A strong upper low was stationary over far Southwest Arizona with a strong area of high pressure building into the central plains helping to push a back door cold front through the region. Some areas of West El Paso reported wind gusts in excess of 60 mph.
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 EPZ wrote it up.
A strong upper low was stationary over far Southwest Arizona with a strong area of high pressure building into the central plains helping to push a back door cold front through the region. Some areas of West El Paso reported wind gusts in excess of 60 mph.
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 El Paso, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 1, 3:08 PM MST, 4 hours 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
308 PM MST THU DEC 1 2011
.SYNOPSIS...
WINDY AND COLDER WEATHER IS FORECASTED TONIGHT AND FRIDAY AS A
STRONG COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. A DEEP LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM WILL ALSO MOVE THROUGH THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES
FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY BRINGING HEAVY SNOWS TO THE MOUNTAINS
ALONG WITH RAIN AND SNOW TO THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. NORTHERLY WINDS
WILL PUSH CHILLY AIR FROM CANADA INTO NEW MEXICO AND WESTERN TEXAS
NEXT WEEK CAUSING TEMPERATURES TO REMAIN MUCH COLDER THAN NORMAL.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
VERY ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND
WESTERN TEXAS NEXT FEW DAYS. STRONG COLD FRONT IS NOW ENTERING
THE CWA AND SHOULD PUSH TO THE ARIZONA BORDER BY MIDNIGHT.
PRONOUNCED SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT BEHIND THE FRONT WILL RESULT
IN WINDY CONDITIONS TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING ALONG WITH MUCH
COOLER TEMPERATURES. OF EQUAL OR GREATER IMPORTANCE...A VERY DEEP
CLOSED LOW IS NOW LOCATED OVER WESTERN ARIZONA WITH SYSTEM
EXPECTED TO MOVE ONLY SLIGHTLY EAST THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.
CIRCULATION AROUND THE LOW WILL INCLUDE 40 TO 50 KT SOUTHERLY FLOW
AROUND 700M MB WHICH WILL TRANSPORT MILDER MOIST AIR ALOFT ABOVE
THE COLD DOME AT THE SURFACE LATER TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY
RESULTING IN INCREASING ISENTROPIC LIFT AND EVEN INITIALLY SLIGHT
WARMING ALOFT.
TONIGHT DYNAMIC LIFTING/INCREASING DPVA ALOFT WILL ALSO SPREAD
INTO FAR WESTERN ZONES RESULTING IN MOSTLY LIGHT MOUNTAIN SNOWS
AND RAIN POSSIBLY MIXED WITH SNOW LOWLANDS. LATER FRIDAY THE LOW
BEGINS TO WEAKEN AND BECOME AN OPEN WAVE RESULTING IN A FASTER
MOVEMENT TO THE EAST WITH TROUGH AXIS APPROACHING NEW MEXICO
BORDER FRIDAY EVENING AND CAUSING DPVA TO SPREAD EASTWARD OVER
MOST OF THE CWA. IN ADDITION WARM ADVECTION ALOFT WILL CONTINUE
AROUND 700 MB. THUS INCREASING UPWARD VERTICAL MOTION WILL
THEREFORE CAUSE PRECIPITATION TO SPREAD INTO THE EASTERN ZONES BY
LATE AFTERNOON. AT MOMENT TEMPERATURE PROFILES INDICATE MOST OF
THE SNOW WILL FALL ABOVE 6500 WITH RAIN OVER THE LOWLANDS.
STRONGEST LIFT WILL OCCUR LATE FRIDAY EVENING/EARLY SATURDAY AS
MODELS SHOW WELL DEFINED VORTICITY MAX EJECTING TO THE NORTHEAST
ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN ZONES. THUS PRECIPITATION SHOULD BE
HEAVIEST DURING THIS TIME WITH LOW LEVEL COLD AIR ADVECTION ALSO
LOWERING SNOW LEVELS. TOTAL SNOW AMOUNTS SHOULD THUS BE AROUND 6
TO 12 INCHES OVER THE HIGHER MOUNTAINS WITH 1 TO 2 INCHES
POSSIBLE OVER THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. HEAVIEST RAINS/SNOW SHOULD END
BY NOON SATURDAY MOST AREAS AS TROUGH MOVES EAST OF THE CWA.
