11-22-2018.
Carlsbad, NM Thanksgiving Morning.
Fast Moving Storm Means High Winds - Blowing Dust Today.
Valid At 11 PM MST Thursday Night.
GFS 500 MB (18,000' MSL) Forecast.
Valid At 5 PM MST Friday Evening.
Taking a look at the upper air charts we find that a digging negatively tilted mid-upper level trough of low pressure was approaching Western New Mexico as of 3 AM MST this Friday morning. This fast moving winter storm will be centered in Northeastern New Mexico by sunset this afternoon.
Valid At 11 PM MST Thursday Evening.
Surface Map Forecast.
Valid At 5 AM MST Friday Morning.
Valid At 11 AM MST Friday Morning.
Valid At 5 PM MST Friday Evening.
A fast moving Pacific cold front was located in central Arizona around midnight. This cold front will blast eastward today and by sunrise it will be located in Southeastern New Mexico. By sunset it is forecast to be approaching the Dallas-Fort Worth area .
Fast Moving Winter Storm Produce High Winds Locally.
We've Been Lucky So Far This Fall - Few High Wind Events.
This changes today with our first widespread high wind event...oh joy right? In fact at 2:20 AM MST this morning the automated weather station located on Salinas Peak in the Organ Mountains was reporting a southwest wind at 43 mph gusting to 75 mph. That's never a good sign to see the winds cranking this high before sunrise.
Strong southwesterly to westerly winds are forecast to rake the local area today as this fast moving winter storm blows through the state today. High Wind Warnings are in effect for the Guadalupe Mountains of Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas into Saturday morning. These winds are forecast to increase to sustained speeds of 40 to 60 mph with gusts near 85 mph. This could possibly lead to U.S. Highway 62/180 being closed temporarily in the Pine Springs and Guadalupe Pass area. For local road conditions visit my Winter Weather Page.
Wind Advisories are in effect for the local area today as well. Southwesterly to westerly winds are forecast to increase this morning to sustained speeds of 30-40 mph with gusts near 55 mph. Localized areas of blowing dust will also occur. This will be problematic over and near the following areas today: Freshly plowed or exposed farmlands and fields. Construction sites and open large lots and other bare areas of ground void of grasses and vegetation. Sudden drops in the visibility down to zero with little to no advanced warning will be possible in some of these areas during the strong gusts.
The fire danger will be high today also so it would be a good idea to refrain from any outdoor activity that involves the use of sparks or flame. Any wildfire that may start will have the ability to quickly grow and spread in the very dry conditions and high wind gusts.
(Issued At 3 AM MST Friday).
Valid At 5 PM MST Sunday.
Today's storm will drop 2" to 5" of snow on the higher peaks of the Sacramento and Capitan Mountains. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the southern Sac's today. Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for parts of Western and Northern New Mexico also. A second trough of low pressure aloft is forecast to impact the state on Sunday bringing additional snowfall and colder temps.
I recorded a high temp of 78º here at our home in Carlsbad Thursday afternoon. You can say goodbye to those readings starting today and continuing into next week. Progressively colder weather is on tap for the area as these two winter storm clear the state by the first of the week and leave a colder air mass in place in their wake.
Today.
Saturday.
Sunday.
Monday.
(As Of Thursday, November 29, 2018).
Its not even winter yet and already this season is off with a bang as far as snowfall is concerned. We've pretty much missed out so far here in the Southeastern Plains of New Mexico. Although we did see some light snow flurries a couple of weeks ago. Not to worry I still think this is going to change. Our snowiest month of the year is December.
The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction - And Sometimes It Hurts!
