Central New Mexico Weather: 4/20/21

Yesterday, Socorro was beautiful- mild, sunny and only a slight breeze.

This morning, Socorro is cool, sunny and still.

From the NWS in Albuquerque, NM:  Temperatures will warm a few degrees higher today for most areas, though they are a colder over the Eastern Plains, where there may be a hard freeze tonight. The warming trend will continue through the week.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Rio Rancho, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 68 F. The winds will be from the southwest at 10-15 mph. This evening will be mostly cloudy, with a low temperature of 38 F. The winds will be from the west at 15 mph, becoming easterly after midnight. Rio Rancho is under a Wind Advisory from 9 PM until 6 AM until tomorrow morning.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Socorro, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 74 F. The winds will be from the north at 5-10 mph, becoming southerly in the afternoon. This evening will be partly cloudy, with a low temperature of 40 F. The winds will be from the south at 5-15mph, becoming easterly after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Magdalena, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 68 F. The winds will be from the west at 5-15 mph. This evening will be partly cloudy, with a low temperature of 39 F. The winds will be from the west at 10-15 mph, becoming southerly after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Mountainair, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 63 F. The winds will be from the northeast at 10-15 mph, becoming southwesterly in the afternoon. This evening will be partly cloudy, with a low temperature of 31 F. The winds will be from the west at 10-15 mph, becoming easterly after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, has issued a Wind Advisory for the edge of the Rio Grande River Valley and a Hard Freeze Warning for the Eastern Plains. The NWS Watches and Warnings graphic is shown below:

The visible satellite imagery shows cloudy skies over the eastern half of the state this morning.

The 12Z upper air sounding from Albuquerque, NM, shows a moderately humid atmosphere, with drier air above 500mb. There was 0.24 inches of precipitable water present in the column this morning. There was no Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), no Convective Inhibition (CIN), and the Lifted Condensation Level (LCL) was 2256 m. There was a tiny thermal inversion and the 0-3 km lapse rate was 6.4 C/km. The hodograph shows that the low-level shear was 34 kts (due mostly to directional changes) and the deep-layer shear was 61 kts (due mostly to directional changes).

The surface observations chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows cool temperatures and moderate humidity. Stations are reporting sunny skies, with a few stations reporting cloudy skies over the northeast (according to the sensors). The winds are light and variable.

The surface pressure chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows we are under no strong pressure system, but we are under a slight pressure gradient from the northeast to the southwest. The RAP shows that this trend will continue for at least the next six hours.

The NAM 250 mb chart shows moderate zonal flow this afternoon.

The NAM 700 mb chart and 850 mb charts continued Cold Air Advection (CAA), though it will weaken by this afternoon. This back door cold front is more visible on the 850 mb chart.

The Nested NAM simulated reflectivity chart shows a few light echoes in the northern half of the state this evening. They won’t bring much precipitation, if any at all.

The Nested NAM predicts that the high temperatures for the middle Rio Grande River Valley will reach the mid 60s F.

The Nested NAM shows the low temperatures are expected to drop into the upper 30s F by tomorrow morning.

The Nested NAM shows that the dewpoints will remain around 20 F today.

The Nested NAM shows winds may be breezy, but not damaging. This chart has been excluded from today’s post.

The Nested NAM simulated infrared chart some clouds drifting into the northern half of the state this evening.

It’s going to be mild and sunny, though the winds will increase later tonight. Even so, it’s nice having above freezing temperatures at night!

I’ll spend most of my day inside, but I will make a lap or two around campus. It is “forget my coat in my office” weather, where you need a coat in the morning, but not in the afternoon.

The forecasts from the National Weather Service are from The NWS Homepage. The upper air soundings and mesoscale analysis plots are from the Storm Prediction Center website. The satellite data, model data, and forecasted soundings are from College of DuPage – SATRAD

Weather Data: 4/12/21 – 4/18/21

Time for my 54rd week of weather station data. I had a few data drops, but nothing that the data buffer couldn’t handle. I’m not sure why the data is dropping though, so that worries me.

The high temperature of the week occurred on Wednesday afternoon of 74.7 F. We had a low temperature of 30.2 F on Saturday morning. The dewpoints ranged from 38.3 F to 1.4 F, Thursday afternoon and Monday morning, respectively.

