Albuquerque Weather: Arctic Blast Brings Snow, Bone-Chilling Cold

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — A major winter storm system and arctic air mass is expected to bring snow and a bone-chilling cold to the Albuquerque area this week.

The National Weather Service said the winter storm and unseasonably cold temperatures were expected to roll over the region northern and central New Mexico beginning Tuesday night and linger through Thursday.

"An upper level storm system combined with an arctic air mass scheduled to impact the eastern plains looks to produce the most widespread and severe winter weather conditions northern and
central New Mexico has experienced this season," the weather service said Monday in a special weather statement.

Light to moderate snow was expected to begin falling across northwest and north-central New Mexico beginning Tuesday night before expanding south Wednesday and into Wednesday night.

In a tweet, the weather service said the region could expect 4 to 8 inches of snow, and roads will require plowing.

The largest snow accumulations are expected in the northern and Sandia and Manzano mountains, adjacent highlands and areas along the Continental Divide.

Temperatures are expected to plunge to a high of just the mid 30s in eastern New Mexico Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday is expected to be the coldest day.

"Some of this frigid air may bleed westward into the Rio Grande Valley and to the Continental Divide on a gusty east wind by Thursday, when highs in the Albuquerque Metro will struggle to reach the upper 20s," the weather service said: "Dangerously cold wind chills will also exist Thursday and Friday mornings from the central mountain chain over the eastern plains."

Prolonged sub-freezing temperatures could lead to difficult winter driving conditions and other cold weather hazards into the weekend for areas that receive heavy snow.