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Recent Outreach Activities |
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2006
New Mexico State Fair, September
22, 2006 |
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Safety
Briefing, Bode Aviation, April 14, 2006 |
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Santa
Ana Environmental Fair, September 27, 2005 |
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San
Juan Water Festival, April 26-27, 2005 |
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Weather
Data Awareness Open House, March 11, 2005 |
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Quivira
Coalition, January 13-15, 2005 |
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Middle
Rio Grande Water Festival, October 14-15, 2004 |
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Significant Weather Events
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Winter Weather | Severe
Weather
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Station Programs and Services
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The National Weather Service Forecast Office
(NWSFO) in Albuquerque employs nearly 30 meteorologists,
hydrometeorological technicians (HMT's), electronics
technicians, and an administrative assistant to serve the
meteorological needs of the people of New Mexico. This
office is part of the Southern
Region of the NWS, which serves New Mexico, Texas,
Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. The scope of the programs and services of the
Albuquerque office are exceeded nowhere in the Southern
Region.
Watches and Warnings:
We provide the public with severe thunderstorm, tornado,
flash flood, and high wind warnings, as well as winter
weather watches, warnings and advisories. Additionally,
specialized watches and warnings highlighting windy and dry
conditions are provided to various land management agencies
in support of the fire weather program. Locally, we
provide aviation advisories for the Albuquerque
International Sunport.
Public Forecasts:
New Mexico is divided into 32 climatic
zones. NWS Albuquerque issues forecasts twice
daily for zones 1>21 and zone 26, roughly the
northern two-thirds of the state, with updates as needed.
These forecasts provide sky conditions and
weather, temperature, probability of precipitation, and
wind. NWS offices in Midland and El Paso issue
forecast products for the remainder of the state (see
map).
Aviation Forecasts:
Our meteorologists issue site-specific forecasts for seven
airports four times daily, as well for three air traffic
routes that originate from Albuquerque. Operational pilots may also request a safety briefing on aviation weather hazards in the southwest. Please click
here for more information.
Fire Weather Forecasts
and Support: The Albuquerque, El
Paso and Midland offices issue narrative and zone forecasts
each day, as well as specialized forecasts in support of
wildland fire management. A map of the state's fire
weather zones is available here.
Additionally, NWS Albuquerque has an Incident Response
Meteorologist (IMET) to provide on-site forecasts for
wildfires and meteorological training for land management
agencies within the state. IMETs from this office have
provided on-site support in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona,
Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Washington and Oregon.
Hydrology: Our
hydrologist collects hydrologic data from around the state
and works with other federal and state agencies to
provide stream flow forecasts during the spring snowmelt
season, as well as during floods and other high water
events.
Upper-air Observations:
Twice daily, weather balloons equipped with a radiosonde
instrument are launched and tracked from the facility. The
instruments collect and transmit weather data from as high
as 20 miles above the ground back to the office. These
data "feed" NWS supercomputers in
Washington, D.C. that run the complex numerical models used
in weather forecasting.
Surface Observations:
Surface weather observations are taken by the Automated
Surface Observation System (ASOS) at this office every hour
(more often during active weather) and transmitted
worldwide. HMT's monitor, augment and quality control these
observations around the clock.
Radar
Surveillance: NWS Albuquerque maintains
continuous radar surveillance with two separate Doppler
radar systems, an NWS radar located on Albuquerque's West
Mesa and a Department of Defense radar located northwest of
Clovis in conjunction with Cannon Air Force Base.
Climatology/Public Service:
NWS Albuquerque maintains a network of nearly 200
cooperative observer weather stations across central and
northern New Mexico, and works with the Albuquerque
Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA) to help
maintain a local network of approximately 100 volunteer
rainfall observers. These networks help define the climate
of New Mexico and are extremely important to a wide range of
users, from lawyers and engineers to university researchers.
The local network also helps provide real-time data to
forecasters during significant rainfall events. The office
also helps those in need of weather information, either
through assistance from within the office or referral to the
appropriate climatic data center.
Tours/Other Services: Tours and outreach visits
are available, when staffing and weather permit, for school
groups 5th grade and older and for other various groups and
educational organizations. Call 505-243-0702, Monday through
Friday, 8 am to 4 p.m. to check on availability, or inquire
through our comments section.
National
Weather Service FAQ's
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