A storm from the Pacific Northwest slowly advanced toward New Mexico on the 25th, reached the Four Corners Region late on the 26th and inched across the state on the 27th. A strong cold front also backed down the eastern plains with strong and gusty winds.
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.
The episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.
A storm from the Pacific Northwest slowly advanced toward New Mexico on the 25th, reached the Four Corners Region late on the 26th and inched across the state on the 27th. A strong cold front also backed down the eastern plains with strong and gusty winds. Moderate to heavy snow was reported over much of the northern half of the state, with blowing and|drifting snow and poor visibilities over the east.
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 Mar 26, 2:00 PM MST, 2 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 300 PM MDT THU MAR 26 2009 .DISCUSSION...STILL ENOUGH DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MODELS FOR THERE TO BE SOME QUESTION ABOUT SOME OF THE DETAILS. GFS REMAINS THE MODEL WITH THE LOW TRACKING FARTHER SOUTH...IT ALSO PERSISTS WITH THE IDEA THAT FOR A PERIOD TONIGHT AND EARLY FRIDAY THERE WILL BE MORE THAN ONE CIRCULATION IN H7 TO H5 LEVELS. THE GFS ALSO CONTINUES TO INDICATE A 3 TO 6 HOUR PERIOD OF EASTERLY WINDS TONIGHT THROUGH PASSES INTO THE UPPER AND MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY...WITH A PERIOD OF LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE SETTING UP SOMEWHERE OVER THE VALLEY. HAVE DECIDED TO LEAN TOWARDS THE MORE DIRE GFS SOLUTION...THEREFORE IN THE EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PLAINS HAVE UPGRADED TO WINTER STORM WARNINGS...WHERE IMPACT...IF GFS TURNS OUT TO BE CLOSER TO REALITY...COULD BE MORE SIGNIFICANT AND WIDESPREAD. WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS COULD SEE SOME LOCAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AS WELL ESPECIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE TONIGHT...BUT HAVE DECIDED TO NOT ISSUE ANY HIGHLIGHTS AT THIS TIME FOR THAT AREA. UPPER LOW EXITS FRIDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING WITH PRECIPITATION TAPERING OFF FROM WEST TO EAST. AS FOR TEMPS...HAVE UNDERCUT GUIDANCE FOR SATURDAY IN THE NORTHEAST AND OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE MAY BE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS LINGERING. ANOTHER SYSTEM DIVES TO THE SOUTHEAST INTO COLORADO SUNDAY/MONDAY AND CLIPS NORTHERN NEW MEXICO...MODELS HAVE BEEN YO-YOING THE STRENGTH OF THIS AS WELL AS ANOTHER SIMILAR SYSTEM FORECAST FOR THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION...EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS WEATHER SITUATION TO DEVELOP OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF NM OVERNIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL PLUNGE SOUTH ACROSS THE E PLAINS FROM 00Z-06Z WITH NORTH WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 KNOTS ALONG THE TX BORDER. HEAVY SNOW WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THIS FRONT WITH NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LIKELY IN THE NE AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS THRU 18Z FRIDAY. OVER THE WEST HALF OF NM...A BAND OF SNOW WITH +30KT WIND GUSTS AND 1-3SM VIS WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE NW CORNER OF NM THROUGH 02Z AND THEN IMPACT THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND ABQ AREA AFTER 02Z. CONDITIONS BEHIND THE SNOW BAND WILL IMPROVE SLIGHTLY BUT OCNL CIGS BLW 030...-SN...AND 30KT WIND GUSTS WILL PERSIST THRU MID-MORNING TOMORROW. NEXT AVIATION DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR 09Z. && .FIRE WEATHER...CURRENT RED FLAG VERIFYING ACROSS THE E CENTRAL/SE PLAINS. INTENSE STORM SYSTEM OVER THE GREAT BASIN...AND A STRONG COLD FRONT DIVING SOUTH ALONG THE FRONT RANGE WILL ALLOW QUICK TRANSITION TO WINTER WX THIS EVENING THUS ENDING FIRE CONCERNS. NORTH WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH ALONG THE TX BORDER WILL CREATE NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH HEAVY SNOW. A COOL AIRMASS WILL REMAIN ENTRENCHED ACROSS NM BEHIND THIS SYSTEM LEADING TO FAIR VENTILATION AND HIGHER RH THRU SUNDAY MORNING. WINDS WILL INCREASE AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON. CRITICAL FIRE WX CONDITIONS MAY BE MORE WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE AREA BELOW SNOWPACK THAN PREV ANTICIPATED SUNDAY. A REINFORCING SHOT OF COOLER AIR AND TEMPORARILY HIGHER RH DEVELOPS MONDAY BEFORE ANOTHER DRY AND WINDY DAY TUESDAY. MODELS CONTINUE TO HINT AT ANOTHER SHOT OF PRECIP OVER THE NORTH WEDNESDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FARMINGTON...................... 21 49 22 59 / 30 20 0 5 GALLUP.......................... 17 43 13 56 / 40 10 0 0 GRANTS.......................... 21 42 15 57 / 60 20 0 0 GLENWOOD........................ 28 54 23 64 / 30 10 0 0 CHAMA........................... 12 33 9 46 / 60 40 5 5 LOS ALAMOS...................... 19 34 22 53 / 60 60 10 5 RED RIVER....................... 4 27 6 39 / 90 70 20 5 TAOS............................ 15 30 10 46 / 80 60 10 5 SANTA FE........................ 20 35 17 49 / 80 60 10 5 SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 21 38 20 51 / 70 60 10 5 ESPANOLA........................ 