There was 0.03 in of rain this weekend.

The strongest winds and the strongest gust (42.3 mph) occurred Thursday afternoon.

The high pressure was 30.06 in Hg (~1018 mb) on Wednesday afternoon and the lowest pressure was on Tuesday evening, dropping down to 29.63 in Hg (~1003 mb).

There was some sunshine every day last week. Sunday was cloudy off and on, as shown by the jagged peak.

Thank you for reading my post.

Central New Mexico Weather: 4/19/21

Yesterday, Rio Rancho was cool and mostly sunny. I think the total rainfall was only 0.03 in.

This morning, Rio Rancho is cool, sunny and still.

From the NWS in Albuquerque, NM:  Temperatures will warm a few degrees higher today, and the skies will remain sunny. However, a back door cold front will push into the Eastern Plains this evening, bringing with it high winds, blowing dust and much cooler temperatures for that region tomorrow.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Rio Rancho, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 68 F. The winds will be from the west at 5-10 mph, increasing to 15-20 mph in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 39 F. The winds will be from the west at 15-20 mph, decreasing to 5-10 mph after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Socorro, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 68 F. The winds will be from the north at 5-10 mph, becoming southeasterly in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 42 F. The winds will be from the west at 10 mph.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Magdalena, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 61 F. The winds will be from the west at 5-15 mph. This evening will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 37 F. The winds will be from the west at 15-20 mph.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Mountainair, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 61 F. The winds will be from the west at 5-10 mph, increasing to 15-20 mph in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 32 F. The winds will be from the west at 10-15 mph, becoming easterly after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, has issued a Wind Advisory for the eastern edge of the state. The NWS Watches and Warnings graphic is shown below:

The visible satellite imagery shows very few clouds over the state this morning. This image has been excluded from today’s post.

The 12Z upper air sounding from Albuquerque, NM, shows a moderately humid boundary layer, with drier air above 500mb. There was 0.26 inches of precipitable water present in the column this morning. There was no Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), no Convective Inhibition (CIN), and the Lifted Condensation Level (LCL) was 632 m. There was a tiny thermal inversion and the 0-3 km lapse rate was 5.9 C/km. The hodograph shows that the low-level shear was 2 kts (due mostly to directional changes) and the deep-layer shear was 20 kts (due mostly to directional changes).

The surface observations chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows cool temperatures and moderate humidity. Stations are reporting sunny skies (according to the sensors). The winds are light and variable.

The surface pressure chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows high pressure with no strong pressure gradients over the state. The RAP shows that a lee-side low is expected to develop over eastern Colorado, strengthening the pressure gradient from southwest to northeast, but only slightly through the northern part of the state.

The NAM 250 mb chart shows light to moderate northwesterly flow this afternoon, as a shortwave trough deepens southward through the Rockies.

The NAM 700 mb chart and 850 mb charts show overnight Cold Air Advection (CAA). This back door cold front is more visible on the 850 mb chart.

The Nested NAM simulated reflectivity chart shows convection is unlikely today. This, and the precipitation chart have been excluded from today’s post.

The Nested NAM predicts that the high temperatures for the middle Rio Grande River Valley will reach the mid 60s F.

The Nested NAM shows the low temperatures are expected to drop into the mid 40s F by tomorrow morning.

The Nested NAM shows that the dewpoints will remain in the 20s F, dropping into the 10s F in the afternoon, but then rising back into the 20s F in the evening.

The Nested NAM shows winds may be breezy, but not damaging. This chart has been excluded from today’s post.

The Nested NAM simulated infrared chart shows cloud cover will be limited. This chart has been excluded from today’s post.

It’s going to be mild and sunny, though the winds will increase later tonight. Even so, it’s nice having above freezing temperatures at night!

I’ll spend most of my day inside, but I will make a lap or two around campus. It is “forget my coat in my office” weather, where you need a coat in the morning, but not in the afternoon.

The forecasts from the National Weather Service are from The NWS Homepage. The upper air soundings and mesoscale analysis plots are from the Storm Prediction Center website. The satellite data, model data, and forecasted soundings are from College of DuPage – SATRAD

Central New Mexico Weather: 4/18/21

Yesterday, Rio Rancho was cool and partly sunny. It started raining sometime yesterday afternoon.

