A slow-moving storm system passing through the Four Corners region on March 21-22, 2019 brought mountain snow to parts of northern and western New Mexico as well as showers and thunderstorms from the Rio Grande Valley eastward across the eastern plains. Light snowfall accumulations of three to six inches were common across the northern and western mountains.
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 slow-moving storm system passing through the Four Corners region on March 21-22, 2019 brought mountain snow to parts of northern and western New Mexico as well as showers and thunderstorms from the Rio Grande Valley eastward across the eastern plains. Light snowfall accumulations of three to six inches were common across the northern and western mountains. A cold front and associated dry, westerly wind shift then moved east through the state on March 22nd and provided the focus for showers and thunderstorms, some of which were strong to severe over eastern New Mexico. Pea size hail was reported around Edgewood, nickel size hail near Lamy, and quarter size hail around Glorieta and Espanola. These storms moved east and gathered into a cluster of severe thunderstorms near the Texas state line. Heavy rainfall and quarter size hail was reported from near Clovis north to Clayton. A funnel cloud was even observed around Portales.
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 21, 11:07 AM MST, 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1207 PM MDT Thu Mar 21 2019 .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE With a low pressure system approaching the Four Corners from the west southwest, scattered to numerous rain showers, snow showers (above 6500 feet or so) and thunderstorms will continue today and tonight. A few thunderstorms may turn severe with very strong winds and/or large hail. The upper low will pass eastward along the NM/CO border on Friday, keeping precipitation going across northern and eastern areas, then it will exit the region to the northeast Friday night. Accumulating snow will favor the northern mountains with impacts at AXX, Chama and possibly SKX and LVS. 44 && .PREV DISCUSSION...241 AM MDT Thu Mar 21 2019... .SYNOPSIS... No fewer than three rounds of precipitation are expected through Friday. The first round will impact central and western NM with showers and a few thunderstorms through this afternoon. Portions of northwest NM could see some strong storms during the mid to late afternoon hours. The second round of showers and thunderstorms is expected tonight along and east of the central mountain chain, and a few more strong storms will be possible. The last round of precipitation is expected Friday across mainly northern and eastern areas. While the northern mountains are receiving snow, strong to severe storms will be possible across the far eastern plains during the afternoon. Drier, but breezy, conditions are expected for the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... Another dynamic storm system has it's sights set on New Mexico over the next 24-36 hours. An upper level low slowly shifting across the Great Basin today will bring precipitation to much of the state. Two shortwaves pinwheeling around the main low will be the main drivers. The first wave/vort max will cross NM today from southwest to northeast, and precipitation now starting across western NM should generally lift northeastward with this wave today. Thunderstorms will be possible, particularly across northwest NM where, if clouds can break long enough for some heating this aftn, enough instability may exist for a strong storm or two. Small hail and gusty winds would be the main concerns. A vort max in associated with a stronger jet aloft will arrive tonight between the two more distinct shortwaves. This will help break out showers and thunderstorms tonight generally along and east of the central mountain chain. A few strong storms will be possible across this area as well. The second wave, which actually remains a closed low, will slide eastward across northern NM Friday. An associated Pacific cold front will also push from west to east as well. Showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms will continue across the northern mountains tonight into Friday, while snow levels lower from near 9000 feet to 7500-7000 feet by mid day Friday. Several inches of snow should accumulate, thus a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued. As the Pacific front reaches eastern NM where better low level moisture exists, thunderstorms are expected to develop just west of the OK/TX borders during the afternoon. Some storms may be strong or severe. Most of these storms will shift east of the border by 7pm Friday. Drier and breezy conditions are expected for the weekend with zonal flow aloft. A back door cold front will slide down the plains on Monday as a ridge builds aloft. Precipitation is not expected with the front. Low level Gulf moisture will return on Tuesday across the plains as south/southeasterly winds strengthen. Could see a storm or two, however, the moisture will not be around for long. Dry southwest flow will start to increase on Wednesday and the moisture will mix out across much of the plains. If the GFS is correct, winds will really start to crank up again next Thursday with a strong jet aloft and a 990 mb surface low over eastern CO. The ECMWF is less bullish attm. 34 && .FIRE WEATHER... No widespread critical fire weather concerns with this forecast package as rounds of wetting precipitation over the next few days will limit any fire concerns. However, drier air this weekend as well as stronger winds on Sunday may create some marginal critical fire concerns in the East Central Plains. No ventilation concerns other than fair to poor rates across the western half of the area Monday. An approaching Pacific low pressure system moving into the Great Basin will steer rounds of rain, thunderstorms, and mountain snow across the area through Friday. A few of the storms could be strong across western NM today and on the eastern plains Friday. South to southeast flow ahead of the system will continue to usher in mid and lower level moisture across the area today, while diffluent flow exists aloft. Precipitation is developing along and west of the Continental Divide early this morning and will be widespread across much of the area later today and tonight. Snow levels will start out high at around 8500 to 9000 ft, then fall to around 7000 feet late tonight and Friday. Most locations can expect wetting precipitation through Friday with a few to several inches of snow possible in the North Central Mountains. The storm system will lift northeast out of NM Saturday with dry and milder weather returning. Minimum humidities will drop sharply in the east, around 20 percent in much of the area. Zonal flow Sunday will keep most of the area dry with moderate breezes in the east. Minimum RH values will drop into the upper teens on the East Central Plains where breezy conditions will exist. Critical fire weather conditions could be approached for a couple of hours Sunday afternoon. A weak short wave trough to the north could spark a few rain and high mountain snow showers in the North Central Mountains. Highs will inch up a bit more, close to normal. A ridge of high pressure will build over the state Monday while a back door surface front drops south through the east. It will be dry for the most part. Highs will warm in the west and cool in the east. Tuesday and Wednesday will be dry warm. A fast moving short wave trough will zip by Thursday, with a few showers over the San Juan Mountains. It will be breezy to windy in many locations with minimum humidities dropping to near 15 percent in the Middle Rio Grande Valley and East Central Plains. It's a long way off but we could be looking at a critical fire weather day next Thursday. CHJ && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 6 PM MDT Friday for the following zones... NMZ510>515. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 317 AM MDT Thu Mar 21 2019 NMZ501>540-221200- 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- 317 AM MDT Thu Mar 21 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across portions of northwest and central New Mexico this afternoon. Hail up to one inch in diameter and gusty winds are the main concerns. Storms will shift their focus tonight across eastern New Mexico, and additional strong storms will be possible. Snow is expected across the northern mountains tonight through Friday. High mountain passes may become snowpacked and icy as several inches of snow fall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible again across the far eastern plains Friday afternoon and early evening. Large hail and damaging wind gusts will be the main threats. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report snow and rain amounts and any severe weather 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
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1225 PM MDT THU MAR 21 2019 NMZ501-503-504-211900- Northwest Plateau-Far Northwest Highlands-Northwest Highlands- 1225 PM MDT THU MAR 21 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN MCKINLEY AND CENTRAL SAN JUAN COUNTIES UNTIL 100 PM MDT... At 1224 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 21 miles north of Fruitland to 6 miles southwest of Pueblo Pintado. Movement was east-northeast at 30 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Farmington, Kirtland, Bloomfield, Aztec, Nageezi, NAPI Headquarters, Upper Fruitland, Blanco Trading Post, El Huerfano Trading Post and Chaco Canyon. Accumulations of small hail on roads can create very slick and hazardous driving conditions. && LAT...LON 3700 10795 3613 10762 3588 10806 3700 10848 TIME...MOT...LOC 1824Z 262DEG 26KT 3705 10844 3590 10774 33
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 218 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:31 UTC.
9 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
A cluster of thunderstorms with heavy rain and small hail produced a peak wind gust up to 62 mph at the Farmington airport.
A strong thunderstorm moving across the northwest side of Rio Rancho produced light accumulations of hail up to the size of pennies.
Hail up to the size of nickels reported a few miles north-northwest of Sedan.
Hail up to the size of pennies reported a few miles north of Madrid.
Hail up to the size of quarters reported in Espanola.
Nickel to quarter size hail reported around Eldorado.
Hail up to the size of quarters reported in Glorieta.
Hail up to the size of nickels reported near Bellview.
Hail up to the size of pennies reported along NM-209 north of Clovis.
Hail up to the size of quarters reported near Broadview.
A funnel cloud was spotted for about five minutes west of Portales.
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, 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: 802982, 802986, 802998, 802999, 803000, 803001, 803002, 803003, 803004, 803005, 803006.