Heavy Snow and High Wind in New Mexico, January 3 to 5, 2009

Name: Heavy Snow and High Wind in New Mexico, January 3 to 5, 2009
Start: 2009-01-03T11:31
End: 2009-01-05T05:00
Location: New Mexico

January 3 to 5, 2009 · NWS ABQ · 6 events in 5 counties and zones

A slow moving storm along the California coast brought strong winds to the Central High Plains on the 3rd, while snow fell over much of the west and north on the 4th into the 5th.

The toll

Deaths: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.

A slow moving storm along the California coast brought strong winds to the Central High Plains on the 3rd, while snow fell over much of the west and north on the 4th into the 5th.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Albuquerque, NM wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 3, 9:52 AM MST, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 3, 9:52 AM MST, 1 hour 39 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
952 AM MST SAT JAN 3 2009

.UPDATE...
DOING A QUICK UPDATE JUST TO BUMP UP THE WINDS FROM THE NORTHERN
MOUNTAINS INTO THE EAST CENTRAL PLAINS. KTCC HAS BEEN REPORTING
SUSTAINED WINDS OVER 30KT THE PAST HOUR WITH GUSTS UP TO 42KT.
WIND ADVISORY WILL BE EXPANDED INTO ZONES 004...005...012...AND
013 WITH SIMILAR EXPIRATION TIMES. ALTHOUGH GUIDANCE IS STILL
COMING IN LOWER THAN ADVISORY CRITERIA...TCC PROFILER CONTINUES TO
INDICATE 50KT SPEEDS JUST OFF OF THE SURFACE TOWARD H7. ZONES AND
NPW OUT SHORTLY.

52

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...327 AM MST SAT JAN 3 2009...
MAIN CONCERNS THIS MORNING IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS ON SUNDAY.

FIRST UPPER LEVEL TROUGH HAS BEGUN TO CROSS THE CENTRAL ROCKIES PER
WV SATELLITE IMAGERY. CLOUDS HAVE ALREADY STARTED MOVING INTO THE
NORTHWEST EARLY THIS MORNING...AND THEY WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE
AND LOWER IN HEIGHT AS THE DAY PROGRESSES. LIFT FROM THIS NORTHERN
SYSTEM WILL ALLOW SCATTERED LOWER ELEVATION RAIN AND HIGHER
ELEVATION SNOW SHOWERS TO DEVELOP TODAY AND TONIGHT.  SOME HIGHER
ELEVATIONS ACROSS THE NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS MAY PICK UP 1 TO 3 INCHES
OF SNOWFALL FOR THE PERIOD...BUT HIGHER SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE
EXPECTED WITH THE SECOND SYSTEM...AND THUS WILL FOREGO ANY WINTER
HIGHLIGHTS FOR TODAY...AS THE GREATER IMPACT WILL BE SEEN WITH THE
SECOND SYSTEM.

FIRST SYSTEM MOVES INTO THE PLAINS TONIGHT...BUT ASSOCIATED COLD
FRONT WILL DROP SOUTH INTO NORTHEAST NM. SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS ARE
POSSIBLE IN FAVORED UPSLOPE REGIONS...SUCH AS THE RATON RIDGE...AND
EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTOS. FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH THE
GAPS OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN BY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.
MODELS NOW IN MUCH BETTER AGREEMENT ABOUT A FRONTOGENETIC BAND OF
SNOW FORMING BY MID DAY SUNDAY STRETCHING FROM NEAR KGUP AND KGNT
ACROSS THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS. AT THIS TIME...THE SECOND UPPER LEVEL
LOW WILL BE DIGGING SOUTH INTO SOUTHERN ARIZONA AND UPPER LEVEL
DIVERGENCE WILL BE SPREADING ACROSS NM. AS DEFORMATION ZONE
GENERALLY STAYS PUT SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...SIGNIFICANT
SNOWFALL ACCUMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THIS AREA.  THUS...HAVE
DECIDED TO HOIST A WINTER STORM WATCH FOR THE WEST CENTRAL AND
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND NW PLATEAU. TROUGH FINALLY SWINGS ACROSS THE
STATE ON MONDAY...AND THOUGH THERE STILL MAY BE LINGERING
SHOWERS...MUCH OF THE SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY WILL HAVE ENDED.

