A Winter Surprise In April -Tonight Through Saturday Night!
January 24, 2023.
Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Dark Canyon Road - West Of Carlsbad.
Major Winter Storm Coming!
Mother Nature has decided to give us one more reminder that winter isn't through with New Mexico yet. The hardest hit areas look to be the northern mountains, northeastern and eastern New Mexico where a Winter Storm Watch (see below) remains in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon. This will likely be upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning in my opinion with additional Winter Storm Warnings or Winter Weather Advisories possible for other areas of the state along and east of the mountains.
Scattered rain showers will increase tonight across the state. Rain will change over to snow in the mountains later tonight. A few isolated thunderstorms are possible tonight into Friday across the eastern one-half of the state from the mountains eastward into West Texas.
A strong backdoor cold front will sweep southward and westward through the state Friday night into early Saturday morning. Strong northerly winds will accompany the frontal passage along with falling temperatures and blustery conditions as rain changes over to snow in the Winter Storm Watch areas.
Highs across the eastern one-half of the state on Saturday won't get out of the 30's. A hard freeze looks in store for many areas Sunday morning, especially in those areas that have snow cover. Lows in the Sacramento mountains may drop as low as the low teens.
Wind chill temperatures on Saturday across the eastern one-half of the state and the mountains will be in the teens and 20's.
Heavy snow, blowing snow, and drifting snow will make travel dangerous perhaps impossible in some areas covered under the Winter Storm Watch. Road closures are possible. Power lines and tree limbs may be brought down from the heavy wet snow and northerly winds gusting up to 55 mph.
A heavy wet snow also looks possible over the Sacramento and Capitan mountains. 2" to 6" is forecast above 6,000'. If the storm is stronger and slower than currently forecast then the higher elevations could see over a foot of snow. Lesser amounts are forecast for the Guadalupe's.
Southeastern New Mexico will see a rain and snow mix Saturday into Saturday night roughly north of a Roswell and Hobbs line. At this time light accumulations are possible. South of that line snow could mix in with the rain at times but no accumulations are currently forecast.
Instead, a cold rain with blustery conditions is forecast for the Artesia-Carlsbad-Jal areas. Rainfall totals may end up in the three-quarters of an inch to the two-inch range. See the attached forecast precipitation and snowfall maps below.
There are some indications that this storm developing to our northwest may slow down in its eastward trek across southern New Mexico and northern Mexico Friday night into Saturday night. If this happens then the chances for heavier than currently forecasted rainfall and snowfall totals would increase. And winter weather impacts would be more widespread across the state.
Additional changes in our local forecasts may be needed along with additional Winter Storm Watches/Warnings/Advisories so keep abreast of your local weather conditions. Now is the time to prepare. Range livestock, farm animals, and outdoor pets will be impacted by this winter storm.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 338 PM MDT Thu Apr 3 2025 ...New SYNOPSIS, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, FIRE WEATHER... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 237 PM MDT Thu Apr 3 2025 - Significant snow is expected over the Northern Mountains, northeast and east central New Mexico Friday through Saturday, though some rain may mix with snow at low elevations at times. Minor to moderate travel impacts are likely. Confidence is high for widespread wetting precipitation. - Cold, with near record low max temperatures for eastern New Mexico on Saturday. Temperatures throughout the state will be 15 to 40 degrees below normal. - A warming trend begins on Sunday and continues through mid week. Dry conditions will prevail through this period. &&
Valid At 3 PM MDT Thursday, April 3, 2025.
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 242 PM MDT Thu Apr 3 2025 NMZ210-211-040445- /O.EXA.KABQ.WS.A.0006.250404T2100Z-250406T0000Z/ Tusas Mountains Including Chama-Jemez Mountains- 242 PM MDT Thu Apr 3 2025 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 6 inches are possible, with locally heavier amounts of up to 12 inches for areas above 7500 feet. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Jemez Mountains and Tusas Mountains Including Chama. * WHEN...From Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow. Travel could be very difficult. Tire chains may be necessary if traveling through mountain passes. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday evening commute. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. && $$ NMZ234-235-040445- /O.EXA.KABQ.WS.A.0006.250405T0300Z-250406T0000Z/ Quay County-Curry County- 242 PM MDT Thu Apr 3 2025 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 6 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. * WHERE...Curry County and Quay County. * WHEN...From Friday evening through Saturday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow. Travel could be very difficult. Tire traction will be reduced. Extend the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. This includes along portions of I-40. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Strong winds could cause extensive damage to trees and power lines. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. && $$ NMZ213>215-227-040445- /O.CON.KABQ.WS.A.0006.250404T2100Z-250406T0000Z/ Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains-East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass- 242 PM MDT Thu Apr 3 2025 ...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches are possible, with locally heavier amounts of up to 18 inches for areas above 7500 feet. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass. * WHEN...From Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow. Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Some roads may be closed. Significant travel delays are possible. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. && $$ NMZ212-223-228>233-040445- /O.CON.KABQ.WS.A.0006.250405T0300Z-250406T0000Z/ Glorieta Mesa Including Glorieta Pass-Central Highlands-Far Northeast Highlands-Northeast Highlands-Union County-Harding County-Eastern San Miguel County-Guadalupe County- 242 PM MDT Thu Apr 3 2025 ...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 5 inches are possible, with locally heavier amounts of up to 7 inches for areas above 7500 feet. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph. * WHERE...Central Highlands, Guadalupe County, Glorieta Mesa Including Glorieta Pass, Eastern San Miguel County, Far Northeast Highlands, Harding County, Northeast Highlands, and Union County. * WHEN...From Friday evening through Saturday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow. Travel could be very difficult. Tire traction will be reduced. Extend the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. This includes along portions of I-40 and parts of I-25 from Raton Pass to Glorieta. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. && $$ 25
There Are None So Blind As Those Who "Will - Not" To See...107.
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