Topic: One thing about New Mexico...

[upweather]

what is the history of a white Christmas % in your area?

[Chris H.]

what is the history of a white Christmas % in your area?

Central New Mexico: 20-30% on average.

Southern New Mexico: 10-20% on average.

Eastern New Mexico: 30% on average.

Northern and NW-ern New Mexico: 10-40% on average (difference in climate).


I say average because there are dead-dry years, and there are shovel-the-driveway-clear-of-6-12"-of-snow-every-week/weekend years (which are far and few, usually every five-ten years, sometimes longer). I have been told by Mom, Dad and Grandmother that southern New Mexico saw 12-36" of snow back in '87/'88. Albuquerque saw less than 5" in one of those years. Lemme bring up some records...

[Farmtalk]

WV is the same way. The  3 years from 2006-08 is when the NWS had reported no snow on the ground anywhere in the entire state; even on the 4500 peaks; which is extremely rare. Last year finally broke the ice (No pun intended): 2 feet of snow fell 8 days before Christmas.

This year a big storm is forecasted for Christmas, and we currently have about 5 inches of snow on the ground at about 1000 feet above sea level. Imagine the higher peaks at 4000 feet and above; they have 2 feet of snow on the ground!!!!

Anyway, what Im saying is that there are good snow years and bad snow years; it's all about how the weather template (jet stream) is set up (Along with other meteorological occurrences )

Good luck Chris H and Cinega32

[Cienega32]

My mountains are still bare - tallest being in the 9k foot range. Another "New Record High for this date" flag on my site. 66.7 degrees - half degree above "the record".

This will be my fifth Christmas here and I find no photo record of snow in my driveway on that day. The mountains from previous snowfall - yes but not on the 25th. I've had light snow as early as Oct 28th.

Here (in the Chihuahua Desert) at 4,474 feet, the nites get cold without cloud cover and stay "warm" with it. A thermal blanket of sorts. This year's La Nina for me is forecasted as drier but with colder surges.

Having said all that, I'm certain that Monday nite I'll be socked in with solid cloud cover that came out of nowhere...

[Cienega32]

Having said all that, I'm certain that Monday nite I'll be socked in with solid cloud cover that came out of nowhere...

Yup... sure enough. Cloud cover. 

[Chris H.]

Sandia/Manzano mountains have some snow, but it's slowly melting. We're expecting rain here in the valley over the next day or two. I wish we had another cold front meet a Low...it'll snow again.

[Farmtalk]

Didnt your weather sticker say it was 60 in Rio Rancho yesterday??? It says 39 now.

[Chris H.]

Didnt your weather sticker say it was 60 in Rio Rancho yesterday??? It says 39 now.

No. We hit a high of 54 yesterday. The 19th we hit 52.

[Farmtalk]

After Christmas, I wish it would get that warm... It has been a long time since we have even hit the average temperature for this time of year which is 46.... No temperatures in the 40s for over 15 days....Quite a streak for this time of the year..

I think it's funny. We had an unusually hot and humid summer that ran into early October. Many days in late September were in the mid-80s. We had a couple of days in late July that neared 100. Combine that with dew points of 65-70, and that is a legitmate Dog Day of summer...

From around October 20th to November 20th, high temperatures dropped by 50 degrees.
I guess a hot summer means a cold winter and vice-versa

[Cienega32]

Yet another 25 to 55 temp range with clear skies and calm winds... 

[Farmtalk]

Finally, a warming trend will be taking place near New Year's, with high temperatures possibly reaching 15 degrees ABOVE average..

Hip-hip hooray???

Got some awesome sweaters for Christmas, and wanted to give them a go, but it just might get a little too warm.

[Chris H.]

Finally, a warming trend will be taking place near New Year's, with high temperatures possibly reaching 15 degrees ABOVE average..

Hip-hip hooray???

Got some awesome sweaters for Christmas, and wanted to give them a go, but it just might get a little too warm.

WV weather or NM?  


Here it's been rather pleasant. Would go for a brisk bike ride but Mom says no...

Right now I'm hypothesizing the anticipated Spring 2011 severe weather season…anybody wanna place their bets?

We're expecting snow and rain here…starts the day I have a special date, and ends on New Years.

[Farmtalk]

I think your right... WV and NM's weather is totally changing opposite each other... 6 inches of snow in 48 hours with 1-3 more in the next 24.

New Year's is making a run at 60F.

Too early for predictions for me...

Are you going on a date with Mother Nature  (Couldn't resist)

[Chris H.]

Are you going on a date with Mother Nature  (Couldn't resist)

Nope. Just a girl I've known for awhile. (No, I've known Mother Nature for a lot longer than awhile).

[Farmtalk]

Well, I'm happy for you...I'm a little too nerdy for gals to like me... I'm the one who studies Ken Jenning's trivia for fun (I want to be on Jeopardy) religiously, works on math for relaxation (I hunt and fish too), and work on brain games to keep my brain age low (I'm only 16)

People say that I am crazy and have no life, but I have a great time learning what's around me.

Ex. What is the groove between your nose and mouth called? --The philtrum--

Ex. What is the dot on the alphabetical letter "i" called? --The tittle--

[Cienega32]

Finally, a warming trend will be taking place near New Year's, with high temperatures possibly reaching 15 degrees ABOVE average..

