High temps threaten NM’s snowpack
Gusty winds forecast for Thursday could raise fire risk
While the East Coast braces for a blizzard, New Mexicans can dig out the shorts and T-shirts and fire up the grill this week.
But don’t gloat: The dry weather and record or near-record highs forecast over the next week or more may cost New Mexico what has been a healthy snowpack this winter.
And the likelihood of strong, gusty winds on Thursday could bring an elevated risk of wildfire, particularly in the state’s eastern high plains, the National Weather Service says.
A warming trend, with temperatures in the 70s, is expected to push Albuquerque’s high to 81 by Sunday.
“I would say that every day this week in Albuquerque we will be within 1 to 4 degrees of a
record high,” said Clay Anderson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque.
A strong high-pressure system over California on Monday is expected to set up over New Mexico and Texas later in the week, keeping skies clear and dry.
The eastern high plains will experience the highest temperatures, with near-record temperatures forecast across much of eastern New Mexico by Thursday.
Predicted highs on Thursday include 88 in Roswell, 86 in Tucumcari, 77 in Albuquerque and 67 in Santa Fe. Gusty winds on the high plains on Thursday are likely to bring elevated fire risk.
A mild cold front from the north could bring some relief to the eastern plains Friday, but temperatures will remain unseasonably high.
All the warm, windy weather is likely to whittle away the state’s snowpack, said Kerry Jones, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
Snowpacks in New Mexico’s northern mountains remained healthy on Monday, with the Rio Chama Basin at 149 percent of normal and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at 98 percent of normal.
Strong high-elevation winds could prove especially damaging, Jones said.
“The snowpack is likely to see a significant melt-off here this week and going into next,” he said.