Below zero temperatures in Farmington led to the death of a 47 year old woman. The woman was a transient who was living in a tent in an area located approximately one mile off East Main Street across from Memory Gardens.
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.
Below zero temperatures in Farmington led to the death of a 47 year old woman. The woman was a transient who was living in a tent in an area located approximately one mile off East Main Street across from Memory Gardens.
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 10, 7:40 PM MST, 4 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 740 PM MST MON JAN 10 2011 .UPDATE... REMOVED POPS FROM MOST AREAS EXCEPT SANGRES ABOVE 8500 FEET. TWEAKED SKY COVER UP TO MOSTLY CLOUDY PER LOW CLOUD TRENDS OVER THE EASTERN HIGH PLAINS LAST HOUR. LOWERED MIN TEMPS A FEW DEGREES OVER THE WEST WHERE LOCAL HIRES MODEL SHOWS A 1048MB MESOHIGH IN PLACE OVER THE NW PLATEAU BY SUNRISE. GUYER && .PREV DISCUSSION...325 PM MST MON JAN 10 2011... SNOW EVENT...SUCH AS IT WAS...WINDING DOWN IN NE NM AND ALREADY HAS ELSEWHERE. WILL CANCEL REMAINING ADVISORY FOR SANGRES ON E AS RADAR AND SFC REPORTS INDICATE LITTLE SNOWFALL OF ANY REAL SIGNIFICANCE. MAIN FOCUS GOING FORWARD IN NEAR TERM WILL BE ON THE VERY COLD NIGHTTIME MINIMUMS TONIGHT FOR MUCH OF N THIRD OF THE STATE. WAS CONCERNED A BIT WITH WIND CHILL ISSUES AND WHETHER ADVISORY FOR THAT WOULD BE NEEDED...BUT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WINDS IN MOST AREAS WILL BE TOO LIGHT LATE TONIGHT...WHEN TEMPS GET LOW ENOUGH TO BE A BIGGER FACTOR...TO BRING WIND CHILLS LOW ENOUGH TO MEET CRITERIA. HAVING SAID THAT THOUGH...CROSS SECTIONS ACROSS THE SANGRES AND HIGHLANDS TO THE E INDICATE A LOW TO MODERATE POTENTIAL FOR SOME MTN WAVE ACTIVITY TONIGHT FOR THAT AREA. BUT THIS WILL LIKELY BE SO LOCALIZED AS TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT...THOUGH SOME WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 30 AND 45 MPH NOT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE QUESTION THERE IN JUST A FEW SPOTS. AFTER TONIGHT THERE WILL BE A GENERAL WARMING TREND FOR NEARLY ALL OF THE REST OF THE WORK WEEK...FOLLOWED BY A LITTLE MORE VARIABLE TEMP TREND. BUT NO MORE REALLY COLD BLASTS IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. WEAK DISTURBANCE COMES THROUGH NM WED WITH SOME POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED TO POSSIBLY SCT SNOW SHOWERS UP HIGH AND LOWER TERRAIN RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS S OR SW HALF OF STATE...BUT NAM IS NOT BUYING INTO ANY MEASURABLE PCPN WHILE GFS AND EURO DO PEPPER AFOREMENTIONED AREA WITH SOME VERY LOW QPF AMTS. DECIDED TO ADD/EXPAND SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR WED MAINLY S OF INTERSTATE 40...BUT CONFIDENCE NOT TERRIBLY HIGH AS THESE WEAK LOW AMPLITUDE SHORT WAVES CAN BE NOTORIOUSLY FICKLE AS TO THEIR EXACT TRACK AND AMT OF PCPN PRODUCED. ANOTHER ONE FOLLOWS FOR FRI TO SAT PERIOD...BUT MODELS DIFFER HUGELY IN TRACK AND STRENGTH...SO WILL NOT ALTER GRIDS FOR THAT TIME PERIOD AT THIS TIME. 43 .AVIATION... A FEW MTN TOP OBSCD WILL BE FOUND ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL SITES THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY PERIOD...OTHERWISE IMPROVING CONDITIONS ACROSS THAT AREA AS DRY AIR CONTINUES TO FILTER IN. EASTERN AREAS PROVE TO BE MORE PROBLEMATIC AS FAR AS MVFR AND IFR CONDITIONS. LATEST VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS THAT DRIER AIR AND A STRONGER NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT HAS BEGUN TO ERODE SOME OF THE LOW CLOUDS ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS. A NARROW BAND OF CLEAR SKIES HAS SHOWED UP JUST SOUTH OF THE TCC AIRPORT SO EXPECT CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE THERE DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS. LVS CONTINUES TO SHOW AN UPSLOPE WIND AND COULD USE A DRIER NORTHEAST WIND TO BREAK UP THE LOW CLOUDS AND SNOW SHOWERS. THE SECONDARY COLD FRONT THAT CONTAINS THE MODIFIED ARCTIC AIR IS PUSHING THROUGH EASTERN COLORADO AT THIS TIME AND SHOULD PUSH INTO THE EASTERN PLAINS THIS EVENING. THIS IS WHEN LVS CONDITIONS SHOULD IMPROVE. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS THE MAJORITY OF THE AREA BY MIDNIGHT ALTHOUGH A REDEVELOPMENT OF MVFR AND/OR JUST ABOVE MVFR CONDITIONS IS INDICATED BY SOME OF THE MODELS FOR ROW LATE TONIGHT. NEXT AVIATION DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR 10Z. 50 .FIRE WEATHER... MOST OF THE SNOW SHOWER ACTIVITY HAS COME TO AN END ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF NEW MEXICO. THE LEADING EDGE OF THE COLD FRONT HAS INVADED THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE STATE. A SECONDARY BOUNDARY WITH SINGLE DIGIT AIR RESIDES BACK ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN COLORADO. THIS BOUNDARY WILL SLIDE INTO THE EASTERN PLAINS TONIGHT AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COOLING. HOWEVER...SNOW SHOWERS WILL HAVE ENDED BY THAT POINT AND MOST OF THE SKIES WILL CLEAR. DUE TO THE EFFICIENT RADIATIONAL COOLING TONIGHT...LARGE AREAS WILL RECEIVE EXCELLENT HUMIDITY RECOVERY INCLUDING THE WESTERN/NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS THE EASTERN PLAINS. LOWER AND MIDDLE PORTIONS OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY WILL LARGELY SEE MODERATE TO GOOD RECOVERIES. LESSENING WINDS ALOFT AND THE LACK OF REAL GOOD MIXING WILL LEAD TO LARGE AREAS OF POOR VENTILATION THROUGH FRIDAY. SOME SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE OBSERVED ACROSS LOCALIZED AREAS WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY...MAINLY EASTERN PLAINS...DUE TO WEAK PACIFIC WAVE TRANSLATIONS BUT THESE SYSTEMS DONT APPEAR TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO PROVIDE LARGE-SCALE IMPROVEMENTS. THE BROADER NORTHWEST FLOW OBSERVED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL ALSO BE ON THE DRIER SIDE. MODELS HAVE JUMPED AROUND A LITTLE BIT AS FAR AS DEPICTING PRECIPITATION FOR THE WEDNESDAY WAVE PASSAGE BUT DUE TO DRIER NEAR SURFACE CONDITIONS...EXPECT MOST OF THE LIGHTER PRECIPITATION TO FAVOR HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE DATIL AND MAGDALENA RANGES. SOME LIGHTER SHOWERS MAY BE AROUND THE STATE ON FRIDAY BUT ONCE AGAIN...NOT EXPECTING MUCH IN THE WAY OF LIQUID WATER. HUMIDITY VALUES SHOULD FALL INTO THE TEENS ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA ON TUESDAY BUT INCREASE PRETTY MUCH AREAWIDE ON WEDNESDAY. HUMIDITY VALUES SHOULD TREND LOWER ON THURSDAY BUT GENERALLY REMAIN ABOVE 20 PERCENT WITH LOWEST READINGS FORECASTED TO BE ACROSS THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS. HUMIDITY VALUES SHOULD GENERALLY RISE ON FRIDAY MOST AREAS. AFTER A BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURE DAY ON TUESDAY...LOOK FOR A GRADUAL RISE IN TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE REST OF THE WORK WEEK. LOOK FOR NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES BY THURSDAY. LONGER RANGE WEATHER MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW A DRIER NORTHWEST FLOW PATTERN FOR THE WEEKEND AND INTO THE EARLIER HALF OF NEXT WEEK. CERTAINLY EXPECT A FEW WEAK PACIFIC WAVES TO BE EMBEDDED WITHIN THIS NORTHWEST FLOW BUT IT JUST APPEARS THAT THERE WONT BE ENOUGH COOL AIR AND/OR MOISTURE/LIFT DYNAMICS TO PROVIDE MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION. TEMPERATURES DURING THIS PERIOD SHOULD BE NEAR NORMAL WITH PERHAPS MORE FLUCTUATIONS ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS DEPENDING ON BRIEF INTRUSIONS FROM BACK DOOR FRONTS. HUMIDITY VALUES ARE ALSO NOT EXPECTED TO MAKE LARGE SCALE SWINGS EITHER WAY WITH LOWEST READINGS GENERALLY ABOVE 18 PERCENT FAVORING THE EASTERN PLAINS. VENTILATION RATINGS WILL ALSO REMAIN POOR TO FAIR MOST AREAS WITH SOME GOOD OR BETTER RATINGS ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS AT TIMES. 50 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS UPDATE... FARMINGTON...................... -10 24 7 33 / 0 0 5 5 DULCE........................... -15 26 2 32 / 0 0 5 5 CUBA............................ -12 34 3 36 / 0 0 5 5 GALLUP.......................... -10 34 9 37 / 0 0 5 10 EL MORRO........................ -8 37 8 36 / 0 0 10 10 GRANTS.......................... -3 38 10 39 / 0 0 5 10 QUEMADO......................... -6 41 15 38 / 0 0 5 10 GLENWOOD........................ 