Snow, gusty winds in store for New Mexico
Hold on to your hats — high winds are in store for the Albuquerque area.
A winter storm was expected Monday night, bringing snow and blustery winds to central and northern New Mexico, according to National Weather Service meteorologists.
Most of Albuquerque will receive little snow from the storm, thanks to a phenomenon weather experts call the Albuquerque snow hole.
As cold, dense air hits Albuquerque from the east, high winds develop in the canyons between the Sandia Mountains.
Tuesday’s storm could cause wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph on the east side of
Albuquerque.
The canyon winds cause air to sink and compress as they move down into the valley, leading to snow-free areas over much of the Albuquerque area.
Snow will be concentrated on the West Mesa, and the Albuquerque area is expected to receive 1 to 2 inches of snow by Tuesday night. Strong crosswinds and blowing snow are likely on Interstate 25.
The Department of Family and Community Services will keep the Westside Emergency Housing Center open 24 hours Tuesday to provide for those in need.
Santa Fe could receive about 3 inches of snow from the storm. Six inches is expected for Santa Rosa, and meteorologists forecast that Clines Corners and Las Vegas will each receive 8 inches of snow by Tuesday afternoon, which could affect highway travel.
“February has been a pretty lean month for the past couple years when it comes to winter storms, so a good, heavy snow in February is welcome, although we will see some travel impacts,” said Kerry Jones, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Albuquerque.
On Tuesday, temperatures in most of central and northern New Mexico will be around freezing. Winds will likely calm down by Tuesday night. The rest of the week will be dry and slightly warmer.
Travel conditions are available at nmroads.com or by calling 511. Updated snow totals and forecasts can be viewed at weather.gov/abq.