Wolves can be released in NM again
State could even see some snow as far south as Interstate 40 on Saturday
New Mexico should prepare for a final fling with winter by the weekend, with gusty winds, cool weather, and some rain and mountain snow in the forecast.
The worst impacts are likely on Friday and Saturday, when the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the eastern plains could get snow as far south as Interstate 40.
The storm will deliver “one last, little experience with a winter-like storm system,” said Andy Church, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque can expect sunny skies and highs in the upper 60s and low 70s today and Thursday. Gusty winds are expected to pick up Thursday.
The city had its first taste of moisture since April 1 on Tuesday when a quarter inch or less of rain fell across much of the metro area. Quarter-inch hail was observed in Rio Rancho and near Kirtland Air Force Base.
Wetter, cooler weather likely will settle into New Mexico on Friday, when rain and thunderstorms are forecast across much of the state.
“A lot of that rain is going to change over to snow Friday night into Saturday,” particularly in northeastern New Mexico, Church said. Snow could make for dicey travel conditions Saturday on Interstate 25 north of Las Vegas.
In Albuquerque, chances of rain will increase Friday afternoon, with a high temperature of 53 predicted. Saturday will bring a 40 percent chance of rain and a high of 56.
New Mexico’s eastern plains will get the worst of it this weekend.
Low temperatures are expected to dip to around freezing Saturday night as far south as Santa Rosa, with subfreezing temperatures predicted for the northeast.
“This system looks like it’s going to be cold enough that it could snow in the eastern plains as far south as I-40” on Saturday, Church said.