An upper level trough departed to the east of New Mexico as another wave followed closely on its heels into the weekend creating strong northwest winds. The second upper level wave shifted quickly across the northern and central mountains through Saturday afternoon.
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.
An upper level trough departed to the east of New Mexico as another wave followed closely on its heels into the weekend creating strong northwest winds. The second upper level wave shifted quickly across the northern and central mountains through Saturday afternoon. A surface low over eastern New Mexico deepened rapidly creating very windy conditions. Strong to very strong north to northwest winds developed by mid-day across western areas and expanded across the plains into the afternoon. Winds in the west began to weaken into the evening. The surface pressure gradient however remained strong throughout the overnight hours into the following day across the east. In addition to the strong winds were reduced visibilities in blowing dust across the east as well as snow in the north. Precipitation also impacted the state as the upper level trough interacted with a surface cold front. Snow amounts ranging from 2 to 6 inches were reported across locations in the northern mountains.
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 Mar 15, 2:00 PM MST, 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 300 PM MDT SAT MAR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A SOUTHWARD BOUND COLD FRONT AND UPPER STORM SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO BRING WINDY AND COOLER CONDITIONS AS WELL AS SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TO MUCH OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO TONIGHT. STRONG WINDS MAY PERSIST INTO SUNDAY MORNING IN THE EASTERN PLAINS BEFORE DIMINISHING. AREAS OF BLOWING DUST MAY ACCOMPANY THE THE WIND IN THE PLAINS. BY MONDAY...WARMER TEMPERATURES AND SOME AFTERNOON BREEZES ARE FORECAST. && .DISCUSSION... 12Z MODELS INDICATED THE UPPER JET WOULD BE ORIENTED NORTH TO SOUTH AND FARTHER TO THE WEST INTO AZ THROUGH THIS EVENING...RESULTING IN A SYSTEM DIVING FARTHER WEST AND SOUTH THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT. THAT WOULD SEEM TO INDICATE NOT QUITE AS STRONG WINDS OVER THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE...OR AT LEAST SHIFT THE AXIS OF STRONGER WINDS FARTHER WEST ALONG THE AZ BORDER. THIS MAY BE STARTING TO PLAY OUT ATTM WITH A PKWND OF 43KT FINALLY OBSERVED...ALTHOUGH KGNT JUST RECORDED AT PK OF 43KT AS WELL. THEREFORE WILL NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE CURRENT WIND HIGHLIGHTS. CONVERGENCE HAS PRODUCED A LENGTHY BAND OF ISOLATED CONVECTION STRETCHING NORTH TO SOUTH ALONG THE HIGHLANDS ADJACENT TO THE CENTRAL MT CHAIN. SOME OF THE 06Z MAV GUIDANCE INDICATED THE LOW LEVEL WINDS WOULD TURN MORE EAST THAN NORTHEAST IN THIS REGION...AS THE UPPER RIDGE BUILDS IN RAPIDLY OVER COLORADO...AND RESULTING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF EAST CANYON WINDS INTO PORTIONS OF THE MIDDLE AND LOWER RGV TONIGHT...BUT THE 12Z GUIDANCE BACKED OFF ON IT. WITH THE ISOLD CONVECTION OUT THERE...CAN/T RULE OUT A BRIEF INCURSION...AT LEAST A LOCALIZED ONE...ESPECIALLY IF THE MODELS ARE RIGHT DEVELOPING A WEAK CLOSED LOW OVER THIS EVENING TO OUR SOUTHWEST. MEANWHILE THE COLD FRONT PLOWS FARTHER SOUTH INTO THE EASTERN PLAINS AS THE PRECEDING /YESTERDAYS/ UPPER LOW IS FINALLY BOOTED OUT OF THE REGION. CURRENT WIND ADVY FOR THE PLAINS MAY NEED TO BE EXTENDED IN TIME...THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...BEFORE THE WIND FINALLY TAPERS OFF. WILL ALLOW INCOMING SHIFT TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT. WITH THE UPPER SYSTEM MOVING FAIRLY RAPIDLY...AND RATHER SHARP DRYING OCCURRING /OR PROGGED TO OCCUR/ WILL NOT HAVE ANY WINTER WX HIGHLIGHTS. SOME OF THE HIGH PEAKS IN THE SOUTHWEST...SOUTH CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL MAY PICK UP 3 TO 6 INCHES BUT NOT EXPECTING MUCH IMPACT...ALTHOUGH REDUCED VSBYS IN BLOWING SNOW COULD BE AN ISSUE AT SOME OF THE HIGHER PASSES TONIGHT. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED...WINDS MAY PERSIST INTO SUNDAY BEFORE DIMINISHING. MONDAY STILL LOOKS WARMER BUT BREEZES PICKING UP DUE AN INCOMING SYSTEM. THIS DOESN/T APPEAR TO PRODUCE MUCH PRECIPITATION MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...JUST WIND AND A COOL DOWN. WEDNESDAY MAY SEE ANOTHER BUT WEAK DISTURBANCE...WHICH IS A CHANGE...THEN GFS CONTINUES TO INDICATE SOME SOUTHERN STREAM MOISTURE INCREASING AND INITIATING SOME PRECIPITATION TOWARD THE END OF NEXT WEEK. && .FIRE WEATHER... WINDY CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST INTO THE EVENING AS A VERY DRY AIRMASS MOVE INTO CENTRAL AND WESTERN NM INCREASING FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS. HOWEVER...GIVEN THE SUBSTANTIAL COVERAGE OF WETTING PRECIP YESTERDAY AND COOLER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES TODAY AND TOMORROW...THE FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN MUTED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF TODAY AND TOMORROW BUT WILL INCREASE AGAIN ON MONDAY. WINDY CONDITIONS WILL DIMINISH THIS EVENING OVER CENTRAL/WESTERN NM BUT CONTINUE OVER THE EASTERN HALF THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT AS A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA. AS THE BACKDOOR COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE EASTERN PLAINS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SOME GUSTY SHOWERS AND AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM THROUGH THIS EVENING. OVERNIGHT RECOVERIES WILL BE POOR TO FAIR ACROSS THE WEST AND SOUTH AND REMAIN GOOD TO VERY GOOD ACROSS THE NORTH AND EAST. ON SUNDAY EXPECT WARMING TEMPERATURES AND BREEZY NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS. WIDESPREAD CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ON MONDAY. FLOW BECOMES WESTERLY AND INCREASES AS A MUCH DRIER AIRMASS OVERSPREADS THE AREA. A STRONG DOWNSLOPE FLOW WILL CAUSE TEMPERATURES TO WARM IN MOST AREAS...ESPECIALLY THE EAST. HAINES VALUES ARE FORECAST AT 5 TO 6 FOR A MAJORITY OF THE AREA. SEVERAL HOURS OF SINGLE DIGIT RH VALUES ARE EXPECTED FOR THE EAST. WINDS WILL REMAIN BREEZY INTO MONDAY NIGHT AND RECOVERIES WILL BE POOR TO FAIR. WILL HAVE TO MONITOR FOR CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP AGAIN ON TUESDAY AS LOW RH VALUES PERSIST AND WESTERLY WINDS INCREASE IN RESPONSE TO AN UPPER WAVE MOVING THROUGH COLORADO. FOR THE LATTER HALF OF NEXT WEEK EXPECT WARMING TEMPERATURES...MIN RH VALUES IN THE TEENS AND A LIGHT TO MODERATE DRY WESTERLY FLOW OVER THE REGION. 01 && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE ...KABQ AIRPORT WEATHER WARNING ISSUED FOR HIGH WINDS FROM NOON THROUGH 7 PM... DENSE MORNING FOG DISSIPATED AND OR LIFTED AROUND 16Z. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON BECOMING STRONG BY THE MIDDLE TO LATE AFTERNOON ALL AREAS...WITH GUSTS 35 TO 45 KNOTS. RAIN SHOWERS OVER THE NORTHEAST AND EASTERN PLAINS AFTER MIDDAY WILL STRENGTHEN LOW LEVEL MIXING ENHANCING WINDS AND INCREASE THE CHANCES FOR LOCALIZED BLOWING DUST. ALL AREAS WILL CLEAR OUT THIS EVENING AS THIS FAST MOVING WEATHER DISTURBANCE LEAVES THE REGION. HOWEVER...WINDS WILL LINGER STRONG OVER THE EAST THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. BENNETT && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FARMINGTON...................... 24 60 28 69 / 0 0 0 0 DULCE........................... 18 53 23 63 / 10 0 0 0 CUBA............................ 20 53 25 65 / 10 0 0 0 GALLUP.......................... 18 57 20 67 / 5 0 0 0 EL MORRO........................ 16 54 19 64 / 10 0 0 0 GRANTS.......................... 16 56 20 68 / 10 0 0 0 QUEMADO......................... 19 58 23 67 / 10 0 0 0 GLENWOOD........................ 23 64 30 73 / 10 0 0 0 CHAMA........................... 12 47 17 54 / 20 0 0 0 LOS ALAMOS...................... 24 54 29 63 / 20 0 0 0 PECOS........................... 21 52 28 63 / 30 0 0 0 CERRO/QUESTA.................... 14 51 17 60 / 20 0 0 0 RED RIVER....................... 