21 40 19 53 / 70 60 10 5 ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 29 44 29 56 / 70 60 5 5 ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 25 45 22 58 / 60 60 5 5 ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 27 40 25 54 / 70 60 5 5 ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 26 43 25 60 / 60 50 5 5 SOCORRO......................... 30 51 26 65 / 50 40 0 0 SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 16 36 21 53 / 70 70 10 5 MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 19 36 24 54 / 70 70 5 5 CARRIZOZO....................... 28 46 26 60 / 50 40 0 5 RUIDOSO......................... 25 38 23 53 / 50 40 5 5 RATON........................... 15 33 13 48 / 100 70 40 5 LAS VEGAS....................... 13 31 15 45 / 80 70 20 5 ROY............................. 16 32 19 44 / 100 90 30 5 CLAYTON......................... 18 31 21 46 / 100 90 40 5 SANTA ROSA...................... 23 36 22 52 / 80 60 10 0 TUCUMCARI....................... 24 34 23 51 / 90 80 30 5 FORT SUMNER..................... 25 35 26 57 / 60 70 10 5 CLOVIS.......................... 27 35 25 54 / 70 80 20 5 PORTALES........................ 27 36 27 57 / 70 80 20 5 ROSWELL......................... 34 44 30 63 / 40 40 0 5 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ010-011-014>017-026. RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ108. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM MDT FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ002-003. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ005>007. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ004. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ011>013-018-020-021. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ009-010. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ016-017-019. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 532 AM MDT THU MAR 26 2009 NMZ001>021-026-271200- NORTHWEST PLATEAU-NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS INCLUDING JEMEZ- UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS- NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-HARDING COUNTY-FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS- WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS- MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA- SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS/ESTANCIA VALLEY- CONCHAS LAKE/GUADALUPE COUNTY-QUAY COUNTY- SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS/UPPER GILA REGION-LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY- LINCOLN COUNTY HIGH PLAINS/HONDO VALLEY- CAPITAN/NORTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-DE BACA COUNTY- CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY- GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF CHAVES COUNTY- 532 AM MDT THU MAR 26 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN...CENTRAL...AND SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS TODAY. A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED. IN ADDITION TO THE STRONG WINDS...LOW HUMIDITY AND HIGH FIRE DANGER ARE ALSO EXPECTED IN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL NEW MEXICO WHERE A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL ALSO BRING RAIN AND HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW SHOWERS TO PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO TODAY...AND MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD INTO THE NORTHEASTERN HIGHLANDS AND PLAINS OVERNIGHT. A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THE NORTHWESTERN MOUNTAINS TO THE NORTHEASTERN PLAINS. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST WARNINGS...ADVISORIES...AND STATEMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY NIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHEASTERN QUADRANT OF THE STATE. SNOW WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH FROM WEST TO EAST BY SATURDAY MORNING. 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 THROUGH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE WEB SITE OR BY CALLING 1.888.386.7637. 52
12 heavy snow, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Between two and seven inches of snow fell over mainly the eastern and northern portions of the zone.
Between six and twelve inches of snow fell over the Sangre De Cristo mountains, with higher amounts in the ski areas.
An average of five inches of snow fell over the Upper Rio Grande valley.
Two to seven inches of snow fell over the Northeast Highlands with drifts around two feet.
Four to 15 inches of snow fell over the Far northeast Plains with drifts up to five feet.
Around 6 inches of snow fell over Harding county with drifts of two to three feet.
A Gallup woman, Denise Caleb, was killed in her SUV on Interstate 40 due to icy roads and windy conditions. Her vehicle was heading east on I-40 near Gallup when she lost control and crossed the median and went into oncoming traffic. Her SUV was struck by a tractor-trailer.
Three to seven inches of snow fell over the Central High Plains.
Up to ten inches of snow was recorded around Conchas lake.
Five to 13 inches of snow blanketed Quay County with drifts around three feet.
Up to four inches of snow fell over eastern De Baca county.
Three inches of snow fell in northern Roosevelt county.
Three to five inches of snow fell across Curry county.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather, Westcentral Mountains | 2009-03-26 | 35 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, March 2009
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: 152206, 152207, 152203, 152208, 152210, 152209, 153270, 152211, 152212, 152221, 152227, 152228, 152229.