Another very dry month kept almost all of Southwest and South Central New Mexico in Extreme(D3) to Exceptional(D4) drought. All locations in region reported well below normal precipitation.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
Another very dry month kept almost all of Southwest and South Central New Mexico in Extreme(D3) to Exceptional(D4) drought. All locations in region reported well below normal precipitation.
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 Apr 30, 1:49 PM MST, 10 hours 11 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 249 PM MDT TUE APR 30 2013 .SYNOPSIS... WESTERLY WINDS WILL BRING ANOTHER DAY OF VERY WARM DRY WEATHER TO SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND WESTERN TEXAS ON WEDNESDAY. WEDNESDAY NIGHT A VERY STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE BORDERLAND AND THIS WILL RESULT IN MUCH COOLER WINDY WEATHER WITH TEMPERATURES WELL BELOW NORMAL ON THURSDAY...THURSDAY NIGHT AND AGAIN ON FRIDAY. WESTERLY WINDS WILL CAUSE A RETURN TO WARMER CONDITIONS NEXT WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .DISCUSSION... WESTERLY WINDS WILL BRING ONE MAY DAY OF VERY WARM TEMPERATURES TOMORROW. THEREAFTER HIGH AMPLITUDE UPPER TROUGH WILL FURTHER DIG SOUTHWARD INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH A VERY STRONG ASSOCIATED CANADIAN COLD FRONT PLUNGING ACROSS THE CWA EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS BEHIND THE BOUNDARY WILL BRING PRONOUNCED COLD AIR ADVECTION WITH THURSDAY AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. FORECASTED PRESSURE GRADIENTS PLUS DOWN SLOPE FLOW ALSO INDICATES HIGH WINDS ALONG WESTERN FACING MOUNTAIN SLOPES...ESPECIALLY OVER THE WEST EL PASO VICINITY WHERE ADVISORIES MAY BE REQUIRED FOR THURSDAY MORNING. MOISTURE WILL BE SPARSE BUT UPSLOPE FLOW MAY BE SUFFICIENT FOR SLIGHT CHANCES OF RAIN OR MOUNTAINS SNOWS FAR EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. IN FACT TEMPERATURE FIELDS SUGGEST POSSIBLE FREEZING RAIN OVER THE SACS. WINDS DIMINISH BY THURSDAY EVENING WITH THE COMBINATION OF CLEAR SKIES...LOW DEWPOINTS AND LIGHTER WINDS ALLOWING FRIDAY MORNING TEMPERATURES TO FALL TO NEAR FREEZING MANY AREAS BY SUNRISE. CONTINUED EASTERLY FLOW ON FRIDAY ALSO INDICATES FRIDAY AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES AGAIN AROUND 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. ZONAL FLOW ALOFT COMBINED WITH SHORT WAVE RIDGE WILL INDUCE WARMER TEMPERATURES ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. MODELS HAVE SHOWN LARGE DISAGREEMENTS AND INCONSISTENCIES FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. BUT ON THE LARGER SCALE EXPECT BROAD TROUGHING WEST OF THE DIVIDE TO SUSTAIN SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW WITH TRANSPORT OF SEASONABLY WARM AIR. HOWEVER SUFFICIENT MOISTURE MAY ALSO FLOW INTO THE AREA FOR VERY ISOLATED CONVECTION MAINLY OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN. && .AVIATION...VALID 01/00Z-02/00Z. P6SM SKC-SCT150-250 THRU PD. WEST WINDS DECREASING BY 02Z TO AROUND 10KTS AND THEN INCREASING AGAIN AFT 16Z TO AROUND 15G25KTS. && .FIRE WEATHER... VERY DRY AIR WILL REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES. EXPECT SINGLE DIGIT MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WITH POOR RECOVERIES ONCE AGAIN WEDNESDAY. WINDS WILL GENERALLY BE WEST IN THE 10-20 MPH RANGE. