A secondary upper level low pressure system followed quickly behind the initial storm system on February 9 and 10th continuing snowfall over much of New Mexico. A strong cold front moved south over the plains and interacted with this upper wave to focus the second round of snowfall across eastern New Mexico, particularly the far northeast highlands.
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 secondary upper level low pressure system followed quickly behind the initial storm system on February 9 and 10th continuing snowfall over much of New Mexico. A strong cold front moved south over the plains and interacted with this upper wave to focus the second round of snowfall across eastern New Mexico, particularly the far northeast highlands.
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 11, 4:59 PM MST, 3 hours 1 minute earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 459 PM MST MON FEB 11 2013 .AVIATION... 00Z TAF CYCLE STORM CORE OVER ARIZONA WITH LOW PRESSURE DEEPENING RAPIDLY OVER THE TX BIG BEND COUNTRY PUSHING MT OBSCURATION AND EXCURSIONS TO IFR FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST AS RAIN CHANGES TO SNOW OVER WESTERN HALF OF NEW MEW MEXICO...WITH CONDITIONS EXPANDING RAPIDLY OVER THE EAST FROM 03Z ONWARD MON EVENING. SNOW WILL BE HEAVIEST WITH IFR CIGS AND VIZ OVER THE NORTH AND WEST...AND IN TAFS FOR ALL BUT ROW THIS ROUND. SNOW TAPERING FROM WEST TO EAST FROM 09Z TUE MORNING...WITH IFR FOCUS SHIFTING TO NORTHEAST NM BEFORE TAPERING OFF FROM 21Z ONWARD TUE AFTERNOON. TUE AFTERNOON GUSTS TO 25 KTS OVER THE EASTERN PLAINS FROM 14Z ONWARD WITH FOCUS SHIFTING SOUTH AND EAST THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY EVENING. SHY && .PREV DISCUSSION...345 PM MST MON FEB 11 2013... STORM SYSTEM OVER ARIZONA THIS AFTERNOON WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK EAST INTO NEW MEXICO TONIGHT. 12Z MODEL RUNS WERE ALL FARTHER SOUTH WITH THE UPPER LOW POSITION...AND ISOLD CONVECTION PRESENT OVER SRN AZ THIS AFTERNOON. IN ADDITION...MODELS DID NOT SUGGEST AN EAST WIND WOULD BREAK THROUGH THE CENTRAL MT CHAIN INTO THE RGV BUT A GENERAL SE FLOW AT THE SURFACE APPEARS TO BE GETTING MORE ORGANIZED IN THE PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON. DEWPOINTS IN THE 20S JUST TO OUR EAST IN TEXAS MAY MIGRATE INTO NEW MEXICO...WITH MODELS KEEPING THE SO CALLED HIGHER LOW LEVEL MOISTURE MAINLY EAST OF THE PECOS VALLEY. WITH THE LOW TRACKING FARTHER SOUTH...ADDED THE SOUTHWEST MTS TO THE WINTER WX HIGHLIGHTS...CONVERTED THE WINTER STORM WATCH TO WINTER WX ADVISORY ALTHOUGH A FEW PLACES MAY END UP WITH MARGINAL WARNING CRITERIA...AND RECONFIGURED SOME ENDING TIMES AND GROUPINGS BASED ON THE WEST TO EAST PROGRESSION OF THE LOW. FEAR IS THE WX IMPACTS MAY END UP FARTHER SOUTH INTO THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS/SOUTH CENTRAL MTS AS WELL AS PORTIONS OF THE EAST CENTRAL/SOUTHEAST PLAINS WHERE NAM IS SHOWING GOOD LIFT LATER TONIGHT AND SOUTHEAST LOW LEVEL WINDS MAY ADVECT THE 20S DEWPOINTS FARTHER WEST THAN ANTICIPATED. ALSO SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE ABQ METRO...WHERE IF A BAND SETS UP COULD SEE SOME ACCUMULATIONS. THEREFORE STAY ALERT FOR ANY UPDATES. THE LOW EXITS LATER TUESDAY WITH DRY WX FORECAST FOR TUESDAY NIGHT. A CLIPPER TYPE SYSTEM OR TWO POSSIBLY SCHEDULED FOR WED NIGHT/THURSDAY/FRIDAY PERIOD THEN POTENTIAL FOR A MORE WIDESPREAD SYSTEM EARLY NEXT WEEK. BUT TIMING IS VARIABLE BETWEEN MODELS WITH THIS SYSTEMS. .FIRE WEATHER... VISIBLE SATELLITE AND WATER VAPOR IMAGERY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH 2015Z INDICATES ONE POTENT UPPER LOW MOVING SOUTHEASTWARD INTO SW AZ...WHILE ANOTHER UPPER LOW ACROSS NW CO IS WEAKENING AND MOVING NORTHEASTWARD. BETWEEN THESE SYSTEMS A PACIFIC COLD FRONT IS PROGRESSING EASTWARD ACROSS EASTERN AZ AND INTO WESTERN NM. A BAND OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW ACCOMPANYING THIS FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS WESTERN NM LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO EASTERN NM LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN MOUNTAINS ARE MOST LIKELY TO RECEIVE WETTING PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS DURING THIS EVENT WITH 0.1 TO 0.2 INCHES COMMON AND A FEW HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG THE WEST-FACING SLOPES. LOW ELEVATION AREAS ACROSS NM ARE GENERALLY EXPECTED TO RECEIVE LESS THAN 0.1 INCHES OF LIQUID EQUIVALENT. THE EXCEPTION WILL BE ACROSS THE NORTHEAST PLAINS OF NM...WHERE A DEVELOPING SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN WESTERN TX WILL PRODUCE LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW LATE TONIGHT AND INTO TUESDAY WITH SNOW AMOUNTS GENERALLY 1 TO 3 INCHES. THREE INCH OR GREATER AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS OF NM. THE INCREASE IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL KEEP RELATIVE HUMIDITY HIGH ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WIND AHEAD OF THIS COLD FRONT WILL GUST TO NEAR 20 KTS ACROSS CENTRAL NM THIS EVENING AND TO AROUND 25 KTS ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. FOR TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON...LIGHT NORTHWEST FLOW AT THE SURFACE AND ALOFT WILL PREDOMINATE...AS A LARGE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC. THIS PATTERN WILL RESULT IN A GRADUAL DRYING TREND ACROSS THE REGION. NORTHWEST NM AND EASTERN NM ARE EXPECTED TO RETAIN THE HIGHEST RELATIVE HUMIDITY DURING THIS PERIOD...WITH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST NM EXPERIENCING MORE PRONOUNCED DRYING. WITH THE LIGHT WINDS...OVERNIGHT RELATIVE HUMIDITY RECOVERIES SHOULD BE STRONG TO EXCELLENT...ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHWEST AND EASTERN PLAINS. DEEP INVERSIONS WILL DEVELOP TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WITH STRONG SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS NM DURING THIS PERIOD...VENTILATION RATES WILL BE POOR ACROSS THE REGION WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. THE POOREST VENTILATION RATES WEDNEDSAY AND THURSDAY ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE VALLEYS OF WESTERN NM. THE GFS AND EUROPEAN MODELS BEGIN TO SHOW SOME SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES THURSDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. THE EUROPEAN MAINTAINS A DRY NORTHWEST FLOW ACROSS NM...WHILE THE GFS PUSHES A COLD FRONT FROM THE PLAINS ACROSS EASTERN NM THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. THIS PATTERN WOULD INCREASE RELATIVE HUMIDITY FROM THE EASTERN PLAINS TO THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THE EUROPEAN SOLUTION FAVORS CONTINUED DRY NORTHWEST FLOW. IN ANY EVENT...THE CONTINUED NORTHWEST FLOW WILL RESULT IN BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES THROUGH FRIDAY. THE RIDGE IS FORECAST TO BREAK DOWN ACROSS NM ON SUNDAY WITH THE EUROPEAN INDICATING THE POTENTIAL FOR WINDY TO VERY WINDY CONDITIONS AND ATTENDANT FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS. THE GFS FORECAST IS FORECASTING LIGHTER WINDS WITH A LOWER THREAT FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER. && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM MST TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ528>532-534>536. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM MST TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ517-518-521. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM MST TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ501-504>508. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MST TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ512>516-527. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 8 AM MST TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ502-503-510-511. && 99
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 552 AM MST MON FEB 11 2013 NMZ501>540-121300- 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- 552 AM MST MON FEB 11 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A DEVELOPING WINTER STORM OVER NORTHERN ARIZONA EARLY THIS MORNING WILL PRODUCE ACCUMULATING SNOW OVER MUCH OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO AS IT APPROACHES TODAY AND CROSSES TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. HEAVIER SNOWFALL WILL FAVOR LOCATIONS ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TODAY...THEN IT WILL SHIFT EASTWARD OVER NORTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO THIS EVENING BEFORE FOCUSING ON THE NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS LATE TONIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING. PLEASE REVIEW THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AFTER PERIODS OF POTENTIALLY HEAVY SNOW ACROSS NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL NEW MEXICO TUESDAY MORNING...SNOW WILL GRADUALLY DECREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG AND EAST OF THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY AS AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AND BACK DOOR COLD FRONT SWEEP SOUTHWARD ALONG THE FRONT RANGE OF THE ROCKIES. WEATHER CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST FORECASTS... WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. 44
1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm total accumulations between 3 and 6 inches were reported from trained spotters, COOP sites, and the public.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, February 2013
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: 424382.