NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Rain, snow, and lightning strikes have moved across New Mexico as strong winds are covering across most of the region with several weather alerts almost covering the entire state as persistent winds will remain as another storm system arrives tomorrow with more chances for dust, fire danger, as well as blowing snow, as while almost the entire northwestern two-thirds of the region have dropped below the freezing mark with colder air on the backside of the potent Pacific front, it’s still very mild for now for some areas in the Pecos River Valley with southwesterly winds sinking down the east slopes of the Sacramento Mountains through the Guadalupe Mountains.
Unstable atmospheric conditions in the form of the powerful low pressure system in the Northern Mountains is dragging down colder air aloft in the form of potentially damaging winds to come today, especially in the East Highlands with areas to the southeast, warming up to several degrees on either side of 60 degrees, will remain mostly dry with the higher fire threat being accompanied by widespread blowing dust, while westerns areas through central to northern areas will have lingering precipitation with some blowing snow in the higher elevations as temperatures will struggle to reach the 40s for most with even colder air in the mountains.
Another chance for chilly rain showers and mountain snow will occur in the northwest half of the region tomorrow 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.