Heavy Snow Possible for New Mexico & Colorado

Above, the front yard two weeks ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Snow is expected to move into Colorado and New Mexico Wednesday night and Thursday.

According to a map in WeatherNation, our area is forecast to possibly receive 6" of the white stuff.

They begin with:

Snow is on the way in New Mexico and parts of Colorado, but the biggest uncertainty is for eastern Colorado and western Kansas and where the freezing line sets up. The temperature forecast will have larger implications for who sees rain versus snow versus ice. In the snowfall forecast above, the Baron model favors colder air region-wide (red line below) with the heavier snow threat for the southeast Plains of Colorado. Right now both models agree on cold enough air in place to support snow from Denver south into New Mexico.

To read more, go here.

It's Officially Monsoon Season

Above, monsoon storm over the mesas last July. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As of yesterday, Monsoon Season officially started in the Southwest region of the United States. This includes the Gallup-Jamestown area of New Mexico.

It begins on June 15 and runs to September 30.

Actually, I am looking forward to the electrical storms that accompany monsoon storms.

According to WeatherNation:

Monsoon season has officially kicked off in the southwest US. Although the word “monsoon” may have you thinking rain, the term actually refers to a large scale change in the overall weather pattern allowing an influx of moisture. This can cause a wide array of weather impacts. 

Here’s how the pattern sets up. The hot, summer, desert sun sky rockets temperatures in the desert. Warm air has a natural tendency to rise (because it is less dense than the air around it), creating a center of low pressure at the surface. Because nearby large bodies of water do not warm as quickly, their pressure remains higher relative to the thermal low. Eventually, the cooler and more humid air from over water moves toward the hot, dry land. 

To read more, go here.

The forecast for tonight and tomorrow from the National Weather Service:

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms before 9pm, then isolated showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.