Wind Advisory 20, NWS Albuquerque, NM

534 
WWUS75 KABQ 292354
NPWABQ

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
554 PM MDT Wed Mar 29 2017

NMZ530-531-300100-
/O.EXP.KABQ.WI.Y.0020.000000T0000Z-170330T0000Z/
Union County-Harding County-
554 PM MDT Wed Mar 29 2017

...WIND ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

Winds have decreased below advisory criteria therefore the
advisory is allowed to expire. 

$$

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Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
307 AM MDT Wed Mar 29 2017

.SYNOPSIS...
The first of two Pacific storm systems to impact New Mexico is
currently over the East Central Plains and pulling slowly eastward
into the Texas Panhandle. Precipitation associated with this system
is currently widespread across central and eastern New Mexico, but
will gradually diminish today. Winter storm impacts will be relegated
to locations above 7500 feet in the Northern Mountains, but will also
impact Raton Pass. Look for a break and a brief warmup Thursday in
advance of the second Pacific system, forecast to begin impacting the
area Friday. Windy conditions are expected Friday across southern and
eastern New Mexico while precipitation begins across northwest
portions of the state. Precipitation will ramp-up early Saturday,
with the potential for winter storm impacts across the Northern
Mountains and Raton Ridge. Cooling associated with this second system
will bring daytime temperatures below normal areawide through the
weekend. Look for a brief warm-up next Monday ahead of a strong
Pacific front on Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Tricky near-term forecast with snow levels higher than previously
forecast. Snow levels inferred by 09z surface dewpoint analysis
would vary from 7000-7500ft across the area and rain is currently
being reported at KLVS, KCQC, KSAF, KABQ, KTCC and KCAO. Even if snow
were to make it down to the lower elevations, the airmass and ground
temps are sufficiently warm to significantly limit impacts. So, have
cancelled the advisories for the Northeast and East Central Plains.
May need to cancel the East Central and Northeast Highlands soon as
well. Impacts over the warned area will likely be advisory-type, but
will leave as a warning for now. Beneficial rain is currently
widespread across the East Central Plains, Middle and Lower RGV and
West Central Highlands. Winds are forecast to continue the uptrend
behind the backdoor push this morning across the northeast and will
issue a wind advisory for the Northeast Plains. Otherwise, cooling
with this system will hold temperatures below normal today,
especially across the Eastern Plains where highs will be 15-20
degrees below normal.

Look for a break and brief warmup Thursday as a shortwave ridge moves
overhead in advance of the second Pacific storm system forecast to
begin impacting the state Friday. Winds will crank-up Friday as a lee
side trough deepens across the Eastern Plains. The strongest winds
will be across southern New Mexico and the Southeast Plains, where
wind highlights and red flag warnings will likely be required (see
Fire Weather discussion below for details). The Pacific front will
push into central New Mexico by late day, with snow levels lowering
rapidly. Winter storm-type impacts are likely with this second
Pacific system, but will require the backdoor portion of the front to
provide some low level forcing. The areas most likely to be
significantly impacted are the Northern Mountains and Raton Ridge
once again. Moderate forecast confidence on this scenario, but lower
confidence on the timing given differences between the latest NAM
(faster) and GFS. Still, a late Friday night into Saturday high
impact period looks on track. Cooling with this system will send
daytime temperatures below normal this weekend, but a warm-up is
forecast Monday ahead of a third system forecast to push another
Pacific front through on Tuesday. This third system is forecast to
track mainly north of the area, so wind and fire weather impacts will
most likely take center stage.

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&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Closed upper low over east-central NM resulting in widespread
wetting precipitation across central and eastern portions of the
state this morning. This feature will continue to slowly slide
eastward today, continuing a band of wrap-around precipitation
across portions of the eastern plains through midday or so. Strong
north winds on the backside of the surface low will result in gusty
north winds across the northeast plains through the day.

The low lifts east tonight and in its wake, an upper level ridge
moves over for Thursday. Another deep closed low remains on track to
move to the Four Corners Friday morning. Weather prediction models
are in good agreement that the next closed to impact the area Friday
will move through slightly farther north than the current low.
Southwest winds ahead of this low will combine with the mid level
dry slot ahead of this system to produce critical fire conditions
across portions of the RGV south of I-40 as well as the central
highlands and east-central plains Friday afternoon into early
evening. Favored area for wetting precipitation from this low will be
across the northeast quarter of the state Friday night and Saturday.
GFS and ECWMF remain at odds as to how quickly this feature shifts
east. A few showers or thunderstorms could linger across areas east
of the central mountain chain Sunday.

Models agree that Monday will likely end up breezy and dry with an
upper level ridge moving through. Next upper level trough to impact
the area is expected to move through northern NM Monday night and
Tuesday. This track would likely result in dry and windy conditons
south of I-40 with the potential for critical condtions Tuesday
afternoon. Chances for low elevation rain and mountain snow would be
highest across the northern mountains Monday night and Tuesday.

