Welcome To Southeast New Mexico Weather.: 2011

Unusually Warm Today - Next Storm Maybe Next Weekend?

Click On The Maps To Enlarge Them.

Unusually Warm Today!

GFS Surface Map Forecast At 11 AM MST Today.

Temperature Anomalies (Celsius).

Take a look at the map above...it depicts today's temperature anomalies (measured in Celsius) across the local area, at 11 AM MST this morning. Forecast temperatures at this time will be running some 15-degrees Celsius (about 20 -25 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal.

Our forecast high temperatures across southeastern New Mexico today will for the most part be in the low 70's. This is in stark contrast to Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day when we had 10" - 12" of snow on the ground in Carlsbad and Loving, 10" - 11.5" on the ground in the Roswell and Hagerman areas, 10" on the ground in Artesia, and 7" - 8" in the Tatum and Hobbs areas. You gotta love the diversity of our local weather...one thing for certain, its not boring that's for sure.

Cold Front Arrives Early This Evening.

Surface Map Forecast At 5 PM Today.

Cooler air behind the cold front will overspread the local area tonight into Monday. Our afternoon high temperatures on New Years Day and Monday, will actually be just a little bit below normal, with the mid-upper 40's forecast.

So When Is Our Next Storm?

Maybe Next Weekend.

Last Nights 00Z/5 PM MST ECMWF Forecast.

Valid Saturday Jan 7, 2012 At 5 PM MST.

There is the potential for another winter storm to dig southward out of the Pacific Northwest, and into the Desert Southwest, by late next week or next weekend. Colder air could also overspread the area by next weekend too. More on this later.

Invasion Of Arctic Air-

By The Middle Of The Month?

GFS Surface Map Forecast At 11 AM MST Jan 15, 2012.

Temperature Anomalies (Celsius).

Here is something that we may need to watch. A huge slug of very cold arctic air (at least 30-degrees Fahrenheit below normal) heading south, out of Alaska and Canada, and into the U.S. in a couple of weeks.

The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction!

Some Interesting Facts About Our Christmas Snow.

Click On The Maps/Charts To Enlarge Them.

National Snow Depth Map Christmas Day 2011.

New Snowfall Records Set By Our Christmas Snow Storm.

New Daily Snowfall Records Set On Dec 23, 2011.

New Daily Snowfall Records Set On Dec 24, 2011.

New Daily Snowfall Records Set On Dec 25, 2011.

The National Weather Service Climate Co-Op Observer measured 12" of snow on the ground at 6 AM Christmas morning this year. This is a new record snow depth for Carlsbad on Christmas Day. Never before has a foot of snow been measured on the ground on Christmas Day in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

The observer measured 6.0" of snowfall on Dec 24, and this beat the previous record of 4.5" of snowfall on Dec 24, 1926. He measured 5.0" of snowfall at 6 AM Christmas morning, and this broke the previous Climate Co-Op record of 1.0" of snowfall on Christmas set on Dec 25, 1939. The Carlsbad Airport observer measured 7.0" of snowfall on Dec 25, 1997, so this record still stands as the greatest snowfall amount measured in Carlsbad on Christmas Day.

A three day snow storm produced 25.1" of snowfall at the Carlsbad Airport on November 30, Dec 1, and Dec 2, 1931. On the morning of Dec 2, 1931 the observer measured 18" of snow on the ground at the Carlsbad Airport. This is the greatest depth of snow measured on the ground in Carlsbad's history.

On Dec 14, 1987 the observer at the Carlsbad Airport measured 13" of snow on the ground. That two day storm produced 13.0" of snowfall at the Airport. The 13" on that morning is the second greatest snow depth measured on the ground in Carlsbad, NM (1900-2011).

There has been a foot of snow (12") on the ground seven other times in Carlsbad's history.

12" November 30, 1931

12" December 1, 1931

12" December 3, 1931

12" February 2, 1956

12" February 3, 1956

12" December 25, 2011

13" December 14, 1987

18" December 2, 1931

So in Carlsbad's weather history, as far as climate records are concerned (1900-2011), a foot of snow (12") has been measured on the ground four different times.

The November 30 - December 3, 1931 storm.

