A powerful storm and arctic cold front combined to bring fresh snow cover to nearly all of northern and central New Mexico on the 1st and 2nd, as well as extremely cold, record setting minimum temperatures. This resulted in dangerously low wind chill values over many areas.
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 powerful storm and arctic cold front combined to bring fresh snow cover to nearly all of northern and central New Mexico on the 1st and 2nd, as well as extremely cold, record setting minimum temperatures. This resulted in dangerously low wind chill values over many areas.
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 Feb 2, 3:01 PM MST, 4 hours 59 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 301 PM MST WED FEB 2 2011 .DISCUSSION... STORM TO SLIDE S TO THE BOOT HEEL TONIGHT THEN TURN E ON THU. THE CONTINUATION OF DRIER AIR POURING INTO THE STATE WILL PREVENT MUCH IN THE WAY OF ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL OVER SOUTHERN AREAS TONIGHT INTO THU. THUS MAIN FOCUS WILL BE ON THE EXTREME COLD TONIGHT. HAVE DECIDED TO ISSUE WIND CHILL ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS THAT WILL COVER THE ENTIRE CWA FROM 8PM TON TO 10AM THU. RECORD SETTING COLD FOR MANY LOCATIONS TONIGHT...NOT JUST A SINGLE DAY RECORD...BUT IN A FEW CASES ALL TIME LOWEST FEBRUARY TEMPS. LOCATIONS WITH SMALLER PERIOD OF RECORDS WILL SET ALL TIME RECORD LOW TEMPS. THU WILL BE MOSTLY DRY AND CHILLY...ALTHOUGH NOTICEABLY HIGHER AFTERNOON TEMPS THAN TODAY...ON THE ORDER OF 10 TO 30 DEGREES. A FEW SNOW SHOWERS MAY LINGER OVER OUR SC AND SE ZONES. FRI WILL CONTINUE THE MODERATING TREND WITH MOSTLY DRY CONDITIONS. WHILE HIGH TEMPS ON FRI WILL RISE ANOTHER 10 TO 20 DEGREES HIGHER THAN THU...THEY WILL STILL BE BELOW NORMAL. A SHORT WAVE TROUGH IN THE NW FLOW ALOFT WILL ZIP SE TOWARD NM ON SAT AND CROSS THE STATE SAT NIGHT. ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS WILL FORM OVER THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND NORTHEAST. TEMPS THOUGH WILL NOT DROP IN THE NE BUT RATHER HOLD STEADY...WITH THE REST OF THE AREA WARMING A BIT MORE TO AROUND NORMAL. ANOTHER SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL DROP SE TOWARD NM SUN AND RACE ACROSS THE AREA MON AND MON NIGHT. THIS SYSTEM LOOKS STRONGER WITH ANOTHER SHOT OF COLD AIR FOR MAINLY THE EAST. ISOLATED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS SUN WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY SUN NIGHT INTO MON NIGHT...WITH THE MAIN IMPACT OVER THE NE AND E. SOME COOLING WITH ISOLATED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE FOUND THOUGH OVER THE W BY MON. DRY AND MILDER WEATHER IS FORECAST BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. CHJ && .AVIATION... AREAS OF IFR CONDITIONS AND -SN WILL CONTINUE TO FAVOR PLACES SOUTH OF I-40 AND EAST OF I-25 THROUGH TONIGHT. ELSEWHERE...PATCHES OF MVFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...THEN PATCHES OF MVFR AND IFR CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT AS TEMPERATURES PLUMMET. ISOLATED LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS MAY LINGER THROUGH THURSDAY ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CNTRL/S CNTRL MTNS AS THE UPPER LOW SLOWLY TRACKS THRU W TX. ELSEWHERE...AFTER PATCHY MORNING FOG AND LOW CLOUDS BURN OFF...VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL BY NOON. NEXT AVIATION DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR 10Z. 44 && .FIRE WEATHER... CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED FOR THE NEXT 7 DAYS...BUT COLD FRONTS WILL DELIVER GUSTY AND POTENTIALLY STRONG WINDS SATURDAY NIGHT AND ESPECIALLY EARLY IN THE COMING WORK WEEK. BITTERLY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE MAIN WEATHER CONCERN THROUGH THE END OF THE WORK WEEK AS THE UPPER LOW OVER NW NM THIS AFTERNOON SAGS SLOWLY SOUTH TO THE BOOTHEEL TONIGHT...THEN EASTWARD THROUGH W TX ON THU...AND NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH N TX ON FRIDAY. LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL BUT THE NORTHEAST PLAINS TONIGHT...THEN MAINLY ALONG THE E SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS THURSDAY...BUT NO ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL BOTTOM OUT TONIGHT WITH BELOW ZERO READINGS ACROSS NEARLY ALL OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NM. IT WILL FEEL LIKE THE NORTH POLE IN THE MORENO VALLEY WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS AROUND -30 