April 2024 saw below normal precipitation on the whole across northern and central NM while average temperatures were still within a few degrees of normal. This aided in limiting the drying out and degradation of drought conditions.
Every event with a place to put it; 24 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.
April 2024 saw below normal precipitation on the whole across northern and central NM while average temperatures were still within a few degrees of normal. This aided in limiting the drying out and degradation of drought conditions. Most of the state ended up seeing no change in drought conditions with limited improvements over small portions of northern and central NM most likely due to a healthy Spring snow melting event.
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 31, 10:52 PM MST, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1152 PM MDT Sun Mar 31 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 131 PM MDT Sun Mar 31 2024 Windy conditions are being observed over much of northern and central New Mexico for the final day of March. Areas of blowing dust and critical fire weather will continue into the early evening, but wind speeds should then decrease. Showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms will fill into more of far western and north central New Mexico this evening, expanding over more central areas through Monday while colder temperatures spill in. Snow will also begin to impact the Raton Pass Monday afternoon into Monday evening with showers decreasing after midnight. Overall, a few to several inches of snow accumulation are forecast above 8,000 feet over the western and central mountains with the Sangre de Cristos and Raton Pass areas observing the highest amounts between 8 and 12 inches through Monday night. Showers and a few thunderstorms will redevelop Tuesday, mainly near the Continental Divide and central mountain chain while below normal temperatures prevail. Drier, warmer, and calmer conditions are then expected Wednesday and Thursday before the winds increase again on Friday. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Monday night) Issued at 131 PM MDT Sun Mar 31 2024 The upper low is currently offshore of SoCal per the latest water vapor satellite imagery, with a baroclinic zone over central/eastern AZ per the 12Z upper air analysis and latest satellite/radar imagery. The cold front associated with this baroclinic zone and an area of precipitation will advance from far western NM this evening into central NM early Monday morning and then out to the TX Panhandle by mid day as the upper low pulls northeast from central into northeast NM Monday evening. Ahead of this system, southwest winds aloft have been on the uptrend and are currently mixing to the surface and have already produced gusts to between 50-60mph across central portions of the area and across far western areas closer to the cold front. The ongoing wind highlights are on track and should be able to expire on time at 8PM per the latest guidance. Will add southwest Chaves County as a Wind Advisory for Monday, closer to the core of the strongest winds tomorrow which will be across southeast NM and in closer proximity to the jet stream. Precipitation is the other impactful aspect of this system and will ramp up tonight and continue through Monday night. Snow levels will be relatively high, although may temporarily fall to near 6,000ft overnight with little in the way of impacts expected below 7,000ft. Will hoist a Winter Weather Advisory for the Tusas, Jemez and West Central Mountains for tonight through midnight tomorrow night. Short-lived impacts to I-40 are possible tonight near the Continental Divide, but otherwise will be mostly a mountain snow event across western NM. Warning amounts are possible across the peaks of the Tusas Mountains, but only 3-4" are forecast in Chama. Will add the Sangre De Cristos and Johnson/Bartlett Mesas, including Raton Pass, to a Winter Storm Warning due to increasing confidence on higher snow amounts there. The 12Z models show the upper low moving northeast from central into northeast NM late Monday when a backdoor cold front will drop south into northeast NM and aide with the forcing. There is good consensus on higher qpf placement over the northern Sangre De Cristos east through Raton Pass where amounts may exceed one foot in a roughly 12- 18hr period through at least midnight Monday. Otherwise, showers are forecast to break out Monday afternoon on the backside of the upper low across western and central NM and will bring a mixture of snow, rain and graupel. We're expecting some lightning activity as well given the instability being advertised by the 12Z NAM and we are in the SPC Day2 convective outlook for general thunderstorms, so don't be surprised at some thundersnow in the mountains on Monday! Temperatures will take a dive behind the front Monday and be 15-25 degrees below normal across central and western NM. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday through Saturday) Issued at 131 PM MDT Sun Mar 31 2024 The primary vort lobe that crosses NM on Monday will eject northeastward into the plains of KS early on Tuesday with a trailing piece of energy moving into Chihuahua. This will orient a meridional component to the flow over NM with additional shortwave energy sliding into our forecast area through the day Tuesday. Temperatures aloft will stay cold with 700 mb readings ranging between -2 to -6 C which will keep things unstable enough for convective showers and thunderstorms. Showers and storms will primarily initiate over the Continental Divide and central mountain chain, drifting southward. Current synoptic QPF is a bit muted, but suspect subsequent CAMs runs will likely amplify amounts over the mountains. This could mean a few more inches of snow accumulation on higher peaks Tuesday. Showers and any storms should wane quickly with sunset Tuesday, but some isolated to scattered POPs were added to the 03/00 to 03/03UTC time frame. Temperatures will actually warm a few degrees in western zones Tuesday, but the stiff northerly breezes in eastern areas will keep cold air advection going with daytime highs not quite reaching Monday's expected highs. Conditions on Wednesday and Thursday will seem halcyon with much lighter flow aloft and at the surface while heights and temperatures escalate with a building ridge. Daytime highs should reach more seasonable readings over the northern half of the forecast area on Wednesday, and will then reach or exceed climatology in all locales on Thursday. The respite from unsettled conditions will come to an abrupt end on Friday as the next Pacific low shoves Thursday's highly amplified ridge out to the east. With the low overtaking the Great Basin, a strong southerly flow will be induced over NM with windy conditions expanding over most zones. With the wind direction oriented parallel to it, the Rio Grande valley will certainly be windy in this flow. The low will make its way toward the Rockies on Saturday, potentially splitting into two lows while strong flow turns westerly over NM. While the bulk of the moisture and forcing for precip would bypass NM, northwestern and north central zones could observe a few fleeting showers if this track pans out Friday and Saturday. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1136 PM MDT Sun Mar 31 2024 Fropa continues across nrn and centrl NM tonight, with shwrs expected to expand in coverage and spread ewd. MVFR and lcl IFR cigs/vsbys will be possible at most terminals throughout the TAF period. Wind directions will be variable at times due to influence from the front, terrain, and shwrs with some terminals remaining elevated in magnitude through the night. Shwrs are expected to push into the Rio Grande Valley aft 01/08Z, with possible changeover to SN aft 01/14Z causing reductions in cigs/vsbys that may create alternate criteria. The fropa will advance into ern NM during the aftn with resulting wly wind shift. Gusty winds will return alongside sct to num shwrs. Intensity and coverage of SN will increase across the Sangre de Cristo Mts in the aftn, leading to the potential for more widespread IFR conditions. A backdoor front will dive into nern NM in the late aftn allowing for coverage of shwrs and nly winds to expand across portions of the ern plains through the end of the TAF period. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 131 PM MDT Sun Mar 31 2024 ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS EASTERN NEW MEXICO... Strong winds and low humidity continue to bring critical fire weather conditions to much of central and eastern NM this afternoon. An upper level low and associated cold front will bring much cooler temperatures, brisk conditions and good chances for wetting precipitation beginning tonight and continuing through Tuesday. An upper level ridge will bring some warming/drying Wed/Thu with deteriorating ventilation and much lighter winds. Another potent upper level low will approach Friday and bring increasing winds and more widespread critical fire weather conditions. Critical fire weather conditions will continue Saturday across the eastern plains while central and western NM are cooled behind a Pacific cold front with chances for wetting precipitation. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 33 52 30 60 / 40 40 10 5 Dulce........................... 31 47 25 56 / 70 60 20 10 Cuba............................ 30 43 27 52 / 60 80 20 20 Gallup.......................... 28 45 25 55 / 80 60 20 10 El Morro........................ 28 39 26 48 / 90 70 20 20 Grants.......................... 29 44 26 53 / 70 70 10 20 Quemado......................... 31 42 27 49 / 90 60 10 30 Magdalena....................... 35 46 31 50 / 50 80 10 20 Datil........................... 32 41 27 47 / 80 80 10 20 Reserve......................... 30 47 25 54 / 90 60 10 30 Glenwood........................ 37 49 33 58 / 90 60 10 30 Chama........................... 27 40 22 50 / 80 70 70 10 Los Alamos...................... 33 43 31 50 / 70 70 50 20 Pecos........................... 31 45 27 47 / 30 70 70 30 Cerro/Questa.................... 31 42 27 45 / 40 70 80 20 Red River....................... 25 38 22 40 / 40 80 80 20 Angel Fire...................... 25 39 21 42 / 30 70 80 20 Taos............................ 29 44 24 48 / 40 60 70 10 Mora............................ 31 46 24 46 / 20 60 80 20 Espanola........................ 