Warm, dry weather pattern to persist

Thunderstorm chances remain low throughout the weekend

A dry and warm pattern that began midweek in central and northern New Mexico will persist next week as strong high pressure continues to build over the state, meteorologists from the National Weather Service said.

Thunderstorm chances will remain low through the weekend, with storms generally favoring the higher terrain.

“We’re not going to have very much moisture in the atmosphere to work with, so it’s going to be a very dry and very warm pattern across New Mexico,” said Daniel Porter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque.

High temperatures across the state will reach several degrees above normal.

Highs in Albuquerque will be in the upper 80s today and Sunday under sunny skies. Low temperatures are expected in the lower 60s through Tuesday.

Meteorologists said they are keeping an eye out for the remnants of a tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico that was forecast to move over the Big Bend area of Texas by today. Forecasters expect remnant tropical moisture to spread south and southwest of the Big Bend into Sunday while high pressure keeps hold over New Mexico.

Into next week, however, the forecast will likely focus on this remnant of tropical moisture over Mexico that could stage itself for a northward move into New Mexico.

“It’s something to monitor ... as we go into next week,” Porter said.