AFOS product AFDABQ
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Product Timestamp: 2019-01-17 09:57 UTC

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FXUS65 KABQ 170957
AFDABQ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
257 AM MST Thu Jan 17 2019

.SYNOPSIS...
Pleasant weather is on-tap for today with high cirrus moving
overhead. The next winter storm system will swing through New Mexico
starting in the Four Corners late tonight, spreading through much of
the northern two-thirds of the state Friday. Snow accumulations of 4
to 8 inches will occur atop the northern mountains, with a foot 
likely atop the Tusas Mountains in Rio Arriba County. Lower 
elevations across the west and north will see a dusting to 3 inches 
through Friday evening. Strong northwest winds reaching up to 25 to 
30 mph across the west and 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 to 60 mph
across the east will accompany this system making it feel colder 
with highs struggling to get into the 40s. The East Plains however 
will hold onto warmer weather for one more day with colder air 
delayed until Friday night. Cold air lingers Saturday with calmer 
conditions. A warming trend takes hold Sunday into Monday with the 
next winter storm system looking to arrive late Monday night into 
Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
...WINTER STORM SYSTEM FRIDAY TO BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF SIGNIFICANT 
SNOW ATOP NORTHERN MOUNTAINS WITH POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS ACROSS 
THE SOUTH...

Today...A quick shortwave ridge will work its way over NM with high
cirrus also building over the northern tier of the state.
Temperatures on the whole will warm up today, however a few lower
elevation locales that over performed yesterday may see MaxTs a 
degree or two lower today as a result of the high cirrus cloud cover,
like ABQ and Roswell. 

Tonight - Friday...The next winter storm system is still progged to
enter into the Four Corners late tonight into Fri morning. Snow
showers will start entering into the Chuska's and Northwest Highlands
in the 8p-11p timeframe, increasing in intensity well into Fri
morning. Pre-frontal SW flow will allow for the best snowfall
accumulations over the northwest high terrain through the early 
morning hours of Fri before winds shift more W/NW. At that time, the
west slopes of the Sangre's will get into the action through the
morning hours. Snow accumulations across the north start tapering 
off near mid-day once the trough axis moves through, but lasting 
through the afternoon period. Northern NM should fare well with snow 
accumulations with 4 to 9 inches likely atop the higher terrain and
up to a foot atop the Tusas Mountains. The quick progression of this
system however just doesn't allow enough time for very significant 
snowfall over a foot to occur. Winter Wx Advisories will be hoisted 
for the northern mtns with a Winter Storm Warning for the Tusas where
accumulations will reach up near a foot. 

Meanwhile, models have trended back north a bit placing the strong 
50-60kt 700mb jet squarely over NM. With the trough axis moving over 
the south-central mtns at mid-afternoon and peak mixing, winds have 
trended much higher with this forecast package. Areas stretching from
Clines Corners to Ruidoso in the Sacramento's will be in the High
Wind Warning neighborhood with Advisories likely elsewhere for Fri
afternoon into Fri evening. A High Wind Watch will be hoisted as a 
result. Later Fri, a backdoor cold front will swing through the East 
Plains. The quick progression of the upper trough, which will be 
trying to close off over the TX Panhandle will prevent the backdoor 
front from making too much progression westward. Strong northerly 
winds 25 to 35 mph will accompany the front through the northeast 
plains.

Next Week...Colder weather stays in place Saturday with overnight
valley inversions setting up Sunday morning. A steady warmup will
occur Sun and Mon, with the next colder winter storm system set to
arrive Mon night into Tue. A NW flow pattern sets up during this
time with a steady stream of weather disturbances/storms moving down
the spine of the Rockies through next week. 

24/RJH

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
A ridge of high pressure will work over the Rockies today, leading 
to less wind, dry conditions, and near to above average 
temperatures. Moderate breeziness will still be found along the 
Sangre de Cristos and eastward into the northeastern plains of NM 
today, but overall speeds will be significantly less than what was 
observed yesterday. Scattered to widespread areas of poor smoke 
ventilation are expected through the afternoon.

No critical concerns are foreseen through the remainder of the week 
with the next potent trough of low pressure and associated cold 
front taking aim at NM tonight into early Saturday. Forecast models 
are pegging much stronger winds over the state Friday with 
widespread gusts of 45 to 60 mph now being forecast. Snow will favor 
the northern mountains with less precipitation near and just south 
of Interstate 40, but cooling temperatures and higher humidity will 
preclude critical fire weather concerns. Drier and more settled 
weather is expected for the weekend with Saturday remaining cool to 
mild before rising a few to several degrees on Sunday. 

