New Mexico, 2025

Drought in New Mexico, January 1 to 31, 2025

January 1 to 31, 2025 · NWS EPZ · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

January brought below normal precipitation again across southern New Mexico which either worsened or brought no change to drought conditions.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
11

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS EPZ wrote it up.

January brought below normal precipitation again across southern New Mexico which either worsened or brought no change to drought conditions.

What forecasters said that day

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 El Paso, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 31, 10:30 PM MST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 1028 PM MST Tue Dec 31 2024
  • Warm and dry weather continues through the week.
  • Breezy winds return next weekend followed by another cool down early next week.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 31, 10:30 PM MST, 1 hour 30 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service El Paso TX/Santa Teresa NM
1030 PM MST Tue Dec 31 2024

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1028 PM MST Tue Dec 31 2024

 - Warm and dry weather continues through the week.

 - Breezy winds return next weekend followed by another cool down
   early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 145 PM MST Tue Dec 31 2024

We start off with flat zonal flow with the main storm track well
to the north of the area. A ridge will gradually build through
Friday, leading to warming conditions with light winds. On
Saturday, a s/w will sweep southeastward through the Great Basin,
suppressing the ridge. The s/w is progged to drop far enough south
for its jet to sweep across Southern NM, but models are not super
consistent with its timing. The Euro is quicker with a passage
Saturday afternoon with the GFS showing a passage Saturday night
into Sunday morning. Cluster analysis does not really give a clear
signal either though with odds tilted toward the Euro's solution.
Either way, the impacts would bring breezy to low-end windy
conditions with highest winds across higher terrain and east-
facing slopes.

Ridging will build off the West Coast through the weekend, which
sets the stage for a series of fronts, including an open tap to
the arctic. The first dose of cooler air arrives Sunday, though
this is in the form of a Pacific front behind the aforementioned
system. The next front arrives Monday bringing the edge of a
Canadian air mass. Even more of that cooler air looks to slip in
on Tuesday setting highs back even further. What happens after
Tuesday is still unclear.

Of note, forecast models, including the majority of ensemble
members, show a system dropping south across the Intermountain
West early to mid week. This system will drop toward the
International Border before sweeping east. Current deterministic
models show it scooping up moisture, though this solution is not
well supported by ensemble members, with enough cold air for
"dare I say" a little snow. Current NBM run gives a portion of the
lowlands, including El Paso, about a 20% chance for measurable
snow by next Wednesday. It is a week out, however, so it's
nothing more than a pipe dream for snow-lovers at this point.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1028 PM MST Tue Dec 31 2024

VFR conditions through the entire forecast period at all
terminals. Dry conditions will keep cigs and vsby high. FEW-SCT
250 overnight, trending towards SKC aft 18Z tomorrow. Winds will
be 3-8kts from W to NW through 15Z. Tomorrow, aft 18Z winds will
be mostly variable in the 3-8kt range.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 145 PM MST Tue Dec 31 2024

A very dry air mass will remain in place through the weekend with
temperatures much above normal and min RH values well into the
teens. Skies will feature periods of high clouds. Winds will be
light for much of the period, but a system will move through the
area on Saturday giving the area elevated to near-critical
conditions. Venting through Friday will be poor in the lowlands
with fair to good in the mountains.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
El Paso                  39  65  38  67 /   0   0   0   0
Sierra Blanca            38  63  36  65 /   0   0   0   0
Las Cruces               34  64  33  67 /   0   0   0   0
Alamogordo               29  61  31  65 /   0   0   0   0
Cloudcroft               25  45  28  49 /   0   0   0   0
Truth or Consequences    31  59  33  62 /   0   0   0   0
Silver City              31  60  34  64 /   0   0   0   0
Deming                   28  64  28  67 /   0   0   0   0
Lordsburg                26  63  28  67 /   0   0   0   0
West El Paso Metro       40  64  39  66 /   0   0   0   0
Dell City                28  61  28  65 /   0   0   0   0
Fort Hancock             34  69  31  70 /   0   0   0   0
Loma Linda               37  58  38  62 /   0   0   0   0
Fabens                   34  66  33  68 /   0   0   0   0
Santa Teresa             34  62  32  65 /   0   0   0   0
White Sands HQ           39  63  39  65 /   0   0   0   0
Jornada Range            28  61  29  65 /   0   0   0   0
Hatch                    28  65  29  67 /   0   0   0   0
Columbus                 34  63  32  66 /   0   0   0   0
Orogrande                32  61  31  62 /   0   0   0   0
Mayhill                  27  58  33  62 /   0   0   0   0
Mescalero                26  53  29  59 /   0   0   0   0
Timberon                 25  53  27  58 /   0   0   0   0
Winston                  21  58  24  62 /   0   0   0   0
Hillsboro                31  63  33  65 /   0   0   0   0
Spaceport                27  61  28  64 /   0   0   0   0
Lake Roberts             28  60  31  65 /   0   0   0   0
Hurley                   27  63  29  65 /   0   0   0   0
Cliff                    16  66  17  71 /   0   0   0   0
Mule Creek               29  61  30  66 /   0   0   0   0
Faywood                  31  61  34  64 /   0   0   0   0
Animas                   29  67  30  70 /   0   0   0   0
Hachita                  28  65  28  67 /   0   0   0   0
Antelope Wells           33  69  33  68 /   0   0   0   0
Cloverdale               38  64  39  67 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...None.
NM...None.
&&

