Winter Storm Warning 11, NWS Albuquerque, NM

638 
WWUS45 KABQ 242238
WSWABQ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
338 PM MST SAT DEC 24 2016

...QUICK HITTING BUT POTENT WINTER STORM TO IMPACT WESTERN AND
NORTHERN NEW MEXICO TONIGHT THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY...

.A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING SNOW AND HIGH WINDS TO THE LAND
OF ENCHANTMENT TONIGHT THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY. SNOW WILL ARRIVE
TONIGHT AND PERSIST INTO CHRISTMAS MORNING...RESULTING IN A WHITE
CHRISTMAS FOR MANY LOCATIONS ACROSS CENTRAL AND WESTERN NEW
MEXICO. HOWEVER...STRONG WINDS BEHIND A POTENT COLD FRONT WILL
RESULT IN BLOWING SNOW AND LOW VISIBILITIES. TRAVEL WILL BE
ADVERSELY IMPACTED. BOTH THE WINDS AND SNOW SHOULD SUBSIDE LATE
CHRISTMAS DAY.

NMZ510-513-514-250500-
/O.CON.KABQ.WS.W.0011.161225T0000Z-161226T0000Z/
SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET-
338 PM MST SAT DEC 24 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST SUNDAY...

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...6 TO 10 INCHES EXCEPT GREATER THAN ONE
  FOOT OVER THE PEAKS AND HIGHER WEST FACING SLOPES OF THE SAN
  JUAN MOUNTAINS.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE THIS EVENING BECOMING STEADIER
  AND HEAVIER OVERNIGHT. SNOW WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF THROUGH
  CHRISTMAS DAY.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 40 MPH...
  INCREASING TO WEST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO NEAR
  60 MPH BY EARLY CHRISTMAS MORNING.

* SNOW LEVELS...TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW AT ALL 
  LOCATIONS. 

* LOCAL IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BECOME DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE
  DUE TO HEAVY SNOW...BLOWING SNOW AND STRONG TO POTENTIALLY
  DAMAGING WINDS. VISIBILITIES MAY BE REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO AT
  TIMES. WIND CHILL VALUES OF ZERO TO 10 BELOW ZERO ARE EXPECTED
  ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS
SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL
DANGEROUS. STRONG WINDS ARE LIKELY. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY.
IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND
WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

NMZ515-250500-
/O.EXA.KABQ.WW.Y.0024.161225T0000Z-161225T1800Z/
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
338 PM MST SAT DEC 24 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MST SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 11 AM MST SUNDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...3 TO 6 INCHES WITH THE GREATEST AMOUNTS
  ABOVE 8000 FEET. 

* TIMING...PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN THIS EVENING AND BECOME
  STEADIER AND HEAVIER OVERNIGHT BEFORE TAPERING OFF CHRISTMAS
  MORNING. 

* WINDS...SOUTH AT 20 TO 30 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO NEAR 40
  MPH THIS EVENING...SHIFTING TO THE WEST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS
  NEAR 60 MPH OVERNIGHT.

* SNOW LEVELS...NEAR 8000 FEET THIS EVENING...BEFORE QUICKLY
  LOWERING FOLLOWING A FRONTAL PASSAGE OVERNIGHT. TEMPERATURES
  WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW AT ALL LOCATIONS OVERNIGHT THROUGH
  CHRISTMAS DAY.

* LOCAL IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BECOME DIFFICULT WITH SNOW PACKED
  AND ICY ROADWAYS. VISIBILITIES WILL OCCASIONALLY BE REDUCED TO
  NEAR ONE QUARTER MILE IN BLOWING SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT
VISIBILITIES WILL BE RESTRICTED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FALLING
AND BLOWING SNOW.

&&

$$

NMZ503-504-506>509-511-512-516-521-250500-
/O.CON.KABQ.WW.Y.0024.161225T0000Z-161225T1800Z/
FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-
WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-
SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-
338 PM MST SAT DEC 24 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MST
SUNDAY...

