Special Weather Statement

 

Above, a zoom shot of one of the mesas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
342 AM MST Tue Dec 8 2020

NMZ201>241-090000-
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-
342 AM MST Tue Dec 8 2020

...CHANGE TO UNSETTLED AND COOLER WEATHER THURSDAY THROUGH
SATURDAY WITH POTENTIAL FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW...

Tranquil and warmer than normal weather will come to an end
Thursday with unsettled and cooler than average conditions
expected through Saturday.

The first storm system will cross New Mexico Thursday, initially
spreading rain and very high terrain snow over southwest New
Mexico by Thursday morning. Precipitation will progress farther
north and east over the state during the day. The greater snow
accumulations of up to 4 to 8 inches look to be focused over the
higher mountain peaks of Catron County before the system exits
Thursday night.

Colder northwest flow aloft will impact the state Friday into
Saturday, lowering snow levels and bringing potential for gusty
northwest winds. High temperatures will cool to 5 to 15 degrees
below normal area wide by Saturday. The greater potential for
snow accumulations is focused over north central and northeast
New Mexico Friday and Friday night. However, there is still
considerable uncertainty regarding the severity of winter weather
impacts for northern and eastern New Mexico due to forecast model
differences.

Monitor NOAA weather radio, weather.gov/abq or your local media
for the latest updates on this changing weather situation,
especially if your plans include traveling through northern and
eastern New Mexico Friday through Saturday.