A record breaking late winter storm system moved through New Mexico on March 12-14, 2019. A deep tap of subtropical moisture surged north into the state ahead of this system on March 12th as a surface low deepened over northeastern New Mexico.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 ABQ wrote it up.
A record breaking late winter storm system moved through New Mexico on March 12-14, 2019. A deep tap of subtropical moisture surged north into the state ahead of this system on March 12th as a surface low deepened over northeastern New Mexico. Widespread showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall moved through the entire area on the 12th while heavy snow fell in the mountains above 9,000 feet. Abundant moisture and instability in place over eastern New Mexico led to the development of a large line of showers and thunderstorms with hail, damaging winds, and even a damaging EF-2 tornado in Chaves County. This was the first March tornado documented in Chaves County since 1959, and the earliest known EF-1 of stronger tornado in the state of New Mexico. Six people were injured and dozens of homes and structures were damaged or destroyed. A powerful Pacific cold front then blasted through the state on March 13th as bombogenesis took place along the Front Range of Rockies. Surface low pressure deepened over 24 millibars in 24 hours to record low values for a few sites within New Mexico and Kansas. The combination of a very intense surface pressure gradient and powerful jet stream winds aloft forced widespread strong to damaging winds across much of New Mexico. Peak wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph were common across eastern New Mexico, with sustained wind speeds between 40 and 60 mph for several hours. A large cargo train was blown off a bridge near Logan, completely destroying all 26 cars. Several high profile vehicles were also overturned on Interstate 25, Interstate 40, and U.S. Highway 285. Trees, power lines, and roofs were damaged in many other areas of the state. Snow continued to pile up in the higher terrain through the night of the 13th where storm total snowfall accumulations ranged from 20 to 40 inches.
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 11, 2:07 AM MST, 53 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 307 AM MDT Mon Mar 11 2019 .SYNOPSIS... A storm system approaching from southern California will spread abundant moisture into New Mexico today in the form of showers and thunderstorms. A few storms may become strong this afternoon in the Rio Grande Valley and surrounding higher terrain. Showers and storms will continue moving north through the state tonight followed by more widespread rainfall with scattered storms Tuesday. A few storms over eastern New Mexico may become severe with large hail and damaging winds Tuesday afternoon. Rainfall amounts of one half inch to one inch are likely across most of central and eastern New Mexico. Very high terrain snow is also likely with 10 to 20 inches expected above 9,500 feet. A potent cold front will then blast through New Mexico Wednesday with much colder air and high wind speeds for central and eastern New Mexico. Snow will develop over a larger area of northern and western New Mexico Wednesday through Thursday with significant accumulations possible in the higher terrain. && .DISCUSSION... Satellite imagery this morning shows a very impressive storm system taking shape off the coast of southern California with a near record tap of March moisture moving across the Baja. The NLDN and GOES-16 lightning mapper shows a couple storms already moving from eastern AZ into northwestern NM this morning. The coverage of showers and storms will increase further today as PWATs increase into the 90th percentile and the atmosphere destabilizes after sunrise. SPC is still highlighting a marginal risk area over south central NM but model instability suggests a few strong storms are possible as far north as Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Showers and storms will continue moving north through the state tonight as the upper level storm system moves eastward along the U.S./Mexico border. The main window of widespread moderate to heavy rainfall with more thunderstorms is expected Tuesday as strong diffluence and record moisture slides over NM. Snow levels will be very high with this system as 700mb temps are near +2C and wet bulb zero heights are very high. The Winter Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Warning only for the higher elevation areas of the San Juan/Tusas Mts and the higher peaks of the Sangre de Cristos. Given the forecast precip amounts it is possible that rain on snow may lead to minor flooding in mid slope areas of northern and western NM. The other focus with this system will be severe thunderstorms over eastern NM Tuesday. SPC has spread a large slight risk area from near Ruidoso and Santa Rosa eastward. This is certainly a weather pattern favorable for March severe storms in eastern NM. Models are still in excellent agreement on the timing and placement of upper level and surface features Tuesday night and Wednesday as the system bombs out over southwestern KS. 700mb temps fall sharply to near -6C over northern and western NM in the wake of a very deep upper level low. Precip lingering along west slopes of the northern and western high terrain will change over to snow and spread to most lower elevations by Wednesday morning. Surface low pressure deepens to near 975mb Wednesday over southwestern KS which is an impressive 3.5 stdev below climo. West winds will be ripping through central and eastern NM Wednesday afternoon behind a potent cold front. A secondary piece of upper level energy over UT is then absorbed into the back side of the departing low Wednesday and allows a second round of more impactful snow to develop over the northwestern half of NM through Wednesday night. Colder temperatures will lead to deteriorating travel conditions. Model guidance then shows a back door front entering northeastern NM Wednesday night which provides another burst of snow with upslope flow over the Sangres through Thursday. Guyer && .FIRE WEATHER... No fire weather concerns during the upcoming work with a moist storm system headed toward the forecast area from the west and southwest. Widespread wetting rainfall and high mountain snow will develop today and continue at times through Tuesday. Snow levels will remain high, above 10,000 feet or so, through Tuesday before falling to near 6000 feet Tuesday night. Very strong to high winds remain on track for Wednesday, especially along and east of the central mountain chain. Snow and blowing snow will develop across much of the western two-thirds of the state Wednesday. Chances for snow continue for the northern mountains through at least Thursday night. 