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...GENERALLY 1 TO 4 INCHES EXCEPT BETWEEN 5
  AND 8 INCHES ACROSS THE JEMEZ MOUNTAINS AND WEST SLOPES OF THE
  SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS. 

* TIMING...SNOW WILL BEGIN THIS EVENING ACROSS WESTERN NEW MEXICO
  BEFORE SHIFTING EASTWARD OVERNIGHT. THE HEAVIEST SNOWS ARE
  EXPECTED OVERNIGHT...HOWEVER...SNOW WILL PERSIST INTO CHRISTMAS
  MORNING.

* WINDS...SOUTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO NEAR 40 MPH
  AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THIS EVENING...SHIFTING SOUTHWEST TO WEST
  15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 35 MPH BEHIND THE FRONT
  OVERNIGHT.

* SNOW LEVELS...SNOW LEVELS WILL START OFF AROUND 7500 FEET AND 
  QUICKLY LOWER TO INCLUDE ALL LOCATIONS BEHIND THE FRONT 
  OVERNIGHT. 

* LOCAL IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BECOME DIFFICULT WITH SNOW PACKED 
  ROADS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A LAYER OF ICE. VISIBILITIES WILL 
  OCCASIONALLY BE REDUCED TO NEAR ONE QUARTER MILE IN BLOWING 
  SNOW. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT
VISIBILITIES WILL BE RESTRICTED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FALLING
AND BLOWING SNOW.

&&

$$

34

335 
WWUS45 KABQ 250459
WSWABQ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
959 PM MST SAT DEC 24 2016

NMZ510-513-514-251230-
/O.CON.KABQ.WS.W.0011.000000T0000Z-161226T0000Z/
SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET-
959 PM MST SAT DEC 24 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST SUNDAY...

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...6 TO 10 INCHES EXCEPT 10 TO 15 INCHES OVER
  THE PEAKS AND HIGHER WEST FACING SLOPES OF THE SAN JUAN
  MOUNTAINS.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD FROM WEST TO EAST AND
  BECOME STEADIER AND HEAVIER OVERNIGHT. SNOW WILL GRADUALLY
  TAPER OFF THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 40 MPH... 
  INCREASING TO WEST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO NEAR 
  60 MPH BY EARLY CHRISTMAS MORNING. 

* SNOW LEVELS...TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW AT ALL
  LOCATIONS...THOUGH THERE MAY BE A LITTLE RAIN MIXED IN BELOW
  ROUGHLY 8000 FEET FOR JUST A FEW HOURS AFTER ONSET.

* LOCAL IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BECOME DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE 
  DUE TO HEAVY SNOW...BLOWING SNOW AND STRONG TO POTENTIALLY 
  DAMAGING WINDS. VISIBILITIES MAY BE REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO AT 
  TIMES. WIND CHILL VALUES OF ZERO TO 10 BELOW ZERO ARE EXPECTED 
  ON CHRISTMAS DAY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS
SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL
DANGEROUS. STRONG WINDS ARE LIKELY. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY.
IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND
WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

NMZ503-504-506>509-511-512-515-516-521-251230-
/O.CON.KABQ.WW.Y.0024.000000T0000Z-161225T1800Z/
FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-
WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-
SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-
959 PM MST SAT DEC 24 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MST
SUNDAY...

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...GENERALLY RANGING FROM 1 TO 4 INCHES
  EXCEPT BETWEEN 5 AND 8 INCHES ACROSS THE JEMEZ MOUNTAINS AND
  WEST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS.

* TIMING...SNOW HAS BEGUN THIS EVENING ACROSS WESTERN NEW MEXICO
  AND WILL SPREAD EASTWARD OVERNIGHT. THE HEAVIEST SNOWS ARE
  EXPECTED ACROSS WESTERN NEW MEXICO THROUGH ABOUT 1 AM MST AND
  ELSEWHERE BETWEEN ABOUT 11 PM AND 6 AM. SNOW WILL TEND TO
  DIMINISH THEREAFTER...BUT AT LEAST SOME SHOW SHOWERS SHOULD
  LINGER THE REST OF THE MORNING. 

