Thursday morning forecast: Rain chances will increase Friday

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A fast-moving storm system is quickly departing to the east-southeast and had already moved from the Texas Panhandle into Oklahoma.

Most of the precipitation associated with this system fell across the central Colorado Rockies. However, higher elevations in the northern Sangre de Cristo and Tusas mountains picked up light snowfall, mainly a dusting.

High pressure is already building over the central Colorado Rockies and will move into New Mexico by this evening. Most of the state will feel its effects, with abundant sunshine, seasonable temperatures and light winds. Eastern and southeastern New Mexico will be a bit breezier as the departing storm and incoming high pressure tighten the pressure gradient. Winds could reach 10 to 20 mph in some areas.

Cooler air continues to filter in behind the front that moved through the state. Morning lows have dropped into the 30s for most locations, although a handful of communities remain in the 40s and a few are holding in the 50s. Wind chill values are running about 5 to 10 degrees colder than the actual air temperature.

Clouds will increase Thursday night ahead of a weak disturbance expected to move southeast across the Great Basin and Southwest on Friday before tracking into southeastern New Mexico on Saturday.

Forecast models are now in better agreement on the system’s track and impacts. Rain chances will increase Friday afternoon across western New Mexico and expand into central New Mexico by Friday evening. The best chances for precipitation will be across southern New Mexico, beginning earlier Friday and continuing into Saturday. There is about a 10% chance a few showers reach the Albuquerque metro Friday evening.

Snow showers will also be possible at higher elevations across parts of western and north-central New Mexico. Any rainfall or snowfall is expected to remain light, although locally higher totals could occur beneath heavier or more organized showers.

High pressure will build back into the region behind the disturbance, bringing pleasant conditions for the second half of the weekend. The quiet weather pattern is expected to continue through at least the first half of next week.

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