33 && .AVIATION... 06Z TAF CYCLE Moist southwest flow aloft ahead of a deep upper-level low just off the central CA coast will continue through Monday evening. Light to moderate southerly surface winds will continue at most TAF sites overnight with isolated light showers developing during the next couple of hours. Gulf moisture has surged nwwd over east-central and southeast NM with areas of MVFR/IFR there, including KTCC. Expect areal coverage of MVFR/IFR cigs to continue into Monday along with sct-num showers accompanied by isold thunderstorms, especially north and west during the afternoon. 33 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 57 39 55 35 / 60 60 70 70 Dulce........................... 46 35 48 33 / 90 80 80 80 Cuba............................ 49 38 51 34 / 80 80 90 80 Gallup.......................... 56 35 51 33 / 60 60 70 70 El Morro........................ 53 35 48 31 / 80 60 100 70 Grants.......................... 55 37 49 33 / 80 60 80 50 Quemado......................... 56 39 47 33 / 60 60 90 60 Glenwood........................ 61 45 50 37 / 80 80 90 60 Chama........................... 43 33 43 29 / 90 90 80 90 Los Alamos...................... 51 40 50 38 / 90 90 90 80 Pecos........................... 49 39 49 33 / 90 90 90 90 Cerro/Questa.................... 44 36 46 31 / 90 90 90 80 Red River....................... 43 30 42 28 / 100 90 100 90 Angel Fire...................... 45 33 46 30 / 90 90 100 80 Taos............................ 51 35 52 32 / 80 80 90 80 Mora............................ 50 39 48 33 / 90 90 90 80 Espanola........................ 55 41 56 37 / 70 80 90 60 Santa Fe........................ 52 38 53 33 / 90 90 90 80 Santa Fe Airport................ 55 39 57 34 / 80 80 90 70 Albuquerque Foothills........... 59 45 62 37 / 80 80 90 70 Albuquerque Heights............. 62 45 62 39 / 70 70 90 60 Albuquerque Valley.............. 63 45 63 38 / 70 70 90 60 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 59 43 62 37 / 70 70 90 60 Los Lunas....................... 63 44 62 37 / 60 70 90 60 Rio Rancho...................... 59 45 61 36 / 70 70 90 70 Socorro......................... 67 47 62 37 / 50 70 90 40 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 56 43 56 32 / 90 90 90 80 Tijeras......................... 59 43 58 33 / 80 80 90 70 Moriarty/Estancia............... 59 41 58 33 / 80 70 90 70 Clines Corners.................. 54 38 53 32 / 80 70 90 70 Gran Quivira.................... 61 43 60 35 / 70 70 90 60 Carrizozo....................... 65 47 63 37 / 50 70 80 60 Ruidoso......................... 57 41 55 33 / 60 70 90 70 Capulin......................... 53 40 52 34 / 70 80 80 80 Raton........................... 55 37 58 33 / 70 80 80 70 Springer........................ 56 43 55 37 / 70 80 80 70 Las Vegas....................... 53 37 53 34 / 80 80 90 70 Clayton......................... 55 40 58 36 / 50 60 70 80 Roy............................. 55 43 54 38 / 70 80 80 80 Conchas......................... 62 47 60 43 / 60 70 80 80 Santa Rosa...................... 61 46 59 40 / 60 60 80 70 Tucumcari....................... 60 48 63 42 / 60 70 80 80 Clovis.......................... 54 42 61 39 / 50 80 80 90 Portales........................ 55 44 62 40 / 50 80 80 90 Fort Sumner..................... 61 46 63 41 / 60 70 80 80 Roswell......................... 60 46 66 40 / 50 70 80 80 Picacho......................... 60 47 60 39 / 50 60 80 70 Elk............................. 60 45 59 35 / 50 70 80 70 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning from 6 AM this morning to 6 PM MDT Tuesday for the following zones... NMZ510-513-514. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 345 AM MDT Mon Mar 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 MDT Mon Mar 11 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop northward over New Mexico today and tonight. A few of these storms in the Rio Grande Valley and parts of eastern New Mexico may become strong with small hail and strong winds. Heavy wet snow will also fall with this system today and tonight above 9,500 feet where 6 to 12 inches are likely. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening over east central and southeast New Mexico where large hail, damaging winds, frequent lightning strikes, and minor flooding are possible. Widespread moderate to heavy rainfall will also impact much of the area Tuesday and Tuesday night with one half to one inch likely. Heavy wet snow will continue Tuesday above 9,500 feet where another 6 to 12 inches are likely. Minor flooding is possible along creeks in mid slope elevations where heavy rain falls on existing snowpack. A potent cold front will then move through New Mexico Wednesday with very strong west winds. Gusts over 60 mph are possible from the Rio Grande Valley eastward across the eastern plains. Another round of snow will develop Wednesday and Thursday over northern New Mexico as a second weather system slides into the area. This winter system will be more impactful than the first with much colder temperatures and more widespread difficult travel conditions. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Contact local law enforcement or the National Weather Service at 1.888.386.7637 to report hail, wind gusts over 50 mph, and heavy rainfall. Guyer
The Holloman AFB radar (KHDX), 157 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:53 UTC.
