Friday, October 30, 2026
Halloween weekend is here in Red River, and it arrives in two distinct acts: a mild, mostly dry Friday and Saturday made for costumes and Main Street strolling, then a wet, colder Sunday as rain moves in and turns to snow after dark. Friday started clear and cold at 35 degrees, and the day turns mostly cloudy with a high near 56 and light southeast winds. Sunset is at 6:06 PM, and the change begins tonight, when rain and snow showers become likely late, with a low near 34 — so anyone heading home after dark should expect wet pavement on NM-38 and the Enchanted Circle.
Saturday is the day to be in town. Halloween brings morning clouds giving way to afternoon sun, a high near 50, and west winds around 13 mph — chilly enough that costumes will want a warm layer underneath, but dry for trick-or-treating. The centerpiece is the free Halloween Carnival at the Red River Conference Center from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, timed to keep the fun going after trick-or-treating. Admission is free, and donations at the door support RRVC Ski Days with the Red River Ski and Summer Area, so a little generosity at the door helps put local kids on the slopes this winter.
Sunday turns the page. Clocks fall back an hour overnight, so sunrise comes at 6:25 AM and sunset at 5:04 PM under the new standard time. Rain is likely through the day with a high near 51, and forecasters expect around three-tenths of an inch before the rain changes to snow Sunday night, with a low near 33. Monday stays cold, with rain and snow showers and a high near 41. If you are driving out Sunday or Monday, build in extra time, watch for slick spots on Bobcat Pass, and check road conditions before you leave.
If you are driving in today, northern New Mexico itself is quiet — this morning's radar showed the Enchanted Circle clear — but the drive-in routes are wet in places. Rain is crossing the Texas Panhandle along I-40 at Amarillo and US-87 through Dalhart and Lubbock, heavy rain and storms are moving across central Oklahoma around Oklahoma City on I-40 and I-35, and a shower cell sat on I-25 south of Denver. None of that closes the trip, but Friday travelers from Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado should expect slow, wet stretches before the roads dry out in the mountains.
Between the weather acts, enjoy the quiet-season rhythm: a Friday or Saturday walk on the Nature Trail, a slow pass down Main Street while the last of the fall color hangs on, and a warm drink while you watch the light change on the peaks. The ski area remains closed between seasons, with Opening Day set for Wednesday, November 25 — 26 days out — so this weekend is about Halloween, small-town fall, and the first real hint of the winter to come. Dress in layers, drive carefully on Sunday, and have a happy Halloween in Red River.