Albuquerque, NM — A pale desert moon shines over the Rio Grande Valley this early morning, glinting off frost-coated rooftops and quiet fields. The air bites — crisp, clear, and still — as the first significant freeze of the season locks into place.
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Freeze Warning through 9 a.m. MDT for the Middle Rio Grande Valley and Upper Tularosa Valley. Temperatures are dipping as low as 28°F in colder pockets near the river basin, threatening tender plants and exposed plumbing. Residents are urged to cover outdoor vegetation, wrap pipes, and bring pets indoors until late morning.
This freeze marks the end of the growing season for much of central New Mexico, with lingering warmth now giving way to the first true taste of late fall. While frost and subfreezing air dominate early today, the pattern quickly rebounds. Sunshine returns by afternoon with highs near 71°F, and a steady warmup continues through the weekend.
By Saturday and Sunday, Albuquerque will bask in sunny skies and highs in the low to mid-70s — a brief return to comfort before the next cold push likely arrives mid-November.
Early long-range models already hint at another cold front between November 8–12, potentially dropping temperatures back toward freezing and setting up the first snow chance for higher New Mexico elevations.
For now, bundle up. The chill fades fast, but winter’s first whispers have arrived in the high desert.