This morning, Rio Rancho is cool, cloudy and still. There is still some off and on rain.

From the NWS in Albuquerque, NM:  An upper level low is developing over the Four Corners region, which is continuing to bring light moisture into the state. A weak storm system is moving in, bringing some light mountain snow as well. Even so, moisture is limited due to the position of the upper-level low, as it is a bit too far west to draw Gulf moisture.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Rio Rancho, NM) a mostly cloudy day, with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms, and a high temperature of 54 F. The winds will be from the northeast at 5-10 mph, becoming southerly in the afternoon. This evening will be partly cloudy, with a low temperature of 33 F. The winds will be from the south at 5-10 mph, becoming light and variable after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Socorro, NM) a cloudy day, with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high temperature of 53 F. The winds will be from the northeast at 5-10 mph. This evening will be partly cloudy, with a low temperature of 37 F. The winds will be from the east at 5 mph, becoming calm after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Magdalena, NM) a cloudy day, with a 40% c chance of morning snow (< 0.5 in), becoming rain showers with an possible thunderstorm, with a high temperature of 46 F. The winds will be from the east at 10 mph. This evening will be partly cloudy, with a 20% chance of showers and a low temperature of 31 F. The winds will be from the east at 5-10 mph, becoming westerly after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Mountainair, NM) a mostly cloudy day, with a 40% chance of morning snow (< 0.5 in), becoming rain showers with an possible thunderstorm, and a high temperature of 47 F. The winds will be from the southeast at 10-15 mph. This evening will be partly cloudy, with a low temperature of 29 F. The winds will be from the southeast at 5-10 mph, becoming light and variable after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, has issued a few Winter Weather Advisories for the northern mountains. The NWS Watches and Warnings graphic is shown below:

The visible satellite imagery shows cloud cover over most of the state this morning.

The 12Z upper air sounding from Albuquerque, NM, shows a humid boundary layer, with drier air above 450 mb. There was 0.35 inches of precipitable water present in the column this morning. There was no Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), no Convective Inhibition (CIN), and the Lifted Condensation Level (LCL) was 748 m. There was no thermal inversion and the 0-3 km lapse rate was 6.1 C/km. The hodograph shows that the low-level shear was 14 kts (due mostly to directional changes) and the deep-layer shear was 55 kts (due mostly to directional changes).

The surface observations chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows cool temperatures and moderate humidity. Stations are reporting sunny skies at a few stations in the northeastern corner of the state, and cloudy skies elsewhere (according to the sensors). The winds are light and variable.

The surface pressure chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows high pressure over the northeastern New Mexico, leading to a slight pressure gradient through our area. The RAP shows the pressure will rise slightly, statewide, decreasing the pressure gradient.

The NAM 250 mb chart shows strong, zonal flow, becoming weaker this afternoon.

The NAM 700 mb chart and 850 mb charts show no strong thermal advection. They have been excluded from today’s post.

The Nested NAM simulated reflectivity chart shows convection will decrease and be isolated by midday.

Precipitation is possible statewide, but little is expected after midday.

The Nested NAM predicts that the high temperatures for the middle Rio Grande River Valley will reach the mid 50s F.

The Nested NAM shows the low temperatures are expected to drop into the lower 40s F by tomorrow morning.

The Nested NAM shows that the dewpoints will remain in the mid to upper 20s F.

The Nested NAM shows strong winds are near afternoon thunderstorms, but winds are not impressive today. This chart has been excluded from today’s post.

The Nested NAM simulated infrared chart shows cloud cover will decrease through the afternoon, though it never disappears entirely.

It’s going to be cool and wet again today. The rain should taper off by this afternoon.

I’ll spend most of my day inside. I am about to make a trip to the gym, because it is too wet to go for a run outside.

The forecasts from the National Weather Service are from The NWS Homepage. The upper air soundings and mesoscale analysis plots are from the Storm Prediction Center website. The satellite data, model data, and forecasted soundings are from College of DuPage – SATRAD

Satellite Image of the Week 2021 #16

This week’s image was taken yesterday over New Mexico.

