Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Albuquerque, NM
Issued by NWS Albuquerque, NM
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975 FXUS65 KABQ 081808 AAB AFDABQ Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1108 AM MST Fri Nov 8 2024 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1108 AM MST Fri Nov 8 2024 - A major winter storm continues to impact north central and northeast NM with heavy snowfall and blizzard-like conditions through early this evening. Dangerous to impossible travel can be expected with several road closures well into the overnight. - The weight of wet snow on trees will result in downed branches that can fall on power lines. Expect scattered power outages. - Freezing fog will be a concern this morning (75% to 90% chance of occurrence) in the northwest and central valley areas. Lower confidence on Saturday morning (35% to 50% chance). && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 223 AM MST Fri Nov 8 2024 A major winter storm continues to slowly chug its way across the state, bringing impressive snow totals to the northern mountains and northeast New Mexico that will be measured in feet. Stronger surface winds over the northeast plains will create blizzard-like conditions into the evening. Several road closures and vehicular accidents have already been reported and will continue throughout most of the day. As skies clear in the wake of the storm, freezing fog will develop this morning and again Saturday morning, creating poor visibilities and slippery roads. The system will finally lose its grip on New Mexico tonight with an extended period of mostly dry weather forecast thereafter. Warmer temperatures are forecast for early next week, but will be limited in areas with significant snow cover. It appears a weaker disturbance will track through the area on Tuesday, bringing very light snow showers to the northern mountains, cooler readings and gusty winds. This system will seem tame compared to the ongoing storm system. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Saturday) Issued at 223 AM MST Fri Nov 8 2024 The center of a strong upper level low pressure system will shift from over Belen early this morning northeastward to the TX/OK panhandles by sunset, then northward along the CO/KS border this evening. Precipitation coverage is forecast to gradually decrease from the southwest as the storm system gradually shifts northeastward with mostly rain over southeast areas, a rain/snow mix over east central areas, and snow elsewhere. Additional snow amounts from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains eastward will probably reach 4-12 inches, except up to 2 feet on Bartlett and Johnson Mesas near Raton. A few to 7 inches of snow are forecast west of the Sangres to the Tusas and Jemez Mountains, and a few inches from the Sandia and Manzano Mountains eastward to the Caprock of southern Quay County. With this forecast package we will cancel Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories elsewhere. Blowing snow will continue to impact Colfax and Union Counties today and this evening, where north wind gusts up to 45 mph are forecast. Since snow and blowing snow will continue over far northeast areas through this evening, we will extend the Blizzard Warning there through this evening. Aside from the snow, there will be areas of freezing fog this morning mainly over central and western areas where there is fresh snow on the ground, including much of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Santa Fe. The freezing fog will probably return to areas that still have snow on the ground tonight into Saturday morning, but mainly west of the central mountain chain due to light downslope flow further east. After high temperatures around 15 to 28 degrees below 1991-2020 averages today, readings should rebound a few to around 12 degrees on Saturday. Low temperatures tonight will be quite cold with readings mostly in the teens and 20s, except for low 30s along and southeast of a line from Clovis to Roswell. The Roswell area can expect its first freeze of the season early Saturday morning. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday night through Thursday) Issued at 223 AM MST Fri Nov 8 2024 The long term outlook features a lot of subtle differences in the model guidance, but overall, the trends will generally favor drier weather conditions given a lack of significant moisture intrusions. Sunday will feature zonal flow or a low amplitude ridge across NM, supporting mostly sunny skies, slightly warmer temperatures and a few afternoon breezes lee of the central mountains. The primary fly in the ointment is how much snow cover will remain in place and how much of a factor will it have on temperatures. A weak perturbation in the flow will migrate through the central Rockies for Sun night, bringing no more than a few high clouds to CWA. The next system is progged to dive into the northwest U.S., then progress eastward towards the high plains on Tuesday. Trends found within the cluster analysis continues to favor a more shallow and faster system (65% chance) while the remaining solution suggests a slower trajectory with below normal heights. Primary concerns will be centered around stronger winds and have slightly nudged speeds above NBM guidance. Still maintained the low (10%-20%) probability for snow showers in the northern mountains, but confidence in this scenario is waning with each passing model run. Temps will succumb to CAA in the wake of a Pacific front. Warming returns for the late work week period as a more pronounced ridge traverses the region. DPorter && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1108 AM MST Fri Nov 8 2024 IFR and MVFR conditions from low clouds and BR will gradually break from southwest to northeast this afternoon as an upper level low exits the state. However, they will linger across north central and far northeast areas, including KSKX, KSAF, and KRTN due to wrap around moisture on the backside of the low. Some icing will be possible on some aircraft in and around KSAF due to localized areas of BR and FZDZ. VFR conditions return for many sites this evening and overnight. However, one exception will be across the the upper and middle RGV, including KSAF and KABQ, and west slopes of the Tusas and Sangre de Cristo Mountains where MVFR and IFR conditions look to develop due to low clouds, fog and freezing fog developing and persisting overnight through just after sunrise. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 223 AM MST Fri Nov 8 2024 As a winter storm gradually exits toward the northeast, wetting precip will favor locations along and east of the Tusas, Jemez, Sandia, and Manzano Mountains today with lingering snow accumulation along and east of Raton Pass this evening. A few inches to almost 2 feet of additional snow accumulation are expected with the heaviest amounts up around Raton Pass. After high temperatures around 15 to 28 degrees below 1991-2020 averages today, readings will rebound Saturday through early next week as dry weather returns. After widespread poor ventilation today through Monday, there will be areas of improvement on Tuesday as winds become gusty in response to an upper level trough passing north of NM. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 26 49 24 53 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 25 44 11 53 / 10 10 0 0 Cuba............................ 20 40 19 47 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 18 49 17 57 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 18 45 23 53 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 18 48 17 55 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 21 48 21 56 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 27 48 27 53 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 24 48 25 55 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 21 59 22 66 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 28 64 34 70 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 22 40 16 51 / 30 10 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 23 38 26 47 / 5 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 21 40 27 50 / 5 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 22 38 21 47 / 40 0 0 0 Red River....................... 20 33 17 42 / 40 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 20 35 7 45 / 30 0 0 0 Taos............................ 21 40 16 48 / 30 0 0 0 Mora............................ 20 43 23 53 / 20 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 27 45 19 53 / 10 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 23 38 26 46 / 5 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 24 39 21 45 / 5 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 30 44 30 49 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 28 45 25 50 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 29 47 22 51 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 27 45 25 49 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 28 48 20 51 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 29 47 24 50 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 27 47 19 51 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 27 47 22 50 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 27 48 22 51 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 28 43 27 47 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 27 45 24 49 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 31 54 27 56 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 24 39 24 45 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 27 41 26 47 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 24 40 19 47 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 26 41 13 47 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 21 37 23 45 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 24 41 20 47 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 26 43 21 49 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 32 51 32 60 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 27 48 32 58 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 20 38 22 46 / 50 0 0 0 Raton........................... 19 43 19 50 / 40 0 0 0 Springer........................ 20 40 16 46 / 20 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 18 43 22 51 / 5 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 26 40 26 48 / 50 0 0 0 Roy............................. 23 39 22 45 / 10 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 28 47 26 55 / 5 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 29 43 30 50 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 30 50 27 59 / 5 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 33 57 34 65 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 32 58 35 65 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 29 53 32 60 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 37 63 36 69 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 32 61 34 68 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 31 63 32 71 / 0 0 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Blizzard Warning until 11 PM MST this evening for NMZ227-230. Winter Storm Warning until 5 PM MST this afternoon for NMZ210- 213-214-216. Winter Storm Warning until 11 AM MST this morning for NMZ211-212- 217-218-221>223-233-239. Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST this morning for NMZ234. Blizzard Warning until 5 PM MST this afternoon for NMZ215-228- 229-231. Blizzard Warning until 11 AM MST this morning for NMZ232. Freeze Warning from 11 PM this evening to 8 AM MST Saturday for NMZ238. && $$ SHORT TERM...44 LONG TERM....46 AVIATION...71