FORECASTER...14-Bird

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley

When
January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.326, -108.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The entire zone remained in Severe(D2) drought throughout January. The Redrock Cooperative Observer recorded just 0.03 inches of precipitation which was 0.96 inches below normal.

Drought, Lowlands of the Bootheel

When
January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Lowlands of the Bootheel forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.326, -108.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The eastern half of the zone remained in Extreme(D3) drought while the west remained in Severe(D2) drought.

Drought, Uplands of the Bootheel

When
January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Uplands of the Bootheel forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
31.914, -108.715 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The entire zone remained in Severe(D2) drought through the month of January.

Drought, Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin

When
January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.460, -108.066 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The zone started out with Extreme(D3) drought over the south and improving to Abnormally Dry(D0) drought far north. By the end of the month the northern areas had been placed in Moderate(D1) to Severe(D2) drought. The Deming Airport reported 0.10 inches of precipitation which was 0.37 inches below normal.

Drought, Northern Dona Ana County

When
January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Northern Dona Ana County forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.353, -106.833 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The southern half of the zone remained in Severe(D2) drought while the north continued to be in Moderate(D1) drought.

Drought, Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley

When
January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.353, -106.833 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

No change was noted in drought conditions with the southern half of the zone remaining in Extreme(D3) drought and the north in Severe(D2) drought. The New Mexico State University Cooperative Observer reported 0.20 inches of precipitation which was 0.28 inches below normal.

Drought, Sacramento Mountains Above 7500 Feet

When
January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Sacramento Mountains Above 7500 Feet forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.613, -105.742 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe(D2) drought continued over the southern half of the zone while the north remained in Moderate(D1) drought. The Cloudcroft Cooperative Observer reported 0.63 inches of precipitation which was 0.96 inches below normal.

Drought, East Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet

When
January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where
East Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.613, -105.742 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The entire zone remained in Severe(D2) drought in January. The Cooperative Observer reported 0.25 inches of precipitation which was 0.26 inches below normal.

Drought, Otero Mesa

When
January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Otero Mesa forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.613, -105.742 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The northeast remained in Severe(D2) drought while the remainder of the zone continued to be in Extreme(D3) drought.

Drought, West Central Tularosa Basin/White Sands

When
January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where
West Central Tularosa Basin/White Sands forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.699, -106.589 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The southern portion of the zone remained in Extreme(D3) drought with improvement to Abnormally Dry(D0) or even no drought across the north. The White Sands National Park Cooperative Observer reported 0.08 inches of precipitation which was 0.42 inches below normal.

Drought, Southeast Tularosa Basin

When
January 1, 12:00 AM MST to January 31, 11:59 PM MST
Where
Southeast Tularosa Basin forecast zone
Reported by
Drought Monitor
Coordinates
32.613, -105.742 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The southwest portion of the zone remained in Extreme(D3) drought while the remainder of the zone continued to be in Severe(D2) drought.

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Mexico in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, January 2025

Sources

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1229903, 1229905, 1229906, 1229907, 1229908, 1229910, 1229911, 1229912, 1229913, 1229917, 1229919.