14 47 21 46 / 0 0 5 5 CHAMA........................... -17 25 -7 30 / 5 0 5 5 LOS ALAMOS...................... -2 31 14 34 / 0 0 5 0 PECOS........................... -2 31 12 37 / 0 0 5 0 CERRO/QUESTA.................... -16 28 -2 32 / 0 0 5 5 RED RIVER....................... -15 28 4 27 / 10 0 5 5 ANGEL FIRE...................... -19 27 0 30 / 5 0 5 5 TAOS............................ -14 29 1 33 / 0 0 5 0 MORA............................ -7 32 7 36 / 0 0 5 5 ESPANOLA........................ -3 37 6 40 / 0 0 5 0 SANTA FE........................ 1 32 11 38 / 0 0 5 0 SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 4 34 14 40 / 0 0 5 0 ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 12 38 21 41 / 0 0 5 5 ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 15 38 22 42 / 0 0 5 5 ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 10 41 19 44 / 0 0 5 5 ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 12 40 20 43 / 0 0 5 5 LOS LUNAS....................... 9 42 18 44 / 0 0 5 5 RIO RANCHO...................... 13 39 19 42 / 0 0 5 5 SOCORRO......................... 11 48 20 49 / 0 0 0 10 SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 4 37 18 40 / 0 0 5 5 TIJERAS......................... 9 38 18 40 / 0 0 5 5 MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 1 39 11 41 / 0 0 5 5 CLINES CORNERS.................. 4 32 13 36 / 0 0 5 5 GRAN QUIVIRA.................... 11 41 18 42 / 0 0 5 10 CARRIZOZO....................... 15 45 22 45 / 0 0 5 10 RUIDOSO......................... 15 38 18 38 / 0 0 5 10 CAPULIN......................... -6 25 4 33 / 0 0 5 0 RATON........................... -4 30 6 39 / 0 0 5 0 SPRINGER........................ -3 32 5 40 / 0 0 5 0 LAS VEGAS....................... -1 33 11 38 / 0 0 5 0 CLAYTON......................... 2 30 9 35 / 0 0 5 0 ROY............................. 1 26 5 35 / 0 0 5 0 CONCHAS......................... 6 32 18 39 / 0 0 5 0 SANTA ROSA...................... 6 30 18 41 / 0 0 5 0 TUCUMCARI....................... 4 35 13 39 / 0 0 5 0 CLOVIS.......................... 4 36 15 38 / 0 0 5 5 PORTALES........................ 3 36 17 39 / 0 0 5 10 FORT SUMNER..................... 9 35 18 38 / 0 0 5 5 ROSWELL......................... 17 42 19 41 / 0 0 5 10 PICACHO......................... 14 38 15 45 / 0 0 5 10 ELK............................. 15 40 15 43 / 0 0 5 10 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && GUYER
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 534 AM MST MON JAN 10 2011 NMZ501>540-111300- 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- 534 AM MST MON JAN 10 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT EXPECT FRESH SNOWFALL OF 1 TO 3 INCHES OVER NORTHERN NEW MEXICO THROUGH TONIGHT...WITH SNOWFALL TAPERING OFF FROM WEST TO EAST DURING THE DAY TODAY. GUSTY WINDS SHIFTING TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST THROUGH THE DAY TODAY WILL CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. EXPECT HEAVIEST SNOWFALL OVER THE NORTHERN AND SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS NEAR THE COLORADO BORDER...AND NEAR RATON PASS. COLD AIR PLUNGING SOUTHWARD ACROSS NEW MEXICO WILL COMBINE WITH LINGERING WINDS TO DROP WIND CHILL TO 20 TO 30 BELOW ZERO OVER THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...AND FROM ZERO TO 20 BELOW OVER THE HIGH COUNTRY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 40. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...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...VIA AMATEUR RADIO...OR BY CALLING 1.888.386.7637. SHY
1 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
A 47 year-old woman was found dead at a campsite in the vicinity of 6900 E. Main St. in Farmington. The woman was a transient who was living in a tent across from Memory Gardens. The morning low temperature was -3 degrees in Farmington.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold/Wind Chill, Northwest Plateau | 2011-01-11 | 47 | Female | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
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, January 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: 276816.