Near average precipitation occurred in the month of March, but the prolonged period of below normal amounts led to an increase in drought coverage and intensity.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 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.
Near average precipitation occurred in the month of March, but the prolonged period of below normal amounts led to an increase in drought coverage and intensity.
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 Feb 28, 3:03 PM MST, 8 hours 57 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM
303 PM MST FRI FEB 28 2014
.SYNOPSIS...
AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING A CHANCE FOR
LOWLAND RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW SHOWERS TO THE AREA THIS WEEKEND.
THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK WILL SEE NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES WITH
DRY...MOSTLY SUNNY CONDITIONS. BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK
TEMPERATURES WILL CREEP SEVERAL DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
WELL OUR LONG DRY WEATHER PATTERN IS FINALLY COMING...SOME
WHAT...TO END. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 70 DAYS SINCE WE LAST HAD
MEASURABLE RAIN IN EL PASO. CURRENTLY AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM
WAS JUST OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA. THIS SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS
THE SOUTHWEST DURING THE NEXT 36 HOURS. AS THE SYSTEM APPROACHES
IT WILL SPREAD CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION CHANCES ACROSS THE AREA.
IT IS A WARM SYSTEM SO THE SNOW LEVEL WILL START OFF PRETTY
HIGH...BUT BY SATURDAY NIGHT WE WILL SEE THE SNOW LEVEL DROP TO
AROUND 7500 FEET. THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME DECENT
SNOWFALLS ABOVE 7500 FEET IN BOTH THE GILA REGION AND THE SACS SO
I WILL ISSUE A LOW END WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 3 TO 5 INCHES
OF SNOW ABOVE 7500 FEET. IN THE LOWLANDS WE COULD SEE SOME MUCH
NEEDED RAIN...BUT THIS SYSTEM WILL NOT PRODUCE MUCH RAIN IN THE
LOWLANDS...BUT WHAT RAIN WE DO GET WE WILL BE THANKFUL FOR. IN
ADDITION TO THE PRECIPITATION CHANCES WE WILL ALSO HAVE WINDY
CONDITIONS ON SATURDAY. RIGHT NOW THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH CLOUDS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYSTEM TO KEEP MIXING A LITTLE LOWER WHICH
WILL KEEP US JUST BELOW WIND ADVISORY LEVELS SPEEDS. IF WE SEE
MORE SUN THAN CLOUDS THEN WE WILL SEE A LITTLE STRONGER WINDS ON
SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
ON SUNDAY WE WILL QUICKLY BEGIN TO DRY OUT FROM THE WEST TO THE
EAST AND WE WILL SEE SOME COOLER AIR FILTER INTO THE REGION SO
SUNDAY'S AND MONDAY'S HIGHS MAY BE A DEGREE OR TWO BELOW NORMAL.
LATE ON MONDAY A BACK DOOR COLD FRONT WILL TRY AND PUSH INTO THE
REGION. BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF KEEP THE FRONT HUNG UP JUST TO OUR
EAST OR IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. SO THE EASTERN ZONES MAY SEE
SOME SLIGHT COOLING BUT NOT TOO MUCH. FOR THE END OF NEXT WEEK WE
WILL SEE A SHORT WAVE RIDGE BUILD INTO THE AREA SO WE WILL END
THE WEEK WITH MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AND ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES.
&&
.AVIATION...VALID 01/00Z-02/00Z...
THRU 12Z P6SM FEW-SCT080-100 SCT-BKN200-250 WITH W WINDS 15-20KTS
GRADUALLY BECOMING SW AND DECREASING TO 10-15KTS. AFT 12Z WEST OF A
KDMN-KTCS LINE P6SM SCT-BKN060-080 BKN120-150 WITH WSW WINDS
INCREASING TO 20-25G35KTS BETWEEN 18Z-20Z. ISOLD LOWLAND -SHRA
BKN040-060 WITH SCT TO NMRS 5SM SHRA BKN020-030 IN AREA MTS. E OF
KDMN-KTCS LINE AFT 12Z FEW-SCT080-100 SCT-BKN200-250 WITH WSW WINDS
INCREASING TO 15-25G30-35KTS.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
A STRONG UPPER LOW WILL BE MOVING INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TONIGHT
AND WEAKEN AS IT MOVES INLAND. SOUTHWEST FLOW AHEAD OF THIS STORM
SYSTEM WILL BRING ABUNDANT MOISTURE TO THE REGION WITH SCATTERED TO
NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY A THUNDERSTORM TO THE REGION STARTING
SATURDAY MORNING AD CONTINUING INTO SUNDAY MORNING. THE HEAVIEST
PRECIP AMOUNTS LOOK TO BE IN THE GILA REGION WITH A MAJORITY FALLING
AS RAIN...BUT 3 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE ABOVE 7500 FEET.