FOR THE REST OF NEXT WEEK...EXPECT SEVERAL WAVES TO DROP SOUTHWARD
INTO THE CWA WHILE DEEP NORTHERLY FLOW SUSTAINS TRANSPORT OF
RATHER COLD CANADIAN AIR. SO FOR MOST OF NEXT WEEK THE REGION WILL
EXPERIENCE MUCH COLDER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES WITH A THREAT OF
MAINLY MOUNTAIN SNOW SHOWERS.
&&
.AVIATION...VALID 02/00Z-03/00Z.
A STRONG BACKDOOR COLD FRONT WILL MOVE WEST OF THE SACRAMENTO AND
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS THIS EVENING. WINDS BECOMING 030-120 DEG/25G35
MPH EAST OF THE MTNS AND GUST 50-60 MPH WITH EVENING AND VERY ISOLD G
70 MPH WEST SLOPES/CANYONS/RIDGE TOPS WITH ASSOCIATED SEVERE
MECHANICAL TURBULENCE NEAR MTNS. SKY: SCT030-050 SCT-BKN080-120
BKN200-250.
00Z-06Z LCL 4-6SM BLDU AREAS IMMEDIATELY AHD OF FRONTAL BOUNDARY. AFT
03Z SIERRA COUNTY CHANCE SCT-BKN020-040 OVC060 3SM -SHRASN AND AFT
06Z -SHSN. ALL AREAS 15Z-24Z RISK SCT-BKN030 BKN-OVC080 6SM -SHRA
BLO 6500 AND -SHSN ABOVE 6500 WITH MTN TOPS OBSCD AT TIMES. MDT OR
GTR CLEAR ICING ABOVE 8000 FT - 13000 FT MSL AFT 18Z. OCNL MDT CLEAR
AIR TURBC 18Z-24Z 20K-35K MSL WITH STG JET OVER 100KTS DOWN TO 35K
MSL.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
VERY STRONG WINDS GUSTING 50 TO 60 MPH OR STRONGER WEST SLOPES
CANYONS TONIGHT AND EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.
ONE MORE FAIRLY GOOD WEATHER DAY ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO WITH
MILD TEMPERATURES AND SOME HIGH CLOUDS. LATER THIS AFTERNOON A
STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY FROM THE EAST
AND PUSH WEST THROUGH THE EVENING. THIS FRONT WILL BRING STRONG EAST
WINDS (ESPECIALLY ON WEST SLOPES AND CANYONS) AND SOME BLOWING DUST.
BY EARLY FRIDAY A STRONG AND COLD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ALOFT WILL
APPROACH FROM THE WEST AND MOVE ACROSS THE REGION FRIDAY THROUGH
SATURDAY BRINGING WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE REGION WITH
THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY SNOW OVER THE MOUNTAINS (ESPECIALLY THE
SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS) FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WITH MAINLY COLD RAIN AND
POSSIBLY A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW TO THE LOWLANDS. THIS SYSTEM WILL BE
SLOW TO EXIT WITH ADDITIONAL MOUNTAIN SNOW POSSIBLE THROUGH SUNDAY.
