ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Severe storms could bring large hail, wind gusts over 60 mph, frequent lightning and heavy rain across northeast New Mexico Friday night.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue across central, northeast and eastern New Mexico through the evening hours.

The main severe weather threat tonight will focus on Raton, Clayton, Springer, Maxwell, Tucumcari and the Texas border region.

Storms will move east into the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles through the evening. Most activity should fade by midnight, though an isolated storm may linger across far northeast New Mexico into the early morning hours.

Saturday storm chances

Saturday will look a bit less active, but thunderstorms will still develop during the afternoon as the focus shifts slightly east and south.

The best chances for storms will be in Ruidoso, Capitan, Carrizozo, Roswell, Clovis, Portales, Tucumcari and Clayton. A few strong storms will again be possible across northeast New Mexico, especially from Raton to Clayton and along the Texas border.

Threats Saturday include quarter-size hail, damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning and brief heavy downpours.

The Ruidoso area, including the South Fork and Salt burn scars, will need close watching for localized flooding if storms develop directly over the higher terrain.

What about Sunday?

Sunday may become the busiest weather day in the extended forecast.

A backdoor cold front will move into eastern New Mexico early in the day while northwest flow aloft strengthens. That setup will increase moisture, instability and wind shear across much of eastern New Mexico.

Storms are expected to develop from Las Vegas, Raton, Clayton, Tucumcari, Moriarty, Clines Corners, Ruidoso, Roswell, Clovis and Portales.

Some storms could turn strong or severe with large hail, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and dangerous lightning. The flash flood threat will increase across Ruidoso, Mescalero, the South Fork burn scar, the Salt Fire burn scar and adjacent drainages.