Full Notification

A significant weather change is coming late this week. Widespread precipitation is expected across northern and central New Mexico Friday through Saturday. Initially, much of the precipitation will fall as rain, but a potent cold front will race southward across the eastern plains and through the gaps of the Central Mountain Chain Friday night into Saturday morning. This front will change much of the precipitation to snow. Additionally, the front will bring gusty winds to both eastern New Mexico and within the Rio Grande Valley below gaps in the central mountain chain. Between 6 and 12 inches of snowfall is forecast for the Northern Mountains, and between 1 and 4 inches is forecast for much of eastern New Mexico and the high terrain of western New Mexico. Difficult driving conditions are possible and blowing snow will reduce visibility. Much colder temperatures will return to New Mexico on Saturday as well. High temperatures will be 15 to 35 degrees below normal and wind chills will make it feel even colder. Wind chill temperatures will be in the 20s Saturday afternoon across eastern NM, and in the 30s for most other areas. Individuals with travel or other outdoor plans should monitor the latest forecasts, watches, warnings, and advisories for updates on this late season winter storm.

* AFFECTED AREAS: NORTHWEST PLATEAU ... CHUSKA MOUNTAINS ... FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS ... NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS ... WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU ... WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS ... WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ... SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS ... SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY ... TUSAS MOUNTAINS INCLUDING CHAMA ... JEMEZ MOUNTAINS ... GLORIETA MESA INCLUDING GLORIETA PASS ... NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ... SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ... EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ... UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY ... ESPANOLA VALLEY ... SANTA FE METRO AREA ... MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA ... LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY ... SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS INCLUDING EDGEWOOD ... ESTANCIA VALLEY ... CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ... SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS ... UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY ... SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS ... JOHNSON AND BARTLETT MESAS INCLUDING RATON PASS ... 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 ... SAN AGUSTIN PLAINS AND ADJACENT LOWLANDS