2023 Annual Weather Highlights Monthly Review

Sandia Mountains | January 4, 2023
Laura Horton

Santa Fe, NM | February 22, 2023
PNM

February 2023 started out fairly quiet then big changes arrived with several significant storm systems blasting New Mexico with strong winds and heavy snowfall. Several damaging wind events blew through the state with lots of downed trees, downed power lines, and property damage. Some of these gusts were actually the strongest ever observed for the month of February. Temperatures overall were below normal for the state with more improvements to snowpack.  

After the active period of winter weather and below normal temperatures during late winter, an abrupt change to extremely dry weather conditions occurred in April 2023. The contrast was quite impressive with most of the state reporting no precipitation at all for the month. Several windy and very dry days elevated the critical fire weather threat and several new small fires were reported. Snowpack responded to the warming conditions with rises reported on many creeks, streams, and rivers. 

May 2023 was an exceptionally active month for weather with a huge reversal in fortune for eastern NM. Several bouts of heavy rainfall impacted the eastern plains with many days of severe weather as well. Large hail, damaging winds, flash flooding, and tornados were reported across the east. This much needed moisture allowed drought conditions to finally improve somewhat across eastern NM. Spring runoff continued across the remainder of the region with elevated levels on area creeks, streams, and rivers.

Grady, NM | May 25, 2023
Landon Moeller

June 2023 remained very active across eastern NM with more severe weather. Several bouts of heavy rainfall, flash flooding, damaging winds, large hail, and funnel clouds was reported, especially across northeast NM. Meanwhile, central and western NM remained dry and temperatures started warming above normal. The contrast was noted with Clayton reporting its wettest June on record while Roswell reported 10 consecutive days at or above 105°! Drought conditions continued to improve over parts of eastern NM.

July 2023 was absolutely miserable with the hottest temperatures ever observed in many parts of the state. It was also the driest July on record for many areas as the monsoon struggled to make an appearance. Drought conditions deteriorated across much of central and western NM. Even eastern NM saw some degradation where abundant precipitation had fallen during May and June. Far northeast NM was able to escape the worst of the July heat and dryness. Showers and thunderstorms did impact that region on a few days with hail and strong winds reported. A couple storms hit the Hermit's Peak - Calf Canyon burn scar toward the end of the month with flash flooding. 

HPCC Burn Scar | July 21, 2023
Avery Willow

August 2023

Ruidoso Canyon | August 15, 2023
Eric Queller

It remained very hot through August 2023 however the monsoon started to make a comeback in a few areas. Overall precipitation was below normal for August however a few locations did pick up heavy rainfall. Flash flooding was observed on a few days, even around Albuquerque. Unfortunately, temperatures were just too hot and the rainfall was not good enough to help with drought conditions. Much of the state saw full category deterioration in drought. The worst degradation was across eastern NM where only months before there was a deluge of rainfall. Roswell continued to make under relentless heat with day after day of 100°+ temperatures.

September 2023 remained very hot but it was also fairly wet over parts of the area. It was actually the hottest September on record for the state of NM. The heavier rains were focused mainly over the Caprock region along with isolated heavy thunderstorms around the Rio Grande Valley. A couple of these storms brought hail and high winds. Drought conditions unfortunately deteriorated further with much of central and southern NM falling into severe and extreme drought.

Ruidoso, NM | September 16, 2023
Eric Queller

Sapello, NM | October 1, 2023
Dennis Esquibel

It was warm and dry once again for much of October 2023. Relatively quiet and pleasant weather occurred on most days. Eastern NM did experience a bout of severe weather around the 11th. There was significant hail accumulation around Las Vegas and even a damaging tornado around Sapello. Fortunately, spectacular weather conditions were in place for the annular solar eclipse on the 14th and throughout much of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. October 2023 was the fourth month out of 2023 that Albuquerque reported no measurable precipitation!

November 2023 was the 9th consecutive month in a row with above normal temperatures for New Mexico. The first half of the month was mild and dry for much of the region. That all changed toward the Thanksgiving holiday when a couple decent winter storms impacted the region. The bulk of the precipitation focused over central and western NM. High terrain areas began adding to their snowpack with a couple rounds of snowfall. The first brought 3 to 6" around Thanksgiving followed by another round the following week with even heavier amounts of 6 to 12". Unfortunately, very little improvement was noted in drought conditions due to longstanding below normal precipitation for the region. 

Meadow Lake, NM | November 18, 2023
Sid Smith
 

                      Las Vegas, NM | December 15, 2023 
Ida Sue Gonzales

The more active weather pattern that began in November continued through December. Several storm systems moved through NM with widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, and heavy mountain snow. The most significant snowfall occurred around mid-December when parts of the northern high terrain were pummeled with 12 to 24 inches of fresh snow. Western Mora County experienced significant impacts as the weight of heavy snow downed trees and powerlines and produced extensive power outages. Another storm impacted the entire region shortly before Christmas with more mountain snow, moderate to heavy rainfall in lower elevations, and even some severe weather across the east central and southeast plains. Cold weather spread into New Mexico in the wake of this system with blustery winds and frigid wind chills.