A strong storm system moved rapidly east across the southern Rockies on February 11, 2019. A potent Pacific cold front in association with this system raced eastward across New Mexico during the early morning hours then through eastern New Mexico during the 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.
A strong storm system moved rapidly east across the southern Rockies on February 11, 2019. A potent Pacific cold front in association with this system raced eastward across New Mexico during the early morning hours then through eastern New Mexico during the afternoon. A band of snow along the front produced strong winds, blowing snow, and low visibility as it moved through western and central New Mexico. West to northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts near 50 mph impacted many areas of the state, but the strongest winds impacted eastern New Mexico where gusts near 60 mph were common. Blowing dust was reported in areas downwind of White Sands National Monument and around the Caprock.
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, 10:27 AM MST, 2 hours 13 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1027 AM MST Mon Feb 11 2019 .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE A strong Pacific trough and associated cold front is racing east across New Mexico, bringing strong westerly winds and a quick round of snow. Sub-VFR conditions at KFMN and KGUP will improve rapidly after 18Z, while variable VFR to IFR conditions at KSAF will linger through 20Z. Showers developing across eastern New Mexico will act to enhance wind gusts, but VFR conditions are forecast to persist at KLVS and KTCC. Areas of mountain obscurations will diminish this evening with rapid clearing. Otherwise, the main aviation weather concern will be strong/gusty winds, especially east of the central mountain chain where mountain wind-wave activity is likely. Winds will trend down quickly after sunset. 11 && .PREV DISCUSSION...338 AM MST Mon Feb 11 2019... .SYNOPSIS... The weather pattern will undergo a sharp turn to a colder and very windy scenario today as a vigorous disturbance aloft crosses northern New Mexico along with an attendant cold front. High temperatures will run 5 to 15 degrees below average today over most of northern and central New Mexico, and some light precipitation will accompany the passage of the cold front. Wind speeds will surge up late this morning into the afternoon with many locations observing gusts of 40 to 50 mph, even higher near 60 mph in central to southeastern parts of the state. Warmer temperatures are expected Tuesday and Wednesday. Light to moderate breezes are forecast Tuesday, but breezy to windy conditions are expected to develop by Wednesday afternoon. For Thursday, the jet stream aloft will steer more strong to severe surface winds into New Mexico. && .DISCUSSION... The Pacific trough that moved inland over the Great Basin will be crossing northern NM and CO through the morning and early afternoon. The trough may briefly close off into a low, but overall precipitation is expected to be light and secondary to the strong/severe winds that will accompany. The cold front will also be significant with a synoptic cold pool aloft overtaking the forecast area, evident by 700 mb temperatures of -8 to -10 C this afternoon. This cold pool aloft will create steep temperature lapse rates, and the NAM is boasting negative lifted indices within, so a stray lightning strike or two is not out of the realm of possibilities today (near northern mountains). Flow at the 700 mb level is also appreciable, even with overall lower speeds advertised with last evening’s 00UTC guidance. For now, will push forward with the current wind advisories and high wind warnings, along with the addition of the Jemez mountains. Winds will subside after sunset when vertical mixing processes decouple. As the trough races into the southern plains, the gradient will also relax quickly. Look for chilly temperatures tonight, but a rebound is in order for Tuesday and Wednesday. Most locations will be within 3 to 5 degrees either side of climatological normals on Tuesday, and by Wednesday most areas will climb 5 to 12 degrees above average. The upper level gradient aloft will begin tightening on Wednesday while a lee side surface trough is rendered. This will induce breezy to windy conditions, namely over the northern mountains into the east central and northeastern plains of NM Wednesday afternoon. From Thursday into early next week the weather pattern over NM will be governed by a strengthening and rather perturbed zonal flow aloft. Distinct perturbations are difficult to pinpoint as each forecast model has a different placement, strength, and track to them all. However, the universal theme will be that the polar jet will have strengthened over the eastern Pacific, nosing into NM by Thursday. Strong to possibly severe winds would be in the works for Thursday with repetitive bouts of breezy to windy conditions occurring into early next week. Precipitation does periodically accompany the perturbed flow, mostly for the northern and western mountains of NM, but we remain cognizant that the eastern Pacific moisture has had difficulty transporting this far north and east over the past couple of weeks. 52 && .FIRE WEATHER... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR THE EASTERN PLAINS ON WEDNESDAY... A sharp upper level trough and associated Pacific cold front will cross the central and southern Rockies today with strong winds, below normal temperatures and a brief snow squall with the passing front over western and central areas. Strong winds will be the main concern with gusts ranging from 30 to 50 mph, except around 60 mph in the Sandia/Manzano and Gallinas Mountains and across the east central plains. Speeds will begin to strengthen out of the southwest in the early morning, but the Pacific cold front will shift directions out of the northwest as it crosses western areas during the early morning, central areas during late morning, and eastern areas during the afternoon. Snow accumulation with the system will generally be light, but a few inches of snow is expected on higher peaks of the northern mountains where snow will linger through the afternoon and into the night. Warmer temperatures are expected in between storm systems Tuesday and Wednesday. A weak ridge of high pressure that crosses Tuesday will give way to a brisk zonal flow aloft on Wednesday allowing winds to strengthen again. Meanwhile, a lee trough will extend south of a 999 mb surface low in eastern CO, enabling breezy to windy conditions to develop in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and across the northeast and east central plains. There will also be widespread critically low humidities across southern and eastern parts of the forecast area on Wednesday, with Haines mostly of 5 across the eastern plains, and high temperatures around 4 to 12 degrees above normal across the forecast area. Critical fire weather conditions look to be widespread enough to warrant a Fire Weather Watch for the eastern plains Wednesday late morning through early evening. The coverage of critical conditions is still a bit marginal on the east central plains where the strongest winds will be found north of the Caprock. Winds will become very strong again on Thursday. Models agree on strong flow aloft, but their positioning of the upper level trough passing to the north of NM varies, decreasing confidence on the precise location of the strongest winds. A powerful jet stream is forecast to cross NM with 700 mb flow forecast by the GFS to vary around 45 to 65 knots with a broad area over 50 knots. Meanwhile, a roughly 989 mb (depending on the model) surface low is forecast to develop over eastern CO. The potential exists for widespread 50-60 mph winds with gusts near 65 mph possible along and east of the central mountain chain. A broader area of wetting precipitation is expected over western and north central areas mainly Wednesday night through Thursday night with several inches of snow possible in the northern mountains, a few to several inches in the western mountains, and a few inches at lower elevations of the northwest. A series of weaker disturbances in west and southwest flow aloft will keep a chance for showers in the forecast mainly for west slope locations Friday through Sunday. Winds will be weaker compared to Thursday, but still breezy (especially Sunday). 44 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 7 PM MST this evening for the following zones... NMZ504-506>508-511>515-518>520-525-528-529-531-532. High Wind Warning until 7 PM MST this evening for the following zones... NMZ521>524-526-533>540. Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening for the following zones... NMZ104-108. && 46
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 345 AM MST Mon Feb 11 2019 NMZ501>540-121200- 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 Cristos above 9500 feet/Red River- Southern Sangre de Cristos above 9500 feet- East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Upper Rio Grande Valley- Lower Chama River Valley-Santa Fe Metro Area- Middle Rio Grande Valley/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- 345 AM MST Mon Feb 11 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Strong to severe winds are expected across much of northern and central New Mexico today as a potent disturbance aloft and an attendant cold front sweep into the state. The strongest winds will be found along portions of the central mountain chain and into the east central and southeastern high plains of New Mexico where occasional gusts may reach 55 to 60 mph. Areas of blowing dust may reduce visibility. In addition, a couple inches of fresh snow accumulation will be possible in the northern mountains today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Stronger winds will redevelop over northeastern New Mexico Wednesday afternoon where low humidity is forecast. This could lead to a few hours of critical fire weather in the northeastern plains of the state. Another round of strong to severe winds are forecast for Thursday. In a similar fashion, areas along and east of the central mountain chain will once again be susceptible to the highest wind speeds Thursday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report any wind damage or any high gust measurements through the National Weather Service Albuquerque web site at weather.gov/abq or by calling 1.888.386.7637. You can also submit storm reports and photos on our Facebook page or via Twitter using the hashtag nmwx. 52
6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A public weather station several miles west-southwest of Encino reported peak sustained winds between 40 and 45 mph.
The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner reported peak sustained winds between 40 and 46 mph.
A mesonet site on White Sands Missile Range reported peak wind gusts up to 61 mph.
The Upper Hondo Soil and Water Conservation District office reported peak wind gusts up to 60 mph.
A public weather station in Clovis reported peak wind gusts up to 59 mph.
The West Texas mesonet site at Dora reported peak wind gusts up to 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, February 2019
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: 796416, 796415, 796417, 796418, 796419, 796420.