It was a beautiful last Sunday of January across New Mexico with plenty of sunshine, slightly above-average temperatures, and calm conditions. Temperatures will continue to gradually warm each day this week as a ridge of high pressure builds over the state. Upper-level clouds will move across the state tomorrow, with thicker cloud coverage arriving Tuesday/Wednesday.
A very weak disturbance will push north from the Baja Peninsula on Tuesday. This will increase moisture across far southern New Mexico, bringing more cloud coverage into Wednesday. An isolated, light sprinkle cannot be ruled out but high pressure will keep the state dry most of this week. Temperatures will warm through Thursday with 70s returning to southern New Mexico, 60s and 50s farther north.
By Friday, our next big weathermaker will be approaching the state. It will bring widespread high-elevation snow and low-elevation rain across the state. The storm will also usher in cooler temperatures, lowering snow levels into Saturday morning. This could potentially bring snow to the Albuquerque metro and create some tricky travel this weekend. Exact intensity, timing, and location of the heaviest precipitation is still uncertain. Get outside and enjoy this week’s sneak peek of spring before cooler and wetter weather arrives into next weekend.