How 'bout that... and they're talking about possible snow for New Year's down here.

[Scalphunter]

LOL they are saying spring time temps for here or at least late winter.  not much here as far as bad weather  just these little waves  rotating around and around and around.

[Farmtalk]

I would be happy Scalphunter if I were you...People in New Jersey and that area are going to be shovelling 2 feet of snow... We have actually received quite a bit more snow than was forecasted from this storm system as well... I'll have to go out this evening and shovel for the 3rd time in 2 days.

I think WV and NM are really in REVERSE weather patterns LOL

[Scalphunter]

 That snow that NJ and that area getting would not even slow us down here.  We can get 4 ft dumped hr in an storm and people go about their lives.  East Coast gets couple inches and they are bogged down. It all together diffent then what you picture.

[Cienega32]

I guess they must be a little nervous... they issued a Special Weather Statement for late Wednesday thru Friday. We'll see how it plays out:

Event:   Special Weather Statement
Alert:   

...SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM TO AFFECT THE BORDERLAND LATE
WEDNESDAY THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY...
 
A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL AFFECT SOUTH CENTRAL...
SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS LATER THIS WEEK. SCATTERED
SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP OVER WESTERN PORTIONS LATE WEDNESDAY AND
SPREAD EASTWARD INTO THURSDAY. STRONG...PERHAPS LOCALLY DAMAGING...
WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THIS STORM ON THURSDAY ESPECIALLY OVER AREAS
SOUTH AND WEST OF I-10 WITH BLOWING DUST REDUCING VISIBILITY IN
THE AFTERNOON.
WHILE THIS STORM WILL HAVE LIMITED MOISTURE TO WORK WITH...IT
WILL LIKELY PRODUCE SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW FOR MOUNTAIN AREAS
ABOVE 6000 FT. AS A COLD FRONT PASSES LATER ON THURSDAY... RAIN
MAY MIX WITH OR CHANGE TO SNOW OVER LOWLAND PORTIONS OF THE AREA
WITH LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE.
WHILE THE EXACT TRACK AND TIMING OF THE STORM ARE STILL A LITTLE
UNCERTAIN THERE IS GOOD REASON REASON TO BELIEVE THAT TRAVEL
THURSDAY INTO EARLY FRIDAY MAY BE HAZARDOUS OVER MUCH OF THE AREA
DUE TO EITHER WINDS OR SNOW. MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION.
HOMEOWNERS SHOULD SECURE ANY LOOSE OBJECTS OUTDOORS.

[Farmtalk]

I guess they must be a little nervous... they issued a Special Weather Statement for late Wednesday thru Friday. We'll see how it plays out

Good luck, Cienega! Hope you get a White New Year's

That snow that NJ and that area getting would not even slow us down here.  We can get 4 ft dumped hr in an storm and people go about their lives.  East Coast gets couple inches and they are bogged down. It all together diffent then what you picture.

Oh, I know that Alaskans can go through just about anything...Although we may have troubles with 4 ft of snow, you may be surprised at how tough us Mountaineers are.

[Chris H.]

The Albuquerque WFO is giving us some heads up.

http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=NMZ519&warncounty=NMC043&firewxzone=NMZ106&local_place1=Rio+Rancho+NM&product1=Special+Weather+Statement

I'm looking forward to this one. The last one was two weeks ago- we got 7" of the icy white stuff.

EDIT
Found this:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/media/abq/briefings/weatherbriefing_1227.pdf

[Cienega32]

Hold on to your hat, Chris! Looks like some 50s getting ready to roll thru The Land of Enchantment!



Event:   High Wind Watch
Alert:   

...STRONG WINTER STORM TO MOVE IN FROM THE NORTHWEST WEDNESDAY WITH
STRONG WINDS ACROSS THE LOWLANDS ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...
 
.A POWERFUL UPPER LOW WILL MOVE TO THE FOUR CORNERS AREA THURSDAY
AFTERNOON AND TO SOUTHEAST COLORADO FRIDAY MORNING. THIS UPPER LOW
WILL CREATE A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT AT THE SURFACE AND ALLOW
VERY WINDY CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP BOTH WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.
WINDS ON WEDNESDAY ARE FORECAST TO INCREASE TO 25 TO 35 MPH WITH
GUSTS TO 45 MPH POSSIBLE. ON THURSDAY WE CAN EXPECT EVEN STRONGER
WINDS WITH WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH BY LATE
THURSDAY MORNING. TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO PLUMMET THURSDAY NIGHT
AND FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WILL BE AROUND 15 TO 20 DEGREES BELOW
NORMAL.

[Cienega32]

Interesting day! About an hour and a half ago I tossed all the stray tumbleweeds that landed in my yard (43MPH max gust today) over my wall and it was 55 degrees. Now, it's 37 and there some small white stuff floating around in the wind.


Oh! Now there's a whole lot more of it and bigger sizes too! Mountains should look great tomorrow!

[Farmtalk]

Good luck getting the white stuff. We have received plenty already this year, and there is not any that will accumulate in the forseeable future. Tomorrow I am going to purchase a Farmer's Almanac, and I will see what their weather prediction is.

Hope the 60 MPH wind gusts in your wind statement don't blow down any trees