12 45 17 52 / 30 0 0 0 ANGEL FIRE...................... 13 47 19 57 / 30 0 0 0 TAOS............................ 17 53 18 62 / 10 0 0 0 MORA............................ 18 51 23 63 / 30 0 0 0 ESPANOLA........................ 22 58 25 67 / 20 0 0 0 SANTA FE........................ 22 52 26 63 / 20 0 0 0 SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 24 55 27 66 / 20 0 0 0 ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 28 54 30 67 / 20 0 0 0 ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 31 57 35 69 / 20 0 0 0 ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 27 59 30 70 / 20 0 0 0 ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 28 59 31 69 / 20 0 0 0 LOS LUNAS....................... 28 61 32 72 / 20 0 0 0 RIO RANCHO...................... 30 58 34 69 / 20 0 0 0 SOCORRO......................... 33 62 36 74 / 20 0 0 0 SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 25 52 29 65 / 20 0 0 0 TIJERAS......................... 27 54 30 65 / 20 0 0 0 MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 24 54 25 66 / 30 0 0 0 CLINES CORNERS.................. 22 51 28 63 / 40 5 0 0 GRAN QUIVIRA.................... 27 53 29 64 / 30 5 0 0 CARRIZOZO....................... 30 55 31 65 / 30 5 0 0 RUIDOSO......................... 29 50 33 62 / 50 5 0 0 CAPULIN......................... 21 50 18 69 / 20 5 0 0 RATON........................... 23 55 21 73 / 20 5 0 0 SPRINGER........................ 21 54 23 71 / 20 5 0 0 LAS VEGAS....................... 19 52 25 67 / 30 0 0 0 CLAYTON......................... 26 52 32 75 / 10 5 0 0 ROY............................. 25 53 29 73 / 20 5 0 0 CONCHAS......................... 32 57 29 76 / 20 5 0 0 SANTA ROSA...................... 32 58 30 76 / 30 5 0 0 TUCUMCARI....................... 35 59 31 78 / 20 5 0 0 CLOVIS.......................... 30 54 29 74 / 40 5 0 0 PORTALES........................ 33 53 29 75 / 50 5 0 0 FORT SUMNER..................... 35 54 30 76 / 50 5 0 0 ROSWELL......................... 36 57 30 78 / 40 5 0 0 PICACHO......................... 32 54 31 71 / 40 5 0 0 ELK............................. 30 51 30 67 / 50 5 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... NMZ502-503-505-508-511-519>524. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... NMZ527>538. HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ501-504-506-507. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 556 AM MDT SAT MAR 15 2014 NMZ501>540-161200- 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- 556 AM MDT SAT MAR 15 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT STRONG TO VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP AROUND MID DAY ACROSS CENTRAL AND WESTERN AREAS...THEN LAST UNTIL SUNSET. GUSTS TO 50 MPH WILL BE COMMON...EXCEPT TO 60 MPH ACROSS THE NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS AND PLATEAU...AS WELL AS THE WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND HIGHLANDS. A COLD FRONT WILL ALSO DELIVER WIND GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS...AS WELL AS THE NORTHEAST AND FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS AND RATON RIDGE EAST OF INTERSTATE 25. WINDS ACROSS THE EAST WILL STRENGTHEN DURING THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON AND COULD LAST THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT AND INTO SUNDAY MORNING. THE COLD FRONT WILL PROBABLY KICK UP DUST WHICH MAY DROP THE VISIBILITY WELL BELOW 1 MILE AS THE FRONT CROSSES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...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
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
953 AM MDT SAT MAR 15 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM SNOW 13 ESE CUBA 35.95N 106.75W
03/14/2014 M5.0 INCH SANDOVAL NM CO-OP OBSERVER
0656 AM SNOW 4 ESE BLACK LAKE 36.28N 105.19W
03/15/2014 M3.0 INCH COLFAX NM TRAINED SPOTTER
0800 AM SNOW 3 ESE ANGEL FIRE 36.38N 105.24W
03/15/2014 E4.0 INCH COLFAX NM PUBLIC
ANGEL FIRE SKI AREA.
0800 AM SNOW 7 ESE CHUPADERO 35.79N 105.80W
03/15/2014 E2.0 INCH SANTA FE NM PUBLIC
SKI SANTA FE.