SIMILAR FOR THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS. STRONG WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS
WILL DEVELOP ON SATURDAY WITH THIS SYSTEM...BUT DUE TO THE EXPECTED
CLOUD COVER...WINDS SHOULD REMAIN IN THE 20 TO 30 MPH RANGE WEST OF
THE RIO GRANDE AND 15 TO 25 MPH EAST. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
WILL REMAIN WELL ABOVE CRITICAL LEVELS TO THE WEST WITH POSSIBLY AN
HOUR OR TWO OF NEAR CRITICAL CONDITIONS OVER EL PASO AND HUDSPETH
COUNTIES.
AS THE SYSTEM EXITS ON SUNDAY...DRIER CONDITIONS WILL RETURN BUT
WITH TEMPERATURES MAINLY IN THE 60S FOR THE LOWLANDS THROUGH AT
LEAST TUESDAY. WINDS SHOULD NOT BE MUCH OF A CONCERN STARTING SUNDAY
THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES DURING
THIS TIME ALSO LOOK TO REMAIN ABOVE CRITICAL LEVELS AND GENERALLY IN
THE 20S THROUGH TUESDAY.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
EL PASO 54 77 53 67 44 / 0 0 20 20 0
SIERRA BLANCA 52 77 44 64 36 / 0 0 10 20 0
LAS CRUCES 52 72 43 65 36 / 0 10 30 20 0
ALAMOGORDO 54 70 48 62 36 / 0 20 20 30 0
CLOUDCROFT 37 49 31 40 26 / 0 20 60 30 0
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES 52 70 45 62 37 / 0 30 30 20 0
SILVER CITY 50 58 41 52 36 / 20 60 50 20 0
DEMING 45 68 37 63 31 / 0 30 40 20 0
LORDSBURG 48 67 39 60 31 / 0 50 60 20 0
WEST EL PASO METRO 54 75 50 65 43 / 0 0 20 20 0
DELL CITY 45 78 38 66 28 / 0 0 10 20 0
FORT HANCOCK 52 83 46 72 42 / 0 0 20 20 0
LOMA LINDA 52 67 44 58 37 / 0 0 20 20 0
FABENS 52 76 46 67 44 / 0 0 20 20 0
SANTA TERESA 51 74 44 65 36 / 0 0 20 20 0
WHITE SANDS HQ 56 72 52 63 39 / 0 10 20 20 0
JORNADA RANGE 39 74 33 63 29 / 0 10 30 20 0
HATCH 48 69 42 61 33 / 0 20 30 20 0
COLUMBUS 54 71 48 63 39 / 0 20 30 20 0
OROGRANDE 50 76 43 66 33 / 0 10 20 20 0
MAYHILL 43 58 35 47 28 / 0 20 50 30 0
MESCALERO 40 58 32 49 27 / 0 20 60 30 0
TIMBERON 40 56 32 47 26 / 0 20 50 30 0
WINSTON 44 61 37 53 32 / 10 50 50 30 0
HILLSBORO 52 65 42 57 38 / 0 30 40 20 0
SPACEPORT 50 69 42 59 32 / 0 20 30 20 0
LAKE ROBERTS 46 59 38 52 32 / 20 80 70 30 0
HURLEY 48 61 39 56 33 / 10 50 50 20 0
CLIFF 43 67 34 61 29 / 20 80 70 30 0
MULE CREEK 35 60 23 55 19 / 20 70 70 30 0
FAYWOOD 49 62 39 55 33 / 0 40 40 20 0
ANIMAS 49 68 41 64 33 / 0 50 60 20 0
HACHITA 44 70 37 62 28 / 0 40 50 20 0
ANTELOPE WELLS 51 74 44 64 36 / 0 40 50 20 0
CLOVERDALE 51 67 42 60 35 / 0 50 60 20 0
&&
.EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 11 AM SATURDAY TO 5 AM MST SUNDAY
FOR NMZ402.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 5 PM SATURDAY TO 11 AM MST SUNDAY
FOR NMZ415.
