NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Calmer winds for most and slightly lower temperatures are starting off across the majority of the region, except for parts of the Rio Grande Valley to southern areas, which are starting off slightly milder than yesterday morning because of slightly stronger northerly winds which are mixing the air around along the valley floors a little bit more. Record to near-record warmth will develop with the ridge of high pressure to the south allowing for dry air in place while steering in some afternoon clouds region-wide, signaling in the next pattern change.
To start across the region from northwest to southeast, temperatures are in the upper single digits, teens, 20s, 30s, and lower 40s with noticeably colder air in the Northeast Highlands, but slightly milder air in Southeast New Mexico.
Other than some mid-to-high-level clouds moving mostly to the east-southeast with south-southeasterly to westerly surface winds set to pick up a bit from the Pecos River Valley to the east-sloped mountainous areas, dry air will still lead to no precipitation. High temperatures will be higher for all, except for slightly lower high temperatures in southeastern areas, but either way, some records may be broken in western areas with above-normal temperatures for all. From the morning school commute throughout the afternoon, temperatures will reach into the 40s, 50s, 60s, and low 70s from north-northeast to south-southwest.
Temperatures will continue to slightly rebound once again into the early weekend for some with even stronger westerly downsloping winds eventually returning, elevating the fire threat with some blowing dust, as well as blowing snow in the Northern Mountains, as a storm system brings far-northern mountain snow with some valley rain, setting the stage for a more moist, cloudier, and colder week next week with another potential snowstorm by Tuesday.