You might recognize this image from yesterday’s visible satellite image. It is. However, I wanted to highlight a feature on it, which I didn’t do on yesterday’s post.

A back door cold front (one that approaches the state from the east or northeast) was impacting the eastern half of the state yesterday. I could mark it with wind shifts, temperatures and a small line of clouds.

Look closely over the eastern part of the state, then look at the image below. I marked the cold air in blue.

For our troubles, we are 10 F cooler today in the Albuquerque Metro area, and have quite a bit more moisture. There is even a chance of rain this afternoon and evening associated with the passing cold front (as well as an upper-level low over the Four Corners region).

Thank you for reading this post!

Source:

College of DuPage – SATRAD

Central New Mexico Weather: 4/17/21

Yesterday, Rio Rancho was mild, partly sunny and very windy in the evening.

This morning, Rio Rancho is mild, mostly sunny and there are some light winds. I saw a few snow flurries this morning, though they melted on contact.

From the NWS in Albuquerque, NM:  An upper level low is developing over the Four Corners region, which is helping to pump moisture into the state. Rain showers and mountain snow showers are possible this afternoon and overnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Rio Rancho, NM) a partly sunny day, with a 30% chance of showers and a high temperature of 54 F. The winds will be from the southeast at 10-15 mph. This evening will be cloudy, with a 70% chance of showers and a low temperature of 36 F. The winds will be from the southwest at 10 mph, becoming easterly after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Socorro, NM) a partly sunny day, with a 60% chance of showers and maybe a thunderstorm, with a high temperature of 60 F. The winds will be from the east at 10 mph, becoming northerly in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly cloudy, with an 80% chance of showers and a low temperature of 37 F. The winds will be from the east at 5-10 mph.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Magdalena, NM) a partly sunny day, with a 70% chance of rain and maybe a thunderstorm, with a high temperature of 52 F. The winds will be from the east at 10 mph, becoming southerly in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly cloudy, with a 70% chance of rain becoming a 50% chance of snow (<1 in) and a low temperature of 33 F. The winds will be from the east at 5-10 mph.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Mountainair, NM) a mostly cloudy day, with a 40% chance of showers and a high temperature of 51 F. The winds will be from the east at 10-15 mph. This evening will be cloudy, with a 70% chance of rain becoming a 40% chance of snow showers (<1 in) and a low temperature of 31 F. The winds will be from the east at 10-15 mph.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, has issued a few Winter Weather Advisories for the northern mountains. The NWS Watches and Warnings graphic is shown below:

The visible satellite imagery shows cloud cover over the eastern half of the state, as well as a few light clouds over the west.

The 12Z upper air sounding from Albuquerque, NM, shows a humid boundary layer, with drier air above 500 mb. There was 0.31 inches of precipitable water present in the column this morning. There was no Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), no Convective Inhibition (CIN), and the Lifted Condensation Level (LCL) was 999 m. There was a tiny thermal inversion and the 0-3 km lapse rate was 5.6 C/km. The hodograph shows that the low-level shear was 16 kts (due mostly to directional changes) and the deep-layer shear was 77 kts (due mostly to directional changes).

The surface observations chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows cool temperatures and moderate humidity. Stations are reporting sunny skies at a few stations in the western half of the state, and cloudy skies elsewhere (according to the sensors). The winds are light and variable.

The surface pressure chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows high pressure over the Great Plains, and low pressure over the northern Mexico, leading to a slight pressure gradient through our area. The RAP shows this trend will continue for the next six hours.

The NAM 250 mb chart shows strong, zonal flow over the state by this afternoon.

The NAM 700 mb chart and 850 mb chart show Cold Air Advection (CAA) has decreased its spread. These charts have been excluded from today’s post.

The Nested NAM simulated reflectivity chart shows convection is possible today, with stronger convection in the west.

Precipitation is possible statewide with today’s convection.

The Nested NAM predicts that the high temperatures for the middle Rio Grande River Valley will reach the mid 50s F.

The Nested NAM shows the low temperatures are expected to drop into the lower 40s F by tomorrow morning.

The Nested NAM shows that the dewpoints will rise into the 30s F this afternoon.

The Nested NAM shows strong winds are near afternoon thunderstorms, but winds are not impressive today. This chart has been excluded from today’s post.

