The storm could produce intermittent thunderstorms across Taos County starting Thursday night. Winds could reach 20 mph on Thursday, with “windy” conditions forecast in the upper Rio Grande Valley beginning Friday. The chance of precipitation – rain or a mix of rain and snow – around the Enchanted Circle and southern Taos County is 90 percent Saturday.

At higher elevations, including Angel Fire and Taos Ski Valley, rain could turn to snow as early as Friday evening, forecasters said. The chance of snow in Angel Fire and Taos Ski Valley on Sunday is 60 percent, dropping to 40 percent Sunday night. High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 40s on Thursday and in the upper 30s on Saturday. The lowest temperatures on Sunday will be around 26 degrees at higher altitudes.

“Snow amounts will be quite high through Friday, even Friday night in the Taos and Angel Fire area,” Guyer said. “Saturday morning could begin to see some snowfall, particularly in the Angel Fire; Taos, maybe a mix.”

Between a half and two inches of precipitation is forecast for the Taos region between Friday and Monday, with more rain and snow expected in higher elevations and northeast and eastern New Mexico.

“Depending on whether this system is slower and there is colder air, there could definitely be a few inches of snow around Angel Fire,” he added. “Taos Ski Valley could even see snow as early as Friday.”

But Guyer said because of the recent mild weather, “It will be hard to say how much; it has to snow quickly to accumulate because the ground is very warm.”

Residents should not expect the snow to continue, especially in lower elevations. Monday (October 21) will be chilly, with highs around 59 degrees and lows around freezing predicted in Taos. The forecast is for Taos to experience high temperatures in the high 60s the next day, Tuesday.