Record heat for parts of New Mexico before stormier weather

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – While more rain is overtaking the Four Corners, western areas, and the Northern Mountains, stubbornly hot air will continue for many in the short term. Showers, with some lightning strikes earlier, are becoming less widespread while moving north and east across the northern tier with clouds mostly covering the northwestern third of the region, while everywhere else is clear from clouds and relatively mild. While moisture is slowly moving southeast, where conditions have been dry are becoming even drier throughout the interior of New Mexico, courtesy of a high pressure system overhead.

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Morning temperatures are once again above normal, with the northern mountain communities mostly starting off in the upper 40’s, 50’s, and lower 60’s, while valley locations are mostly ranging from the upper 50’s to the 70’s. As temperatures across the region rise from the morning school commute into the upper 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and above 100 degrees for some areas by the afternoon, more moisture in the air that is mostly confined to northern areas, along with plenty of daytime heating, will lead to slightly more areas receiving rainfall across the viewing area. The northern third of the region has the best chance of rain for today with the flash flooding risk low, but possible in the early-to-mid afternoon hours. Hit-and-miss stronger thunderstorms will pick up speed to the northeast from the Gila National Forest, to the Northern Mountains, then eventually to the Northeastern Highlands once again later this afternoon. Today’s storms have the possibility for localized heavy doses of rain, some pockets of hail, stronger winds, and more-frequent lightning strikes.

Most of the Rio Grande Valley will still remain rain-free with mostly sunny skies for the short term as more stagnant air builds in New Mexico, while the moisture continues to expand across the northern and even western communities.

As the strengthening high pressure slowly drifts east later this week, moisture from the northwest aloft will lead to stormier weather, as well as lower temperatures eventually.

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