March 2019 Weather Summary

March 2019 was warmer than normal in the west and central areas, below normal on the eastern plains, with a ribbon of near normal along the east slopes of the central mountains and eastern highlands. Precipitation was above normal in the north and south, but near to below normal in central New Mexico (see the images below).

While the west enjoyed mostly mild weather through the first 10 days of the month, the east was hit by an arctic cold front on the 3rd, with way below normal temperatures through the 5th. The arctic air was accompanied by a potent storm system that deposited moderate snow amounts over the northern mountains and northeast, with widespread decent rain in the lowlands. Strong to high winds blasted much of the state on the 7th and 8th. A record-breaking storm impacted the state from the 10th through 13th, complete with damaging winds, tornadoes, heavy snow and rain. This "bomb cyclone" deepened rapidly at the surface and aloft over southeast Colorado on the 13th which fueled widespread high winds and locally damaging winds. Many semi-trucks were knocked over. On the 12th an EF-2 tornado touched down for 15 minutes and 15 miles, between Hagerman and Dexter in Chaves County. Another potent storm system struck from the 20th through 22nd. This long duration storm delivered plenty of weather, including rain, mountain snow, strong winds and thunderstorms - some severe with large hail. The last week of the month was relatively quiet with a big warm-up from the 23rd through 28th. A cold front on the 30th and a storm crossing the state on the 31st brought rain and snow and colder temperatures for the end of the month.

Statewide Precipitation and Temperatures

Statewide Precipitation - Actual	Statewide Temperatures - Actual


Statewide Precipitation - Percent Of Normal	Statewide Temperatures - Departure From Normal

Climate Cities Temperatures and Precipitation

Albuquerque

There was 0.73 inches of precipitation measured at the Sunport in March 2019, compared to the normal of 0.57 inches, or 0.16 inches above normal.

There was only a trace of snow compared to the normal of 1.1 inches. 25 March's have only had a trace of snow, while 6 March's had no snow reported.

The average temperature for Albuquerque in March 2019 was 50.2°, which was 2.1 degrees above the normal of 48.1°.

The average maximum temperature for the month was 62.2°. This was 1.7 degrees above the normal average maximum temperature of 60.5°.

The average minimum temperature for the month was 38.2°. This was 2.5 degrees above the normal average minimum temperature of 35.7 degrees.

Records: none

Clayton

There was 2.33 inches of precipitation measured at Clayton in March 2019, or 1.38 inches above the average of 0.95 inches.

There was 2.1 inches of snow, compared to the normal of 6.3 inches.

The average temperature for Clayton in March 2019 was 41.3°, which was 2.9 degrees below the normal of 44.2°.

The average maximum temperature for the month was 55.4°. This was 3.1 degrees below the normal average maximum temperature of 58.5 degrees.

The average minimum temperature for the month was 27.1°. This was 2.9 degrees below the normal average minimum temperature of 30.0°.

Records: 12th - maximum daily precipitation of 0.97 inches.

Roswell

There was 0.42 inches of precipitation reported at Roswell during March 2019, which is 0.09 inches below the normal of 0.51 inches.

There was no snow in Roswell, compared to the normal of 1.2 inches. There have been 35 other March's with no snow.

The average temperature in Roswell for March 2019 was 52.2°, which was 0.4 degrees below the normal of 52.6 degrees.

The average maximum temperature for the month was 66.9°. This was 1.4 degrees below the average maximum temperature of 68.3 degrees.

The average minimum temperature for the month was 37.5°. This was 0.6 degrees above the normal average minimum temperature of 36.9°.

Records: none.

Severe Weather
Storm reports are considered preliminary until a final review is certified in the NWS Storm Data publication.
Certified data is available three to four months post-event at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/