Cold Winter Storm To Affect SE NM Next Week!

This Mornings 12Z/5 AM MST European (ECMWF) 500 MB

Forecast Valid At 5 AM MST Tue Feb 1, 2011.

This Mornings 12Z/5 AM MST European (ECMWF) 500 MB

Forecast Valid At 5 AM MST Wed Feb 2, 2011.

This Mornings 12Z/5 AM MST European (ECMWF) 500 MB

Forecast Valid At 5 AM MST Thu Feb 3, 2011.

This Mornings 12Z/5 AM MST GFS 850 MB/5,000' MSL

Temp Forecast Valid At 5 AM MST Wed Feb 2, 2011.

This Mornings 12Z/5 AM MST GFS Surface Temp

Forecast Map Valid At 5 AM MST Wed Feb 2, 2011.

Click On The Maps Above To Enlarge Them.

Turning Much Colder & A Chance For A Wintry Mix!

Latest National Weather Service Special Weather Statements!

Special Weather Web Briefing From NWS Albuquerque!

So far this afternoon I have managed to reach 72 for an afternoon high here at my home in Carlsbad, NM Most other reporting stations across the local area are in the general neighborhood temperature-wise. Sunday and Monday will see similar readings

This mornings 12Z/5 AM MST run of the computer forecast models, are doing a little better with the track of the next winter storm, that is due to impact our local weather next week, although the details are still pretty murky.

However, one thing is pretty clear. A powerful arctic/polar cold front is forecast to arrive in southeastern New Mexico Monday night, and when it does, you are going to sit up and take notice believe me.

Rapidly falling temperatures, along with gusty northerly to northeasterly winds, will produce bone chilling wind values behind the front late Monday night into Tuesday. Wind chill values may fall down into the single digits to near zero by Tuesday morning. Wind chill values of -20F are possible across NE NM early Tuesday morning.

Temperatures across southeastern New Mexico are forecast to drop down below freezing late Monday night, and may not climb above the freezing mark until next Friday!

Forecast High Temps Tuesday

Low Temps Tuesday Night.

Lubbock 21/8

Clovis 23/7

Hobbs 24/11

Artesia 29/12

Carlsbad 29/15

Forecast High Temps Wednesday

Low Temperatures Wednesday Night.

Clovis 16/6

Lubbock 18/7

Hobbs 23/13

Artesia 26/13

Carlsbad 29/13

Forecast High Temps Thursday

Low Temperatures Thursday Night.

Clovis 28/14

Lubbock 31/16

Hobbs 32/16

Artesia 30/21

Carlsbad 32/17

These forecast temperatures will change between now and the first of next week. If we see accumulating snowfall across southeastern New Mexico, then there is the potential that some of these readings will be on the high side. This will be especially true of our overnight low temp's once the snow stops, and the skies clear. I would not be at all surprised to see some locations bottom out with low temperatures below zero next week.

A wintry mixed bag of precipitation is forecast for the local area Monday night into Wednesday night. This may start off with light rain late Monday night, which may quickly change of to light freezing rain or sleet for a little while, and then over to all snow by Tuesday. At this time only light accumulations are being forecast for the local area, but this could change depending upon the track of the mid-upper level winter storm, and the available moisture supply. Significant snowfall totals will be possible across NE-E and Central NM next week.

The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction!