Near-record February heat headed for New Mexico

Warm weather will sweep through the state this week after a spring-like storm brought whipping winds earlier this month.

Temperatures across the Land of Enchantment will reach highs of 80 and 90 degrees, potentially bringing in record-high weather for this time of year, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Guyer.

"It's going to be really nice and much warmer this week, in fact, well above normal and some record highs are possible," he said on Monday. "It should be nice and warm, more like late March and April." 

An unusually strong area of high pressure developing over the southwestern United States is causing temperatures to scale higher than average, Guyer said, causing New Mexico to feel the embrace of spring much earlier than its actual arrival.

The forecast is a stark contrast to weather in the East Coast, where a powerful winter storm has pummeled the area with intense rates of snow that shuttered New York and caused snow plows to be knocked out of commission in Rhode Island. 

Albuquerque will see temperatures gradually creep up throughout the week, starting in the low-70s on Tuesday before warming up to the mid-70s around Wednesday afternoon. By the weekend, Guyer said, temperatures could reach 80 degrees in Albuquerque.

"If we did hit 80, that would be the earliest on record for Albuquerque," he said. 

Wind speeds in Albuquerque are forecast to peak around Tuesday or Wednesday at around 30-35 mph. The highest wind speeds are expected to occur near Las Vegas and Clines Corners. 

Whipping winds may shake up piñon and juniper trees across the state, which could cause pollen counts to soar and increase allergens, Guyer said.

Northern New Mexico, including Santa Fe and Taos, are expected to see temperatures in the low- to mid-60s before warming for the weekend, with wind speeds expected to be between 5 and 15 mph.

Eastern New Mexico will feel the heat more than the rest of the state, with cities like Roswell reaching close to 90 degrees by Wednesday with high humidity later in the week.

The entirety of the eastern portion of the state will be under a red flag warning on Tuesday and Wednesday, meaning that the area will have critical fire weather conditions that can increase the potential of wildfires. 

Wind speeds that are expected to sail through eastern New Mexico will also elevate the risk of rapid fire spread in the area, according to the NWS website. Across the region, gusts could range between 40-5o mph.

"Folks need to be cautious with any sparks or open flames," Guyer said. "Don't park on dry grass and properly discard cigarettes and things like that." 

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.