February saw above normal precipitation on the whole, notably from a series of winter storms that passed over the state during the first half of the month. Late month weaker systems brought additional precipitation mainly to the northern mountains of New Mexico.
Every event with a place to put it; 36 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 above normal precipitation on the whole, notably from a series of winter storms that passed over the state during the first half of the month. Late month weaker systems brought additional precipitation mainly to the northern mountains of New Mexico. Overall, the above normal precipitation yielded an overall improvement to drought conditions. Extreme drought was removed from the northwest corner of the state with severe drought being reduced in size as well.
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, 10:38 PM MST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1038 PM MST Wed Jan 31 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 101 PM MST Wed Jan 31 2024 Tranquil weather will continue through Thursday before a storm system brings rain, high elevation snow along with cold air and strong winds to much of the area Friday through Saturday. Accumulating snow is forecast to remain above 7,000 feet or so on Friday, lowering to near 6,000 feet Saturday morning. This slow moving system will continue to bring accumulating snow to the northern mountains and northeast highlands through Saturday. High pressure promises a couple of quiet weather days Sunday through Tuesday with the next winter storm system moving in around mid week. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Thursday night) Issued at 101 PM MST Wed Jan 31 2024 Some sprinkles and a few rain showers will linger over central NM early this evening in the wake of a departing upper level wave. A surface low deepening over western KS tonight will allow downslope flow to increase over eastern NM with much warmer low temps compared to last night. Western NM will see partial clearing this evening then the next batch of cirrus will become widespread overnight ahead of the next storm system. A powerful 160 kt speed max will race eastward from the eastern Pacific into the northern Baja Thursday morning. This will allow upper diffluence to improve overhead with a few rain showers forming along the AZ/NM border by sunrise. High terrain snow showers will also increase in coverage over northern and western NM thru the day but accums will be very light. Thick mid and high clouds will limit the full potential for warming Thursday across central and western NM but highs will still be roughly 5 to 10F above normal. Eastern NM will see westerly winds with downslope flow leading to highs close to 70F in a few locales. West/southwest winds will become breezy areawide with gusts of 20 to 30 mph possible. Rain and snow will continue increasing in coverage over western NM Thursday night as the upper level storm system spreads abundant moisture and lift into the region. Winds will also remain elevated overnight, especially in the southern high terrain as the nose of the upper jet arrives from the west. Min temps will be roughly 10 to 15F above normal which keeps snow levels rather high for early February. && .LONG TERM... (Friday through Tuesday) Issued at 101 PM MST Wed Jan 31 2024 160-170kt Asian-Pacific (AP) jet makes more progress eastward tonight, helping to break off a portion of the closed low spinning in the Gulf of AK. Models agree that the short-wave trough that breaks off in response to this jet remains on track to move through western NM Friday afternoon and into the RGV Friday afternoon. Snow levels start out relatively high, above 7,500 feet Friday morning, slowly falling through the day. Initial frontal band of precipitation is progged to decrease in intensity Friday evening as it moves east of the AP jet now nosing into West TX. A trailing jet streak, however, continues to result in lee side cyclogenesis over the TX panhandle Saturday, helping to keep orographic snows going at times over the northern mountains through Saturday night. Strong to very strong northwest winds with gusts twill develop on Saturday, in the wake of the upper low. Transitory ridge of high pressure remains on track to begin moving into western NM Sunday, and over the remainder of the forecast area Monday. By Tuesday, southwest flow aloft ahead of another, much colder, winter storm system forecast to move bring more rounds of mainly snow to the region mid week. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1026 PM MST Wed Jan 31 2024 Scattered mid level clouds persist though sprinkles have ended this evening. Cirrus will begin to move in from the west overnight through Thursday morning. Moisture will increase ahead of a storm system on Thursday, allowing low VFR cigs to develop across western NM by late afternoon. Light rain showers and mountain snow showers are expected to develop during the afternoon then become more widespread Thursday night into Friday. Meanwhile, a deepening lee side surface low will allow a few gusts near 30kt from the west or southwest Thursday aftn across eastern NM. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 101 PM MST Wed Jan 31 2024 There are no critical fire weather conditions expected for at least the next 7 days. The next storm system will move across the region Thursday through Saturday with high terrain snow and lower elevation rain. Greater than 10" of snowfall is possible over parts of the northern mountains. Southwest winds will also increase by Friday then shift out of the northwest Saturday with gusts of 50 to 60 mph possible. A brief break is expected Sunday and Monday under a ridge of high pressure. Another storm will move into the area by Tuesday and/or Wednesday of next week. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 32 57 38 47 / 5 30 90 90 Dulce........................... 23 52 30 45 / 0 30 80 100 Cuba............................ 29 52 32 42 / 0 20 60 100 Gallup.......................... 28 55 31 42 / 0 20 70 90 El Morro........................ 29 53 31 40 / 0 30 50 100 Grants.......................... 28 56 32 43 / 0 10 40 80 Quemado......................... 30 54 32 43 / 5 10 20 90 Magdalena....................... 35 57 36 47 / 10 5 10 80 Datil........................... 