A stretch of warm weather continues across New Mexico through the weekend as the winds pick up. Showers and storms are likely for parts of the state by Saturday.
High temperatures are above average again Thursday across New Mexico. One isolated storm develop in extreme northeast New Mexico, but the rest of the state has stayed dry again. Winds will start picking up all across New Mexico Friday afternoon, with wind gusts up to 35. This will bring a high fire danger in the Rio Grande Valley Friday afternoon with more well-above average high temperatures. A few isolated showers and storms are possible in eastern New Mexico as well Friday afternoon.
Moisture will surge west across New Mexico Friday night. It will even make it as far west as the Rio Grande Valley and the Continental Divide by sunrise Saturday. While the moisture makes it that far west, the chance for rain will stay east of the central mountain chain. Some of these showers and storms will start late Friday night/early Saturday morning. Another round of showers and storms are likely in eastern New Mexico Saturday afternoon and evening. Some of these storms from late Friday through Saturday night could produce locally heavy rain, with hail, lightning, and gusty winds.
Much windier weather will develop by Sunday afternoon, bringing dry air back to the entire state. Wind gusts up to 55 mph will be possible Sunday afternoon, bringing areas of blowing dust and a very high fire danger. Areas that see rain though on Saturday in eastern New Mexico will likely see a lesser threat of blowing dust. Temperatures will also be much warmer Sunday with the wind and drier air. The exception is northwest New Mexico where a cold front will start moving through Sunday afternoon.
High temperatures will be back down to around average for this time of year early next week as the winds die down.