The Nested NAM simulated infrared chart shows cloud cover will increase this afternoon and evening.

It’s going to be colder and wetter than it has been for quite some time.

I’ll spend most of my day inside. We may go for a drive later today.

The forecasts from the National Weather Service are from The NWS Homepage. The upper air soundings and mesoscale analysis plots are from the Storm Prediction Center website. The satellite data, model data, and forecasted soundings are from College of DuPage – SATRAD

Central New Mexico Weather: 4/16/21

Yesterday, Rio Rancho was mild, partly sunny and very windy.

This morning, Rio Rancho is mild, mostly sunny and there are some light winds.

From the NWS in Albuquerque, NM: Unsettled weather is expected through the next few days. The first of several cold fronts is expected to push into the eastern half of the state today, lowering temperatures and creating strong canyon winds. There is also a sharp dryline running north to south through the state, with extremely dry air over the west.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Rio Rancho, NM) a mostly sunny day, with a high temperature of 65 F. The winds will be from the northwest at 10 mph, becoming southwesterly in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly cloudy, with a low temperature of 37 F. The winds will be from the southwest at 10-15 mph, becoming easterly by midnight. Rio Rancho will be under a High Wind Warning from 9 PM until 6 PM (4/17).

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Socorro, NM) a mostly sunny day, with a high temperature of 70 F. The winds will be from the north at 5-10 mph, becoming southerly in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly cloudy, with a low temperature of 38 F. The winds will be from the south at 10-15 mph, becoming easterly after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Magdalena, NM) a partly sunny day, with a high temperature of 62 F. The winds will be from the northwest at 5-10 mph, becoming westerly in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly cloudy, with a low temperature of 33 F. The winds will be from the west at 5-15 mph, becoming easterly after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Mountainair, NM) a partly sunny day, with a high temperature of 60 F. The winds will be from the west at 5-10 mph. This evening will be mostly cloudy, with a 20% chance of isolated snow showers (no accumulation) and a low temperature of 31 F. The winds will be from the west at 5-10 mph, becoming easterly at 15-20 mph and gusting to 30 mph by midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, has issued a High Wind Warning this evening, which includes Rio Rancho and the western part of the Albuquerque Metro area.

The visible satellite imagery shows light clouds over the south. Also, notice the thin band of convection along the edge of the back door cold front. I’ll talk more about this during the Satellite Image of the Week post (tomorrow).

The 12Z upper air sounding from Albuquerque, NM, shows a dry atmosphere today. There was 0.20 inches of precipitable water present in the column this morning. There was no Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), no Convective Inhibition (CIN), and the Lifted Condensation Level (LCL) was 2101 m. There was a tiny thermal inversion and the 0-3 km lapse rate was 6.4 C/km. The hodograph shows that the low-level shear was 18 kts (due mostly to directional changes) and the deep-layer shear was 92 kts (due mostly to directional changes).

The surface observations chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows mild temperatures and very low humidity. Stations are reporting sunny skies (according to the sensors) and the winds are light and variable.

The surface pressure chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) is unavailable at this time.

The NAM 250 mb chart shows very strong, zonal flow over the state by this afternoon.

The NAM 700 mb chart and 850 mb chart show Cold Air Advection (CAA) poking into the northeastern corner of the state.

The Nested NAM simulated reflectivity chart shows convection is possible today, statewide, as the cold front surges west.

There may even be some precipitation associated with these echoes, particularly east of the central mountain chain.

The Nested NAM predicts that the high temperatures for the middle Rio Grande River Valley will reach the mid 60s F.

The Nested NAM shows the low temperatures are expected to drop into the upper 30s F by tomorrow morning.

The Nested NAM shows that the dewpoints will rise into the upper 10s F, as moisture surges behind the back door cold front. There is a sharp dryline over eastern New Mexico, but it is migrating west.

The Nested NAM shows strong winds are possible near the cold front and along the mountains, particularly this afternoon and evening.

The Nested NAM simulated infrared chart shows cloud cover will increase this afternoon and evening.

It’s going to be mild and windy today in Rio Rancho.

I’ll spend most of my day inside, but I will try to go for a walk later today.

