LAS CRUCES - Here we go again, another mid-week weather event.

But it's not expected to be as severe this time as it was last week.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for today, with southwest winds that could gust to as high as 45 mph. Sustained winds of 25 to 30 mph are anticipated as another strong cold front moves into southern New Mexico.

The warning will be in effect from noon to 5 p.m. today. A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures have the potential to create extreme fire growth.

Temperatures are anticipated to begin noticeably dropping tonight, possibly bringing back winter weather. A 20 percent chance of snow is in tonight's and Wednesday's forecasts, but the best chances of snow will be east of Alamogordo.

One to 4 inches of snow could fall in the Sacramento Mountains, but any snowfall accumulations in Las Cruces would be an inch or less.

Daytime temperatures from today to Wednesday could drop as much as 25 degrees. Today's forecast high is 65, but Wednesday's temperature is expected to be around 44.

While not quite as strong as last week's arctic front, this new system - combined with breezy winds - could result in very cold wind chills across the region. Overnight lows will be quite chilly by Thursday morning with teens and lower 20s expected.

Temperatures will remain cool on Thursday but a warming trend will occur Friday through the

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weekend.

The forecast

• Today: Windy, with a southwest wind 7 to 10 mph increasing to between 26 and 29 mph. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Otherwise, mostly sunny with a high near 65.

• Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 44. East wind between 7 and 9 mph. Partly cloudy Wednesday night with a low around 19.

• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 50.

• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 54.

Source: National Weather Service