National Weather Service - Albuquerque Center Weather Service Unit

The Albuquerque Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU) is staffed by four National Weather Service meteorologists from 6:30am to 10:00pm every day. The CWSU provides detailed forecasts and hazardous weather advisories for aviation users. The primary goal is to enhance both the safety and the efficient flow of air traffic through the Albuquerque (ZAB) airspace.

ZAB CWSU meteorologists provide formal weather briefings to FAA supervisors within the Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) for the day and evening shifts. Verbal briefings are given to individual controllers at the ARTCC and tower control facilities around the ZAB airspace, as well as to equipment technicians when weather conditions dictate. Two types of written products are also provided by the CWSU meteorologists. The Meteorological Impact Statement (MIS) is a 4 to 12 hour planning forecast of weather conditions expected to impact the ZAB air traffic. The Center Weather Advisory (CWA) is a short-term warning of hazardous weather conditions provided to all aviation interests, including private pilots, towers, flight service stations, and commercial airlines. Thus, a CWA is similar to, but more localized than, the Airmets and Sigmets issued by the Aviation Weather Center (AWC) in Kansas City, Missouri.