Alert archive / New Mexico / Wind Advisories in 2026

Wind Advisory 22, NWS Albuquerque, NM

April 29, 20265 counties in New Mexico

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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 00:00Z on 2026-04-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 00:00Z on 2026-04-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 34 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 30, 1:33 PM MDTWinter Weather AdvisoryABQColfax, Rio Arriba, Taos, Union32 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.