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH THE REGION WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND DROP TEMPERATURES FOR THURSDAY BY 20 DEGREES OR MORE AND BRING IN GUSTY EAST WINDS...BUT RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 30 PERCENT. TEMPERATURES WILL RETURN TO NEAR TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR A FEW SHOWERS BEHIND THE FRONT THURSDAY OVER THE SACS AND AGAIN EARLY NEXT WEEK IF SOME MORE MOISTURE CAN GET PULLED UP FROM THE SOUTHEAST AS A STORM SYSTEM DEVELOPS OVER THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... EL PASO 64 90 50 63 37 / 0 0 0 0 0 SIERRA BLANCA 56 87 47 56 32 / 0 0 0 10 0 LAS CRUCES 56 89 48 64 34 / 0 0 0 0 0 ALAMOGORDO 57 87 41 59 35 / 0 0 10 10 0 CLOUDCROFT 41 70 36 42 23 / 0 10 10 10 10 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES 59 89 47 69 32 / 0 0 0 0 0 SILVER CITY 52 82 43 62 32 / 0 0 0 0 0 DEMING 54 90 50 68 32 / 0 0 0 0 0 LORDSBURG 53 91 47 70 34 / 0 0 0 0 0 WEST EL PASO METRO 61 89 50 62 35 / 0 0 0 0 0 DELL CITY 53 90 45 53 27 / 0 0 10 10 0 FORT HANCOCK 59 92 47 63 37 / 0 0 0 10 0 LOMA LINDA 54 85 47 52 31 / 0 0 0 10 0 FABENS 57 91 51 63 35 / 0 0 0 0 0 SANTA TERESA 55 89 49 63 35 / 0 0 0 0 0 WHITE SANDS HQ 64 90 49 60 38 / 0 0 0 0 0 JORNADA RANGE 51 90 48 64 29 / 0 0 0 0 0 HATCH 58 91 49 65 33 / 0 0 0 0 0 COLUMBUS 57 91 52 69 36 / 0 0 0 0 0 OROGRANDE 57 89 46 60 33 / 0 0 0 10 0 MAYHILL 45 76 39 42 25 / 0 0 10 10 0 MESCALERO 43 76 39 46 24 / 0 0 10 10 0 TIMBERON 42 75 37 46 25 / 0 0 10 10 0 WINSTON 45 81 38 59 25 / 0 0 0 0 0 HILLSBORO 55 85 44 61 31 / 0 0 0 0 0 SPACEPORT 56 88 46 65 30 / 0 0 0 0 0 LAKE ROBERTS 45 84 37 59 27 / 0 0 0 0 0 HURLEY 49 85 44 60 32 / 0 0 0 0 0 CLIFF 42 85 41 66 26 / 0 0 0 0 0 MULE CREEK 37 84 40 63 25 / 0 0 0 0 0 FAYWOOD 51 85 44 58 30 / 0 0 0 0 0 ANIMAS 55 93 51 74 36 / 0 0 0 0 0 HACHITA 54 92 48 71 35 / 0 0 0 0 0 ANTELOPE WELLS 55 92 51 72 38 / 0 0 0 0 0 CLOVERDALE 53 88 50 65 35 / 0 0 0 0 0 && .EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...NONE. TX...NONE. && 05 ROGASH/26 GRZYWACZ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 619 AM MDT TUE APR 30 2013 NMZ401>417-TXZ418>424-011230- UPPER GILA RIVER VALLEY-SOUTHERN GILA HIGHLANDS/BLACK RANGE- SOUTHERN GILA FOOTHILLS/MIMBRES VALLEY- SOUTHWEST DESERT/LOWER GILA RIVER VALLEY-LOWLANDS OF THE BOOTHEEL- UPLANDS OF THE BOOTHEEL-SOUTHWEST DESERT/MIMBRES BASIN- EASTERN BLACK RANGE FOOTHILLS-SIERRA COUNTY LAKES- NORTHERN DONA ANA COUNTY-SOUTHERN DONA ANA COUNTY/MESILLA VALLEY- CENTRAL TULAROSA BASIN-SOUTHERN TULAROSA BASIN- WEST SLOPES SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS BELOW 7500 FEET- SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 7500 FEET- EAST SLOPES SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS BELOW 7500 FEET-OTERO MESA- WESTERN EL PASO COUNTY-EASTERN/CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY- NORTHERN HUDSPETH HIGHLANDS/HUECO MOUNTAINS-SALT BASIN- SOUTHERN HUDSPETH HIGHLANDS- RIO GRANDE VALLEY OF EASTERN EL PASO/WESTERN HUDSPETH COUNTIES- RIO GRANDE VALLEY OF EASTERN HUDSPETH COUNTY- 619 AM MDT TUE APR 30 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NM AND TX. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. WARM...DRY...AND SOMEWHAT BREEZY THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. CONTINUED WARM AND DRY AND SLIGHTLY BREEZY WEDNESDAY. LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT...AFTER MIDNIGHT AND THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BLOW INTO THE REGION FROM THE N/NE. STRONG WINDS AND DUST ARE LIKELY TO ACCOMPANY THE FRONT. WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40-45 MPH. THUS THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR A WIND ADVISORY TO BE ISSUED. SLIGHT RISK OF RAIN AND SNOW SHOWER OVER THE SACS WED NIGHT/THUR MORNING...DRY ALL OTHER AREAS. MUCH COOLER THU AND FRI WITH TEMPS IN THE U60S-L70S. WARMING SAT AND SUN. WEATHER BECOMES UNSETTLED SUN THROUGH TUE WITH AREA SHOWERS POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. BIRD
