A winter storm will move out of New Mexico Friday night. Spotty rain and snow showers will stick around through Saturday with cooler temperatures.
Heavy snow has been falling since last night across southwest Colorado and northern New Mexico as a winter storm moves through the region. So far, up to two feet of snow has fallen in the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado, while up to 9″ has been measured in the northern mountains in New Mexico. Higher snowfall totals will likely be recorded with snow still falling in the northern mountains Friday evening and will continue overnight. Rain has been falling in western, central, and northern parts of New Mexico today as well, but accumulations have been staying below 0.10″.
High winds have also been impacting New Mexico today with wind gusts as high as 35 to 60 mph. These winds have been creating areas of blowing dust and blowing snow in the northern mountains. Winds will slowly die down overnight as spotty rain and snow showers continue past midnight, but mostly dry up by sunrise Saturday.
Northwest winds will pick up again Saturday afternoon with wind gusts as high as 40 mph. Cooler air will move into the state as well, bringing high temperatures back down to near and below average. A few spotty rain and higher elevation snow showers will redevelop along and north of I-40 Saturday afternoon before ending late Saturday evening. Dry weather returns statewide Sunday with calm winds and temperatures staying near to below average.
Warmer weather moves in next Monday ahead of another fast moving storm system that will move in late Monday night. This storm will bring scattered rain and snow showers mainly along and north of I-40 again on Tuesday with cooler temperatures across the state. Accumulations will mostly be light with this storm. Drier and warmer weather will return starting next Wednesday.