Weather
New Mexico Weather This Week: Widespread Rain Arrives Wednesday Oct 21
Albuquerque, NM – A major shift in New Mexico's weather pattern is expected this week as a pleasant but cooler than average weekend gives way to increasing rain chances, with precipitation probabiliti
By Marcus Hale · 2026-10-17T09:55:29.466Z
Albuquerque, NM – A major shift in New Mexico's weather pattern is expected this week as a pleasant but cooler than average weekend gives way to increasing rain chances, with precipitation probabilities reaching 70% to 90% in some northern and western communities by Wednesday and Thursday.
According to the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, temperatures will remain below seasonal averages Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, before a wetter pattern develops early next week and becomes more widespread around October 21 23.
Cooler Weekend Before Rain Chances Increase
Saturday's afternoon temperatures are forecast to run 5 to 15 degrees below normal across central and northern New Mexico.
Albuquerque should reach approximately 65 degrees Saturday and 67 degrees Sunday, while Santa Fe is expected to see highs near 64 and 63 degrees.
Farmington will remain in the mid 60s, while Taos and Los Alamos experience temperatures mainly in the lower 60s.
A few showers could develop across western New Mexico Sunday afternoon, although widespread precipitation is not expected during the weekend.
Rain Chances Climb to 70 90% by Midweek
The wetter pattern becomes more noticeable Monday before expanding across the region Wednesday and Thursday.
National Weather Service projections show Wednesday precipitation probabilities reaching:
Albuquerque: 70% Santa Fe: 70% Farmington: 80% Gallup: 70% Chama: 90% Los Alamos: 80% By Thursday, rain chances rise to 80% in Santa Fe, Gallup and Los Alamos, while Farmington and Chama reach 90%.
Residents Should Monitor Changing Conditions
The National Weather Service indicates that precipitation could become heavier and more widespread during the middle to latter part of the week.
Residents planning outdoor activities or travel through mountainous areas should monitor updated forecasts as the timing and intensity of rainfall become clearer.
Rain probabilities represent the likelihood of measurable precipitation, not rainfall intensity or the percentage of time rain will fall.