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special weather statement
national weather service el paso tx/santa teresa nm
534 am mst sun jan 24 2021

nmz401>417-txz418>424-242300-
upper gila river valley-southern gila highlands/black range-
southern gila foothills/mimbres valley-
southwest desert/lower gila river valley-lowlands of the bootheel-
uplands of the bootheel-southwest desert/mimbres basin-
eastern black range foothills-sierra county lakes-
northern dona ana county-southern dona ana county/mesilla valley-
central tularosa basin-southern tularosa basin-
west slopes sacramento mountains below 7500 feet-
sacramento mountains above 7500 feet-
east slopes sacramento mountains below 7500 feet-otero mesa-
western el paso county-eastern/central el paso county-
northern hudspeth highlands/hueco mountains-salt basin-
southern hudspeth highlands-
rio grande valley of eastern el paso/western hudspeth counties-
rio grande valley of eastern hudspeth county-
including the cities of cliff, buckhorn, gila hot springs, 
mule creek, silver city, lake roberts, kingston, fort bayard, 
mimbres, hurley, faywood, grant county airport, lordsburg, 
red rock, virden, antelope wells, animas, hachita, cloverdale, 
deming, columbus, hillsboro, winston, truth or consequences, 
derry, spaceport, garfield, hatch, radium springs, las cruces, 
vado, sunland park, alamogordo, tularosa, white sands monument, 
chaparral, orogrande, white sands range headquarters, mescalero, 
timberon, mountain park, cloudcroft, sunspot, apache summit, 
mayhill, pinon, sacramento, crow flats, downtown el paso, 
west el paso, upper valley, east and northeast el paso, socorro, 
fort bliss, hueco tanks, loma linda, cornudas, dell city, 
salt flat, sierra blanca, fabens, fort hancock, tornillo, 
and indian hot springs
534 am mst sun jan 24 2021

...a pair of storm systems to bring wind, rain, and snow...

an active weather pattern is set to begin today through the 
middle of next week as a pair of storm systems are expected to 
impact the area. the first storm will arrive this afternoon, 
lasting into early monday morning. the second, more impactful 
system, expected to arrive late monday, lasting through early 
wednesday. the biggest impacts look to occur over the mountains 
but all areas could see at least some minor impacts from wind and 
snow.

today into monday... the first system will bring light to 
moderate snowfall accumulations to the gila region, including 
silver city, with rain and snow beginning during the late morning
hours. snow levels will decrease from 7000 feet to around 5500 
feet by this evening. elsewhere across southern nm and far west 
texas, scattered showers with a few thunderstorms will be possible
associated with a strong cold front with best chances for rain 
west of the rio grande. winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55
mph will be possible with these showers and areas east of the rio
grande with the frontal passage sunday afternoon. the sacramento 
mountains could see light snowfall accumulations, but blowing snow
could reduce visibilities. except for the mountains, rain and 
snow should decrease during the overnight hours; however, windy 
conditions will continue, especially for east slope locations east
of the rio grande.

late monday into early wednesday...
the stronger system arrives monday night with precipitation 
starting across the gila before gradually spreading east 
throughout the day and into the evening. areas west of the divide,
and especially the gila, will see the greatest impacts with up to
8 to 12 inches of snow possible in the higher elevations along
with 1 to 3 inches in the lowlands. east of the continental 
divide, snow showers will be possible, even in the lowlands, but 
amounts look light at this time, except for the sacramento 
mountains where 4 to 8 inches of of snow will be possible. winds 
will not be as strong with this system, but breezy conditions will
lead to areas of blowing snow and poor visibilities.

continue to monitor the forecast for updates along with watches, 
warning, and advisories. travel impacts are likely, especially for
the second system. 

$$