Albuquerque, NM – The Sandia Mountains glimmer under a clear December sunrise as cool desert air fills the Rio Grande Valley. Temperatures in Albuquerque fell near 30°F before dawn, and while the city warms quickly each afternoon, that morning chill is here to stay through the end of the week.
According to the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, highs will reach the mid-60s by Friday, offering a mild daytime reprieve from the crisp, early-winter mornings. Skies remain cloudless, but each night’s radiative cooling will pull temperatures back into the upper 20s and low 30s — ideal conditions for frost across rooftops, windshields, and desert fields.
Drivers along I-40 and I-25 should plan for extra defrost time early each morning, particularly in low-lying or shaded stretches where condensation refreezes. While this pattern favors dry and sunny afternoons, the sharp morning drop can make for slick conditions on bridges and rural highways.
Meteorologists say New Mexico’s mild spell may hold into early next week before cooler air from the north presses in mid-December. Longer-range models also show potential for weak winter moisture returning to northern parts of the state between December 15 and 17, though details remain uncertain.
Five-Day Outlook (Albuquerque, NM):
- Thursday: Sunny, high 65°F. Low 32°F.
- Friday: Sunny, high 65°F. Calm wind.
- Saturday: Sunny, high 65°F. Low 33°F.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, high 60°F. Cool evening near 30°F.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, high 61°F. Slight cool-down expected.
