Most of New Mexico will continue to experience moderate to major heat risk through the weekend. Record high temperatures are possible in parts of central and western New Mexico, the National Weather Service said on Tuesday.
A Heat Advisory remains for areas near Albuquerque, Gallup and Farmington. Afternoon temperatures in these areas are forecast to climb to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Northeast New Mexico will be cooler, the agency said, as a cold front moves through the region, with gusty winds of 35 to 40 mph to hit particularly between Raton and Clayton.
NWS projected isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms each day through the weekend. Stronger storms may develop damaging outflow winds, heavy rain, and lightning.
Thunderstorms are expected along the central mountain chain by early afternoon of Tuesday due to weak upper-level disturbance and the cold front.
Thunderstorms around Albuquerque remain negligible and will depend on colliding outflow boundaries. In southwest New Mexico, developing storms over higher elevation could bring locally heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and hail.
Forecasters said reduced air quality across northern New Mexico from Tuesday through Thursday is expected due to wildfires in Utah, Colorado, and Nevada.
Temperatures in lower terrain are forecast to reach upper 90s to low 100s, while afternoon thunderstorms will continue over southwest and central mountains. But the risk of severe storms is diminished across the northeast later in the week.
Forecasters at the NWS said increasing moisture may bring a slight to moderate risk of heavy rainfall across western New Mexico.
Despite the heat, forecasters do not expect dangerous fire weather conditions, while humidity could fall into the single digits across northwest New Mexico.
The NWS in Albuquerque issued the updated forecast discussion at 5:42 a.m. MDT today.