The forecasts from the National Weather Service are from The NWS Homepage. The upper air soundings and mesoscale analysis plots are from the Storm Prediction Center website. The satellite data, model data, and forecasted soundings are from College of DuPage – SATRAD

Central New Mexico Weather: 4/15/21

Yesterday, Rio Rancho was mild, partly sunny and still.

This morning, Rio Rancho is cool, cloudy and breezy.

From the NWS in Albuquerque, NM:  Temperatures will remain a few degrees below normal today. Winds will be breezy and the fire risk will be high. A strong, back door cold front will impact the region tomorrow, bringing unsettling weather and perhaps some precipitation.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Rio Rancho, NM) a mostly cloudy day, becoming sunny with a high temperature of 75 F. The winds will be from the northwest at 10-20 mph, becoming westerly at 20-30 mph, and gusting to 40 mph in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 38 F. The winds will be from the northwest at 25-30 mph, gusting to 40 mph, but then decreasing to 15-20 mph after midnight. Rio Rancho is under a Red Flag Warning from 12 PM until 8 PM, and a Wind Advisory from 2 PM until 7 PM.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Socorro, NM) a partly sunny day, with a high temperature of 79 F. The winds will be from the south at 10-15 mph, increasing to 20-25 mph, gusting to 35 mph in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 40 F. The winds will be from the west at 20-25 mph, gusting to 35 mph, becoming northwesterly at 10-15 mph after midnight. Socorro is under a Red Flag Warning from 12 PM until 8 PM, and a Wind Advisory from 2 PM until 7 PM.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Magdalena, NM) a partly sunny day, with a high temperature of 68 F. The winds will be from the southwest at 10-20 mph, increasing to 20-30 mph and gusting to 40 mph in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 34 F. The winds will be from the west at 25-30 mph, gusting to 40 mph, but then decreasing to 15-20 mph after midnight. Magdalena is under a Red Flag Warning from 12:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Mountainair, NM) a partly sunny day, with a high temperature of 68 F. The winds will be from the east at 10-20 mph, becoming southwesterly at 20-30 mph and gusting to 40 mph in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 37 F. The winds will be from the west at 20-30 mph, gusting to 40 mph, but then decreasing to 10-20 mph after midnight. Mountainair is under a Red Flag Warning from 12 PM until 8 PM, and a Wind Advisory from 2 PM until 7 PM.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, has issued a Red Flag Warning for half of the state through 8 PM tonight. The NWS Watches and Warnings graphic is shown below:

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Critical Fire Weather Risk for most of New Mexico. Downslope flow, a deepening surface low (that will increase the pressure gradient) and very low humidity are contributing to this threat.

The visible satellite imagery shows overcast and mostly cloudy skies this morning.

The 12Z upper air sounding from Albuquerque, NM, shows a moderately humid boundary layer, dry air at 550 mb, but high humidity above 500 mb. There was 0.30 inches of precipitable water present in the column this morning. There was no Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), no Convective Inhibition (CIN), and the Lifted Condensation Level (LCL) was 1009 m. There was a tiny thermal inversion and the 0-3 km lapse rate was 6.4 C/km. The hodograph shows that the low-level shear was 31 kts (due mostly to directional changes) and the deep-layer shear was 80 kts (due mostly to directional changes).

The surface observations chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows mild temperatures and moderate humidity. Stations are reporting cloudy skies in the east and sunny skies in the west (according to the sensors) and the winds are light and variable.

The surface pressure chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows we are under low pressure with the center of low pressure to our west and strong high pressure to our northeast, leading to a sharp pressure gradient through our area. The low pressure system is expected to strengthen, sharpening our pressure gradient over the next six hours.

The Fosberg Index is expected to rise into the 80s over the next six hours in the northwestern corner of the state.

The NAM 250 mb chart shows extremely strong, zonal flow over the state by this afternoon.

The NAM 850 mb chart shows some cold air lingering over the northeastern corner of the state.

The Nested NAM simulated reflectivity chart shows some convection over the eastern half of the state today.

There may even be some precipitation associated with these echoes.

The Nested NAM predicts that the high temperatures for the middle Rio Grande River Valley will reach the mid 70s F.

