Fall bringing lower temperatures, rain to much of New Mexico

It appears the arrival of fall is bringing plunging temperatures and plenty of moisture.

Albuquerque had unseasonably high temperatures in the 80s through much of last week, including Friday, the first day of autumn. Highs will drop into the 60s later this week.

And now would be a good time to dig out the rain gear as an approaching front brings the likelihood of thunderstorms and lower temperatures by Wednesday and Thursday across much of the state.

Storms forecast for today for the eastern plains are expected to spread west into central and western New Mexico by tonight and gather strength

on Wednesday.

“Wednesday and Thursday look like storms will be very widespread,” said Jennifer Shoemake, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque. “Nearly everybody across northern and central New Mexico will have a chance at precipitation” on those days, she said.

The front entering the state from the northeast also will send temperatures dropping by midweek, with lows near freezing predicted in the higher elevations and in western New Mexico.

In Albuquerque, highs in the upper 60s and nighttime lows in the low 50s are forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.

Albuquerque’s forecast calls for a high today of 71 and a low tonight of 53. Breezy winds are likely to buffet Albuquerque this morning as the front rolls through.

A 40 percent chance of rain is forecast in Albuquerque for tonight, increasing to a 60 to 70 percent chance on Wednesday and Thursday.

Parts of Albuquerque could get up to an inch of rain over the two days.

“It all depends on where the heaviest storms set up,” Shoemake said.

The state may begin drying out and warm slightly Friday and into the weekend. The agency is predicting a 40 percent chance of rain Thursday night, slipping to a 30 percent chance on Friday.

“Friday into the weekend, there will likely be some storms around,” Shoemake said. “The question is how widespread they will be. Certainly by Sunday, chances of precipitation will lower significantly.”