A weak upper level trough moving quickly north of New Mexico on February 3, 2019 interacted with a strong pressure gradient across the region to produce widespread windy conditions. Much of central and eastern New Mexico experienced wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph throughout the day.
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 trough moving quickly north of New Mexico on February 3, 2019 interacted with a strong pressure gradient across the region to produce widespread windy conditions. Much of central and eastern New Mexico experienced wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph throughout the day. The strongest winds impacted areas around Angel Fire and Ruidoso where gusts up to 61 mph 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 3, 4:59 AM MST, 5 hours 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 459 AM MST Sun Feb 3 2019 .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE VFR conditions prevail, but development and gradual lowering of VFR cigs is forecast this morning as a Pacific trough/low approaches from California. MVFR conditions are likely to develop shortly at KFMN and KGUP, with showers potentially providing wet runways. Showers are less likely at KABQ/KAEG and KSAF, with VFR conditions forecast to persist. In addition, mountain obscurations in snow will develop today to include the higher peaks of northern and western New Mexico. Strong winds are forecast at KLVS and KTCC, where gusts to between 35-45kts will be possible. && .PREV DISCUSSION...237 AM MST Sun Feb 3 2019... .SYNOPSIS... A weakening storm system will spread rain and high elevation snow showers across central and western New Mexico today. Aside from the snow accumulations across the Tusas Mountains, amounts will be light. Strong to damaging winds will be the main story today, especially along and east of the Central Mountain Chain. Gusts between 50 and 60 mph will be possible. Light showers will remain possible across the high terrain Monday and Tuesday, while breezy to windy conditions persist across the plains. Another storm system will spread precipitation across much of western and central New Mexico Wednesday into early Thursday. && .DISCUSSION... The storm system over California will continue to shift east- northeastward and weaken today. The remnant trough will cross Colorado and northern NM later today. Currently ahead of the system, a nice area of rain showers is moving across Arizona. Models suggest that much of this precipitation will diminish before making it into NM, however, all hope is not lost. Strong westerly winds aloft will spread over NM today will result in strong orographic lift, particularly across northwest NM over the Tusas Mountains. Areas mainly above 8000-8500 feet east of Chama will see several inches of snow today, and a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect. Additionally, an associated cold front, albeit rather weak, should spark a few showers as it shifts eastward today. These showers will favor the higher terrain of central and western NM. Amounts will be light and these showers may also produce gusty winds. Though eastern NM will remain dry, the aforementioned strong winds aloft will play a different role there. These winds, combined with moderate mixing and a 992-993mb surface low over Colorado will yield strong winds along and east of the Central Mountain Chain. Models suggest 700 mb winds near 60kt over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Will opt to upgrade the Wind Advisory for the northern Sangres and the east slopes of the Sangres to a High Wind Warning. Cloud cover continues to be a concern that speeds will struggle to reach warning criteria, however, based on satellite imagery, a mountain wave is already occurring to the east of the Sangres. This wave may only intensify later today as a strong inversion near mountain top level is noted in forecast soundings this afternoon. This may increase the potential for damaging wind gusts. On Monday and Tuesday, the moisture across western and central NM doesn't go anywhere, and in fact, some additional low level moisture may move in from AZ. Given the continued strong west to southwest flow aloft, orographic lift should continue to produce some light showers favoring the high terrain. Meanwhile, breezy to windy conditions will persist across the east. All eyes are then on the next system slated for mid week. Models seem to be coming into better agreement regarding the timing and strength of the system. The upper level low will drop southward across the Great basin on Wednesday before shifting eastward over NM Wednesday night and Thursday. Precipitation looks to begin across western NM Wednesday morning and will quickly expand eastward to the Central Mountain Chain. Strong west/southwest (downslope) winds may largely keep precip from shifting over the eastern plains. What about the subtropical tap? Well, it looks like the bulk of the subtropical moisture will remain south and east of the state, but the GFS continues to try to advect some of the moisture northward into central NM. Though the details of how much precip remain uncertain, it does look like temperatures will drop quickly as the trough crosses the state. 700 mb temperatures will fall between -10 and -14C by late Wednesday night. Therefore, an abrupt change in high temperatures can be expected for Thursday. As for snow potential, most of the precipitation will fall during the day on Wednesday. Snow levels will start out around 7kft, but will lower through the day. The northern mountains look to have the best shot at additional accumulations. 34 && .FIRE WEATHER... No widespread critical fire weather conditions through the next seven days. However, critical conditions could be reached briefly in the far northeast corner of NM this afternoon. We start a more active weather pattern today that should continue through the next seven days. The storm over CA will weaken and lift northeast today, but will be able to drag some moisture into western and central NM. Rain showers and high elevation snow showers today will continue into tonight, with snow levels lowering. Wetting precipitation will be found over the western and northern mountains. Winds will quickly increase across the forecast area, with strong winds over much of the east. High winds will occur in the higher elevations of the Northeast Highlands. These winds, combined with minimum humidities right around 15 percent, may generate an hour or two of critical fire weather conditions in the far northeast corner of the state. Temperatures will remain mild for early February. Another storm will be dropping south off the west coast Monday. Southwest flow will continue over NM with lingering rain and high elevation snow showers over the western and northern mountains. It will be cooler everywhere Monday, but highs will still be mostly above normal. The west coast storm will move into the Great Basin Tuesday, then slowly move east across AZ Wednesday and NM Thursday. Rain and snow showers will be confined to the West Central and Northern Mountains Tuesday, but coverage will increase significantly Wednesday and continue into Thursday. Wetting precipitation will be likely in the higher terrain of the west and north. A back door cold front will enter the northeast Wednesday night and continue south and west Thursday. Temperatures will continue to drop, with highs well below normal by Thursday. Yet another storm will be taking shape over the Pacific Northwest late this week, and could impact the state next weekend. It looks more like a wind producer rather than bringing widespread precipitation. Poor ventilation will be very limited until Thursday in the northeast, and much of western and central areas Friday. CHJ && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 11 PM MST this evening for the following zones... NMZ514-523-526>529-531>534-539-540. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MST this evening for the following zones... NMZ510. High Wind Warning until 11 PM MST this evening for the following zones... NMZ513-515. Wind Advisory until noon MST today for the following zones... NMZ502. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 302 AM MST Sun Feb 3 2019 NMZ501>540-041200- 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- 302 AM MST Sun Feb 3 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Light to moderate snow will create slick road conditions across the Tusas Mountains, including portions of U.S. Highways 64 and 84. The snow will gradually diminish this evening. Additionally, strong to damaging winds are expected along and east of the Central Mountain Chain. The strongest winds are expected across portions of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains where gusts between 60 and 65 mph are likely. At lower elevations across eastern New Mexico, gusts up to 50 mph are likely. This will result in strong cross winds for the I-25 corridor in northeast New Mexico. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Breezy to windy conditions will persist Monday and Tuesday across eastern New Mexico. Gusts near 35 mph are likely. Another storm system will move across New Mexico Wednesday through early Thursday. This system will bring more rain and snow to the Land of Enchantment. Though it is too early to say how much snow will fall, accumulating snow appears possible once again across the northern mountains. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report rain and snow amounts as well as any high wind gusts 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. 34
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Angel Fire airport reported peak wind gusts up to 61 mph.
Sierra Blanca airport reported peak wind gusts up to 61 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: 795368, 795369.