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&&

.AVIATION...
06Z TAF CYCLE
Upper level closed low will continue to move slowly eastward across
eastern NM tonight. As the low shifts east, a strong wrap-around
rain and snow band will develop along/near Interstate 40 from near
Edgewood east to the TX line. IFR/LIFR cigs and vsbys will overspread
areas along/east of the central mt chain in RA and SN. SN will favor
areas along the Sangre de Cristos and portions of NE NM including
KLVS. Showers will continue moving southward through central and
western NM overnight. Improving conditions are expected across wrn NM
after 12Z with improvement east of the central mountain chain aft
21Z Wednesday.

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&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Farmington......................  64  32  70  38 /   5   0   0  20
Dulce...........................  58  26  63  34 /  20   0   0  30
Cuba............................  55  29  63  35 /  20  10   0   5
Gallup..........................  60  27  68  34 /  10   0   0  10
El Morro........................  56  24  65  32 /  10   0   0   0
Grants..........................  58  26  69  33 /  10   0   0   0
Quemado.........................  57  31  68  37 /  10   5   0   0
Glenwood........................  69  35  75  39 /  10   0   0   0
Chama...........................  51  23  57  31 /  20   5   0  30
Los Alamos......................  52  34  61  41 /  30  10   0   0
Pecos...........................  50  30  60  37 /  60  10   0   0
Cerro/Questa....................  47  23  59  31 /  40  10   0   0
Red River.......................  35  21  48  26 /  60  10   0   0
Angel Fire......................  37  20  49  26 /  60  10   0   0
Taos............................  49  24  61  31 /  30   5   0   0
Mora............................  45  29  59  35 /  60  10   0   0
Espanola........................  56  32  67  37 /  20   5   0   0
Santa Fe........................  53  34  63  38 /  40   5   0   0
Santa Fe Airport................  55  31  68  36 /  30   5   0   0
Albuquerque Foothills...........  59  38  70  44 /  30   5   0   0
Albuquerque Heights.............  61  39  72  43 /  20   5   0   0
Albuquerque Valley..............  63  35  74  40 /  20   5   0   0
Albuquerque West Mesa...........  62  37  73  43 /  20   5   0   0
Los Lunas.......................  63  35  74  40 /  20   5   0   0
Rio Rancho......................  61  37  72  43 /  20  10   0   0
Socorro.........................  64  38  75  44 /  20   5   0   0
Sandia Park/Cedar Crest.........  53  32  64  39 /  40  10   0   0
Tijeras.........................  54  31  66  38 /  40  10   0   0
Moriarty/Estancia...............  56  29  67  35 /  40  10   0   0
Clines Corners..................  51  32  65  37 /  60  10   0   0
Gran Quivira....................  54  35  65  42 /  40  10   0   0
Carrizozo.......................  56  37  69  45 /  40  10   0   0
Ruidoso.........................  48  35  65  45 /  50  20   0   0
Capulin.........................  36  28  59  34 /  90  20   0   0
Raton...........................  45  26  65  33 /  80  10   0   0
Springer........................  48  27  66  35 /  60  10   0   0
Las Vegas.......................  49  29  65  36 /  60  10   0   0
Clayton.........................  45  33  67  39 /  80  10   0   0
Roy.............................  48  31  64  38 /  60  10   0   0
Conchas.........................  51  36  71  43 /  70  10   0   0
Santa Rosa......................  53  35  72  42 /  70  10   0   0
Tucumcari.......................  51  34  75  45 /  80  10   0   0
Clovis..........................  49  35  74  44 /  80  10   0   0
Portales........................  50  36  75  45 /  80  10   0   0
Fort Sumner.....................  53  36  75  45 /  70  10   0   0
Roswell.........................  56  38  83  46 /  60  10   0   0
Picacho.........................  54  39  74  49 /  50  10   0   0
Elk.............................  52  35  71  47 /  40  10   0   0

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory until noon MDT today for the following
zones... NMZ510-511-523.

Wind Advisory until 6 PM MDT this evening for the following zones...
 NMZ530-531.

Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MDT this evening for the
following zones... NMZ516-528-529.

Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM MDT this evening for the following
zones... NMZ512>515-527.

&&

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Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
453 AM MDT Tue Mar 28 2017

NMZ501>540-291200-
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-
453 AM MDT Tue Mar 28 2017

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central
New Mexico.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow is in effect for the Sangre De
Cristo Mountains and Raton Ridge/Johnson Mesa. Significant travel
impacts are likely over the warned area, especially through Raton
Pass.

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow is in effect for the Upper Rio
Grande Valley, Tusas and Jemez Mountains, and the Far Northeast and
Northeast Highlands.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories will continue for portions of
North Central and Northeast New Mexico through Wednesday.

Another storm system will impact the state beginning Friday and
continue through at least Saturday. Wind impacts will be most
significant Friday, with potential for snow impacts Friday night
through Saturday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report rainfall amounts and any flooding
through the National Weather Service Albuquerque web site at
weather.gov/abq or by calling 1.888.386.7637.

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