34 high wind, 8 heavy snow, 1 tornado, 1 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 avalanche, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Various sources in the Jemez Mountains reported between 6 and 16 inches of heavy snow. The combination of snow and strong winds resulted in significant blowing snow and tree damage around the higher terrain. NM-4 was closed for several hours to remove fallen trees.
Various sources reported 20 to 40 inches of snowfall in the higher terrain around Red River and Taos Ski Valley. The combination of heavy snow and strong winds resulted in significant blowing and drifting snow.
Snowfall amounts as high as 32 inches were reported in the higher terrain east of Santa Fe. The combination of heavy snow and strong winds resulted in significant blowing and drifting snow.
Various sources within the higher terrain of eastern Rio Arriba County reported between 12 and 19 inches of heavy snow. The storm total of 19 inches at Chama ending March 15th broke the two-day and three-day records dating back to 1973 and 1941 respectively.
Various sources along the east slope of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains reported between 15 and 25 inches of heavy snow. The heaviest snow fell in areas above 8,500 feet. The combination of heavy snow and high winds resulted in significant blowing and drifting snow. Bobcat Pass was closed due to heavy snow and dangerous travel conditions.
Various sources reported between 4 and 22 inches of heavy snow along the west slope of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The heaviest snowfall occurred in areas above 8,500 feet.
The Navajo Whiskey SNOTEL reported 16 inches of snow with rates near one inch per hour for several hours. Severe travel conditions were reported along NM-134.
Just before 6 pm MDT on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, a tornado touched down in Chaves County, about 15 miles south southwest of Dexter. The tornado moved north northeast for approximately 15 minutes before dissipating about one half mile northeast of the community of Dexter. Six people suffered minor injuries, and six homes were substantially damaged or completely destroyed. An additional dozen homes and structures also sustained minor to moderate damage. This was the first March tornado documented in Chaves County since 1959, and the earliest known EF1 or stronger tornado in the state of New Mexico. The last EF2 tornado in New Mexico occurred on May 23, 2012. Damage amounts are a rough estimate.
Quarter size hail reported six miles west of Fort Sumner.
A thunderstorm at the Tucumcari airport produced heavy rainfall and outflow wind gusts up to 60 mph.
Sources from near Valdez to Los Cordovas reported between 4 and 6 inches of snow.
The COOP station near Manzano reported peak wind gusts up to 60 mph. A weather station several miles southeast of Placitas reported peak wind gusts up to 64 mph for several hours. Minor property damage was reported near Yrisarri.
A weather station at Conchas Lake reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 45 mph for several hours.
Various stations across the area reported sustained winds between 40 and 44 mph for over 12 hours, including the Socorro airport.
The Tucumcari airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 56 mph for several hours.
Various sources across Quay County reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 71 mph, including the Tucumcari airport. A cargo train with 26 cars was blown off a bridge and fell nearly 50 feet to the bottom of the Canadian River near Logan. NM-469 was closed while the wreckage was cleared from the river bottom. No injuries occurred in this incident. Damage estimates are a rough estimate for complete destruction of the train cars at $135,000 each with unknown cargo.
The NMDOT mesonet site at Interstate 40 and NM-6 reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 52 mph for several hours.
Various stations across Guadalupe County reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 72 mph for several hours. One semi trailer was overturned along Interstate 40 and another along U.S. 285 south of Vaughn. Damages are a rough estimate for the semis.
