Albuquerque, NM – The first significant monsoon surge of the season is expected to bring increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms across central and western New Mexico through the remainder of the week, with the greatest coverage expected by the weekend.
According to the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, storm chances will steadily increase each day as deeper monsoon moisture spreads across the state. While scattered thunderstorms are expected Tuesday and Wednesday, more widespread showers and storms are forecast from Thursday through the weekend, especially across western New Mexico and the central mountain chain.
Communities including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Farmington, Gallup, Grants, Taos, Las Vegas, Ruidoso, and Los Alamos are all expected to see increasing opportunities for afternoon and evening thunderstorms.
Forecasters warn that storms may produce dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning, wind gusts up to 50 mph, small hail, and brief periods of heavy rainfall. Burn scars, arroyos, and low-water crossings will be especially vulnerable to localized flash flooding, with the flood threat increasing as storms become more numerous later this week.
Rain chances are highest across western New Mexico, where some locations have an 80% chance of precipitation by Thursday and Friday. A few storms may also drift into nearby valleys during the evening hours.
Residents with outdoor plans should monitor forecasts closely, move indoors when thunder is heard, and avoid flood-prone areas during heavy rainfall. Conditions can change quickly during the monsoon season, particularly in mountainous terrain.