Another stout trough will drop over NM Monday into early Tuesday 
with strong winds, colder temperatures, and light precipitation. 
Prior to the arrival of the cooler temperatures, some elevated fire 
weather concerns could grow over the eastern plains (due to strong 
winds and decreasing humidity), and this will be monitored closely 
in the coming days.

52 

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAF CYCLE 
Wind speeds will continue to slowly decrease across the Sangre de
Cristo and Sandia Mountains and adjacent highlands overnight. Winds
will increase again Thursday afternoon along and east of the Sangres,
but winds will not be as strong as today. Still have low confidence
regarding low cloud development over KFMN and KGUP. High clouds are
moving in quickly, though there is only a 2 degree dewpoint
depression currently. Based on the progression of the high clouds,
KGUP has higher chances of seeing low cloud and/or fog development
overnight. Will put in a TEMPO group for now and monitor. 

34

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Farmington......................  45  33  39  18 /   5  80  60   0 
Dulce...........................  41  28  35   8 /   5  90  70   5 
Cuba............................  45  28  33  14 /   0  80  70   5 
Gallup..........................  49  30  36  15 /   0  60  70   0 
El Morro........................  47  27  33  12 /   0  70  80   0 
Grants..........................  49  30  36  16 /   0  40  70   0 
Quemado.........................  51  31  36  18 /   0  30  70   0 
Glenwood........................  59  37  51  27 /   0  10  40   0 
Chama...........................  38  24  31   8 /   5  90  80   5 
Los Alamos......................  45  30  35  19 /   0  50  70  10 
Pecos...........................  47  30  35  20 /   0  50  70  20 
Cerro/Questa....................  41  26  31  12 /   0  60  70  20 
Red River.......................  36  23  26  11 /   0  70  80  30 
Angel Fire......................  41  24  30   5 /   0  50  70  30 
Taos............................  42  25  34   9 /   0  50  70  20 
Mora............................  50  30  36  17 /   0  40  60  20 
Espanola........................  47  31  38  20 /   0  40  60  10 
Santa Fe........................  45  30  34  20 /   0  50  70  20 
Santa Fe Airport................  48  29  36  19 /   0  40  60  10 
Albuquerque Foothills...........  51  34  40  24 /   0  30  60   5 
Albuquerque Heights.............  53  34  43  25 /   0  20  50   5 
Albuquerque Valley..............  53  28  45  22 /   0  20  50   5 
Albuquerque West Mesa...........  51  33  43  25 /   0  20  50   0 
Los Lunas.......................  54  27  46  19 /   0  20  50   0 
Rio Rancho......................  51  33  42  24 /   0  20  60   0 
Socorro.........................  57  36  49  27 /   0   5  20   0 
Sandia Park/Cedar Crest.........  46  31  36  22 /   0  40  80   5 
Tijeras.........................  48  32  38  20 /   0  40  70   5 
Moriarty/Estancia...............  50  28  39  20 /   0  20  50   5 
Clines Corners..................  47  31  36  21 /   0  20  50  10 
Gran Quivira....................  53  34  42  23 /   0  10  20  10 
Carrizozo.......................  58  39  47  26 /   0   5  20  10 
Ruidoso.........................  55  36  43  24 /   0   5  30  10 
Capulin.........................  56  31  45  19 /   0   5  70  30 
Raton...........................  55  29  46  20 /   0   5  50  30 
Springer........................  58  31  48  21 /   0   5  20  20 
Las Vegas.......................  54  32  41  20 /   0  10  20  20 
Clayton.........................  64  37  53  25 /   0   0  50  20 
Roy.............................  61  34  48  24 /   0   5  30  20 
Conchas.........................  67  39  55  29 /   0   0  20  20 
Santa Rosa......................  63  38  53  28 /   0   0  10  10 
Tucumcari.......................  68  41  59  29 /   0   0  40  30 
Clovis..........................  66  37  60  29 /   0   0  20  40 
Portales........................  66  38  62  29 /   0   0  10  30 
Fort Sumner.....................  66  37  59  29 /   0   0  10  20 
Roswell.........................  69  38  66  33 /   0   0  10  10 
Picacho.........................  65  42  54  30 /   0   0  10  10 
Elk.............................  62  40  51  27 /   0   0  10  10 

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Watch from Friday morning through Friday afternoon for 
the following zones... NMZ508-521-523>526-533>540.

Winter Weather Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 8 PM MST Friday 
for the following zones... NMZ512>514.

Winter Storm Warning from 8 PM this evening to 5 PM MST Friday for 
the following zones... NMZ510.

Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 5 PM MST Friday 
for the following zones... NMZ502-503-511.

&&

$$

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