TX...NONE.
&&
BRICE/GRZYWACZHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 545 AM MST FRI FEB 28 2014 NMZ401>417-TXZ418>424-011315- 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- 545 AM MST FRI FEB 28 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NM AND TX. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT BREEZY TO WINDY THIS AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS AROUND 30 TO 40 MPH. STRONGEST GUSTS WILL BE ALONG EASTERN FACING MOUNTAIN SLOPES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY A LOW PRESSURE TROUGH WITH A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THIS WEATHER SYSTEM WILL BRING WINDY CONDITIONS ON SATURDAY WITH WINDS GUSTING FROM 40 TO 50 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. IN ADDITION THE STORM WILL GENERATE WIDESPREAD RAIN SHOWERS AND HIGH MOUNTAIN SNOWS SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. UP TO AN INCH OF RAIN MAY FALL OVER ISOLATED LOCATIONS...MAINLY WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AND OVER THE HIGHER MOUNTAINS. IN ADDITION 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW WILL FALL OVER A FEW MOUNTAIN AREAS ABOVE 7500 FEET SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... REPORTS OF EXCESSIVE WIND GUSTS...HEAVY SNOW OR HEAVY RAINFALL ARE ENCOURAGED. ROGASH
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
15 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The entire zone remained in Severe(D2) drought through the month of March. The Cooperative Observer at Gila Hot Springs reported 0.83 inches of precipitation which was 0.05 inches above normal.
The western half of the zone remained in Severe(D2) drought while the east was in Moderate(D1).
The zone remained in Severe(D2) drought through the month.
The entire zone remained in Severe(D2) drought during the month of March. The Redrock Cooperative Observer reported 0.86 inches of precipitation which was 0.19 inches above normal.
The entire zone started out in Severe(D2) drought. On March 4th, the eastern half of the zone was put into Extreme(D3) drought. The Animas Cooperative Observer reported 0.60 inches of precipitation which was 0.12 inches above normal.
The zone remained in Severe(D2) drought through the month of March.
All areas started out in Severe(D2) drought, but on March 4th, the southern half of the zone was put into Extreme(D3) drought. The Deming ASOS reported 0.37 inches of precipitation which was 0.10 inches above normal.
The southern half of the zone was in Severe(D2) drought through the month while the northern half was in Moderate(D1). The Jornada Range Cooperative Observer reported 0.34 inches of precipitation which was 0.05 inches above normal.
Severe(D2) drought persisted for all areas of the zone except the far southeast where Moderate(D1) drought remained. The Cooperative Observer at New Mexico State University reported 0.33 inches of precipitation which was 0.03 inches above normal.
Severe(D2) drought continued over the eastern half of the zone while Moderate(D1) drought remained over the west. The Cooperative Observer at the White Sands National Monument reported 0.27 inches of precipitation which was 0.01 inches below normal.
Severe(D2) drought continued over the northern half of the zone while the southern half was in Moderate(D1) drought during the month. The Cooperative Observer at Orogrande reported 0.24 inches of precipitation which was 0.11 inches below normal.
The entire zone started out in Severe(D2) drought with the southern half of the zone put into Extreme(D3) drought on March 25th. The Mountain Park Cooperative Observer reported 1.08 inches which was 0.13 inches above normal.
The entire zone was in Severe(D2) drought to start the month, and on March 25th, the southern half of the zone was put into Extreme(D3) drought. The Cloudcroft Cooperative Observer reported 1.94 inches of precipitation which was 0.57 inches above normal.
The zone started in Severe(D2) drought and was moved into Extreme(D3) drought on March 25th.
The northern half of the zone remained in Severe(D2) drought and the southern half remained in Moderate(D1) drought.
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, March 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: 506259, 506260, 506261, 506262, 506263, 506264, 506265, 506266, 506267, 506268, 506269, 506271, 506272, 506273, 506274.