* WINDS...SOUTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO NEAR 40 
  MPH AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THIS EVENING...SHIFTING SOUTHWEST TO 
  WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 35 MPH BEHIND THE FRONT 
  OVERNIGHT. 

* SNOW LEVELS...SNOW LEVELS WILL START OFF BETWEEN 7000 AND 8000
  FEET...DROPPING QUICKLY TO INCLUDE ALL LOCATIONS BEHIND THE
  FRONT OVERNIGHT.

* LOCAL IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BECOME DIFFICULT WITH SNOW PACKED 
  ROADS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A LAYER OF ICE. VISIBILITIES WILL 
  OCCASIONALLY BE REDUCED TO NEAR ONE QUARTER MILE IN BLOWING 
  SNOW. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT
VISIBILITIES WILL BE RESTRICTED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FALLING
AND BLOWING SNOW.

&&

$$

43

436 
WWUS45 KABQ 251048
WSWABQ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
348 AM MST SUN DEC 25 2016

NMZ510-513-514-251800-
/O.CON.KABQ.WS.W.0011.000000T0000Z-161226T0000Z/
SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET-
348 AM MST SUN DEC 25 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...6 TO 10 INCHES EXCEPT 10 TO 15 INCHES 
  OVER THE PEAKS AND HIGHER WEST FACING SLOPES OF THE SAN JUAN 
  MOUNTAINS. 

* TIMING...OCCASIONAL SNOW WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING...THEN
  GRADUALLY TAPER OFF THROUGH THE DAY.

* WINDS...WEST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO NEAR 60 MPH.

* SNOW LEVELS...TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW AT ALL
  LOCATIONS.

* LOCAL IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BECOME DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE
  DUE TO HEAVY SNOW...BLOWING SNOW AND STRONG TO POTENTIALLY
  DAMAGING WINDS. VISIBILITIES MAY BE REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO AT
  TIMES. WIND CHILL VALUES WILL BE ZERO TO 10 BELOW ZERO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS
SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL
DANGEROUS. STRONG WINDS ARE LIKELY. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY.
IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND
WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

NMZ503-504-506>509-511-512-515-516-521-251800-
/O.CON.KABQ.WW.Y.0024.000000T0000Z-161225T1800Z/
FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-
WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-
SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-
348 AM MST SUN DEC 25 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MST THIS
MORNING...

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...GENERALLY RANGING FROM 1 TO 4 INCHES 
  EXCEPT BETWEEN 5 AND 8 INCHES ACROSS THE JEMEZ MOUNTAINS AND 
  WEST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS. 

* TIMING...THE HEAVIEST SNOW HAS ALREADY OCCURRED AND SNOW WILL
  TEND TO DIMINISH THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS.

* WINDS...WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 35 MPH.

* SNOW LEVELS...COLD ENOUGH TO INCLUDE ALL LOCATIONS.

* LOCAL IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT WITH SNOW PACKED ROADS
  AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A THIN LAYER OF ICE. VISIBILITIES WILL
  OCCASIONALLY BE REDUCED TO NEAR ONE QUARTER MILE IN BLOWING
  SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT
VISIBILITIES WILL BE RESTRICTED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FALLING
AND BLOWING SNOW.

&&

$$

258 
WWUS45 KABQ 251737
WSWABQ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
1037 AM MST SUN DEC 25 2016

NMZ503-504-506>509-511-512-515-516-521-251845-
/O.EXP.KABQ.WW.Y.0024.000000T0000Z-161225T1800Z/
FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-
WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-
SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-
1037 AM MST SUN DEC 25 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM MST THIS
MORNING...

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM MST THIS
MORNING. 

