NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Monsoonal rains are tapering off Monday morning after a stormy weekend for many in New Mexico as temperatures have dropped considerably below normal with breezy conditions. Despite some passing clouds, most are starting off rain-free besides showers that are weakening while moving southward through Las Cruces, besides showers closer to the Permian Basin, and besides a band of showers that recently dissipated around Tucumcari. Tropical moisture is in place, especially from the east, as easterly winds are funneling in not only moist air but also, relatively cool air to start. This pattern will stubbornly stay in place throughout the next few days because of a high-pressure system to the west that will continue to push the movement of the storms southward ahead.
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Rain-cooled air is left behind for many this morning with temperatures having dropped even more than the day before as almost all locations are starting below 70 degrees. 50’s and 60’s are reigning supreme around The Metro, as well as to the south, while a good portion of the northern mountain communities are starting off in the 40’s. Dew-point temperatures are once relatively high this morning, indicative of the high relative humidity in the lower levels of the atmosphere, with widespread dew-point readings in the high 40s, 50s, and lower 60s. This moisture, combined with the very slight uptick in below-normal high temperatures in the upper 60s, 70s, 80s, and low 90s for most, will lead to more rain activity as flood watches are in effect through this evening for the heart of The Land of Enchantment, as well as The Gila National Forest. Thunderstorms may initially be slow-moving as they form late this morning around the burn scars of Santa Fe and Ruidoso, but then, the storms will strengthen while speeding up this afternoon across a widespread swath of The Rio Grande Valley eventually. Severe thunderstorms capable of producing not only flooding rainfall are likely for some ahead as rain activity starts to re-ramp up late this morning, but also, some hail, erratic winds, and frequent lightning are possible with some of the storms in the short term.
While burn-scar flash flooding will once again be likely today, conditions will gradually become less stormy, warmer, and less humid later this week as the high pressure to the west strengthens. However, rain chances will still remain.