The Clovis airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 59 mph for several hours.
Dora reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 53 mph for several hours.
The combination of light snow, high winds, blowing snow, and ground blizzard conditions forced the closure of U.S. 64 between Raton and Clayton.
A weather station in Sedan reported peak wind gusts up to 64 mph. The Clayton airport reported peak wind gusts up to 60 mph. U.S. 64 was closed for several hours due to the combination of light snow, high winds, blowing snow, and low visibility.
Mills Canyon reported peak wind gusts up to 64 mph.
Clines Corners reported peak wind gusts up to 79 mph for several hours.
The Roswell airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 59 mph for several hours.
The Raton airport reported peak wind gusts up to 59 mph. An observer in Wagon Mound reported peak wind gusts up to 78 mph. Interstate 25 was closed for several hours from Springer southward to near Las Vegas and Rowe. At least four semi trailers were reported overturned in Mora County. Details on damages are a very rough estimate and injuries are unknown.
Dora reported peak wind gusts up to 70 mph for several hours. Downed power lines were reported along NM-236 and Avenue O.
The Angel Fire airport reported a peak wind gust up to 63 mph.
Various stations across Curry County reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 79 mph, including Cannon AFB. A section of roof was blown off the Clovis Youth Recreation Center. A large section of metal roofing was blown off a building at 7th and Prince. Numerous downed power lines were reported throughout the county. A downed power line caused a house fire near 9th and Wallace. Roughly 800 residents were without power. Damage amounts are a rough estimates and injuries are unknown.
The Roswell airport reported peak wind gusts up to 68 mph for several hours. U.S. 285 was closed in Roswell due to a semi trailer rollover. Significant blowing dust resulted in near zero visibility along NM-2. Carports and other light weight structures were damaged across the Roswell area. A hangar at the Roswell airport for SCEYE Inc. was completely destroyed resulting in damage totaling two million dollars.
Clines Corners reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 51 mph for several hours.
A weather station near Madrid reported peak wind gusts up to 70 mph for several hours.
The Las Vegas airport reported peak wind gusts up to 67 mph. Interstate 25 was closed for several hours due to a semi trailer rollover. A truck towing a recreational vehicle was also overturned on Interstate 25 and a U-Haul was overturned on U.S. 285. Significant roof damage and tree damage occurred around Las Vegas with numerous power outages reported. Details on damages are a very rough estimate and injuries are unknown.
A peak gust of 62 mph was reported 18 miles northeast of Encinoso.
Various White Sands Missile Range sites reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 82 mph for several hours. Significant blowing dust was reported across the area.
The Moriarty airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 46 mph for several hours.
The Moriarty airport reported peak wind gusts up to 61 mph.
An avalanche across from the Taos Ski Valley ski area briefly trapped a woman inside a home Wednesday afternoon, according to the ski resort’s vice president. Chris Stagg said an avalanche began on private property around 1:15 p.m. Wednesday. It crossed a few roads and trapped a woman inside her house. The woman was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in Taos and isn’t believed to have life-threatening injuries, Stagg said. He could not provide a name or age for the woman. Stagg said he suspects that people were snowboarding or skiing on the private land and possibly triggered the avalanche. Two residential roads are closed due to snow and the avalanche and the upper mountain lifts were closed Wednesday due to high winds, Stagg said. Information courtesy of the Albuquerque Journal.
Various stations across De Baca County reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 67 mph.
The Double Eagle airport reported sustained winds of 40 mph.
The White Sands Missile Range station at Stallion WIT reported peak wind gusts up to 66 mph.
The Smokey Bear RAWS reported peak wind gusts up to 59 mph.
The Dunken RAWS reported peak wind gusts up to 60 mph.
Various White Sands Missile Range sites reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 47 mph for several hours. Significant blowing dust was reported across the area.
The NMDOT mesonet site at Interstate 40 and NM-6 reported peak wind gusts up to 64 mph. The Laguna RAWS reported peak wind gusts up to 63 mph.
The White Sands Missile Range site at Pole 616 reported a peak wind gust up to 63 mph.
The combination of light snow, high winds, blowing snow, and ground blizzard conditions forced the closure of U.S. 64 between Raton and Clayton.
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 historyThe tornado archive for New Mexico, 2019Warnings in New Mexico, March 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: 802086, 802106, 802107, 802089, 802110, 802103, 802081, 802419, 802420, 802421, 802112, 802284, 802324, 802282, 802328, 802326, 802140, 802325, 802331, 802334, 802304, 802309, 802323, 802288, 802338, 802307, 802333, 802146, 802329, 802337, 802289, 802145, 802308, 802339, 802292, 802286, 802285, 802280, 802335, 802147, and more.