INTERMITTENT LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON
BEFORE DIMINISHING...BUT LESS THAN A HALF INCH OF ADDITIONAL
ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED. THEREFORE...THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. ROADS MAY REMAIN SLICK IN SPOTS THROUGH
THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY.

$$

NMZ510-513-514-260000-
/O.CON.KABQ.WS.W.0011.000000T0000Z-161226T0000Z/
SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET-
1037 AM MST SUN DEC 25 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...TOTAL AMOUNTS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES. 

* TIMING...SNOW WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF THROUGH THE DAY.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST TO WEST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO
  NEAR 60 MPH.

* SNOW LEVELS...TEMPERATURES WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW AT ALL 
  LOCATIONS. 

* LOCAL IMPACTS...TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE DUE
  TO HEAVY SNOW...BLOWING SNOW AND STRONG TO POTENTIALLY DAMAGING
  WINDS. VISIBILITIES MAY BE REDUCED TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. WIND
  CHILL VALUES WILL BE 10 ABOVE ZERO TO 10 BELOW ZERO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS
SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL
DANGEROUS. STRONG WINDS ARE LIKELY. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY.
IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND
WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

34

821 
WWUS45 KABQ 252200
WSWABQ

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
300 PM MST SUN DEC 25 2016

NMZ510-513-514-252300-
/O.CAN.KABQ.WS.W.0011.000000T0000Z-161226T0000Z/
SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET-
300 PM MST SUN DEC 25 2016

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS CANCELLED THE
WINTER STORM WARNING. 

LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO DIMINISH ACROSS THE AREA THIS
AFTERNOON...BUT AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW WILL PERSIST INTO THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS AS WINDS REMAIN VERY STRONG. THEREFORE...THIS
WINTER STORM WARNING WILL BE REPLACED WITH A HIGH WIND WARNING. 

$$

34

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
325 AM MST Sat Dec 24 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
The warming trend continues today with plenty of sunshine ahead of
a strong Pacific cold front, forecast to push east across the area
tonight into Christmas Day. A solid band of precipitation will
advance east across the area with the front and may start off as
rain at the lower elevations before turning to all snow overnight.
Most of the more significant snow accumulation will be in the
mountains, but locales such as Albuquerque and Santa Fe may wake
up Christmas morning with an inch or two of snow on the ground.
Very windy conditions are forecast behind the front going into
Christmas Day, with the potential for damaging winds along and east
of the Central Mountain Chain. Much colder conditions will move in
behind the front and below normal temperatures will prevail
through Monday before a new warming trend begins, which should
last into mid week prior to another cold front on Thursday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
A potent upper level trough is carving-out along the west coast as
the polar jet stream dives south near Southern California. This
is the trough that will push a strong Pacific cold front through
our area tonight, bringing a round of precipitation, strong winds
and a much colder airmass. Ahead of the front today, the warming
trend will continue with above normal temperatures forecast
areawide. Winds will be on the uptrend as well, with breezy to
locally windy conditions expected by afternoon. A strong
baroclinic zone will advance east from Arizona into western New
Mexico after sundown, with a solid band of precipitation. Lower
elevation locales may see rain prior to a fairly rapid change-over
to snow tonight. Our snow accumulation forecast hasn't changed
much from the previous forecast cycle, except for more significant
storm totals in the Northern Mountains. Snow amounts alone justify
an upgrade to a warning in the Tusas Mountains (Chama zone), but
the combination of blowing snow and near-warning amounts justify a
warning in the Sangres (above 9k ft.) as well. The warning will
continue through Christmas Day owing to orographic forcing as the
trough move overhead and snow ratios increase with the cold air
aloft. Elsewhere, will include a number of western New Mexico
zones in an advisory, including the Sandias/Manzanos. May need to
add the Middle Rio Grande Valley and Santa Fe Metro zones later
due mainly to travel impacts as amounts will likely fall short.
Travel impacts in some of the advised zones may end up becoming
more hazardous with a flash-freeze possible given strong cold air
advection behind the front. In that event, some of those zones may
need to be upgraded. A high wind watch will also be issued for
many zones along/east of the Central Mountain Chain. Christmas Day
will certainly not be a good travel day across much of the state,
to say the least. Strong to potentially damaging winds may
continue into Sunday night over and to the lee of the Sangres
south to the Central Highlands as the jet stream pulls out to the
east. Below normal temperatures are forecast behind the front
going into Monday.