0800 AM SNOW RED RIVER 36.71N 105.42W
03/15/2014 E3.0 INCH TAOS NM PUBLIC
RED RIVER SKI AREA.
0800 AM SNOW 3 NW TRES RITOS 36.16N 105.55W
03/15/2014 E3.0 INCH TAOS NM PUBLIC
SIPAPU SKI AREA.
0800 AM SNOW 8 SSW RED RIVER 36.59N 105.45W
03/15/2014 E1.0 INCH TAOS NM PUBLIC
TAOS SKI AREA.
0900 AM SNOW 6 WSW BONITO LAKE 33.40N 105.80W
03/15/2014 E1.0 INCH LINCOLN NM PUBLIC
SKI APACHE.
0900 AM SNOW 5 WNW LOS ALAMOS 35.91N 106.38W
03/15/2014 E2.0 INCH LOS ALAMOS NM OTHER FEDERAL
QUEMAZON SNOTEL.
0900 AM SNOW 5 ESE RED RIVER 36.68N 105.33W
03/15/2014 E4.0 INCH COLFAX NM OTHER FEDERAL
RED RIVER PASS SNOTEL.
0900 AM SNOW 8 SSW SAN MIGUEL 36.87N 106.23W
03/15/2014 E1.0 INCH RIO ARRIBA NM OTHER FEDERAL
SAN ANTONIO SINK SNOTEL.
0900 AM SNOW 8 NE ARROYO SECO 36.58N 105.45W
03/15/2014 E2.0 INCH TAOS NM OTHER FEDERAL
TAOS POWDERHORN SNOTEL.
0900 AM SNOW 11 NNW CANON PLAZA 36.70N 106.25W
03/15/2014 E2.0 INCH RIO ARRIBA NM OTHER FEDERAL
HOPEWELL SNOTEL.
0900 AM SNOW 8 SE EAGLE NEST 36.46N 105.17W
03/15/2014 E6.0 INCH COLFAX NM OTHER FEDERAL
TOLBY SNOTEL.
0900 AM SNOW 9 E CUBA 36.02N 106.80W
03/15/2014 E4.0 INCH RIO ARRIBA NM OTHER FEDERAL
VACAS LOCAS SNOTEL.
0900 AM SNOW 9 ENE SHADY BROOK 36.40N 105.32W
03/15/2014 E2.0 INCH COLFAX NM OTHER FEDERAL
PALO SNOTEL.
0900 AM SNOW 4 NNW TRES RITOS 36.18N 105.55W
03/15/2014 E2.0 INCH TAOS NM OTHER FEDERAL
GALLEGOS PEAK SNOTEL.
0900 AM SNOW 7 ESE CUBA 36.00N 106.83W
03/15/2014 E6.0 INCH RIO ARRIBA NM OTHER FEDERAL
SENORITA DIVIDE SNOTEL.
0900 AM SNOW 8 SW ROCIADA 35.76N 105.53W
03/15/2014 E2.0 INCH SAN MIGUEL NM OTHER FEDERAL
WESNER SPRINGS SNOTEL.
0900 AM SNOW 5 SW BONITO LAKE 33.40N 105.78W
03/15/2014 E1.0 INCH LINCOLN NM OTHER FEDERAL
SIERRA BLANCA SNOTEL.
0915 AM SNOW 10 SSE ANGEL FIRE 36.25N 105.21W
03/15/2014 M3.0 INCH MORA NM COCORAHS
&&
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400551
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400552
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400553
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400554
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400555
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400556
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400557
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400558
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400559
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400560
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400561
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400562
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400563
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400564
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400565
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400566
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400567
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400568
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400569
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400570
EVENT NUMBER ABQ1400571
JLP5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Clayton ASOS recorded high sustained wind speeds ranging from 40 to 45 mph as well as gusts ranging from 50 to 59 mph during the afternoon into evening of March 15, 2014.
A APRSWXNET/CWOP site located near Quemado recorded peak wind gusts up to 58 mph during the early evening of March 15, 2014.
Both the Tucumcari ASOS as well as Mesonet site in Quay county recorded sustained wind speeds in the low forties during the early evening of March 15, 2014.
The Roswell ASOS recorded high sustained wind speeds ranging from 40 to 47 mph as well as peak gusts up to 64 mph during the evening of March 15, 2014.
The Phillips Hill Mesonet at the White Sands Missile Range recorded high sustained wind speeds ranging from 40 to 48 mph as well as peak gusts ranging from 58 to 69 mph during the late evening of March 15, 2014.
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: 497137, 497138, 497139, 497142, 497144.