I plan on staying inside..... And tying flies...... Jimi STRONG ARCTIC COLD FRONT DUE TUESDAY NIGHT OR WEDNESDAY IN SE NM!
Bitter cold polar air continues to pool across the Yukon territories of Northwestern Canada with temperatures ranging from - 40 F to - 50 F and this airmass is on the move southward and is headed for New Mexico. A strong surface high is forecast to build into Utah and Colorado by Thursday with a forecasted central pressure reading of 1052 MB or 31.07 inches of mercury. The computer models typically have difficulty with the timining and strength of arctic air masses and they are struggling with this one as well. Early indications are that the polar air will arrive in Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas sometime Tuesday night or Wednesday. Our high temperatures on Wednesday will be reflective of the arrival of the bitter cold air, if the arctic front arrives early then our high temp's may not get much above the freezing mark and if it slows down a little then our highs will be in the 40-50 degree range. It is looking like our highs next Thursday may not reach much above the freezing level or possibly even lower. A huge mid-upper level trough of low pressure is forecast to deepen as it dives southward into the Southern Rockies by the middle of next week and this will tighten up the pressure gradient from the Surface to the Jet Stream level. Therefore, strong downsloping southwesterly winds are forecast to develop over the area by Tuesday, which will likely aggravate the fire danger. Dry gusty downsloping southwesterly winds will increase into the 30-40 mph range across the Guadalupe Mountains and Southeastern New Mexico plains Tuesday. Above normal temperatures are forecast over the area Sunday through Wednesday with highs ranging from the low 70's to near 80. A few light sprinkles are possible across Southeastern New Mexico Sunday night and Monday as mid level moisture increases out ahead of an approaching short wave trough of low pressure. No significant rainfall totals are expected however. Area residents are urged to stay abreast of the local weather conditions during this upcoming workweek and be prepared for a drastic change towards winter like weather with much below normal temperatures and a chance for light snow by Wednesday into Friday. Overnight low temp's may dip down into the single digits and teens across the area by Friday morning. Please log onto www.srh.weather.gov/maf, www.srh.weather.gov/abq, www.srh.weather.gov/epz for all of our local forecasts, watches, warnings, and special weather statements concerning this impending winter weather outbreak!