The February 2 - February 3, 1956 storm.

The December 13 - December 14, 1987 storm.

The December 23 - December 25, 2011 storm.

The greatest 24 hour snowfall total was measured on November 30th, 1931 at the Carlsbad Airport with 15.0" falling. The second greatest 24 hour snowfall total was measured on Dec 13, 1987 with 11.3".

The most snowfall ever measured in one season (Oct-Apr) occurred in the winter of 1931-1932 when 42.9" of snowfall was measured. 26.3"of snowfall was measured at the Carlsbad Airport during the winter of 1982-1983. 22.9" of snowfall was measured at the Carlsbad Airport during the winter of 1986-1987. 22.2" of snowfall was measured by the Climate Co-OP observer during the winter of 2009-2010. I measured a snowfall total of 26.6" here at my home in northwest Carlsbad during the winter of 2009-2010.

I measured a total of 13.9" of snowfall out of our Christmas storm. The liquid equivalent of that was .91". So that was a 15" to 1" ratio...meaning that it took 15" of snow to make 1" of equivalent of rainfall. My greatest depth of snow on the ground occurred Christmas Eve morning with 12". Due to melting, and compaction of the snow, I had 9" on the ground at my home here in northwest Carlsbad Christmas morning.

So remember this storm, because the chances of Carlsbad, New Mexico seeing a foot of snow on the ground, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day again anytime soon are really slim. This storm will be one that we will be telling our children, and grandchildren about in the years to come. It definitely was a memorable storm and one for the record books.

Snowfall Data Is Courtesy Of-

NCDC Climate Data

Midland NWS Climate Page

Western Region Climate Page

The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction!

A Look Back At Our 2011 Weather - (January - June.)

Click On The Photo To Enlarge It.

Our back yard Christmas Eve morning. 11" on the ground.

2011 Was A Year Of Extremes For NM!

What an incredible year 2011 has been weather-wise for southeastern New Mexico. This year was certainly one of extremes for us. A historic drought, high winds, record heat, wild fires, bitter cold, and heavy snowfall, all characterized our weather this past year. Here is a very limited look back at our local weather in 2011.

January 2011-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/01/extremely-cold-overnight-nm-low-temps.html

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/01/another-extremely-cold-morning-in-nm.html

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/01/brutally-cold-dangerous-winter-storm.html

January started off with bitter cold temperatures griping the state the first day of the New Year. Overnight low temperatures included -31F 1 mile southwest of Pine Hill, -30F at Fence Lake, and -30F 2 miles northeast of Omega. The Aspendale Mountain Retreat Center personal weather station recorded a low of -3F, while Cloudcroft officially recorded -1F. The Artesia Airport reported 9, the Roswell Airport 11, and I had 18 here in Carlsbad. The morning of the 2nd was even colder here in SE NM. A bitterly cold arctic airmass was taking aim on the state by the 31st. This airmass was extremely cold and would establish some new records in SE NM over the next 4-5 days.

February 2011-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/02/brutal-winter-storm-continues-to-hammer.html

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/02/frigidand-more-snow.html

A blast of bitterly cold arctic air arrived in SE NM on the afternoon of January 31st. Over the next five days we endured some of the coldest weather to affect the local area since the early 1960's. Ski Apache picked up 20" of new snow on Feb 1st from the potent upper-level storm. By the morning of the 2nd, Ski Apache has picked up 28" of snow.

Brutal temperatures gripped the area as well. Morning lows included -19F at the Ski Apace Snotel site, -15F at Silver Springs northeast of Cloudcroft, -14F at the Cloudcroft Fire Station personal weather station. Hope recorded a low of -4F, Bat Draw at the Carlsbad Caverns visitor center 0F, Hobbs Airport 1F, Roswell Climate 1F, Artesia Airport 3F, and the Carlsbad Airport 5F. This was just the beginning.

New temperature records were established on Feb 2nd- http://www.senmwx.com/2011/02/new-records-produced-by-this-storm.html

Local high/low temperatures reported on Feb 2nd-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/02/yesterdays-high-temps-todays-lows.html

New Mexico Temperatures Plunge Way Below Zero Feb 3rd-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/02/000-nous45-kabq-031447-pnsabq-nmz501.html

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/02/additional-low-temps-this-morning.html

Fort Stanton Raws NE of Ruidoso -31F

Holloman AFB at Alamogordo -19F.

