Drought Update.

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Click On The Map To Enlarge It.

Little Hope For A Pattern Change.

A southeastward moving upper level storm, accompanied by a southward moving cold front, produced a few scattered very light rain/snow showers over parts of eastern and southeastern New Mexico yesterday afternoon and evening. 

The Roswell Airport managed to squeeze out .01" of rainfall, and this was the only measurable precipitation that I could find early this morning. Cannon AFB briefly reported a mix of blowing dust which reduced the visibility down to 2 miles, then a few light snow showers yesterday afternoon. The dust that filled our skies was courtesy of the eastern plains.

Strong northerly to northeasterly winds accompanied the frontal passage yesterday afternoon. Peak wind gusts observed included- 

Cannon AFB Clovis 51 mph
Clovis Municipal Arpt 51 mph
Tatum Mesonet 46 mph
Bat Draw Raws - Carlsbad Caverns 45 mph
Roswell Arpt 43 mph
Carlsbad Arpt 41 mph
Caprock Raws 40 mph
South Hobbs 40 mph
Artesia Arpt 39 mph

Most of our winter storms of late, have approached the local area from the Great Basin, coming in from the northwest. This inland trajectory leaves them moisture starved and hence the lack of rain or snow across southeastern New Mexico. La Nina is the culprit and this pattern is forecast to continue into at least the spring, if not the summer. So continued dry is the theme for our future.

The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction!

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Blog Updated @ 3:11 PM MDT. Click On The Photos & Newspaper Articles To Enlarge Them. On May 31, 1991 at 8:39 PM MDT a then rated (F-2 Tornado touched down 2.1 miles southeast of the Carlsbad Airport (as the crow flies) just southwest of the end of Wagonwheel Rd. A day and time that many local residents will never forget. Newspaper articles at the time reported conflicting reports (understandably so) concerning the damage, injuries, and the time of the tornado. To many residents this was a shock...not something that we are used to seeing or dealing with.  The tornado touched down right at dusk. Cass Hernandez who was the Carlsbad Airport Security Guard at the time observed the tornado 2 miles southeast of the Airport as power flashes occurred from the tornado destroying power lines and transformers. It was eerie looking contrasted with the darkness and power flashes but there was no mistaking what was happening. The Tornado's path is circled in red...
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My Precipitation Totals - 2.1 NNW Downtown Carlsbad

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My Snowfall Totals - 2.1 NNW Downtown Carlsbad, NM

My Snowfall Totals - 2.1 NNW Downtown Carlsbad, NM

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This blog and its contents are for informational purposes only! Always have multiple sources of information available to rely upon during severe weather. Do not rely solely on the Internet. Be weather-aware, plan ahead, have a backup plan, and be ready to act before severe weather strikes your location.