NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Northerly to westerly surface winds are a signal of the change in the weather pattern as despite the colder start for most, temperatures have been widely varying with some passing clouds from the north but with still dry air. Bitterly colder air was present in the San Luis Valley to the Enchanted Circle, as well as from the Four Corners to the Gila National Forest, as air temperatures were just above zero to the the teens for most of those communities, while most other areas were experiencing air temperatures in the teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, and even the low 50s from west-northwest to east-southeast from high to lower elevation, but some of that colder air was settling down to the valley floors, other than the East Highlands, which are dealing with the down-sloping, milder breeze.
With some decks of mid-to-high-level clouds moving mostly south-southeast in northern areas later this afternoon with the upper-level winds, as well as the peskier surface winds from the west at the surface in the east-sloped mountain valleys, dry-enough air will lead to no precipitation because of a ridge of high pressure building from the southwest. Other than seasonably cool air this afternoon in the Pecos River Valley in the wake of later yesterday’s cooldown with today’s winds set to shift more-calmly from the east-northeast to from the south, high temperatures will be above normal for most, slightly warmer in most areas. From the morning school commute through the afternoon, temperatures will reach into the high 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and low 70s from north-northwest to south-southeast, with records likely for a couple of areas.
Despite a couple of very slight cooldowns ahead being accompanied by slightly lighter winds, generally warmer weather will continue through earlier next week as some passing upper-level clouds will continue to be a signal of slightly breezier weather returning for some areas, locally elevating the fire threat occasionally with a few areas of blowing dust possible, as well as some patchy blowing snow in the higher elevations…