A major and historic winter storm impacted New Mexico over multiple days from February 13th through the morning hours of February 15, 2021. A significant and very cold arctic airmass surged southward through the central United States earlier in the week, and this very cold air finally swept east to west across New Mexico on February 13th and 14th.
Every event with a place to put it; 33 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.
A major and historic winter storm impacted New Mexico over multiple days from February 13th through the morning hours of February 15, 2021. A significant and very cold arctic airmass surged southward through the central United States earlier in the week, and this very cold air finally swept east to west across New Mexico on February 13th and 14th. This brought record cold temperatures to much of the state, and gusty winds resulted in dangerous wind chills. The coldest temperatures during this event were observed in the early morning hours of February 15th where wind chills across eastern New Mexico were as much as 30 degrees below zero. Meanwhile, a Pacific storm system approaching from the west brought the necessary ingredients for widespread snow to develop. Mountain locations received as much as 12 inches of snow while lower elevations generally received about 3 to 6 inches. Hazardous travel conditions were reported across much of the state with blizzard conditions even developing across portions of central New Mexico, including the Albuquerque metro area.
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 13, 11:22 AM MST, 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1122 AM MST Sat Feb 13 2021 .UPDATE... Added the Central and South Central Highlands to the Winter Storm Warning for tonight through Sunday evening. Would like to see one more model run before committing to warnings and advisories elsewhere with the afternoon forecast package. Recent MOS guidance and a nearly 10 mb surface pressure difference between Albuquerque and Clines Corners suggests portions of Albuquerque below Tijeras Canyon will experience a window of east canyon wind gusts to 60 mph around 4-8 AM MST Sunday morning. The snow shouldn't be so bad in that corridor about that time because of downsloping and compression of the air. However, blowing snow could significantly reduce the visibility. 44 && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE Rain and snow will develop from the Sangre De Cristo Mountains westward this afternoon, while snow, fog, and IFR to low IFR conditions continue across much of the eastern plains. MOS guidance suggests the eastern NM low cloud shield will erode along it's western edge this afternoon, but with an upper level trough approaching from the west this is not likely. Look for widespread snow and IFR conditions to develop tonight across northern and central NM, then precipitation should decrease in coverage and intensity from the west and north from mid morning through the afternoon on Sunday. Easterly upslope flow is forecast to persist across the east on Sunday, keeping the plains socked in with IFR conditions in low clouds and fog. 44 && .PREV DISCUSSION...305 AM MST Sat Feb 13 2021... .SYNOPSIS... As one system is wrapping up early this morning, a major winter storm begins to approach the Land of Enchantment late this afternoon. Strong east canyon winds with gusts of 50 to 60 mph will let arctic air filter into central and western New Mexico. Falling temperatures throughout the day on Sunday, combined with widespread snowfall and blowing snow, will lead to difficult to dangerous travel conditions throughout the state. Extremely cold wind chills and record-breaking low temperatures continue through Monday morning. A third storm system brings another round of accumulating snowfall, blowing snow, and cold temperatures to the area Monday night through Wednesday. Temperatures begin to slowly rebound through the end of the week. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY)... The modified arctic air mass hasn't returned quite so far westward as of this time, with a strong enough westerly wind at Clines Corners to keep the westward progress at bay. However, the latest imagery suggests some low clouds at least will fill at least part of that zone. Otherwise, freezing fog/fog and patchy freezing drizzle reported during the last few hours, so decided to extend the winter weather advisory for the east side of the state until the winter storm watch takes effect. Did remove a couple of zones, and upgraded the watch to a warning for portions of north central and central NM, despite models not in very good agreement in regards to where the incoming upper low circulation will be or track. 00Z NAM12 had one low center passing over srn NM, while the 06Z version suggests there will be 2 centers of circulation, one passing over nrn NM with a second along I-10 over swrn NM. The 00Z GFS places the upper low center over srn CO, but hints some energy is reserved for the srn NM track. In any event, the upper trough exits to our east around midnight Sunday night. The viciously cold and deeper air starts to pour down the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo mountains between 00-03Z this evening, and along the east slopes of the Sandia/Manzano mts by 12Z Sunday, although the southeast wind at Santa Fe starts around sunset this evening. Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills will be found over the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez mountains as well as nearly all areas along and east of the RGV later tonight and Sunday. Very strong to damaging east winds are still anticipated for the Albuquerque area below canyons, although the forecast H7 winds don't appear as if this will be an overtopping event, but that may depend on where the upper low circulation ends up, at least it doesn't appear to be a sustained event if it occurs. LONG TERM...(SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)... Precipitation begins to taper off from our strong winter system on Sunday night as the trough treks eastward. In this system's wake is strong cold air advection and bitter cold wind chills to begin Washington's Birthday. NBM guidance tries to scout out the cold air too quick, so lowered temperatures on the lower end of guidance for Monday. The 20 mb pressure gradient still in place Sunday night across the state is quite impressive and doesn't begin to relax until late Monday night. The next storm system takes aim at New Mexico on Monday night. Another round of snow begins across the northwestern portion of the state and spreads south and eastward . This system won't be quite as cold as the Saturday/Sunday system with 700 mb temperatures hovering around the -8 to -7 C mark, but with prolonged cold temperatures, impacts from the previous system could linger into Wednesday. While there is generally good agreement in timing between models, the 00z GFS tries to form a closed low, as the system passes over the state on Wednesday. A strong 150 kt jet at 300 mb weakens as it passes over New Mexico, leaving breezy to locally windy conditions in place on Wednesday afternoon. With rising heights behind trough, temperatures continue to increase on Thursday, but still 10 to 20 degrees below normal across the state. Clayton comes close to breaking the record 9-day stretch of days below freezing and is finally forecast to rise above the freezing mark by Thursday. By Saturday, temperatures are back to 50s and 60s across central and eastern NM. 31 && .FIRE WEATHER... Critical fire weather condtions are not expected through the next seven days. Paltry light snow and freezing drizzle possible over the eastern plains today, then precipitation to begin in earnest tonight and persists Sunday as an upper trough/low pass overhead and the modified arctic air mass over eastern NM is reinforced. The bitterly cold air will likely be drawn into the RGV toward the CondDvd tonight and Sunday morning. A break on Monday will quickly end with more snow possible Monday night into Wednesday. Drier and warmer weather with temperatures finally near normal are possible late next week. && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Watch from 5 PM MST this afternoon through Sunday evening for the following zones... NMZ201-202-204>209-219-220-225>241. Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM MST this afternoon for the following zones... NMZ223-226>240. Winter Storm Warning from 5 PM this afternoon to 11 PM MST Sunday for the following zones... NMZ203-210>218-221>224. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 505 AM MST Sat Feb 13 2021 NMZ201>241-141115- 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- 505 AM MST Sat Feb 13 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A modified arctic air mass will remain entrenched over the eastern plains today with areas of freezing fog and light snow or freezing drizzle. The bitterly cold air will be reinforced tonight over the plains and will surge through gaps in the central mountain chain into the Rio Grande Valley and west toward the Continental Divide, with gusts as high as 50 or 60 mph below canyons in the Albuquerque metro possible later tonight. Over western New Mexico, chances for rain and snow showers will increase this afternoon and moreso tonight as the snow level rapidly lowers. In addition, areas of blowing snow, along with dangerously low wind chills will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Accumulating snow will continue Sunday before tapering off by evening. The very strong and possibly damaging east wind below canyons with gusts 50 to 60 mph in the Albuquerque metro area will taper off by late Sunday afternoon. Record cold temperatures will be widespread over the central and east with dangerous wind chills persisting Sunday night. These bitter cold temperatures increase the chances for burst pipes and hypothermia risk. Another winter storm arriving Monday evening in northwest New Mexico will spread another round of snow, blowing snow and below normal temperatures over northern and central New Mexico through Wednesday. Drier and breezy conditions with moderating temperatures are expected by Friday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report dense freezing fog, snowfall accumulations, and impacts from frigid temperatures 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.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
1005 AM MST SAT FEB 13 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0520 AM SNOW 8 SSW RED RIVER 36.59N 105.45W
02/13/2021 E1.0 INCH TAOS NM PUBLIC
TAOS SKI AREA.
