NWS Albuquerque

NWS Albuquerque
Name	Albuquerque Forecast Office
Agency	National Weather Service
Location	Albuquerque, New Mexico
Coordinates	35.0406°N 106.6006°W
Established	1930s
Jurisdiction	Central and Northern New Mexico
Parent agency	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Website	National Weather Service Albuquerque

NWS Albuquerque is the National Weather Service forecast office serving central and northern New Mexico, including the Albuquerque metropolitan area and surrounding high plains and mountains. The office provides weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and aviation and hydrologic services for a region that includes urban centers, tribal lands, and diverse terrain. It operates as part of the National Weather Service within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and coordinates with regional and federal partners for severe weather, wildfire risk, and water resource management.

Overview

The office issues forecasts and warnings for metropolitan Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Farmington, and communities across Bernalillo County, Sandoval County, Santa Fe County, and Valencia County. It maintains meteorological equipment including Doppler radar, surface observing systems, and upper-air sounding support to serve aviation at Albuquerque International Sunport and military installations such as Kirtland Air Force Base. The office contributes to national initiatives led by NOAA and the National Weather Service such as the modernization of weather prediction, partnerships with the Federal Aviation Administration for aviation weather, and collaboration with the United States Geological Survey for flood monitoring.

History

Weather services in the Albuquerque area trace to early 20th-century observing stations tied to United States Weather Bureau operations and to aviation growth at Albuquerque International Sunport. During World War II, meteorological support expanded for training fields and facilities associated with the United States Army Air Forces. The office evolved through the reorganization into NOAA in the 1970s and subsequent National Weather Service modernization in the 1990s that introduced NEXRAD Doppler radar and automated surface observing systems. Postmodern upgrades have connected the office with national research efforts at institutions such as the University of New Mexico, the National Severe Storms Laboratory, and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Operations and Services

The office issues public, aviation, marine, and hydrologic products including short-term forecasts, extended outlooks, marine forecasts for nearby reservoir operations, and flash flood guidance. It provides aviation weather services for Albuquerque International Sunport, supports military weather requirements for Kirtland Air Force Base, and issues river forecasts in collaboration with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Geological Survey. The office monitors wildfire weather for agencies such as the United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and state fire agencies, coordinating Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches. It also supports emergency management partners including Federal Emergency Management Agency, state emergency offices, and county emergency managers during severe weather events.

Forecast and Warning Areas

Forecast responsibility covers metropolitan and rural districts from the San Juan Basin and Chaco Canyon regions across the Jemez Mountains and Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the high plains near Clines Corners and Estancia Basin. The office issues winter storm warnings affecting high-altitude passes and ski areas like Sandia Peak and Taos Ski Valley, convective thunderstorm warnings impacting the Rio Grande corridor, and flood and flash flood warnings for rivers including the Rio Grande and tributaries. It coordinates with tribal authorities on the Navajo Nation and Pueblo of Zuni and with municipal governments in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Vegas, New Mexico for localized hazards.

Research and Technology

The office participates in field campaigns and experiments with partners such as the National Center for Atmospheric Research, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, and the NOAA Desert Research Institute. It leverages remote sensing from the NEXRAD network and satellite platforms like GOES to improve mesoscale forecasting. Collaboration with the National Severe Storms Laboratory and academic programs at the University of New Mexico advances convective warning science and mountain meteorology. The office integrates high-resolution numerical guidance including models from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and experimental ensembles to refine short-term forecasts and probabilistic products.

Community Outreach and Partnerships

Outreach includes storm spotter training through Skywarn, public presentations with municipal partners in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and educational programs with K–12 schools and universities including the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University. Partnerships extend to federal and state agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, United States Forest Service, and New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for preparedness and response exercises. The office engages with media outlets in Albuquerque and regional broadcasters to disseminate watches and warnings, and collaborates with tribal governments across New Mexico to tailor hazard communication.

Category:National Weather Service offices Category:Organizations based in Albuquerque, New Mexico