31 53 32 42 / 5 5 10 70 Reserve......................... 30 57 32 45 / 0 20 70 100 Glenwood........................ 41 62 38 45 / 0 30 80 100 Chama........................... 23 46 27 41 / 0 20 70 100 Los Alamos...................... 33 52 34 42 / 5 10 40 90 Pecos........................... 32 54 33 44 / 5 5 20 70 Cerro/Questa.................... 31 47 33 43 / 0 5 20 60 Red River....................... 20 45 24 38 / 5 5 20 70 Angel Fire...................... 15 42 24 39 / 0 5 20 60 Taos............................ 24 50 30 44 / 0 5 20 60 Mora............................ 28 53 31 45 / 0 5 10 60 Espanola........................ 28 56 34 50 / 0 5 30 80 Santa Fe........................ 33 52 34 44 / 5 5 40 90 Santa Fe Airport................ 30 55 36 46 / 0 5 30 80 Albuquerque Foothills........... 38 58 39 50 / 5 5 40 90 Albuquerque Heights............. 36 60 40 52 / 5 5 30 90 Albuquerque Valley.............. 32 61 39 54 / 0 5 20 80 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 35 59 39 53 / 5 5 30 80 Belen........................... 32 62 40 55 / 5 5 20 90 Bernalillo...................... 33 60 38 52 / 0 5 40 90 Bosque Farms.................... 31 62 40 54 / 5 5 20 90 Corrales........................ 33 60 39 53 / 0 5 30 90 Los Lunas....................... 32 62 40 54 / 5 5 20 90 Placitas........................ 35 56 38 47 / 5 5 40 90 Rio Rancho...................... 34 59 39 52 / 0 5 30 90 Socorro......................... 38 65 41 58 / 5 5 5 70 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 35 54 35 43 / 5 5 40 90 Tijeras......................... 33 55 35 46 / 5 5 40 90 Edgewood........................ 29 57 34 47 / 0 0 20 80 Moriarty/Estancia............... 23 59 34 48 / 0 0 10 70 Clines Corners.................. 30 56 34 44 / 5 5 10 60 Mountainair..................... 32 57 36 47 / 5 0 20 80 Gran Quivira.................... 32 57 35 47 / 5 0 10 70 Carrizozo....................... 38 61 40 50 / 0 0 10 70 Ruidoso......................... 36 56 36 45 / 5 5 10 60 Capulin......................... 28 56 30 50 / 0 0 0 5 Raton........................... 25 59 29 51 / 0 0 0 20 Springer........................ 24 60 29 53 / 0 0 0 10 Las Vegas....................... 30 57 33 46 / 0 0 5 30 Clayton......................... 37 66 37 58 / 0 0 0 10 Roy............................. 31 62 35 53 / 0 0 0 10 Conchas......................... 33 69 38 59 / 0 0 0 10 Santa Rosa...................... 35 64 38 54 / 5 0 0 20 Tucumcari....................... 36 69 39 58 / 0 0 0 20 Clovis.......................... 37 69 41 62 / 0 0 0 20 Portales........................ 35 70 41 63 / 0 0 0 20 Fort Sumner..................... 33 69 38 58 / 0 0 0 20 Roswell......................... 36 74 43 65 / 0 0 0 20 Picacho......................... 37 67 41 58 / 0 0 5 30 Elk............................. 35 66 38 55 / 0 0 5 50 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Watch from Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon for NMZ210. Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM Thursday to 11 PM MST Friday for NMZ202. && SHORT TERM...52 LONG TERM....33 AVIATION...34
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
36 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Extreme drought was removed from the zone while severe drought persisted.
Extreme drought was removed from the zone while severe drought persisted.
Extreme drought was removed from the zone while severe drought persisted.
Severe drought was removed from the zone.
Severe drought remained persistent across the northern third of the zone.
Severe drought remained persistent across the western portion of the zone.
Severe drought remained persistent across a majority of the zone.
Severe drought remained persistent across a majority of the zone while extreme drought was removed from the far northern portion of the zone.
Severe drought remained persistent across a majority of the zone while extreme drought was removed from a portion of the zone.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across the zone.
Severe drought conditions persisted across the western edge of the zone.
Severe drought conditions persisted across the zone.
Severe drought conditions persisted across the southern half of the zone.
Severe drought conditions persisted across the zone.
Severe drought conditions persisted across the zone.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across the zone.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across the northern half of the zone.
Severe drought conditions was removed from the zone.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across the northern portion of the zone.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across the northern portion of the zone.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across the northern portion of the zone.
Severe drought was removed from the zone.
Severe drought persisted across a majority of the zone while extreme drought was removed from the zone.
Severe drought persisted across the southern quarter of the zone.
Severe drought persisted across the zone.
Severe drought persisted across portions of the zone.
Severe drought persisted across the western portion of the zone.
Severe drought persisted across the portions of the zone.
Severe drought was removed from the zone.
Severe drought was removed from a majority of the zone.
Severe drought was removed from the zone.
Severe to extreme drought persisted across the zone with exceptional drought persisting over the south-central portion of the zone.
Severe to extreme drought persisted across the southern half of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the zone with a sliver of exceptional drought persisting over the far southeastern fringe of the zone.
Severe drought was removed from the zone.
Severe drought persisted across the northwest portion 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, February 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: 1155104, 1155105, 1155106, 1155107, 1155108, 1155109, 1155110, 1155111, 1155112, 1155113, 1155114, 1155115, 1155117, 1155118, 1155119, 1155120, 1155121, 1155184, 1155185, 1155186, 1155187, 1155188, 1155189, 1155190, 1155191, 1155192, 1155193, 1155194, 1155195, 1155196, 1155197, 1155198, 1155199, 1155200, 1155201, 1161196.