ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – During the night time hours, cool air over the northern mountains sinks down to the valley floor. The heavy cool air then makes its way south to the lowest point which in this case happens to be the Rio Grande Valley.
So as day breaks the northerly cool air flow sets the stage for part of the “Box”.
When the “Box” is in full force as balloons take off from Balloon Fiesta Park the balloons move south being pushed by the northerly winds from the northern mountains.
After drifting south for a while many balloonists increase their elevation a bit and begin to ride prevailing southwesterly winds back northeast. This ends up taking many balloons over the heights and foothills for a landing that ends in a looping pattern of sorts.
That looping pattern is the “Albuquerque Box”.