F. A GRADUAL WARMING TREND WILL COMMENCE THURSDAY...WHEN HIGHS WILL VARY FROM 17 TO 39 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL AND NEARLY ALL OF THE FORECAST AREA WILL REMAIN BELOW FREEZING. ON FRIDAY MOST LOWER ELEVATION LOCATIONS SHOULD FINALLY RISE ABOVE FREEZING...BUT HIGHS WILL REMAIN 3 TO 30 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. POOR VENTILATION WILL ALSO BE WIDESPREAD THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. SATURDAY...TEMPERATURES WILL FINALLY RISE NEAR NORMAL ACROSS THE NORTH...BUT REMAIN BELOW NORMAL ACROSS THE SOUTH...AHEAD OF THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL TROUGHS THAT WILL DIVE SSE THROUGH CENTRAL AND EASTERN NM SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUE OR WED. REPEATED COLD FRONTS WILL ALSO DIVE SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE STATE WITH THESE FEATURES BEARING BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS AND MORE BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES. MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT LOOK ESPECIALLY WINDY WITH A POTENTIALLY STRONG BACK DOOR COLD FRONT ON THE PLAINS AND WINDY CONDITIONS BELOW CANYONS OPENING INTO THE CENTRAL VALLEY. PERIODS OF SNOW WILL TEND TO FAVOR LOCATIONS EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE...ESPECIALLY THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN AND ADJACENT EAST SLOPES. 44 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FARMINGTON...................... -6 25 9 37 / 10 0 5 5 DULCE........................... -21 18 -6 34 / 10 0 5 5 CUBA............................ -16 21 -2 34 / 10 0 5 5 GALLUP.......................... -18 25 -3 37 / 5 0 5 5 EL MORRO........................ -25 19 -9 33 / 5 5 5 5 GRANTS.......................... -18 23 -2 35 / 10 0 5 5 QUEMADO......................... -18 24 -5 34 / 5 5 5 5 GLENWOOD........................ 2 29 10 45 / 10 5 5 5 CHAMA........................... -28 21 -15 32 / 10 0 5 10 LOS ALAMOS...................... -12 23 -2 35 / 10 0 5 5 PECOS........................... -18 22 -5 36 / 5 5 10 5 CERRO/QUESTA.................... -27 23 -15 34 / 10 5 10 5 RED RIVER....................... -29 16 -12 26 / 10 5 20 10 ANGEL FIRE...................... -29 20 -16 31 / 10 5 20 10 TAOS............................ -21 24 -2 34 / 10 5 10 5 MORA............................ -16 24 -2 37 / 5 5 10 5 ESPANOLA........................ -11 27 2 41 / 5 0 10 5 SANTA FE........................ -13 22 3 34 / 10 0 10 5 SANTA FE AIRPORT................ -12 24 7 35 / 10 0 5 5 ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... -7 22 8 34 / 5 0 5 5 ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. -6 24 11 36 / 5 0 5 5 ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. -10 25 5 37 / 5 0 5 5 ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... -7 25 8 37 / 5 0 5 5 LOS LUNAS....................... -10 25 2 38 / 5 0 5 5 RIO RANCHO...................... -7 24 7 38 / 5 0 5 5 SOCORRO......................... -8 25 3 40 / 5 5 5 5 SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... -14 20 -1 30 / 10 0 5 5 TIJERAS......................... -12 22 0 32 / 5 0 5 5 MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... -20 20 -1 34 / 10 0 5 5 CLINES CORNERS.................. -15 18 4 29 / 10 5 5 5 GRAN QUIVIRA.................... -16 20 0 35 / 10 5 5 5 CARRIZOZO....................... -11 23 4 38 / 10 5 5 5 RUIDOSO......................... -5 16 6 34 / 20 10 5 5 CAPULIN......................... -21 25 4 42 / 5 5 10 5 RATON........................... -17 32 12 48 / 5 5 10 5 SPRINGER........................ -17 28 6 47 / 5 5 10 5 LAS VEGAS....................... -19 25 5 38 / 5 5 10 5 CLAYTON......................... -8 33 15 48 / 5 0 5 5 ROY............................. -8 25 11 43 / 5 5 5 5 CONCHAS......................... -14 24 5 46 / 5 0 5 5 SANTA ROSA...................... -12 24 4 43 / 5 0 5 5 TUCUMCARI....................... -13 27 9 45 / 5 0 5 5 CLOVIS.......................... -8 23 7 44 / 5 0 5 5 PORTALES........................ -7 24 5 45 / 5 0 5 5 FORT SUMNER..................... -9 24 5 45 / 5 0 5 5 ROSWELL......................... -4 20 2 40 / 10 5 5 5 PICACHO......................... -7 21 2 42 / 20 10 5 5 ELK............................. -10 19 7 39 / 20 10 5 5 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND CHILL WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM MST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ504>508-510>518-521>524-527. WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM MST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ501>503-509-519-520-525-526-528>540. && 40/44
