2019 Annual Weather Highlights Monthly Review

Taos Jan 2 - photo courtesy of Staci Matlock

Valles Caldera Feb 23 - photo courtesy of Len Rivera

February 2019 was wetter than normal in the northwest and drier than normal in the southeast. Temperatures were well below normal in the west, below normal central areas, and near normal in the east. 

The first half of the month was pretty quiet with strong to high winds the main weather story on the 3rd, 6th and 11th. A light to moderate snow event was recorded on the 6th. Heavy snow blanketed the Chama area on the 13th. Potent storm systems brought widespread, decent snow to many areas on the 18th through 19th, and again on the 22nd through 23rd. The remainder of the month was pretty quiet. 

April 2019 was mostly warmer and wetter than normal. Only northwest New Mexico was drier than normal. Parts of eastern and southern New Mexico experienced near normal temperatures, with all other areas were above normal.

The first week of April was mostly quiet, as the storm at the end of March departed on the 1st. There were strong winds on the 3rd. Winds began to increase on the 8th and roared across the state on the 9th and 10th. There were many reports of high winds and wind damage. A few inches of snow fell in the northern mountains on the 9th. A relatively minor snow event occurred on the 13th and 14th over the northern and south central mountains and northeast. Rain fell at many other locations. Another storm struck on the 23rd and 24th with widespread rain and northern mountain snow. Rain and a few severe storms ended the month on the 29th into the 30th. 

May 2019 was cooler than normal across all of New Mexico, more so in the central and western areas. Precipitation was quite varied with above normal rainfall in the northwest, below norms in the southeast, and near normal elsewhere 

It was pretty quiet through the first week of the month, with isolated large hail reports in the east on the 4th, 5th and 7th. A late season snowstorm hit on the 9th and 10th with impressive snowfall on the northern mountains. Strong winds buffeted the state on the 21st and 23rd, while 6 inches of snow fell on Capulin on the 21st. Strong winds struck again on the 26th. Damaging winds, hail and a couple of tornadoes plagued the state on the 30th. 

Nogal landspout May 8 - photo courtesy Bennie Long

June 2019 produced mostly below normal precipitation and temperatures. The biggest weather story for June in New Mexico was the storm on the 16th to 18th. Widespread rain, heavy downpours, large hail and high winds all impacted New Mexico. 

July 2019 was relatively quiet as fits and starts of monsoon moisture provided spotty thunderstorm coverage over New Mexico. Showers and thunderstorms produced the greatest coverage of rainfall mainly over the eastern plains while central and western New Mexico experienced more hit or miss activity. The Four Corners region remained very dry throughout the month. Temperatures were hot across much of the area with statewide average temperatures above normal. Roswell reached 100° or higher on 17 days in July 2019, of which 7 days were at or above 105°. Severe weather was very limited in July with only a handful of large hail, high wind, and flash flood events reported. 

 Cuervo Lightning Jul 8 - photo courtesy of Timothy Baca

Albuquerque Aug 7 - photo courtesy of Stu Ostro

White Sands double rainbow Sep 11 - photo courtesy of Dept of Interior

Albuquerque sunset Oct 1 - photo courtesy of John M. Valdez

October 2019 temperatures were cooler than normal, with the northeast especially chilly. Precipitation was mixed with the northwest much drier than normal, the southeast much wetter than normal, while central areas were near normal. The month began with heavy rain across Chaves and Roosevelt Counties on the 1st and 3rd.  The 4.83 inches of rain that fell on Roswell in October was the 4th wettest on record! The first snow events occurred later in the month, on the 24th to 25th and 28th to 29th. Both produced minor snow accumulations away from the mountains. The system on the 24th produced accumulations in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and northeast, while the 28th storm impacted the northwest plateau to the northern mountains.

November 2019 was warmer than normal in the west and cooler in the east. Precipitation was above normal across the west and south and below normal in the northeast. It was fairly quiet through the first 19 days of the month, with only one storm bringing rain and snow on the 6th into the 7th. The last 10 days of the month were much more active. There were storms on the 20th, 27th into the 28th, and on the 29th. A widespread snow event on Thanksgiving Day brought record snowfall to many areas of the state, including Albuquerque. November 2019 was the second wettest November on record for Albuquerque.

Taos sunset Nov 16 - photo courtesy of Jim O'Donnell

December 2019 was generally warmer and drier than normal for much of New Mexico. Temperatures and precipitation were close to normal in the west. There were several storms during the month, but most only produced light to moderate snow amounts. The most significant and widespread snow event was the December 27th-28th storm.