Yesterday was cold, sunny and still.
This morning has been cold, sunny and still as well.
The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Rio Rancho, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 41 F. The winds will be from the north at 5 mph, becoming west in the afternoon. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 25 F. The winds will be from the north at 5 mph.
The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Socorro, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 52 F. The winds will be from the north at 5-10 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 26 F. The winds will be from the northwest at 5 mph.
The NWS in Albuquerque, NM, forecasts (for Magdalena, NM) a sunny day, with a high temperature of 46 F. The winds will be from the northwest at 5 mph, becoming east in the afternoon. This evening will be mostly clear, with a low temperature of 24 F. The winds will be from the south at 5 mph, becoming west by midnight.
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 shows a dry atmosphere with no saturated layers. There was 0.17 inches of precipitable water present in the column. There was no Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) and no Convective Inhibition (CINH). The Lifted Condensation Level (LCL) was 754 m. There was a small but thick thermal inversion near the surface, and the 0-3 km average lapse rate was 2.1 C/km.
The hodograph shows that there was 9 kts low-level shear (due mostly to directional changes) and 30 kts deep-layer shear (due mostly to speed changes).
The surface observations (from the SPC Mesoscale Analysis Map) show extremely cold temperatures and low humidity (based on the surface dewpoint depressions). The skies are clear (according to the sensors), and the winds are light and variable.
The surface pressure chart shows high pressure has settled over the state, with no strong pressure gradients in any direction. The RAP shows that this will persist for at least the next six hours.
The NAM 250 mb chart shows light northwesterly flow over the state as an upper-level low continues east through Texas and the Deep South.
The NAM 850 mb chart shows that the cold air has finished its westward run. There is no more Cold Air Advection (CAA), and so this chart has been excluded from today’s post.
The HRRR simulated reflectivity shows precipitation is unlikely. This chart has been excluded from today’s post.
The HRRR predicts that the high temperatures for the Rio Grande River Valley will peak around 22 Z, reaching into the mid 50s F.
HRRR shows that the the dewpoints will remain low, reaching only into the low teens F.
The HRRR shows strong wind gusts are unlikely today. This chart has been excluded from today’s post.
The HRRR shows that a few clouds may drift into the area this afternoon and evening.
Today will remain chilly, but sunny and still.
Thank you for reading my post.
Sources:
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
High Plains Chasing 