This Weeks High/Low Temperatures Posted Feb 4th-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/02/this-weeks-high-low-temperatures_04.html

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/02/review-of-arctic-invasion-jan-31-feb-4.html

Fort Stanton Raws -31F

Mescalero -30F

Cloudcroft - Dry Canyon -27F

Ruidoso Climate -27F

Elk Climate -24F

Capitan Climate -22F

East Alamogordo -21F

Cloudcroft Climate -20F

Mayhill -20F

Roswell Airport Low Temp -11F

Roswell Climate -8F

Artesia Climate -9F

Artesia Airport Low Temp -6F

Hope Climate -5F

Carlsbad Airport Low Temp -4F

Carlsbad Climate Low Temp -3F

2.1 NNW Downtown Carlsbad Low Temp -1F

Tatum Climate -4F

Hobbs Climate 1F

A Review Of The Arctic Invasion Posted Feb 5th-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/02/review-of-arctic-invasion-jan-31-feb-4.html

Ruidoso set a new all-time record low with a reading of -27F on the morning of Feb 3rd.

Cloudcroft set a new all-time record low with a reading of -20F on the morning of Feb 3rd.

Old Lake McMillan Fire Feb 27th.

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/03/old-lake-mcmillan-fire-on-2-27-2011.html

March 2011-

New Daily Record High Temps (16th, 17th, 18th)

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/03/new-daily-record-high-temperatures.html

April 2011-

White Fire Ruidoso Downs April 3rd

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/04/white-fire-ruidoso-nm.html

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/04/more-pictures-of-white-fire-ruidoso.html

Last Chance Fire April 24th-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/04/last-chance-fire-4-24-2011.html

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/04/last-chance-fire-day-2.html

New Fires In SE NM April 26th-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/04/new-fires-breaking-out-in-se-nm.html

May 2011-

Crooked Creek Fire Complex May 7th-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/05/crooked-creek-complex-fire-fire-update.html

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/05/crooked-creek-complex-fire-fire-update_07.html

Mayhill Fire May 9th-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/05/mayhill-nm-fire-5-9-2011.html

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/05/mayhill-nm-being-evuacted-beause-of.html

May 11th Fires-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/05/svr-t-storms-in-w-tx-fires-in-se-nm.html

June 2011-

Serpentine Fire June 5th

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/06/pyrocumulus-cloud-west-of-carlsbad-nm.html

Searing Heat To Continue June 13th-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/06/searing-heat-to-continue.html

Jal Climate 114

Carlsbad Airport 108

Roswell Airport 107

Artesia Climate 105

Swallow Fire Ruidoso Downs June 16th-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/06/swallow-fire-ruidoso-downs-nm-6-16-2011.html

Excessive Heat Today & Tomorrow June 25th-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/06/excessive-heat-today-tomorrow.html

Paduca Raws 113

Jal Climate 110

Carlsbad Climate 110

Carlsbad Airport 110

2.1 NNW Downtown Carlsbad 110

Roswell Airport 108

Tatum Climate 108

Hobbs Airport 108

Artesia Airport 106

Another Day Of Searing Heat - Los Conchas Fire June 27th-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/06/another-day-of-searing-heat-las-conchas.html

Paduca Raws 113

Carlsbad Airport 112

(Second Day In A Row At 112)

2.1 NNW Downtown Carlsbad 112

8-Mile Draw Raws 110

Artesia Climate 110

Jal Climate 110

Roswell Airport 109

Little Lewis Fire, Donaldson Fire June 29th-

http://www.senmwx.com/2011/06/tropical-storm-arlene-nm-fires.html

The "Classic Mode", or any of the other modes listed at the top of my web page, contain only the daily blogs...and not the additional sidebar links. This mode will open up easier and faster than the main web page will for some people.

If you want to see more daily weather summaries that I have archived on my web page...then scroll all the way down to the right hand bottom of the page, and then click on any month, or daily blog title for more posts.

The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction!