A weak upper level storm system pushed across northern and central New Mexico on the 5th and 6th. Cold air in place behind the persistent back cold frontal airmass provided lift for a band of mainly light to moderate snowfall over eastern New Mexico.
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 weak upper level storm system pushed across northern and central New Mexico on the 5th and 6th. Cold air in place behind the persistent back cold frontal airmass provided lift for a band of mainly light to moderate snowfall over eastern New Mexico. The heaviest snowfall actually occurred with strong upslope flow along the southwest facing areas of the Mogollon Rim where 2 to 8 inches were reported.
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 6, 8:39 AM MST, 21 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 839 AM MST THU FEB 6 2014 .UPDATE... EXPIRED WINTER WX ADVISORY FOR THE REGION AS PRECIP HAS ENDED AND IMPACTS BEGINNING TO TAPER OFF. THICK LOW CLOUDS AND BITTER COLD TEMPS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TODAY. ANOTHER ROUND OF HIGH CLOUDS IS MOVING IN FROM THE WEST AND THIS WILL HELP KEEP THE REGION LOCKED IN LOW CLOUDS. SOME VEERING OF THE LOW LEVEL WINDS OUT EAST WILL HELP THIN OUT LOW CLOUDS BUT NOT FOR LONG. THE SECOND BATCH OF PRECIP WILL DEVELOP FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH THE DAY. THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER SET OF ADVISORIES FOR AT LEAST THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN HIGH TERRAIN INTO TONIGHT. RAISED POPS A BIT TO COVER SANDIA/MANZANO MTS SOUTHWARD INTO THE RUIDOSO AREA. 42 && .PREV DISCUSSION...444 AM MST THU FEB 6 2014... .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE MTS OBSCURED. UPPER LEVEL TROF EXITING EWD INTO WEST TX THIS MORNING. SFC HIGH PRESSURE AND ARCTIC AIRMASS WILL REMAIN IN ERN NM FROM THE CENTRAL MT CHAIN TO THE TX BORDER...ALTHOUGH EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY MODIFY DURING THE AFTERNOON. WDSPRD MVFR/IFR CIGS/VSBYS WILL CONTINUE IN PLACE UNTIL AROUND 06/16Z...WITH GRADUALLY IMPROVING CONDITIONS THEREAFTER. AREAS OF MVFR/IFR CIGS...HOWEVER...EXPECTED TO HANG ON EAST OF THE CENTRAL MT CHAIN THROUGH THE DAY AS SLY WINDS JUST OFF THE SFC PRODUCE LOW STRATUS CLOUDS. AREAS OF -SN WILL MOVE INTO WESTERN AND NORTHERN NM ONCE AGAIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. 33 && .PREV DISCUSSION...315 AM MST THU FEB 6 2014... .SYNOPSIS... ANOTHER UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL IMPACT THE AREA LATER TODAY WITH AN ADDITIONAL ROUND OF SNOW FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN NEW MEXICO. LOOK FOR A BREAK OVER THE WEEKEND WITH A WARMING TREND. ANOTHER DISTURBANCE AND COLD FRONT TO BRING A RETURN OF WINTER- LIKE WEATHER EARLY NEXT WEEK...THEN TRANQUIL WEATHER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK WITH ANOTHER WARMING TREND FORECAST. && .DISCUSSION... ONLY FLURRIES AND LIGHT SNOW REMAIN ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE AND SHOULD BE EAST OF OUR AREA BY SUNRISE. A VERY COLD START TO THE MORNING...WITH ICY ROAD CONDITIONS THANKS TO REFREEZE THAT OCCURRED WEDNESDAY EVENING. HAVE DOWNGRADED THE WINTER STORM WARNING TO AN ADVISORY AND WILL CONTINUE THE ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM...MAINLY TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE PARADE OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES CONTINUES LATER TODAY INTO FRIDAY WHEN ANOTHER SYSTEM WILL IMPACT WESTERN AND CENTRAL PORTIONS OF OUR FORECAST AREA WITH SNOW. LOCATIONS ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE LOOK TO HAVE THE BEST SHOT AT ACCUMULATING SNOW. ADDITIONAL WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES MAY BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN NEW MEXICO... ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE 3 TO 5 INCHES OF ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE. THE OTHER WEATHER STORY HERE IS A SIGNIFICANT WARMING TREND... ESPECIALLY EASTERN PLAINS...FORECAST TO BEING TODAY AND CONTINUE INTO THE WEEKEND. LOWS WILL BE BACK ABOVE NORMAL BY FRIDAY NIGHT AND HIGHS WILL BE NEAR NORMAL BY SATURDAY. THE WARMING WILL CONTINUE FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN AREAS THROUGH SUNDAY...BUT ANOTHER BACKDOOR COLD FRONT TO PUSH DOWN THE EASTERN PLAINS SUNDAY AND BRING TEMPERATURES BACK DOWN BELOW NORMAL THERE. SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 00Z GFS AND ECMWF SOLUTION ON THE HANDLING OF THE BACKDOOR FRONT SUNDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT...WITH THE ECMWF MORE BULLISH ON A WESTWARD PUSH. OUR FORECAST WILL BE A BLEND OF THE TWO SOLUTIONS FOR NOW...WHICH PUTS OUR MAX/MIN TEMP NUMBERS WELL BELOW GFS MOS FOR SUN-SUN NIGHT ACROSS THE EAST. THE FINAL DISTURBANCE TO IMPACT OUR AREA LATE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. AN ADDITIONAL ROUND OF SNOW IS EXPECTED...FAVORING THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS GIVEN THAT THIS SYSTEM WILL BE COMING OUT OF THE GREAT BASIN...AND ALSO THE EASTERN PLAINS WITH THE BACKDOOR COLD FRONT PROVIDING LOW LEVEL FORCING (UPSLOPE). THE 00Z MEDIUM RANGE MODEL SOLUTIONS AGREE ON DRY NW FLOW RETURNING BY NEXT WEDNESDAY AND PERSISTING THROUGH 240HRS. SO...LOOK FOR A WARMING TREND FOR THE LATER HALF OF NEXT WEEK WITH A RETURN TO TRANQUIL WEATHER. 11 && .FIRE WEATHER... NEXT STORM SYSTEM REMAINS ON TRACK FOR THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. AREAS OF LIGHT SNOW WILL DEVELOP OVER WESTERN AND NORTHWESTERN NM DURING THE AFTERNOON...SPREADING EAST INTO THE TUSAS AND JEMEZ MOUNTAINS AND THE MIDDLE AND UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY DURING THE EVENING. THE LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVER NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL AREAS TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING. BEST CHANCES FOR SEVERAL INCHES OF ACCUMULATION ARE EXPECTED IN THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN MOUNTAINS INCLUDING THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE FROM THOREAU NORTH TO DULCE/CHAMA TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING. VENTILATION RATES WILL REMAIN POOR OVER THE EASTERN PLAINS TODAY AND POOR TO FAIR WEST AS THE ARCTIC AIR SHIFTS EAST OUT OF THE REGION. VENTILATION RATES WILL INCREASE AND RANGE FROM GOOD TO EXCELLENT AREAWIDE FRIDAY AS SURFACE TEMPERATURES WARM AND MODERATE WEST WINDS CONTINUE NEAR MOUNTAIN TOP LEVEL. AS WARMER AIR ALOFT MOVES OVERHEAD DURING THE WEEKEND...VENTILATION RATES DIMINISH SOMEWHAT INTO THE FAIR TO GOOD RANGE BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. VENT RATES INCREASE ON MONDAY AS LOW LEVEL WINDS INCREASE AHEAD OF THE NEXT PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST. GFS AND ECMWF MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE THAT A FAST MOVING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL PASS FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST ACROSS NM MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. SIGNIFICANT SNOWS MAY BE A POSSIBILITY MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT FROM THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS EAST AND SOUTHEAST TO PLAINS. EXTENDED MODELS REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH REGARD TO MID WEEK AND BEYOND NEXT WEEK...WITH A RETURN TO DRY NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AND AN OCCASIONAL...MAINLY DRY...BACKDOOR FRONTAL PASSAGE. 33 && && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 527 AM MST THU FEB 6 2014 NMZ501>540-071300- 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- 527 AM MST THU FEB 6 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ALTHOUGH ONLY A FEW FLURRIES CONTINUE ACROSS THE EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PLAINS...