The Nested NAM shows the low temperatures are expected to drop into the lower 40s F by tomorrow morning.

The Nested NAM shows that the dewpoints will drop into the negative numbers this afternoon. There is a sharp dryline over eastern New Mexico.

The Nested NAM shows winds will be strong this afternoon.

The Nested NAM simulated infrared chart shows clouds will decrease slightly, but they never really go away.

It’s going to be mild and windy today in Rio Rancho.

I’ll spend most of my day inside, but I will try to get out and tinker in my shed a bit later today.

The forecasts from the National Weather Service are from The NWS Homepage. The upper air soundings and mesoscale analysis plots are from the Storm Prediction Center website. The satellite data, model data, and forecasted soundings are from College of DuPage – SATRAD

Central New Mexico Weather: 4/14/21

Yesterday, Socorro was mild, partly sunny and still.

This morning, Rio Rancho is mild, hazy and still.

From the NWS in Albuquerque, NM:  Temperatures will remain a few degrees below normal today. Winds will be breezy in the western and central parts of the state as the pressure gradient tightens from high pressure in the Great Plains.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Rio Rancho, NM) a mostly sunny day, with a high temperature of 74 F. The winds will be from the east at 15 mph, becoming southerly in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly cloudy, with a low temperature of 45 F. The winds will be from the south at 15-20 mph, becoming southeasterly at 5-10 mph after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Socorro, NM) a mostly sunny day, with a high temperature of 80 F. The winds will be from the south at 10-15 mph, increasing to 15-20 mph, gusting to 30 mph in the afternoon. This evening will have increasing clouds, with a low temperature of 49 F. The winds will be from the south at 15-20 mph, gusting to 30 mph, decreasing to 5-10 mph after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Magdalena, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 72 F. The winds will be from the south at 10-20 mph. This evening will be mostly cloudy, with a low temperature of 42 F. The winds will be from the southwest at 15-20 mph, decreasing to 10-15 mph after midnight. Magdalena is under a Red Flag Warning from 12:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Mountainair, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 70 F. The winds will be from the south at 10-15 mph, increasing to 20-25 in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly cloudy, with a low temperature of 42 F. The winds will be from the south at 15-25 mph, decreasing to 5-15 mph after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, has issued a Red Flag Warning for half of the state through 8 PM tonight. The NWS Watches and Warnings graphic is shown below:

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Critical Fire Weather Risk for a swath of western New Mexico. Downslope flow, diurnal heating and very low humidity are contributing to this threat.

The visible satellite imagery shows light clouds over the eastern half of the state this morning.

The 12Z upper air sounding from Albuquerque, NM, shows a dry boundary layer, but moderate humidity above 400 mb. There was 0.39 inches of precipitable water present in the column this morning. There was no Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), no Convective Inhibition (CIN), and the Lifted Condensation Level (LCL) was 1265 m. There was a tiny thermal inversion and the 0-3 km lapse rate was 5.4 C/km. The hodograph shows that the low-level shear was 25 kts (due mostly to directional changes) and the deep-layer shear was 66 kts (due mostly to directional changes).

The surface observations chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows mild temperatures and moderate humidity. Stations are reporting cloudy skies in the east and sunny skies in the west (according to the sensors) and the winds are light and variable.

The surface pressure chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) shows we are under no strong pressure systems, but there is strong low pressure to our northwest and strong high pressure to our northeast, leading to a sharp pressure gradient through our area. The low pressure system is expected to strengthen, sharpening our pressure gradient over the next six hours.

The Fosberg Index is expected to rise into the 70s over the next six hours in the northwestern corner of the state.

The NAM 250 mb chart shows strong, zonal flow over the state by this afternoon.

The NAM 850 mb chart shows some Cold Air Advection (CAA) from the east.

The Nested NAM simulated reflectivity chart shows a little convection over the center of the state. There is very little precipitation associated with these small echoes.

The Nested NAM predicts that the high temperatures for the middle Rio Grande River Valley will reach the mid 70s F.

The Nested NAM shows the low temperatures are expected to drop into the upper 40s F by tomorrow morning.

The Nested NAM shows that the dewpoints will remain into the 20s F today. There is a sharp dryline that parallels the central mountain range today.

