NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Mostly mild air has started off across the region with morning temperatures being warmer than average. Clouds are passing through with moisture aloft coming in from the Pacific. Despite the drop in the jet stream compared to last week, the southwesterly flow with mostly dry surface conditions will lead to very mild air this afternoon before rain chances increase.

Air temperatures in the north are starting off from around the high 20s to the 40s, while elsewhere to the southwest, air temperatures are ranging from around the upper 30s to near 60°.

Many areas from eastern New Mexico to the Pecos River Valley area will range from the high 60s to around 90°, from north-northwest to south-southeast from high to low elevation. Southwesterly winds are set to go up, over, and down more of the northeast-sloped mountain faces out west will contribute to warm surface air and some gusty surface conditions. The northern higher elevations will mostly range from the upper 30s to the 50s, while the northern valley floors to western and central areas will mostly range from the 60s to the 80s.

More clouds will move in on top of the very mild surface conditions, leading to more isolated pockets of rainfall, as dry thunderstorms may spark up more fires. Stronger winds from the approaching system will elevate the fire threat even more tomorrow in southeastern areas. However, the drop in the jet stream will bring in better rain chances late today into the first half of tomorrow, with mountain peak snow, as well as colder air.

Grant’s Monday Evening Forecast

Rain chances increase across parts of New Mexico through Wednesday, while breezy conditions stick around all week.

Upper level moisture moving into the state today is bringing a few isolated sprinkles, but most of the rain is evaporating before reaching the ground. The evaporating rain is causing some locally windy weather and picking up dust. It’s also another warm day with a few record and near-record highs, including another record high in Albuquerque. The light sprinkles will taper off tonight, but cloud cover will stick around.

Better moisture arrives from the west Tuesday afternoon, bringing a higher chance for wetting rainfall, mainly across western and northwestern New Mexico. Snow will also develop in the San Juan Mountains. A few showers and storms could reach as far east as the Rio Grande Valley by Tuesday evening.

The best chance for widespread rain comes Wednesday as deeper moisture and a Pacific cold front move in. Rain and mountain snow will favor western, northwestern, and northern New Mexico early in the day. Activity will weaken farther east, but a few light showers may reach eastern New Mexico by late morning. It will also turn cooler and windier Wednesday afternoon.

Warmer and drier weather returns Thursday and continues into Friday. A backdoor cold front moves into eastern New Mexico Friday night, bringing cooler temperatures to that part of the state for the weekend.

SANTA FE, N.M. – Northbound I-25 work near San Felipe Pueblo could slow Albuquerque-to-Santa Fe commuters this week through April 10.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation said crews started maintenance on I-25’s northbound lanes between mile 250 and 264 between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

The work is happening near San Felipe Pueblo, and crews will do the maintenance in five-mile increments.

NMDOT said crews finished the same maintenance on the southbound lanes over the last two weeks.

NMDOT expects the northbound work to be done by April 10.