NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Cooler air has settled into the Land of Enchantment compared to 24 hours ago. Yesterday, low to mid-level clouds stuck around before cloud coverage decreased in Albuquerque and parts of the state. That cloud coverage led to mild temperatures on Saturday morning, and today we have temperatures ranging in the 20s, 30s, and 40s throughout the state. Today, high clouds are forecasted with warmer weather compared to Saturday. Breezy conditions are also expected throughout the state this afternoon gusts in eastern New Mexico surpassing 20 mph.
On Monday, record warmth is possible throughout the state as temperatures are expected to be 10-20 degrees, or more, above normal. Records could fall in Tucumcari, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, and Farmington, depending on how much tomorrow’s cloud coverage will play a factor in the forecast. Regardless, winds will strengthen at the surface throughout the majority of this week throughout the state. On Monday afternoon, stronger upper-level winds are forecasted to enter western New Mexico, bringing windy conditions to the east and breezy conditions throughout most of the state; however, our jet stream enters the state on Tuesday, bringing even stronger winds along the central mountain chain and east. Our upper-level winds are expected to bring breezy winds in New Mexico through Friday of this week. In addition, sufficient moisture is forecasted to bring rain and snow chances back to the region.
Those rain and snow chances, right now, are particularly isolated to west and north New Mexico, along with southern Colorado. Sufficient moisture should supply those precipitation chances through Friday in the San Juan Mountains. On the other hand, dry weather will persist in eastern New Mexico for most of the time with low relative humidity. The dry weather with strong winds will create a fire risk in parts of northeast and eastern New Mexico this week. The National Weather Service (NWS) will have a Fire Watch in place for parts of Mora, San Miguel and Colfax County on Monday Afternoon. That watch will also be in place on Tuesday for several of our eastern counties…