35 47 31 57 / 60 60 50 20 Santa Fe........................ 33 44 32 49 / 50 70 60 30 Santa Fe Airport................ 32 46 30 53 / 60 60 50 20 Albuquerque Foothills........... 39 47 37 55 / 70 60 20 30 Albuquerque Heights............. 38 49 36 56 / 60 60 20 20 Albuquerque Valley.............. 36 50 33 58 / 60 60 20 20 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 37 49 35 56 / 60 60 20 20 Belen........................... 38 54 34 58 / 50 70 10 20 Bernalillo...................... 37 50 36 57 / 60 70 20 20 Bosque Farms.................... 36 52 32 58 / 60 60 20 20 Corrales........................ 35 50 34 57 / 60 60 20 20 Los Lunas....................... 36 52 32 58 / 60 60 10 20 Placitas........................ 36 46 35 54 / 70 70 20 30 Rio Rancho...................... 37 49 35 56 / 60 60 20 20 Socorro......................... 40 55 36 59 / 30 70 10 20 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 34 41 32 48 / 60 70 30 30 Tijeras......................... 35 42 31 50 / 60 70 30 30 Edgewood........................ 33 44 30 50 / 40 70 30 30 Moriarty/Estancia............... 32 46 28 51 / 30 70 30 20 Clines Corners.................. 31 44 26 47 / 20 60 40 20 Mountainair..................... 34 44 28 49 / 30 80 20 20 Gran Quivira.................... 34 45 27 49 / 20 80 20 30 Carrizozo....................... 41 50 33 52 / 10 70 10 30 Ruidoso......................... 36 44 28 44 / 20 70 10 40 Capulin......................... 33 50 25 45 / 5 80 80 10 Raton........................... 32 51 27 51 / 5 80 80 10 Springer........................ 34 53 29 53 / 5 80 80 10 Las Vegas....................... 33 48 27 48 / 10 50 80 20 Clayton......................... 40 60 30 54 / 0 70 80 10 Roy............................. 37 55 31 52 / 5 60 90 10 Conchas......................... 42 61 34 59 / 0 40 80 10 Santa Rosa...................... 41 57 33 56 / 5 30 50 10 Tucumcari....................... 44 63 33 58 / 0 40 70 10 Clovis.......................... 49 66 35 57 / 0 40 20 10 Portales........................ 48 67 34 58 / 0 40 20 10 Fort Sumner..................... 43 62 36 58 / 0 40 20 10 Roswell......................... 50 68 41 62 / 0 20 10 10 Picacho......................... 44 59 35 55 / 0 30 10 20 Elk............................. 42 55 33 51 / 5 40 10 30 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until midnight MDT Monday night for NMZ206-208-210-211. Winter Storm Warning until midnight MDT Monday night for NMZ213>215. Winter Storm Warning from noon Monday to 3 AM MDT Tuesday for NMZ227. Wind Advisory from 11 AM to 8 PM MDT Monday for NMZ240. && SHORT TERM...11 LONG TERM....52 AVIATION...12
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
707 PM MDT Sun Mar 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0641 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 W Midway 33.30N 104.50W
03/31/2024 M63 MPH Chaves NM ASOS
ASOS station KROW Roswell Air Center.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
934 PM MDT Sun Mar 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0559 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 WSW Conchas Lake Stat 35.37N 104.21W
03/31/2024 M58 MPH San Miguel NM Public
KNMCONCH8 Wunderground Station.
&&
MAAThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
24 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe drought was removed from a vast majority of the zone.
Severe drought persisted over the northern portion of the zone.
Severe drought persisted over the southern portion of the zone.
Severe drought was removed from the vast majority of the zone.
Severe drought remained across all of the zone.
Severe drought remained across nearly all of the zone.
Severe drought remained across the southern half of the zone.
Severe drought remained across the southern portion of the zone.
Severe drought remained across the vast majority of the zone.
Severe drought remained across the zone.
Severe drought remained across the northern half of the zone.
Severe drought remained across the northern half of the zone.
Severe drought remained across the northern half of the zone.
Severe drought remained across the northern half of the zone.
Severe drought was removed from most areas except the far eastern edge of the zone.
Severe drought remained across the southern quarter of the zone.
Severe drought remained across the zone.
Severe drought remained across eastern and western portions of the zone.
Severe drought remained across the western portion of the zone.
Severe drought remained across the northwest portion of the zone.
Severe drought remained across eastern portions of the zone.
Severe to extreme drought remained across the zone with exceptional drought continuing over the south-central portion of the zone.
Severe to extreme drought remained across the southern half of the zone.
Extreme drought remained across the zone with exceptional drought being removed from the eastern edge of the zone.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, April 2024
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: 1167532, 1167533, 1167534, 1167535, 1167536, 1167537, 1167538, 1167539, 1167540, 1167541, 1167542, 1167543, 1167544, 1167545, 1167546, 1167547, 1167548, 1167549, 1167550, 1167551, 1167552, 1167553, 1167554, 1167555.