A warming trend will begin Tuesday and continue through mid week
prior to the next cold front on Thursday, which will be much
weaker than tonight's. The 00z medium range model solutions take
a cutoff low offshore of the Baja Peninsula east toward Southern
California and the Desert Southwest toward the end of the week,
with moisture advection across our area ahead of the circulation.
This system will be relatively warm by the time it reaches New
Mexico next Saturday and the impacts are unclear at this time
given some differences that show up between the 00z ECMWF and GFS.

11

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
The next storm system is bearing down on the area. Mid level or free
air wind at 10000 feet will increase as a result of the approaching
Pacific trough today. Breezes will pick up under a southerly
flow...especially across the western highlands. No issues however
due to the higher than normal humidity. Ventilation will also
improve.

The main trough and cold frontal passage is still expected tonight
with cooler than normal temperatures on Christmas day. Humidity will
remain high despite dewpoints lowering. Possibility of some mid to
upper teen RH readings across northeast and east central Plains.
Wetting moisture, mainly snow, will affect western/central areas.
Downsloping will impact eastern areas and winds will be howling by
late morning. The initial wind max will move over the area tonight
and impacts the higher mountain ridges and adjacent high plains
during the early to mid morning hours. Recent moisture should help
mitigate some of the enhanced fire danger that will exist across the
plains Sunday afternoon. Mixing will be unusually high with strong
transport wind.

At this time...all of the models are showing a drier forecast during
most of next week. They all show a Baja low cut off from the mean
flow. The last time they showed this type of pattern the most recent
heavy precipitation event ended up occurring. The ECMWF/GEM did a
better job of handling the Baja low in the extended forecast for the
last event so will be watching these models intently to give clues
for later next week. ECMWF appears to be the most aggressive with
the Baja low in terms of precipitation late next week. Either
way...it appears that ventilation rates would lower substantially
during the earlier half of next week. High temps would also warm
back to near to above normal levels.

