Special Weather Statement

Above, the mesas after a storm last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

From the National Weather Service:

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
305 AM MST Wed Jan 15 2020

NMZ201>241-152300-
Northwest Plateau-Chuska Mountains-Far Northwest Highlands-
Northwest Highlands-West Central Plateau-West Central Mountains-
West Central Highlands-Southwest Mountains-
San Francisco River Valley-Tusas Mountains Including Chama-
Jemez Mountains-Glorieta Mesa Including Glorieta Pass-
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains-
East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Upper Rio Grande Valley-
Espanola Valley-Santa Fe Metro Area-
Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area-
Lower Rio Grande Valley-
Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood-Estancia Valley-
Central Highlands-South Central Highlands-Upper Tularosa Valley-
South Central Mountains-
Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass-
Far Northeast Highlands-Northeast Highlands-Union County-
Harding County-Eastern San Miguel County-Guadalupe County-
Quay County-Curry County-Roosevelt County-De Baca County-
Chaves County Plains-Eastern Lincoln County-
Southwest Chaves County-San Agustin Plains and Adjacent Lowlands-
305 AM MST Wed Jan 15 2020

...MOUNTAIN SNOW WEST AND NORTH ALONG WITH A WINTERY MIX OF
RAIN...SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF THE
EASTERN PLAINS THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY...
...VERY STRONG WEST WINDS FRIDAY NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO...

A complex weather pattern will impact northern and central New
Mexico Thursday through Friday. Initially, subtropical moisture
streaming over New Mexico will overrun a colder and drier airmass
associated with a cold front forecast to sag into the eastern
plains today and into the Rio Grande Valley tonight. This combination
will bring widespread rain and snow to the west and north, as
well as potential for a wintery mix of precipitation to portions
of the eastern plains. There is considerable uncertainty, but at
this time it appears the Interstate 40 corridor from the Clines
Corners area to Tucumcari as well as locales north to Clayton and
south to Clovis may have the greatest potential of seeing areas of
freezing rain resulting in slick and hazardous travel conditions
Thursday morning.

Mountain snow continuing Thursday night will taper off Friday,
with the greater accumulations anticipated across the northern
mountains. Snow accumulations are also possible stretching from
the Las Vegas to Santa Fe and Estancia areas and along the
Continental Divide. The remainder of Friday will feature very
strong and possibly damaging westerly winds gusting to around 60
mph along the Sangre de Cristo mountains into northeast New Mexico
as the subtropical moisture is swept out of the state and an
upper disturbance swings through the central Rockies.

Anyone planning travel through northern and central New Mexico
Thursday through Friday should be prepared to encounter adverse
weather conditions. Monitor NOAA weather radio, weather.gov/abq or
your local media for the latest weather updates. For the latest
New Mexico road conditions visit nmroads.com or call 5-1-1.