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A cold front moving into New Mexico on Tuesday night is expected to send temperatures plummeting and increase snow chances before the state warms up toward the end of the week.
“Colorado is going to be getting the majority of the precipitation (Tuesday), but we will start to see parts of the Four Corners and northern New Mexico get in on that precipitation overnight,” said Scott Overpeck, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Albuquerque.
Tuesday in Albuquerque is expected to reach 54 degrees.
Albuquerque has a 40% chance of precipitation on Tuesday. Rain is possible before 11 p.m., and then could change to a mix of rain and snow.
Wind gusts could reach 35 mph in the city Tuesday night.
Peak snowfall from the storm is expected on Wednesday morning from 2 to 11 a.m.
Santa Fe could see a total of 1 to 2 inches of snow on Tuesday and Wednesday. About 5 to 6 inches of snow is possible in Las Vegas over the two days.
Clines Corners, Santa Rosa and Tucumcari could see 2 to 3 inches.
Road travel could be difficult Wednesday, including on Interstate 25 from Glorieta to Raton and Interstate 40 from Clines Corners to Tucumcari.
“If you do have to get out, make sure people know where you’re going, check the forecast and have emergency supplies,” Overpeck said.
Albuquerque will be mostly cloudy Wednesday morning, with a 20% chance of snow before 11 a.m.
The city is expected to have a low of 28 degrees and a high of 45. Wednesday afternoon should be sunny.
New Mexico’s precipitation chances should drop off sharply on Thursday.
Albuquerque has a forecast high of 46 degrees on both Thursday and Friday.
“Cold temperatures (will remain) up in the mountains and the higher terrain, so we’ll be able to hold on to any snowfall there,” Overpeck said. “Most areas may be trending up a little more as we get into the weekend.”
The weekend is expected to be mostly sunny in Albuquerque, with high temperatures of 50 degrees on Saturday and 52 on Sunday.
Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal.
