NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Despite some increase in clouds mostly coming from the south, with the mostly clear skies, light winds, and dry air, it was starting off cold for most locations with sub-freezing temperatures once again for many, but not as many locations as yesterday, with temperatures as low as the lower teens in the far Northern Mountains. With feathery clouds to the west, as well as thicker clouds in southeastern locations with the potential for strong late-day thunderstorms producing bouts of heavy rain, some hail, frequent lightning, and gusty winds, temperatures will rise more than yesterday as southwesterly winds will pick up a little bit this afternoon. From the morning school commute on into the afternoon, temperatures will eventually reach into the 50s, 60s, 70s, and low 80s from northwest to southeast in lower elevation, back to above-normal criteria for most communities. Temperatures will continue to rebound through the early half of the weekend as humid air will stick around in The East Plains, setting up a wetter and more-wintry storm system to arrive late this weekend into early next week with a stronger upper-level low pressure system eventually approaching from the northwest.