After a cooler start to the morning, temperatures are warming up to record breaking levels. Winds are also picking up as the temperatures increase.
Throughout the afternoon the jet stream continues to shift from southwesterly flow to westerly flow across New Mexico. This change in the pattern is continuing to bring warm air into the state. Everywhere from Farmington down to Roswell has the chance of breaking or coming close to a record high temperature. Along with the warm temperatures, the westerly flow is continuing to draw in incredibly dry air over New Mexico. Finally, with flow intensity increasing, wind gusts are picking up at the surface. Gusts upwards are 50 mph are possible across northeastern New Mexico and gusts upwards of 40mph are locally possible elsewhere.
A combination of the warm temperatures, dry air, and strong winds is resulting in an elevated risk for fire across eastern New Mexico and the Gila. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of Northeastern New Mexico. This Warning will expire at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday February 5th. Additionally, the National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for several parts of Northeast New Mexico. This Advisory will expire at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday February 5th.
A weak backdoor cold front will be moving through eastern and east-central New Mexico tonight and early tomorrow morning. The result will be temperatures in these region cooling off by three to five degrees. The cool down will be brief as temperatures will warm up once again on Friday.
Early next week a short wave is set to move through northern New Mexico. This wave has the potential of bringing wintry precipitation to northern New Mexico and rain to central New Mexico. The shortwave is also expected to bring breezy to windy conditions early next week.