Snow greets Ruidoso Monday morning

Ruidoso residents woke up to snow and frigid temperatures Monday morning as a cold front swept through New Mexico. 

But the storm was expected to move quickly through the state, meteorologist Annette Mokry with the Albuquerque office of the National Weather Service said.

"It is a fast moving storm," she said Monday. "There was a cold front that came in from the eastern plains to western New Mexico, so the cold air is in. There is one disturbance that moved over the state from west to southeast yesterday and exited early this morning. However, there is a second one coming down, presently over northwest New Mexico."

"Our forecast models move it nearly out of the state by early (Monday) evening. You will get some snow, but it looks like it might be spotty. It should increase through the morning and taper off by mid-afternoon."

Temperatures will be cold, she said.

"It's going to feel like mid-winter," Mokry said. "In terms of high temperatures, you;re looking at the mid-20s. maybe 30s. You're not getting above freezing (Monday)."

The cold front alone  doesn't do much but bring in cold air, she said

"But then the upper disturbance moving northwest to southeast, that provides the rest of the ingredients needed for measurable snowfall," Mokry said. "Those two things are combined together and are timed right to produce snow."

Temperatures Tuesday were expected to be about 20 degrees below normal for the time of year, the mid-30 to 40s, she said

"But it should be dry pretty much rest of the work week," Mokry said. "Temperatures should be on a warming trend as well, By Friday, (Ruidoso) should be within a couple degrees of average, mid to lower 50s. But nights will be cool . Ruidoso is looking at the teens tonight and maybe 20s Tuesday night and then temperatures start to moderate.".