ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Cool desert air and a faint pre-dawn glow stretch across the Sandia Mountains this morning, but a quiet change is on the way. After one more warm, dry stretch Thursday and Friday, clouds will thicken and rain chances return to central New Mexico as the weekend begins.
According to the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, highs will reach the lower 70s Thursday and mid-70s Friday under mostly sunny skies. Winds stay light and variable, but increasing Pacific moisture will slip in from the west Friday night, bringing a few showers by early Saturday. Rain chances rise to around 20–40 percent through Sunday, with the best coverage along and east of the Rio Grande Valley.
Travelers should prepare for damp roads and brief gusty winds Saturday morning, especially along I-40 through Tijeras Canyon and eastward toward Moriarty. While rainfall totals stay light—mostly a few tenths of an inch—the system marks a clear shift toward cooler, unsettled late-fall weather. Temperatures will drop nearly 10 degrees by Sunday, signaling the first “winter tease” of November for northern and central New Mexico.
By Monday, drier air returns with highs near 60°F, but forecasters hint at another weak disturbance possible early next week. For now, Thursday and Friday remain perfect for leaf cleanup, early holiday prep, or outdoor hikes before the chill sets back in.
Meanwhile, faint effects from the recent G4 solar storm continue this morning, though most communication disruptions have eased.
Five-Day Forecast for Albuquerque, NM:
Thu: 72/42 – Mostly sunny; calm, mild day.
Fri: 73/42 – Bright and warm; clouds increase late.
Sat: 70/43 – Scattered showers; breezy at times.
Sun: 65/38 – Rain chance early; cooler afternoon.
Mon: 61/38 – Mostly sunny; crisp, fall air returns.
