Winds look light and temperatures will be mild for the first Mass Ascensions of this year’s Balloon Fiesta. Warm and mostly quiet weather continues into next week.
It was a windy night and early morning in the Albuquerque Metro with wind gusts up to around 50 mph as a cold front pushed through the East Canyon. These winds have since calmed down with temperatures only a couple degrees cooler in the Metro. The biggest drop in temperatures has been in the eastern part of the state, with temperatures 3° to 10° cooler compared to Thursday.
Balloon Fiesta Forecast:
It looks like the weather will be perfect for the first weekend of Balloon Fiesta. On Saturday morning, winds will be light, out of the south-southeast, which will push the balloon northward. Then higher off the ground, the wind switches to the west, which will push balloons that fly higher towards the Sandias. Temperatures will only cool off into the mid and upper 50s. Saturday afternoon looks quiet as well, with perfect conditions for the Balloon Glow.
On Sunday morning, winds will again be light, but will be out of the north-northeast, pushing the balloons into the city. Winds aloft will also be out of the northeast. Temperatures may be a couple degrees cooler Sunday morning. A backdoor cold front moves in Sunday afternoon, and that could bring a slightly breezy east canyon wind into the Metro in the late afternoon and evening hours, which could bring a slight breeze to the evening activities.
Winds look like they will stay light each and every morning of Balloon Fiesta next week! Low temperatures will be slightly cooler, but still very mild – in the low to mid 50s. Right now, it is looking like each morning next week should also have a green flag for the Mass Ascensions.
Elsewhere across the state, it’s going to be a warm weekend as well. High temperatures will continue to stay anywhere from 5° to 10° warmer than normal, with large temperature swings form the morning to the afternoon.
The cold front that moves in Sunday will bring a slight cool down across the entire state next week, but high temperatures will continue to be warmer than normal, including in Albuquerque. The state will continue to stay dry too, with the exception of a couple spotty showers only over the mountains. That rain chance for the mountains increases slightly for next Thursday, but the rest of the state will stay dry.