BY MONDAY THE SYSTEM WILL EXIT WITH DRY AND COLDER THAN NORMAL
CONDITIONS REMAINING FOR MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. THE MIN RH FIELD WILL
RANGE FROM AROUND 20% TO 35% THIS AFTERNOON JUMPING TO 45% TO 70%
FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THE HAINES INDEX WILL STAY IN THE 2 TO 3 CATEGORY
BOTH DAYS.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
EL PASO 39 53 36 52 32 / 10 40 60 20 0
SIERRA BLANCA TX 36 48 32 50 30 / 20 30 50 20 0
LAS CRUCES 37 51 30 50 30 / 10 40 60 20 0
ALAMOGORDO 32 47 27 46 28 / 10 40 70 20 10
CLOUDCROFT 23 31 21 30 17 / 20 40 90 30 30
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES 30 48 28 46 27 / 20 50 50 20 10
SILVER CITY 30 43 25 40 28 / 30 60 50 30 20
DEMING 36 51 31 49 31 / 10 50 50 20 10
LORDSBURG 35 52 32 49 31 / 40 50 50 20 20
&&
.EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM MST FRIDAY FOR NMZ024-025-032.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO NOON MST SATURDAY FOR
NMZ022.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON FRIDAY TO 6 PM MST SATURDAY FOR
NMZ025.
TX...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM MST FRIDAY FOR TXZ055-056.
&&
05 ROGASH/20 NOVLANHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 737 AM MST THU DEC 1 2011 NMZ022>025-030>032-TXZ055-056-021445- SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS/LOWER GILA REGION-SIERRA COUNTY LAKES REGION- TULAROSA BASIN/SOUTHERN DESERT-SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS- SOUTHWEST DESERT/BOOTHEEL-SOUTHWEST DESERT/MIMBRES BASIN- SOUTHERN DESERT-EL PASO-HUDSPETH- 737 AM MST THU DEC 1 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO...SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT MUCH OF TODAY WILL BE NICE WITH MILD TEMPERATURES. LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING STARTS A TRANSITION TO A PERIOD OF UNSETTLED AND POTENTIALLY IMPACTING WEATHER. FIRST A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL ARRIVE THIS AFTERNOON OVER THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS AND PUSH INTO THE RIO GRANDE BY SUNSET. THIS FEATURE WILL ARRIVE WITH 25-35 MPH OR STRONGER WINDS AND POSSIBLY SOME BLOWING DUST. A WIND ADVISORY BEGINS AT 4PM AND EXTENDS OVERNIGHT THROUGH 4AM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY FRIDAY MORNING A DEEP UPPER-LEVEL PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL BEGIN TO MOVE TOWARDS THE REGION FROM THE WEST. THIS FEATURE WILL PROVIDE SOME INSTABILITY AND DYNAMICS WHICH WILL GIVE RISE TO INCREASING PRECIPITATION POTENTIAL OVER WESTERN PORTIONS OVERNIGHT. SNOW MOUNTAINS AND COLD RAIN BELOW 6000 FT. FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY COOLER WITH INCREASING RAIN AND SNOW CHANCES ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION AS THE UPPER SYSTEM TRACKS OVER THE AREA. SNOW LEVELS WILL DROP TO UNDER 5000FT ON SATURDAY AND ANY PRECIPITATION THAT FALLS SATURDAY NIGHT ON THE STORMS BACKSIDE SHOULD FALL AS NOW AT ALL LOCATION. AS MUCH AS 5-10 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE OVER AREA MOUNTAINS...WITH TRACE TO LIGHT LOWLAND ACCUMULATIONS. THE SYSTEM WILL EXIT THE REGION EARLY SUNDAY. THE REST OF THE PERIOD WILL BE FAIR AND CHILLY AS RIDGING ALOFT WORKS BACK OVER THE SOUTHWEST. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... BIRD
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX
707 PM MST THU DEC 01 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0704 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 W ORGAN 32.43N 106.64W
12/01/2011 M59 MPH DONA ANA NM TRAINED SPOTTER
EAST MESA NE OF LAS CRUCES
&&
EVENT NUMBER EPZ1100372
MP1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The KFOX studios on Mesa Street in West El Paso reported a peak wind gust of |75 mph. Another mesonet site near Coronado Country Club in West El Paso reported a gust of 69 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, December 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: 356730.