STRONG 700MB FLOW...ON THE ORDER OF 45 TO 55KTS...WILL BE PREVALENT
OVER THE EASTERN PLAINS STARTING EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. TEMPERATURES
SHOULD ALSO WARM UP SOME...THUS...LOOK FOR A WINDY DAY ON TUESDAY.

WILL ALSO ALSO ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY FOR ZONE 11 FOR TODAY. 700H
WINDS ARE NEAR 50KT AND KCQC TENDS TO BLOW WITH WEST WINDS.

34

.AVIATION...
VFR CONDITIONS PREVAIL ALL AREAS THROUGH AROUND 15Z. ISOLD SNOW
SHOWERS WILL MOVE INTO THE NW AFTER 15Z WITH A RAIN SNOW MIX 18Z TO
00Z. EXPECT AREAS OF MVFR CONDITIONS NORTH AND WEST OF LINE
EXTENDING FROM KSKX TO K4SL TO KGNT THROUGH 00Z AND SPREADING
EASTWARD ACROSS THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS 00Z THROUGH 12Z.

NEXT AVIATION DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR 22Z. 05

.FIRE WEATHER...
AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL TIGHTEN GRADIENTS ALOFT
RESULTING IN GUSTY WEST WINDS ACROSS THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND
ADJACENT EAST SLOPES TODAY. AN HOUR OR TWO OF CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON OVER PORTIONS OF THE
EAST CENTRAL PLAINS. INCREASED MIXING HEIGHTS AND WINDS RESULT IN
GOOD TO EXCELLENT VENTILATION.

A RAIN SNOW MIX MOVES INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION TODAY...AHEAD OF
THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WITH A SURFACE COLD FRONT REACHING THE
NORTHWEST AROUND 00Z. A BACK DOOR FRONT MOVES INTO THE NORTHEAST
AROUND THE SAME TIME. PRECIPITATION INCREASES ACROSS THE NORTH
OVERNIGHT.

ON SUNDAY...AS PRECIPITATION INCREASES ACROSS THE NORTHWEST HALF OF
THE STATE...VENTILATION VALUES DECREASE TO POOR TO FAIR LEVELS...
WITH VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT VALUES LIMITED TO THE SOUTHWEST.  SUNDAYS
COOLER TEMPERATURES WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE INCREASES IN RH.
PRECIPITATION CONTINUES INTO MONDAY.  GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS TO MOVE
IN BEHIND THE UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM ON TUESDAY.

05

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS UPDATE...
FARMINGTON......................  41  22  35  20 /  40  30  50  40
GALLUP..........................  45  23  37  19 /  30  20  60  50
GRANTS..........................  47  22  40  19 /  10  20  40  50
GLENWOOD........................  58  31  53  30 /   0   5  30  30
CHAMA...........................  41  14  33   7 /  50  50  70  60
LOS ALAMOS......................  43  20  33  16 /  10  20  50  50
RED RIVER.......................  38  14  30   6 /  10  40  50  50
TAOS............................  43  18  34  13 /  10  30  50  50
SANTA FE........................  45  23  35  18 /   5  20  40  50
SANTA FE AIRPORT................  47  25  37  21 /   5  10  30  40
ESPANOLA........................  48  24  40  20 /  10  20  40  40
ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS.............  53  32  44  28 /   0  10  20  40
ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY..............  54  27  45  25 /   0  10  20  40
ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS...........  52  30  42  26 /   0  10  30  50
ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA...........  53  28  44  26 /   0  10  30  50
SOCORRO.........................  59  30  53  27 /   0   5  10  30
SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST.........  46  24  36  19 /   0  10  30  50
MORIARTY/ESTANCIA...............  50  23  38  16 /   0  10  30  40
CARRIZOZO.......................  57  28  49  26 /   0   0   5  10
RUIDOSO.........................  53  26  43  21 /   0   0  10  20
RATON...........................  54  21  31  12 /   5  40  30  20
LAS VEGAS.......................  54  21  28  15 /   0  20  30  30
ROY.............................  54  21  30  14 /   0  10  20  10
CLAYTON.........................  60  18  29  14 /   0  10  10   5
SANTA ROSA......................  66  26  38  19 /   0   5  10  10
TUCUMCARI.......................  68  25  38  17 /   0   5   5   5
FORT SUMNER.....................  66  24  40  17 /   0   5   5   5
CLOVIS..........................  68  24  36  20 /   0   0   5   5
PORTALES........................  68  24  38  18 /   0   0   5   5
ROSWELL.........................  71  32  43  22 /   0   0   5   5

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT FOR
THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ001-002-004-008.

WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES...NMZ011.

WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES...NMZ004-005-012-013.

&&

52

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 3, 6:00 AM MST, 5 hours 31 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
600 AM MST SAT JAN 3 2009

NMZ001>021-026-041300-
CAPITAN/NORTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS/ESTANCIA VALLEY-CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-
CONCHAS LAKE/GUADALUPE COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY-
FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS-GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF CHAVES COUNTY-
HARDING COUNTY-LINCOLN COUNTY HIGH PLAINS/HONDO VALLEY-
LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-
NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS INCLUDING JEMEZ-NORTHWEST PLATEAU-QUAY COUNTY-
ROOSEVELT COUNTY-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS/UPPER GILA REGION-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
600 AM MST SAT JAN 3 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
NEW MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS BETWEEN 8
AM AND 5 PM TODAY. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
50 MPH ARE LIKELY.

AN HOUR OR TWO OF CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE
THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE EAST CENTRAL PLAINS DUE TO STRONG WINDS
AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM EARLY SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH
EARLY MONDAY MORNING ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN NEW
MEXICO. THOUGH SOME SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TODAY AND
TONIGHT...HEAVIER SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY AND SUNDAY
NIGHT. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS
ALONG A BAND FROM WEST CENTRAL NEW MEXICO...NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS
THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS. PLEASE READ THE WINTER STORM WATCH FOR MORE
DETAILS.

WEATHER CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST FORECASTS...
WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS SUNDAY AND
SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE WEB
SITE OR BY CALLING 1.888.386.7637.

34

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 3, 10:28 AM MST, 1 hour 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
1028 AM MST SAT JAN 03 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1015 AM     SNOW             FARMINGTON              36.75N 108.19W
01/03/2009  E1.0 INCH        SAN JUAN           NM   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

SHOEMAKE

Local storm report, Jan 3, 11:01 AM MST, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
1101 AM MST SAT JAN 03 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1053 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 SSE CLINES CORNERS    35.00N 105.66W
01/03/2009  M61.00 MPH       TORRANCE           NM   ASOS

1053 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  1 SSE CLINES CORNERS    35.00N 105.66W
01/03/2009  M50.00 MPH       TORRANCE           NM   ASOS

&&

SHOEMAKE

Event by event

4 heavy snow, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Central High Plains/Estancia Valley County

When: January 3, 11:31 AM MST
Where: Central High Plains/Estancia Valley County forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind, Central High Plains/Estancia Valley County

When: January 3, 11:45 AM MST to 12:45 PM MST
Where: Central High Plains/Estancia Valley County forecast zone
Measured: 44 kt (51 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: ASOS

Heavy Snow, Westcentral Mountains

When: January 4, 12:00 PM MST to January 5, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Westcentral Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Up to 9 inches of snow fell over portions of the West Central Mountains, including around Gallup.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Plateau

When: January 4, 6:00 PM MST to January 5, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Northwest Plateau forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Up to 5 inches of snow fell in the Farmington and Bloomfield areas.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Mountains Including Jemez

When: January 4, 6:00 PM MST to January 5, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Northwest Mountains Including Jemez forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Up to a foot of snow fell over the Northwest mountains, including around the Jemez mountains. Even higher totals were recorded at Snotel sites.

Heavy Snow, Sangre de Cristo Mountains

When: January 4, 6:00 PM MST to January 5, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Sangre de Cristo Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Up to a foot of snow fell over parts of the Sangre De Cristo mountains, with higher amounts at the ski areas and Snotel sites.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Heavy Snow, Northwest Plateau	2009-01-04			Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New Mexico in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in New Mexico, January 2009

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 139613, 139614, 139638, 139622, 139629, 139637.