Moderate to severe drought conditions across portions of western and northern New Mexico at the end of February 2020 continued in March. Moderate to severe drought conditions improved to about 26 percent of the state of which 12 percent across northwestern and northeastern NM was deemed as severe drought.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Moderate to severe drought conditions across portions of western and northern New Mexico at the end of February 2020 continued in March. Moderate to severe drought conditions improved to about 26 percent of the state of which 12 percent across northwestern and northeastern NM was deemed as severe drought. The southern half of the state was generally favored for near to above normal precipitation throughout the month which helped improve abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions at the end of February. However, areas of the state where drought conditions are the worst continued to receive below normal precipitation. Precipitation amounts across western New Mexico during March generally ranged from one half to one inch with locally higher amounts across the higher terrain. Central NM generally received one half to three quarters of an inch of precipitation while areas across the northern high terrain received amounts near to above an inch. Due to a couple storm systems that tracked through the area, eastern NM received the most precipitation with totals around one to two 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 Feb 29, 10:30 PM MST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1030 PM MST Sat Feb 29 2020 .AVIATION... 06Z TAF CYCLE Mid level moisture will increase over the region Sunday ahead of the next storm system approaching from the west. Strong zonal flow aloft will lead to breezy west to southwest winds aft 19Z around KGUP and across eastern NM. A few virga showers are possible across northern and western NM aft 22Z with strong and erratic outflow winds. These showers will move quickly east to northeast around 25 kt. Winds will decrease Sunday evening with decreasing cloud cover as well in most areas. A frontal boundary will move into northeast NM aft 06Z with low cloud development possible in its wake. Guyer && .PREV DISCUSSION...257 PM MST Sat Feb 29 2020... .SYNOPSIS... Above normal high temperatures will linger into Sunday, although temperatures will cool some from today's readings. West and southwest winds will become gusty Sunday, with the strongest gusts reaching near 40 mph along the east slopes of the south central mountains. High temperatures will fall a few to 10 degrees below normal Monday and Tuesday as an upper level low pressure system passes south of New Mexico. The system will bring a chance for rain and mainly high terrain snow showers to southern, central, and western areas Monday through Tuesday night, with some lingering showers possible across southeast areas Wednesday. Dry weather, above normal temperatures, and light winds are expected during the latter half of the week. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT)... Warm and dry weather continues tonight into Sunday as daytime highs this afternoon peak 10-15F above normal across eastern NM, and 5-10F above normal through central and western NM. Heights will fall somewhat as an upper level ridge flattens and exits to the east, reducing daytime highs Sunday through western NM by a few degrees. The eastern plains again stay 10-15F above normal with highs near or into the 70s. Breezy W/SW winds return Sunday afternoon through most areas except far northeastern NM where another lee-side trough will develop. Any chances for precipitation won't arrive until Sunday night limited to mostly snow showers over the Tusas Mountains. Better chances for precipitation and cooler temperatures is still on track in the Long Term period for Monday. 24 LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY)... An upper level low pressure system tracking southward along the CA coast will pass eastward over northern Mexico Monday through Tuesday night, then exit eastward into south TX. Although the upper level low pressure center will pass south of NM, the system is forecast to spread rain and mainly high terrain snow showers over central and western areas Monday, then over central and southern parts of the forecast area Monday night through Tuesday night. There may also be some thunderstorms, especially Monday and Monday night. Rain and liquid equivalent precipitation amounts should mostly remain under a tenth of an inch, but some mountain locations and the far southeast plains may receive locally higher amounts. A few to around 4 inches of snow will be possible across the high terrain. The upper low will draw a gusty back door cold front into eastern areas Tuesday, but below normal temperatures will begin to spread to most areas Monday with the increasing coverage of cloud cover and precipitation. In the wake of the upper low, a low amplitude ridge of high pressure will build over the southwest US Wednesday through Friday, then begin to migrate east of NM on Saturday. Thus, weather during the latter half of the week will feature warming temperatures, dry conditions, and relatively light winds. High temperatures will climb above normal most places starting Wednesday, then peak Saturday around 5 to 13 degrees above normal. Southwest winds should become breezy on Saturday as the flow aloft strengthens in response to an upper level trough deepening on the west coast. 44 && .FIRE WEATHER... Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 01Z near sunset this afternoon when breezy westerly winds are expected to decouple and subside. Subtle differences are in-store for Sunday as the upper ridge flattens and heights fall over NM. Daytime highs Sunday will remain 10-15F above normal through eastern NM, while falling a few degrees through the west. Breezy westerly winds are expected again, but are not forecast for the northeastern plains where the center of a lee-side trough will develop. This is conveniently where the highest MixHgts of ~10k ft will be, allowing much drier air to mix down again with critical RH in the 10-15 percent range. Single digit RHs will be possible as well in some spots. However, with the breezy winds displaced more toward east-central and southeastern NM, only elevated fire weather is in the cards at this time. The ingredients are certainly there, just not all in the same area. Cooler weather with increased moisture arrives late Sunday night into Monday with the approach of a Pacific storm system expected to swing mostly south of the state. There will be a chance for some wetting precipitation, but it looks to be mostly confined to the higher terrain as light snow accumulations and far southeastern NM late Tuesday. Drier and warmer weather returns by the latter half of next week. 24 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 249 AM MST Sat Feb 29 2020 NMZ201>241-011115- Northwest Plateau-Chuska Mountains-Far Northwest Highlands- Northwest Highlands-West Central Plateau-West Central Mountains- West Central Highlands-Southwest Mountains- San Francisco River Valley-Tusas Mountains Including Chama- Jemez Mountains-Glorieta Mesa Including Glorieta Pass- Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains- Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains- East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Upper Rio Grande Valley- Espanola Valley-Santa Fe Metro Area- Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area- Lower Rio Grande Valley-Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood- Estancia Valley-Central Highlands-South Central Highlands- Upper Tularosa Valley-South Central Mountains- Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass- 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- San Agustin Plains and Adjacent Lowlands- 249 AM MST Sat Feb 29 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Winds will be on the increase today, as a storm system begins to approach from the west. Additionally, the combination of above normal temperatures, sub 15 percent humidities, and strong winds led to the issuance of a Red Flag Warning for northeast and east central New Mexico for this afternoon. Light snow accumulations can be expected to begin later tonight across the far northern and western portions of the state. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday The aforementioned storm system will bring rain and mountain snow showers to much of central and western New Mexico on Monday. Precipitation chances will shift south of Interstate 40 on Tuesday, as the storm treks across southern New Mexico. A few lingering light snow showers may impact southeastern New Mexico on Wednesday, but a drier pattern is in store statewide through the end of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. 31
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe drought conditions from February 2020 continued in March.
Severe drought conditions from February 2020 continued in March.
Severe drought conditions from February 2020 continued in March.
Severe drought conditions from February 2020 continued in March.
Severe drought conditions from February 2020 continued in March.
Severe drought conditions from February 2020 continued in March.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, March 2020
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: 874457, 874458, 874459, 874460, 874461, 874462.