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 541 AM MST WED FEB 2 2011 NMZ501>540-031300- NORTHWEST PLATEAU-CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS- NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS- WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS- SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS- WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET- EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY- LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-SANTA FE METRO AREA-ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA- LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-ESTANCIA VALLEY- CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY- SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA- FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-UNION COUNTY- HARDING COUNTY-EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY-GUADALUPE COUNTY- QUAY COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY- CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY-SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY- 541 AM MST WED FEB 2 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ACROSS THE STATE...ALONG WITH DANGEROUS WIND CHILL OVER EASTERN AND NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO...WILL MODERATE BY NOON AND END THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. WIND CHILL WILL AGAIN FALL TO DANGEROUS LEVELS TONIGHT ACROSS THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS WITH BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES COMMON OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY A WINTER STORM WITH SNOW...BLOWING SNOW...AND GUSTY WINDS WILL MOVE FROM THE INLAND NORTHWEST TO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO SUNDAY NIGHT...AND WILL SPREAD SOUTHWARD ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY 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 AT WEATHER.GOV/ABQ OR BY CALLING 1.888.386.7637. SHY
20 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
Temperatures down to -35 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -35 to -45 degrees.
Temperatures down to -36 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -35 to -45 degrees.
Temperatures down to -40 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -35 to -50 degrees.
Temperatures down to -35 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -35 to -50 degrees.
Temperatures down to -38 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -35 to -50 degrees.
Temperatures down to -35 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -35 to -45 degrees.
Temperatures down to -30 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -30 to -45 degrees.
Temperatures down to -31 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -30 to -45 degrees.
Temperatures down to -30 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -30 to -45 degrees.
Temperatures down to -28 degrees and 3 to 8 mph winds created wind chill values of -30 to -45 degrees.
Temperatures down to -25 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -30 to -45 degrees.
Temperatures down to -20 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -20 to -35 degrees.
Temperatures down to -28 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -25 to -40 degrees.
Temperatures as low as -19 and winds of 5 to 10 mph created wind chill values between -20 to -35 degrees.
Temperatures down to -30 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -30 to -45 degrees.
Temperatures down to -30 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -30 to -45 degrees.
Temperatures down to -25 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -25 to -40 degrees.
Temperatures down to -25 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -25 to -35 degrees.
Temperatures down to -34 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -30 to -45 degrees.
Temperatures down to -20 degrees and 5 mph winds created wind chill values of -20 to -35 degrees.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, February 2011
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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 271077, 271078, 271079, 271080, 271081, 271074, 271076, 271082, 271085, 271087, 271088, 271090, 271091, 271072, 271073, 271075, 271083, 271084, 271086, 271089.