Unusually warm weather for early October continues across New Mexico through the weekend. Calm conditions should also continue for Balloon Fiesta.
It was another picture-perfect morning for Day 4 of Balloon Fiesta with the Albuquerque Box even showing up. The weather has remained mostly quiet into this afternoon, with a few spotty showers trying to develop across the higher elevations and mountain ranges. However, with the very dry air in place, most if not all of this rain is evaporating before reaching the ground. Temperatures continue to be well above average for this time of year, sitting a degree or two warmer than Monday.
Another beautiful morning for flying is forecast for Day 5 of Balloon Fiesta Wednesday morning. Winds will again be light, out of the north-northeast, with a box setup likely as winds will switch to out of the south-southwest a few hundred feet off the ground. Temperatures will be down in the mid to low 50s tomorrow morning, with highs climbing back into the mid 80s by the afternoon. A few spotty showers are again likely by the afternoon across the mountain ranges and higher elevations with most of the rain evaporating before reaching the ground.
Green flags are expected through the rest of Balloon Fiesta, with mostly light to calm winds through Sunday morning. However, the only other day after Wednesday that’s expected to have the box effect is Friday. Temperatures each morning will stay in the mid and lower 50s before climbing into the mid 80s by the afternoon – tying or getting close to record high temperatures through Saturday. The rest of the state will also continue to hang onto these unusually warm temperatures.
A backdoor front will move into the state Sunday, finally bringing more seasonal temperatures by early next week.
