National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

The first five days of the month were mostly dry and seasonable across New Mexico. A powerful cold front brought arctic air to the east on the 6th and 7th, sending temperatures well below normal. Low clouds and fog formed for a couple of nights, and a weak disturbance brought light snows to southern New Mexico on the 7th into the 8th. The 9th through 12th were quiet, then a storm dropping south through Arizona into Mexico brought mostly light precipitation to the state from late on the 13th into the 15th. Tranquil weather on the 14th through the 17th gave way to a major change in the weather pattern. Several pacific storms brought copious amounts of moisture to the state from the 18th into the 24th. This resulted in major snowfall over the western and northern mountains, with 3 to 4 feet of snow on high, west slope areas. A brief break on the 25th and 26th gave way to another impressive storm, this time impacting mainly eastern areas, on the 27th and 28th.

Ice on windmill blades on January 30, 2010, 4 miles north of Clovis.  Photo by Carol Nash.

Early February continued the trrend of late January with active weather through the first 10 days of the month. A widespread and significant storm impacted the state on the 3rd and 4th, while a weaker system brought light to moderate snow on the 7th and 8th. Yet another storm affected the southern half of New Mexico on the night of the 10th into the 11th, but with mostly light snowfall. A break from the active weather pattern followed from the 12th through 19th, only to be followed by another major storm on the 20th through 22nd. A weak disturbanced crossed the state on the 25th into the 26th, with one more storm to close out the month on the 28th. 

Convective snow over the Truchas Peaks on February 28, 2010.  Photo by Jody Radzik.

The 12th and 13th were quiet, only to be proceeded by yet another storm, with this one producing impressive late winter snow on the 14th to 15th. Another brief break on the 16th through 18th preceeded the final storm of the official winter season on the 19th and 20th, with substantial widespread snow. The next snow event of the month struck on the 24th and 25, with mostly light amounts over the north. But strong winds in the northeast produced plenty of blowing and drifting snow. High winds struck the state on the 26th with light snow over the north on the 27th. Finally some dry and warmer weather returned for the last few days of the month, although winds picked up on the 31st. 

Flowers peek out through the snow on the first day of Spring (March 20, 2010) in San Jon.  Photo by Gerald White.

   May

East canyon winds howled into the Middle Rio Grande Valley on the night of the 7th/8th. Winds picked up again on the 9th and especially the 10th, when isolated high winds were noted over central and eastern New Mexico. Widespread high winds returned on the 11th, then eased on the 12th. After 10 days of dry weather, moisture returned primarily to eastern New Mexico from the 13th through 18th. This triggered an outbreak of severe weather on the 14th, with isolated severe storms on the 15th and 17th. A break from the stormy weather followed through the 22nd before more severe weather, including 5 tornadoes, struck on the 23rd. Severe storms continued on the 24th and 25th, with only isolated reports through the end of the month. 

 H12 Fire on May 28, 2010.  Photo by Brent Wachter.

June began warm and kept getting warmer through the 1st week of the month. Record high temperatures were common on the 5th and 6th, less so on the 7th and 8th as a back door cold front brought an increase in moisture to eastern and central areas, and a little lower temperatures. The increase in moisture led to some thunderstorms on the 6th and 7th, a few which were severe over the southeast plains on the 6th. The back door front set off isolated severe weather over Curry and Quay Counties on the 8th. The storms eased up from the 9th through 11th with only a couple of reports of severe weather. A back door front across the eastern plains on the 12th helped trigger widespread severe storms over the far eastern plains. Isolated severe weather continued on the 13th and 15th across the far northeast, and on the 16th across Guadalupe, Quay and Curry counties.

The 17th through 22nd were a bit quieter, although strong microburst winds occurred across Albuquerque on the 19th. A strong back door cold front replenished the moisture across the east on the 23th and it spilled into the Rio Grande Valley.on the 24th Isolated severe weather, including large hail, high winds and flash flooding, impacted central and eastern portions of the state on the 23rd. Widespread showers and storms on the 24th through 26th brought the first measurable rain to Albuquerque in 53 days on the 25th. Another back door front delivered fresh low level moisture to the east on the 27th and into the Rio Grande Valley on the 28th. This made for a fairly active end to the month with widespread convection and some minor flooding from heavy rain. 

Strong thunderstorm near Cimarron on June 24, 2010.  Photo by Matt Gary.

Summer thunderstorm near Stanley on July 10, 2010.  Photo by Leah Robertson.

August began active as monsoon moisture saturated the western half of the state. Heavy rain produced flash flooding across San Juan, McKinley and Sandoval counties from the 1st through the 3rd. The 4th through 6th were more tame with less coverage and intensity of storms. A weak surge of monsoon moisture on the 7th and 8th increased the showers and storms, but there were no reports of flash flooding. The 9th through 14th were relatively quiet for August.

A back door cold front delivered a fresh supply of low level moisture to much of the state on the 15th and 16th, leading to a sharp increase in showers and thunderstorms.A few of the storms were strong twith heavy rain leading to flash flooding. Less activity was noted on the 17th and 18th, while monsoon moisture brought an increase in convection over the west and north from the 19th through 23rd. The 23rd was particularily active as a back door cold front pressed south and wst across the state. Mostly rain free conditions prevailed from the 24th through 27th before another surge of monsoon moisture delivered showers and thunderstorms from the 28th and 29th. The last two days of August was noticeably less active.

A microburst producing a dust foot just west of Albuquerque on August 23, 2010.  Photo by Earl Breon.

October

Mostly dry and cooler weather followed from the 8th through 13th, with a warming trend on the 14th and 15th. A weak disturbance over northern Mexico brought some showers to southern New Mexico on the 16th and 17th.  A much stronger storm along the California coast on the 18th and 19th moved inland on the 20th and reached New Mexico late on the 21st into the 22nd. Widespread showers and thunderstorms accompanied the storm with isolated reports of large hail. Two tornadoes were confirmed near Roswell on the 21st. The weather turned less active from the 23rd through the end of the month. The 25th though was an extremely windy day across New Mexico, especially the eastern plains. A cold front on the 26th brought cooler weather on the 27th and 28th. 

 Lightning over Albuquerque on October 20, 2010.  Photo by Don Armstrong. 

Unsettled weather finally made an appearance from the 14th up until Christmas Eve. High winds howled through the Clines Corners, Las Vegas and Cimarron areas on the 15th.

Heavy snow blanketed much of northern and central New Mexico on the 16th and 17th.  A moist west flow kept occasional snow going in the northwest on the 18th through 21st, with a storm system causing more substanial snow on the 23rd. Drier and milder weather returned for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as well as the 26th. An active period of weather commenced for the end of the month, including a significant storm from the 29th through 31st. 

First snow of the season (2.5 inches) in San Jon on December 17, 2010.  Photo by Gerald White.