Snow showers will begin to move into northeast New Mexico behind a strong cold front moving south across the eastern plains. Snow showers will be most likely from areas stretching from the Vermejo Park ranch...eastward across Raton and the Johnson Mesa...to near Folsom through 630 PM. Little accumulation is expected through 630 PM...however...visibilities may drop below one mile in blowing snow. This includes Interstate 25 through the Raton Pass.
Forecast for Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Opdateer: 3:40 PM MST on January 9, 2009
Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 5 am MST Saturday...
Tonight
Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Snow accumulation 3 to 5 inches. Total snow accumulation 1 or 2 inches... except as much as 1 to 3 inches above 7500 feet. Lows zero to 15. North winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the northeast 10 to 20 mph after midnight.
Saturday
Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 20s to upper 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear. Colder. Lows 5 below to 10 above zero. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. Not as cold. Highs in the 30s to lower 40s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear. Lows zero to 15. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Monday
Mostly sunny. Not as cool. Highs in the 30s to upper 40s.
Monday Night
Mostly clear. Lows 5 to 20.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. Highs in the 40s.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear. Lows 5 to 15.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers. Highs in the upper 30s to mid 40s.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers. Lows zero to 15.
Thursday
Partly cloudy with a slight chance of snow showers. Highs in the 30s to mid 40s.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear. Lows zero to 15.
Friday
Mostly sunny. Not as cool. Highs in the 30s to upper 40s.
... Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 5 am MST Saturday...
A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 5 am MST Saturday.
Snow will develop late this afternoon and this evening over the higher terrain of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains as well as Raton Pass. Snow levels should drop tonight... allowing for widespread light to moderate snow across the lower elevations. Snow accumulations by daybreak on Saturday will range from 1 to 3 inches below 7500 feet and 2 to 4 inches above 7500 feet with locally higher amounts up to 6 inches above 9000 feet. In addition... a cold front will allow for north winds of 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. This will create areas blowing and drifting snow and reduced visibilities.
Significant snow is not expected for the western slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Therefore... the Santa Fe Metro area can expect a dusting to possibly an inch of snow.
Motorists should be alert to changing weather conditions and take precautions if travel is necessary... especially along Interstate 25 from Raton Pass to Las Vegas and Highway 64 within the sangres.