Rain & Snow To End April & Welcome In May!
April 29, 2026.
Altocumulus Standing Lenticular Clouds.
Streaming Northeast Off Of The Guadalupe Mountains.
A backdoor cold front lies draped across the area this afternoon. Cooler temps overspread the area behind the front with the coolest highs in the 50s across northern and northeastern New Mexico. Highs across southeastern New Mexico ranged from near 70 in the Roswell area to the low-mid 80s in the Carlsbad area.
A reinforcing shot of cooler and more moist air will overspread the eastern half of the state on Thursday. Highs on Thursday will range from near 50 in the northeastern plains, near 60 across the eastern plains, and the 70s in southeastern New Mexico.
Friday will be a chilly, cloudy to overcast, and dreary day across much of the state from the central mountain chain eastward, with highs mostly in the 40's and 50's. Some 30's are expected in the northern mountains. Highs west of the central mountain chain will be in the 60s and 70s.
High temps from the central mountain chain east out onto the plains will be some 20 to 30 degrees below normal. Definitely sweater and jacket weather.
Areas of low clouds and fog will be possible late tonight across eastern New Mexico and along and east of the central mountain chain Thursday night into Friday.
Forecast models continue indicating that much-needed widespread beneficial rainfall will blanket most of the state from Thursday into Saturday morning. Storm totals of .50" to 1.50" look likely from the central mountain chain east out onto the plains. Isolated pockets of heavier totals will occur in those locations that experience a few scattered embedded thunderstorms.
Isolated rainfall totals of 2" to 3" are not out of the question from the mountains eastward.
A localized flash flood will also exist in those spotty locations that manage to get the heavier rains. Severe thunderstorms are not anticipated across the eastern and southeastern plains since the airmass will be too stable. A few severe thunderstorms will be possible south of I-10 in the Permian Basin Thursday afternoon and evening.
The western half of the state will still get wet, but not as much as the eastern half of the state.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Johnson and Bartlett Mesas, including Raton Pass from 3 PM MDT Thursday through midnight Friday night. New snowfall totals of 3" to 8" between 7,500' and 9,500' are forecast, and 8" to 14" above 9,500'.
A rain/snow mix is forecast in the Cloudcroft area Thursday night into Saturday. Scattered thunderstorms are also forecast. A rain/snow mix is also forecast for the Ruidoso area Friday into Saturday, along with a few scattered thunderstorms.
Ski Apache could possibly see 1" to 3" of accumulation from this storm, with less than an inch currently forecast for the Ruidoso and Cloudcroft areas. Then again, this time of the year sometimes holds surprises, so maybe there may be more snow on the ground than forecast.
Clearing skies will commence Saturday afternoon, and the storm exits stage right with a warming trend commencing Sunday. I wouldn't be surprised to see areas of low clouds and fog develop Saturday night and Sunday morning over the eastern half of the state as a result of the widespread soaking rains.
Our next hope of getting wet comes late next week...maybe.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 433 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 430 PM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026 - Rain chances begin to increase over the eastern portions of our region this afternoon, eventually spanning area-wide Thursday through Friday before tapering off through Saturday afternoon. - A few storms strong to severe storms are expected for areas south of I-10 tomorrow with large hail, heavy rain, and lightning the main threats. - Occasionally heavy rainfall may lead to localized flash flooding Thursday into Thursday night. &&
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 246 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, FIRE WEATHER... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 241 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 - A localized risk of rapid fire spread due to dry and gusty conditions will continue through the early evening over the northeast highlands of New Mexico. - Widespread rain arrives late Thursday through early Saturday with several inches of high mountain snow accumulating in northern New Mexico. Winter travel conditions are likely in the northern mountains, especially Thursday night and Friday. - Gusty east crosswinds will develop below canyons opening into the Rio Grande and Upper Tularosa Valleys Thursday night and Friday. &&
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service El Paso TX/Santa Teresa NM 230 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1231 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 - A pattern change arrives on Thursday as a Pacific system brings scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms through Friday. - Backdoor cold front gives us cooler temperatures and breezy east winds late this week. - Normal temperatures will return by Monday. &&
Winter Storm Warning
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1237 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 NMZ213>215-227-300700- /O.UPG.KABQ.WS.A.0004.260430T1200Z-260502T0600Z/ /O.NEW.KABQ.WS.W.0005.260430T2100Z-260502T0600Z/ Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains-East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass- 1237 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THURSDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT FRIDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 8 inches between 7500 and 9500 feet and 8 to 14 inches above 9500 feet. * WHERE...Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass. * WHEN...From 3 PM Thursday to midnight MDT Friday Night. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Check road conditions before heading out. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow levels will be between 9000 to 10000 feet during the onset of precipitation on Thursday, dropping to around 7500 feet Friday morning following the passage of a cold front. The period of heaviest snow is expected late Thursday night through Friday morning. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. For the latest road conditions, dial 511 or 1.800.432.4269, or visit http://nmroads.com.
&& $$ 77
At 4:30 PM MDT, Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
There Are None So Blind As Those Who "Will - Not" To See...107.
Praying for rain! ☔️
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