First Look At Our Next Winter Storm Due Next Weekend?
January 9, 2026. Backlit Snowshower. West Of Hope, New Mexico. Finally, something to look at in the forecast models and write about. All three of the deterministic forecast models (GFS, ECMWF, GEM) are latching onto a potential winter storm developing as a closed low off the California coast late next week. Then sliding towards New Mexico next weekend. It may phase with a long wave trough of low pressure swinging across the northern Rockies and plains. Naturally, a week out and it's too early to try and get cute with the details, but today's model runs paint a pretty messy winter storm from New Mexico east into Louisiana next weekend. With lots of freezing rain, sleet, and snow. You know the drill, we will have to wait until the middle or end of next week to get a better look at what this storm will have to offer. For now, wet and turning colder is on the table with a mix of wintry precipitation, including heavy snow, especially in the state's mountains.