Snow, lower temperatures expected statewide this weekend

Break out the winter clothing this weekend when a storm system is expected to bring cold and windy weather early Saturday, together with a likelihood of snow in much of central and northern New Mexico.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory through 1 p.m. Saturday, with snow accumulations of 3-to-6 inches expected in higher elevation areas, including the Sandia and Manzano mountains, the Santa Fe metro area and the upper Rio Grande valley.

The Albuquerque metro area could get a frosting of snow Saturday morning. Flurries were already falling Friday afternoon at the Utah State-New Mexico football game at University Stadium.

“The prime time for any snow in the Albuquerque area looks like it would be after midnight (Friday) and through Saturday morning,” said Annette Mokry, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque.

Travel could be hazardous on Saturday in some parts of the state, including Interstate 40 east to the Texas border, Interstate 25 around Glorieta Pass and from Las Vegas north to Raton Pass, which could get up to 4 inches of snow by Saturday morning.

Other areas expected to get snow include the Jemez Mountains and the Chuska Mountains in northwestern New Mexico. The front should also bring windy conditions in some areas, particularly in the higher elevations.

The wet stuff should clear out by late Saturday but low temperatures are expected to stick around well into next week.

“Sunday will be colder as the storm system exits,” Mokry said. “The Albuquerque area will only see highs in the 40s — low-to-mid 40s, actually.”

And bring those plants indoors. Widespread low temperatures well below freezing are expected throughout New Mexico into next week.

Moriarty can expect lows in the single digits Sunday and Monday. Angel Fire will be the state’s ice box with lows below zero Sunday through Wednesday. Chama and Taos can expect lows in the single digits those days.

In Albuquerque, a low of 33 is predicted on Sunday, cooling to the mid-20s Sunday through Friday.