Storm Is Coming

Above, only a few days ago, we had nice weather here. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like we're in for some turbulent weather over the weekend starting tomorrow.

The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement:

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
213 AM MST Thu Mar 11 2021

NMZ201>241-112300-
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-
213 AM MST Thu Mar 11 2021

...SPRING LIKE STORM SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO BRING STRONG AND
GUSTY WINDS AS WELL AS CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...
...POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FAR EAST CENTRAL
PLAINS LATE FRIDAY...
 ...TURNING COOLER WITH ACCUMULATING SNOW NORTHERN AND WESTERN
MOUNTAINS OVER THE WEEKEND...

An upper level storm system churning over central California
early this morning will continue to affect northern and central
New Mexico with a variety of weather today and through the weekend
before finally departing to our east.

Strong and gusty south to southwest winds will continue at times
over the region through Friday, and critical fire weather
conditions will redevelop this afternoon over much of the area
along and east of Interstate 25 and along and south of Interstate
40. Critical fire weather conditions will reappear over a similar
area on Friday afternoon.

As the storm system draws closer to New Mexico Friday, low level
moisture will surge into the far eastern plains. There is
potential for isolated strong thunderstorms late Friday afternoon
and Friday night near the Texas border in the East Central Plains.

The storm is forecast to track across New Mexico over the weekend.
Temperatures will trend cooler, ranging from about 5 to 15 degrees
below normal. Accumulating snow will be possible across the
northern and western high terrain along with isolated short lived
thunderstorms. Gusty winds and critical fire weather conditions
will continue to impact portions of the Middle Rio Grande Valley
to the East Central Plains on Saturday. Winds will turn
northwesterly on Sunday but remain strong and gusty, especially
over the southwest half of the state.

The storm will exit New Mexico by early Monday, but forecast
models indicate another upper low will cross northern New Mexico
Monday night and Tuesday before the weather becomes less active.