NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Several weather alerts are covering nearly the entire state of New Mexico for the next few days as more-persistent winds are returning now with one storm system weakening over the region, all before two stronger systems arrive late this week into the early weekend; as while some northwestern areas were at or below the freezing mark, it was a milder start for most as many areas from the Rio Grande Valley to the south and east were starting off even milder with westerly winds sinking down the east slopes of the Central Mountains, creating an even warmer start in the East Highlands through parts of the Pecos River Valley compared to some of the counterpart valley-floor locations once again.
Light bands of chilly rain showers with wet mountain snow activity are dissipating through the West Mountains, the Mimbres Valley, and the Sacramento Mountains, but Northern Mountain flurries with sprinkles out east will be all that will be leftover for the rest of the afternoon with partly to mostly sunny skies as afternoon temperatures will be noticeably cooler in the 50s and 60s for most behind the system, a bit colder in some the mountain communities in the upper 40s for the most part, but still mild in the lower 70s in eastern to southern communities with a bit more of the westerly breeze picking up, the humidity dropping more, as well as the elevated to critical fire threat.
More-unstable atmospheric conditions in the form of a stronger low pressure system late this week will provide a drop in temperatures with even stronger winds potentially being damaging as while areas to the south and east will remain mostly dry with the higher fire threat being accompanied blowing dust, westerns areas through central to northern areas will have more precipitation with some blowing snow in the higher elevations.
Another chance for chilly rain showers and mountain snow will occur in the northwest half of the region on Saturday with breezy conditions leftover, but then clearer skies will return late this weekend into early next week with temperatures back on the rise with calmer winds temporarily.