Strong gusts continued to sweep through the Albuquerque metro area and the Middle Rio Grande Valley early on Saturday, prompting forecasters to issue a Wind Advisory, with a warning of hazardous travel conditions and the potential for severe thunderstorms later in the day.
The National Weather Service said the advisory remains in effect until 3 a.m. MDT, with sustained east winds of 30 to 40 mph and gusts reaching 55 mph. The strongest winds will be near the mouth of Tijeras Canyon and east of Interstate 25.
Forecasters said the winds could blow around unsecured objects, break tree limbs and create dangerous crosswinds, particularly for high-profile vehicles traveling on Interstates 25 and 40. Blowing dust could also reduce visibility in some areas. Residents were advised to secure outdoor items, and motorists were urged to use extra caution.
The gust will likely bring higher humidity to the region, and thunderstorms across central and eastern New Mexico later Saturday will increase. The weather service said some parts of the state are under a marginal risk for severe storms, with large hail and damaging winds. A slight risk of excessive rainfall also increased the likelihood of localized flash flooding.
Meanwhile, forecasters issued a separate Heat Advisory for far western New Mexico, including the Gallup and Farmington areas, where temperatures will reach the upper 90s and lower 100s.
Albuquerque will experience partly cloudy skies. The temperatures will settle in the mid-70s early Saturday. Sustained east winds near 26 mph and gusts up to 44 mph were reported at Albuquerque International Sunport.
Forecasters said temperatures would briefly cool down on Saturday before climbing back to around 100 degrees early next week.