50

&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAF CYCLE
Lingering low level moisture over portions of western and central
NM could suggest a return of sct mvfr to ifr cigs/vsbys in fog
09Z-14Z with terrain obscurations. However, a swath of higher
level clouds moving from west to east into NM may help keep any
br/fg/fzfg from becoming as dense and wdsprd as early this
morning. Otherwise, VFR conditions genly expected over the ern
plains. Southwest winds aloft over NM to strengthen with time as
much colder upper trof tracks into the Great Basin/AZ by 25/00Z.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Farmington......................  52  28  35  16 /  10  80  40  10
Dulce...........................  48  25  32  11 /  10  80  80  30
Cuba............................  46  22  31  12 /  10  80  50   5
Gallup..........................  51  24  31  10 /  10  90  30   5
El Morro........................  49  22  30   8 /  10  90  50   5
Grants..........................  50  24  32   9 /  10  80  40   5
Quemado.........................  51  23  33  13 /  20  90  20   0
Glenwood........................  56  28  39  21 /  40  90  50   0
Chama...........................  39  20  27   6 /  10  90  90  30
Los Alamos......................  45  27  31  18 /  10  80  30   5
Pecos...........................  45  24  32  17 /   0  70  40   0
Cerro/Questa....................  41  21  29   7 /   0  90  60  10
Red River.......................  37  12  23   7 /   5 100  70  20
Angel Fire......................  41  14  24   8 /   5  80  60  10
Taos............................  43  23  30   8 /   0  70  50   5
Mora............................  48  21  30  15 /   5  70  30   5
Espanola........................  49  26  34  16 /   5  60  30   5
Santa Fe........................  47  25  32  19 /   5  70  40   5
Santa Fe Airport................  49  26  33  16 /   0  60  30   5
Albuquerque Foothills...........  53  29  37  22 /   0  70  30   0
Albuquerque Heights.............  54  31  40  23 /   0  70  20   0
Albuquerque Valley..............  56  28  42  18 /   5  60  20   0
Albuquerque West Mesa...........  54  30  39  22 /   5  70  20   0
Los Lunas.......................  56  28  42  19 /   0  60  20   0
Rio Rancho......................  53  29  38  21 /   5  70  20   0
Socorro.........................  57  31  46  23 /   0  60  20   0
Sandia Park/Cedar Crest.........  49  24  32  18 /   0  90  40   0
Tijeras.........................  50  25  33  17 /   0  80  40   0
Moriarty/Estancia...............  51  23  34  16 /   0  60  30   0
Clines Corners..................  47  23  35  18 /   0  50  20   0
Gran Quivira....................  52  26  39  21 /   0  70  30   0
Carrizozo.......................  57  29  43  24 /   0  60  30   0
Ruidoso.........................  57  28  40  25 /   0  60  30   0
Capulin.........................  51  28  38  17 /   0  70  20   0
Raton...........................  52  26  39  15 /   0  60  20   0
Springer........................  53  27  40  17 /   0  50  20   0
Las Vegas.......................  51  27  38  17 /   0  50  20   0
Clayton.........................  56  33  45  20 /   0  50  10   0
Roy.............................  53  29  41  17 /   0  60  20   0
Conchas.........................  57  34  44  26 /   0  40  10   0
Santa Rosa......................  58  33  45  25 /   0  30  10   0
Tucumcari.......................  63  37  52  28 /   0  30  10   0
Clovis..........................  63  35  51  26 /   0  20   5   0
Portales........................  64  37  52  28 /   0  20   5   0
Fort Sumner.....................  59  36  50  27 /   0  20  10   0
Roswell.........................  64  35  57  25 /   0  10   0   0
Picacho.........................  62  33  51  26 /   0  20  10   0
Elk.............................  59  31  48  27 /   0  30  10   0

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Watch from Sunday morning through Sunday afternoon for
the following zones... NMZ515-522>524-527>537.

High Wind Watch from late tonight through Sunday afternoon for the
following zones... NMZ526-539-540.

Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 11 AM MST
Sunday for the following zones...
NMZ503-504-506>509-511-512-516-521.

Winter Storm Warning from 5 PM this afternoon to 5 PM MST Sunday
for the following zones... NMZ510-513-514.

&&

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HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
507 AM MST FRI DEC 23 2016

NMZ501>540-241300-
NORTHWEST PLATEAU-CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-
NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-
SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET-
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-SANTA FE METRO AREA-
MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-
LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-ESTANCIA VALLEY-
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY-
SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA-
FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-UNION COUNTY-
HARDING COUNTY-EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY-GUADALUPE COUNTY-
QUAY COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY-
CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY-SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY-
507 AM MST FRI DEC 23 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
NEW MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

PATCHY DENSE FOG WILL PREVAIL THIS MORNING ACROSS CENTRAL AND
EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA...LIMITING VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN
ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES AND CREATING POCKETS OF HAZARDOUS
TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

A POTENT COLD FRONT WILL BRING STRONG WINDS AND MUCH COLDER
TEMPERATURES ON CHRISTMAS DAY. CHANCES FOR SNOW WILL BE ON THE
UPTREND BEHIND THE FRONT CHRISTMAS EVE INTO CHRISTMAS DAY.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED FOR THE
MOUNTAINS WHERE BLOWING SNOW WILL BE AN ADDED ELEMENT. WIND
ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED ON CHRISTMAS DAY FOR PORTIONS
OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS THROUGH THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/ABQ
OR BY CALLING 1.888.386.7637.

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