The Nested NAM shows winds will be strong in the northwestern corner of the state this afternoon, shifting to the mountains in the evening.

The Nested NAM simulated infrared chart shows increasing clouds into the evening.

It’s going to be mild, sunny and breezy today in Rio Rancho.

I’ll spend most of my day inside, but I will try to get out and tinker in my garden a bit later today.

The forecasts from the National Weather Service are from The NWS Homepage. The upper air soundings and mesoscale analysis plots are from the Storm Prediction Center website. The satellite data, model data, and forecasted soundings are from College of DuPage – SATRAD

Central New Mexico Weather: 4/13/21

Yesterday, Socorro was mild, partly sunny and still.

This morning, Socorro is mild, partly sunny and still.

From the NWS in Albuquerque, NM:  Slightly cooler temperature and increased moisture is possible over the next few days. A few isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon. A low is expected to drop over the northwestern corner of the country, setting up an omega block pattern for the country.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Rio Rancho, NM) a partly sunny day, with a 20% chance of isolated thunderstorms, and a high temperature of 70 F. The winds will be from the southeast at 15-25 mph. This evening will be cloudy, with a 20% chance of isolated thunderstorms, and a low temperature of 43 F. The winds will be from the east at 15-20 mph, gusting to 30 mph, becoming southeasterly at 10-15 mph after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Socorro, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 77 F. The winds will be from the northeast at 10-15 mph, becoming southerly at 20-25 mph in the afternoon. This evening will be partly cloudy, with a low temperature of 45 F. The winds will be from the south at 15-25 mph, gusting to 35 mph, decreasing to 5-15 mph after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Magdalena, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 70 F. The winds will be from the southeast at 5-15 mph, increasing to 15-25 mph. This evening will be partly cloudy, with a low temperature of 43 F. The winds will be from the west at 20-25 mph, decreasing to 10-15 mph after midnight.

The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Mountainair, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 68 F. The winds will be from the east at 15-25 mph, becoming southerly in the afternoon. This evening will be partly cloudy, with a low temperature of 39 F. The winds will be from the southeast at 15-25 mph, gusting to 35 mph, then decreasing to 5-15 mph after midnight.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a Critical Fire Weather Risk for a swath of southwestern New Mexico. Downslope flow, diurnal heating and a strengthening low (which will increase the pressure gradient) are contributing to this threat.

The visible satellite imagery shows light clouds over the northern half of the state this morning.

The 12Z upper air sounding from Albuquerque, NM, shows a dry boundary layer, but moderate humidity above 500 mb. There was 0.36 inches of precipitable water present in the column this morning. There was no Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), no Convective Inhibition (CIN), and the Lifted Condensation Level (LCL) was 1640 m. There was a tiny thermal inversion and the 0-3 km lapse rate was 4.9 C/km. The hodograph shows that the low-level shear was 24 kts (due mostly to directional changes) and the deep-layer shear was 71 kts (due mostly to directional changes).

The surface observations chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) is unavailable at this time.

The surface pressure chart (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) is unavailable at this time.

The NAM 250 mb chart shows moderate to strong, zonal flow over the state by this afternoon.

The NAM 700 mb and 850 mb charts show thermal advection has weakened. These charts have been excluded from today’s post.

The Nested NAM simulated reflectivity chart shows a little convection over the northwestern corner of the state. There is very little precipitation associated with these potential thunderstorms.

The Nested NAM predicts that the high temperatures for the middle Rio Grande River Valley will reach the lower 70s F.

The Nested NAM shows the low temperatures are expected to drop into the mid 40s F by tomorrow morning.

The Nested NAM shows that the dewpoints will remain into the 20s F today.

The Nested NAM shows winds will be moderate, and will increase this evening, especially in the mountains.

The Nested NAM simulated infrared chart shows decreasing clouds through the morning, but they never quite go away entirely.

It’s going to be mild, sunny and breezy today in Socorro. I admit that I cringed when I saw the words “omega block” this morning, as that may put a damper on storm chasing.

The forecasts from the National Weather Service are from The NWS Homepage. The upper air soundings and mesoscale analysis plots are from the Storm Prediction Center website. The satellite data, model data, and forecasted soundings are from College of DuPage – SATRAD