0837 AM SNOW 2 ENE CLAYTON 36.46N 103.14W
02/13/2021 M1.5 INCH UNION NM ASOS
KCAO ASOS.
0844 AM SNOW CLAYTON 36.45N 103.17W
02/13/2021 M1.0 INCH UNION NM TRAINED SPOTTER
0915 AM SNOW 3 ENE TUCUMCARI 35.18N 103.68W
02/13/2021 M1.0 INCH QUAY NM COCORAHS
0915 AM SNOW 22 WNW HAYDEN 36.09N 103.64W
02/13/2021 M1.0 INCH UNION NM COCORAHS
ELEVATION 4998.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ABQ202100696
EVENT NUMBER ABQ202100697
EVENT NUMBER ABQ202100698
EVENT NUMBER ABQ202100699
EVENT NUMBER ABQ202100700
AGCThe Albuquerque radar (KABX), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:51 UTC.
22 heavy snow, 4 extreme cold/wind chill, 4 cold/wind chill, 2 blizzard, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
A COOP observer near Dulce measured 6 inches of snow on February 14th. This tied the record for the second largest snowfall total for the date at that location.
Various sources near Chama reported 10 to 13 inches of snow. A COOP observer in Chama measured 10 inches of snow on February 14th.
Various sources around Glorieta reported snow amounts of 3 to 6 inches. Snow-packed and icy roads led to severe driving conditions along Interstate 25 from Glorieta to Rowe during the evening of February 13th.
Various sources in the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains reported 7 to 10 inches of snow. Taos Ski Valley measured 10 inches of snow on February 14th.
Various sources on the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains reported 5 to 8 inches of snow. Snow-packed and icy roads as well as zero visibility led to severe driving conditions along U.S. Highway 64 from Eagle Nest to Ute Park on the evening of February 13th.
Various sources around Santa Fe reported 3 to 5 inches of snow. Snow-packed and icy roads led to severe driving conditions along Interstate 25 from La Bajada to Santa Fe on the evening of February 13th.
A trained spotter reported 6.5 inches of snow on the morning of February 14th.
Various sources in the Moriarty area reported 5 to 6 inches of snow. A COOP observer in Moriarty measured 5.7 inches of snow on February 14th which set a new snowfall record for the date.
Various sources in the Central Highlands reported 4 to 6 inches of snow. A COOP observer near Encino measured 5.5 inches of snow on February 14th which set a new snowfall record for the date.
A member of the public in Santa Rosa reported 6 inches of snow on the morning of February 14th.
Various sources in the Sandia and Manzano Mountains reported 7 to 12 inches of snow. The highest amounts were found in northeastern portions of the area where a member of the public measured 12 inches of snow south of Golden on February 14th.
Albuquerque's first thunderstorm of the year brought very strong winds to the metro area as well as pea size hail. A mesonet station on the northwest side of Albuquerque recorded a 62 mph wind gust.
Widespread snow impacted the Albuquerque metro area overnight on February 13th and into the morning hours of February 14th. Various sources in the area reported 2 to 4 inches of snow with the highest totals nearing 4 inches in the Rio Rancho area.
A trained spotter in Clovis reported 4 inches of snow on the morning of February 14th. Strong winds resulted in snow drifts up to 4 feet.
A trained spotter southeast of Magdalena measured 4 inches of snow on February 14th.
Various sources around the Southwest Mountains reported 8 to 12 inches of snow. The highest snow totals were found near Red Hill where a trained spotter measured 12 inches of snow.
Snow as well as strong winds impacted the Tularosa Valley on the morning of February 14th. Estimated wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph resulted in four train cargo containers derailing as it traveled through Carrizozo. No injuries occurred from the train derailment, and the cargo containers were empty. Damages are estimated for the four empty cargo containers.
Various sources in the South Central Mountains reported 8 to 12 inches of snow. The highest snowfall totals were found in the Ruidoso area where a trained spotter measured 12 inches of snow during the afternoon of February 14th.
A CoCoRaHS observer southwest of Arabela measured 10 inches of snow on the morning of February 14th.
A trained spotter in Aragon measured 4 inches of snow on the afternoon of February 14th.
CoCoRaHS observers in the Roswell area reported 3 to 4 inches of snow on the morning of February 14th.
A trained spotter east of Elk measured 4 inches of snow on February 14th.
A major winter storm tracked through New Mexico through the early morning hours of February 14th. This storm brought a prolonged period of blizzard conditions to central New Mexico, including the Albuquerque metro area. Wind gusts up to 60 mph combined with heavy snow resulted in zero visibility conditions for several hours.
A major winter storm tracked through New Mexico through the early morning hours of February 14th. This storm brought a prolonged period of blizzard conditions to central New Mexico, including the Sandia and Manzano Mountains. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph combined with heavy snow resulted in zero visibility conditions for several hours.
Widespread snow impacted the Albuquerque metro area on February 14th. Various sources in the area reported 2 to 4 inches of snow with the highest totals nearing 4 inches in the Rio Rancho area.
Various sources in the Sandia and Manzano Mountains reported 7 to 12 inches of snow. The highest amounts were found in northeastern portions of the area where a member of the public measured 12 inches of snow south of Golden on February 14th.
A very strong arctic air mass resulted in extremely cold temperatures in Union County. The Clayton ASOS measured several hours of temperatures around 10 below zero. Combined with wind speeds around 10 mph, wind chills were estimated to be 25 below to 30 below zero.
A very strong arctic air mass resulted in extremely cold temperatures in Curry County. An AWOS station in Clovis estimated wind chills of about 18 below to 22 below zero during the early morning hours of February 15th.
A very strong arctic air mass resulted in extremely cold temperatures across Quay County. The Tucumcari ASOS measured several hours of temperatures around 5 below to 10 below zero. Combined with wind speeds around 10 mph, wind chills were estimated to be about 18 below to 20 below zero.
A very strong arctic air mass resulted in extremely cold temperatures across Roosevelt County. An AWOS station at Melrose Air Force Range measured several hours of temperatures around 5 below zero. Combined with wind speeds around 10 mph, wind chills were estimated to be about 18 below to 20 below zero.
A very strong arctic air mass resulted in extremely cold temperatures in Guadalupe County. An AWOS station in Santa Rosa estimated wind chills of about 18 below zero during the early morning hours of February 15th.
A very strong arctic air mass resulted in extremely cold temperatures across northeastern New Mexico. The Raton ASOS measured several hours of temperatures around 10 below to 15 below zero. Combined with wind speeds around 10 mph, wind chills were estimated to be about 25 below zero.
A very strong arctic air mass resulted in extremely cold wind chills across east central New Mexico. The Clines Corners ASOS estimated wind chills of 25 below to 30 below zero during the morning hours of February 15th with wind speeds of about 20 mph.
A very strong arctic air mass resulted in extremely cold temperatures across northeastern New Mexico. The Las Vegas ASOS measured several hours of temperatures around 10 below to 15 below zero. Combined with wind speeds around 10 mph, wind chills were estimated to be about 25 below to 28 below zero.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, February 2021
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: 933550, 933554, 933557, 933558, 933559, 933560, 933574, 933567, 933568, 933575, 933565, 934302, 933562, 933576, 934297, 933551, 933570, 933572, 933578, 933552, 933577, 933579, 933563, 934300, 934298, 934299, 933602, 933601, 934413, 934414, 934412, 933606, 933599, 934415.