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE STILL IN EFFECT TO COVER THE DANGEROUS ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. ANOTHER DISTURBANCE WILL APPROACH THE STATE TODAY AND CAUSE SNOW TO BREAK-OUT AGAIN ACROSS WESTERN PORTIONS OF NEW MEXICO. SNOW WILL EXPAND IN COVERAGE TONIGHT...WITH THE BEST CHANCES FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. ANOTHER ROUND OF WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE LIKELY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY...FAVORING THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...AND AREAS ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. ANOTHER ROUND OF WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED. ANOTHER UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND COLD FRONT WILL IMPACT THE NORTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATE LATE MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY WITH MORE WINTER-LIKE CONDITIONS...INCLUDING ACCUMULATING SNOW. THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND EASTERN PLAINS LOOK TO HAVE THE BEST SHOT MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. 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. 11
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
535 AM MST THU FEB 06 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM SNOW MELROSE 34.43N 103.62W
02/05/2014 M2.0 INCH CURRY NM CO-OP OBSERVER
0600 PM SNOW 3 S RAGLAND 34.78N 103.75W
02/05/2014 M1.5 INCH QUAY NM CO-OP OBSERVER
0600 PM SNOW 19 NE PIETOWN 34.49N 107.89W
02/05/2014 E4.0 INCH CATRON NM CO-OP OBSERVER
0600 PM SNOW 6 SSE LUNA 33.73N 108.93W
02/05/2014 E2.0 INCH CATRON NM OTHER FEDERAL
FRISCO DIVIDE SNOTEL.
0700 PM SNOW SAN JON 35.11N 103.33W
02/05/2014 M1.0 INCH QUAY NM CO-OP OBSERVER
0200 AM SNOW 6 ESE MOGOLLON 33.36N 108.70W
02/06/2014 E4.0 INCH CATRON NM OTHER FEDERAL
SILVER CREEK DIVIDE SNOTEL.
0511 AM SNOW 7 ESE CHUPADERO 35.79N 105.80W
02/06/2014 E1.0 INCH SANTA FE NM PUBLIC
SKI SANTA FE.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400297
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400298
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400299
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400300
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400301
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400302
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400303
JFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
720 AM MST THU FEB 06 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0551 AM SNOW LUNA 33.82N 108.95W
02/06/2014 E1.5 INCH CATRON NM TRAINED SPOTTER
0600 AM SNOW 8 SSW RED RIVER 36.59N 105.45W
02/06/2014 E2.0 INCH TAOS NM PUBLIC
TAOS SKI AREA.
0615 AM SNOW FORT SUMNER 34.48N 104.24W
02/06/2014 E3.0 INCH DE BACA NM PUBLIC
0628 AM SNOW 3 ESE ANGEL FIRE 36.38N 105.24W
02/06/2014 E1.0 INCH COLFAX NM PUBLIC
ANGEL FIRE SKI AREA.
0629 AM SNOW 6 WSW BONITO LAKE 33.40N 105.80W
02/06/2014 E1.0 INCH LINCOLN NM PUBLIC
SKI APACHE.
0643 AM SNOW 2 SE MANZANO 34.62N 106.31W
02/06/2014 M1.5 INCH TORRANCE NM CO-OP OBSERVER
0719 AM SNOW 9 NE ALBUQUERQUE 35.19N 106.48W
02/06/2014 E1.0 INCH BERNALILLO NM CO-OP OBSERVER
PASEO DEL NOTRE AND TRAMWAY.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400304
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400305
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400306
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400307
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400308
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400309
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400310
JF1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Various reports across the area indicated 2 to 8 inches of new snow impacted the area. The heaviest snow fell along southwest facing slopes around Mogollon.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, February 2014
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: 488319.