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
17 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The entire zone remained in Extreme(D3) drought through the month of May. The Cooperative Observer at Gila Hot Springs reported 0.09 inches of precipitation which was 0.53 inches below normal.
Extreme(D3) drought remained in place across the zone through the month.
The month of May saw drought conditions continue in the Extreme(D3) category through the month. The Faywood Cooperative Observer reported just a trace of precipitation which was 0.46 inches below normal.
Extreme(D3) drought conditions remained in place through the month. The Cooperative Observer at Redrock reported 0.10 inches of rain which was 0.37 inches below normal.
The entire zone remained in Extreme(D3) drought during the month of May. The Antelope Wells Cooperative Observer reported no precipitation which was 0.30 inches below normal.
The zone remained in Extreme(D3) drought through the entire month.
The southern and western portions of the zone were in Extreme(D3) drought while the remainder of the zone was in Exceptional(D4) drought. The Deming ASOS reported 0.03 inches of precipitation which was 0.40 inches below normal.
Extreme(D3) drought continued across the entire zone during the month of May. The Cooperative Observer in Winston reported just a trace of precipitation for the month which was 0.75 inches below normal.
Exceptional(D4) drought continued through the month of May for the entire zone. The Truth of Consequences ASOS reported 0.14 inches of precipitation which was 0.43 inches below normal.
The entire zone remained in Exceptional(D4) drought through the month of May. The Jornada Cooperative Observer reported 0.04 inches of precipitation which was 0.48 inches below normal.
The northern half of the zone remained in Exceptional(D4) drought while the southern half was in Extreme(D3) drought through the month. The Cooperative Observer at New Mexico State University reported 0.09 inches of rain which was 0.31 inches below normal.
The western half of the zone remained in Exceptional(D4) drought while the eastern half was in Extreme(D3) drought during the month of May. The White Sands National Monument Cooperative Observer reported no precipitation which was 0.46 inches below normal.
Exceptional(D4) drought was experienced in the northwest portion of the zone with Severe(D2) drought over the far south. The remainder of the zone was in Extreme(D3) drought. The Orogrande Cooperative Observer reported 0.07 inches of precipitation which was 0.56 inches below normal.
The zone went from Extreme(D3) drought to Exceptional(D4) drought during the month of May. The Cloudcroft Cooperative Observer reported 0.26 inches of precipitation which was 1.10 inches below normal.
The zone went from Extreme(D3) drought to Exceptional(D4) drought in mid-May.
The far southern portions of the zone remained in Severe(D2) drought while the remainder of the zone was in Extreme(D3) drought.
The zone transitioned from Extreme(D3) drought to Exceptional(D4) drought during the month. The Mountain Park Cooperative Observer reported 0.30 inches of precipitation which was 0.73 inches below normal.
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, May 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: 453212, 453213, 453214, 453215, 453216, 453218, 453219, 453221, 453223, 453225, 453226, 453227, 453229, 453235, 453236, 453237, 453238.