / 5 30 90 80 Clines Corners.................. 38 61 33 42 / 0 40 100 90 Mountainair..................... 40 70 36 50 / 0 20 90 80 Gran Quivira.................... 43 69 37 49 / 0 20 90 80 Carrizozo....................... 50 72 45 53 / 0 20 100 80 Ruidoso......................... 48 65 39 46 / 0 20 100 90 Capulin......................... 33 46 28 39 / 30 90 100 100 Raton........................... 34 52 30 43 / 20 90 100 100 Springer........................ 37 55 33 45 / 20 90 100 100 Las Vegas....................... 38 56 32 42 / 10 70 100 100 Clayton......................... 39 51 36 47 / 30 50 100 90 Roy............................. 38 52 34 43 / 20 70 100 100 Conchas......................... 44 62 37 49 / 10 40 100 100 Santa Rosa...................... 43 61 36 45 / 5 40 100 100 Tucumcari....................... 45 62 39 49 / 10 50 100 100 Clovis.......................... 45 63 41 48 / 5 30 100 100 Portales........................ 45 64 41 49 / 5 30 90 100 Fort Sumner..................... 45 66 39 49 / 0 30 100 100 Roswell......................... 53 75 47 53 / 0 20 90 100 Picacho......................... 49 71 41 49 / 0 20 90 90 Elk............................. 47 72 39 50 / 0 20 90 90 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning from 3 PM Thursday to midnight MDT Friday night for NMZ213>215-227. && SHORT TERM...77 LONG TERM....77 AVIATION...34
The office that day
Everything else NWS Albuquerque, NM issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 1:33 PM MDT | Winter Weather Advisory | ABQ | Colfax, Rio Arriba, Taos, Union | 32 hr |
Nearby
Wind Advisories in New Mexico, 2026Every wind advisory 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.