2/28 New Mexico Weather: Clear Skies

Good morning. Maine. I'm DJ Huzz. February is bowing out like it owns the place. A massive ridge of high pressure is parked over the Southwest, compressing air as it sinks and cranking up the heat like someone cranked the thermostat to max. We're not talking pleasant spring warmth. We're talking record-threatening heat for late February. In the next 24 hours. Down south, you're waking up to 48 degrees. By mid-afternoon? 82. That ties the all-time February record for some spots. Central New Mexico starts at 41 and climbs to 77. Even up north, where you bottomed out at 41 this morning, you hit 68 this afternoon. Northwest winds gust to 15 miles an hour in the northern mountains, but stay light elsewhere. Tonight stays mild statewide. Lows drop to 43 degrees central, 42 up north, 48 down south. Clear skies hold. Sunday is when things get wild. Southern New Mexico could touch 87 degrees. Central areas hit 82. Northern regions reach 70. Albuquerque has a real shot at 80 degrees, which would obliterate the daily record of 74. For the week. Monday stays scorching at 82 before a weak cold front tries sneaking in from the northeast. Tuesday cools slightly to the low 70s with breezy west winds. Then the fire danger story takes over. Humidity crashes into single digits Sunday and Monday across southern lowlands. Add increasing winds Tuesday through Thursday. and we're looking at critical fire weather conditions midweek. Late week gets murky as a closed low may develop over the Southwest, possibly bringing moisture back. Enjoy the warmth today, but Sunday brings dangerous fire conditions. Stay alert. That's your forecast — we'll be back tomorrow. For the extended outlook, check the latest forecast as confidence improves. Stay safe, stay prepared. and enjoy the day.