February saw more wetter than normal conditions across the western half of NM with drier than normal conditions persistent through much of the eastern plains of NM. There was very little change in the drought conditions however.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 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.
February saw more wetter than normal conditions across the western half of NM with drier than normal conditions persistent through much of the eastern plains of NM. There was very little change in the drought conditions however. By month's end, 16 percent of the state was in severe to extreme drought, of which about 3 percent was extreme drought.
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 Jan 31, 10:58 PM MST, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1058 PM MST Tue Jan 31 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 213 PM MST Tue Jan 31 2023 Areas of low clouds and patchy freezing fog are forecast to return to or persist over much of the eastern plains again tonight, but they should evaporate fairly quickly on Wednesday morning as downslope flow develops. A storm system passing mainly to the south of NM is forecast to produce a light mix of wintry precipitation over southern areas Wednesday through Thursday morning. A warming trend is forecast during the latter half of the week with high temperatures climaxing Sunday a few to around 10 degrees above normal. West and northwest winds are forecast to become breezy to windy on Monday, when an upper level trough crossing the central Rockies could also produce some snow showers north of I-40. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Wednesday night) Issued at 213 PM MST Tue Jan 31 2023 While fog and wintry precipitation have decreased or ended this afternoon, low clouds continue to be widespread over the eastern plains. Models suggest low clouds will continue to improve but it's difficult to believe given how extensive it is as of this writing and the higher clouds starting to traverse southeast into east central NM in advance of the upper low centered over the Gulf of California. Light west winds are forecast to develop later tonight over portions of the northeast and east central which might help keep the low clouds or at least fog, less extensive as in previous nights. Ultimately took a compromise between models and obs for tonight. Forecast models are still having some differences how far north into eastern NM the upper low's influence will reach in terms of precipitation. The GFS remains too far south for anything in our CWA while the NAM12 and ECMWF suggest some light precipitation in the southeast and south central and possibly into De Baca and Curry counties Wednesday and Wednesday night. Leaned a bit more toward the NAM12/ECMWF solution in the grids. Over northwest/west central NM, scattered to broken cloud cover looks to slowly thin out later tonight into Wednesday morning with little snow anticipated. Temperatures tonight through Wednesday night remain mostly below normal. Will pass on any advisory type highlights at this time, but later shifts will need to monitor conditions. && .LONG TERM... (Thursday through Monday) Issued at 213 PM MST Tue Jan 31 2023 As an upper level trough exits eastward across TX, a few rain and snow showers may linger into Thursday across southeast parts of the forecast area, but little or no additional accumulation is expected. High temperatures on Thursday are forecast to warm a few to 17 degrees above Wednesday's readings in most places, while remaining near normal to as much as 11 degrees below normal. Thursday's warming trend will continue Friday, and across the bulk of the forecast area Saturday and Sunday, as a couple of low amplitude ridges of high pressure cross from the west with a weak intervening upper trough and associated Pacific front. This will result in some gusty winds over the weekend, especially along and east of the central mountain chain where a lee side surface trough is also forecast to develop. By Sunday afternoon high temperatures should vary from a few to around 10 degrees above normal with the greatest departures over southern and eastern areas. An upper level trough is forecast to cross the central Rockies from the northwest on Monday with potentially strong winds over NM, a gusty Pacific cold front, and colder temperatures at least over northern and western areas. There will also be a chance for snow showers north of I-40 Monday afternoon and night. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1039 PM MST Tue Jan 31 2023 A large area of mainly MVFR ceilings and visibilities will remain entrenched over portions of eastern NM tonight into Wednesday morning, with some cloud erosion expected around the periphery of this cloud deck overnight. Rain and snow shower chances increase over southern Chaves county Wednesday afternoon, possibly impacting the KROW terminal as an upper low over northern Baja lifts to the northeast across southeastern NM Wednesday. Outside of southeast NM, VFR condtions underneath clear sky and light winds will be the rule during the next 24 hours. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 213 PM MST Tue Jan 31 2023 A few showers will be possible over northwest and west central New Mexico this evening with very little precipitation. Low clouds are expected tonight with fog, freezing fog and spotty and light wintry precipitation possible over portions of eastern New Mexico. Rain, snow, and freezing drizzle will continue over far southern areas Wednesday and Wednesday night with colder than normal temperatures areawide. Dry west to northwest flow aloft will dominate Friday and through the weekend with locally breezy to windy conditions over the central mountain chain and east, near to above normal temperatures over all and occasional clouds. Ventilation Wednesday will be poor with the exception of localized fair to good rates over portions of central New Mexico. Widespread poor ventilation rates forecast Thursday through Sunday with some localized fair to good rates over east central New Mexico Friday and along the Northeast Highlands Saturday. Mostly good to excellent ventilation expected as a more substantial upper low pressure system impacts the region early next week with potential for strong winds, colder temperatures and snow showers. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 41 12 35 10 / 20 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 43 4 36 6 / 20 5 0 0 Cuba............................ 41 12 38 10 / 5 5 0 0 Gallup.......................... 40 9 39 7 / 10 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 39 12 38 11 / 10 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 44 9 40 6 / 5 5 0 0 Quemado......................... 45 16 41 15 / 5 5 5 5 Magdalena....................... 47 23 43 22 / 0 0 5 5 Datil........................... 46 19 41 18 / 0 0 5 5 Reserve......................... 52 20 48 18 / 5 5 10 10 Glenwood........................ 55 28 50 25 / 0 0 10 10 Chama........................... 36 3 33 5 / 40 20 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 41 20 40 19 / 5 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 41 19 43 18 / 5 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 39 5 36 3 / 10 5 0 0 Red River....................... 36 5 36 5 / 10 10 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 32 0 35 -5 / 10 10 0 0 Taos............................ 42 7 39 4 / 10 5 0 0 Mora............................ 41 14 43 15 / 5 5 0 0 Espanola........................ 49 14 46 12 / 5 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 42 19 43 17 / 5 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 45 17 45 15 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 46 27 45 24 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 50 25 47 23 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 53 17 49 14 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 50 23 47 22 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 54 21 50 18 / 0 0 0 5 Bernalillo...................... 49 21 47 20 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 55 17 49 15 / 5 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 51 22 48 20 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 54 19 49 16 / 5 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 46 22 44 21 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 48 24 46 22 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 53 26 50 23 / 0 0 5 5 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 45 22 41 20 / 5 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 45 23 43 21 / 0 0 0 5 Edgewood........................ 44 19 43 17 / 5 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 46 13 45 11 / 5 0 0 5 Clines Corners.................. 42 17 41 17 / 10 0 5 5 Mountainair..................... 49 20 45 19 / 5 5 5 5 Gran Quivira.................... 47 22 47 21 / 5 5 5 5 Carrizozo....................... 54 28 50 25 / 0 5 20 10 Ruidoso......................... 47 25 41 24 / 5 10 30 20 Capulin......................... 28 13 41 12 / 5 0 0 0 Raton........................... 27 10 45 10 / 5 0 0 0 Springer........................ 30 11 45 13 / 5 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 40 13 44 15 / 5 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 19 14 46 19 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 19 12 44 17 / 5 0 0 5 Conchas......................... 26 15 46 19 / 5 0 5 5 Santa Rosa...................... 26 18 45 20 / 10 0 5 10 Tucumcari....................... 24 18 46 20 / 5 0 5 10 Clovis.......................... 26 20 41 23 / 5 5 20 20 Portales........................ 28 21 42 24 / 5 5 20 20 Fort Sumner..................... 26 21 42 23 / 5 0 10 10 Roswell......................... 30 24 39 25 / 5 10 40 20 Picacho......................... 32 22 42 26 / 0 10 30 20 Elk............................. 41 23 41 25 / 5 20 40 20 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM....44 AVIATION...33
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe drought conditions improved to moderate drought throughout the Northwest Plateau during February.
Severe drought conditions persisted through a portion of the zone during February.
Moderate to severe drought conditions from October 2022 persisted through February 2023.
Severe drought conditions improved to moderate drought through the Middle Rio Grande Valley through the month of February.
Severe drought conditions from October 2022 persisted through February 2023.
Severe drought conditions persisted through February 2023.
Severe to extreme drought conditions from October 2022 continued through March 2023. A very small area of exceptional drought between Clayton and Sedan persisted through February.
Severe drought conditions persisted through February 2023.
Severe drought conditions from October 2022 persisted in the northern section of the county through February 2023.
Severe drought conditions from October 2022 persisted through February 2023.
Severe to extreme drought conditions from October 2022 persisted through February 2023.
Severe to extreme drought conditions from October 2022 persisted through February 2023.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, February 2023
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: 1074413, 1074414, 1074415, 1074417, 1074420, 1074421, 1074423, 1074424, 1074425, 1074427, 1074428, 1074429.