Heavy Snow in Upper Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico

A trained spotter near Arroyo Seco measured 6 inches of new snow. This heavy snow resulted in difficult driving conditions, particularly on U.S. Highway 64 and New Mexico State Road 522.

A winter storm system brought widespread snow to northern and central New Mexico on March 10-11, 2022. By early on March 10th, this storm strengthened over northern Arizona before tracking eastward across New Mexico on the 11th. Rain and snow showers first began across northwest and west central New Mexico early in the day on the 10th before becoming more widespread throughout that afternoon and into the 11th. Meanwhile, a strong backdoor cold front that moved through eastern New Mexico helped to enhance snowfall totals across the east slopes and adjacent highlands due to the much colder air and easterly upslope flow behind it. The highest snowfall totals were generally focused across northern New Mexico where the mountainous terrain received snow totals of 10 to 20 inches and the upper Rio Grande Valley and northeast highlands generally received around 6 inches. These heavier snow totals extended to also include the Sandia and Manzano Mountains as well as the west central plateau where near 6 inches of snow was also common. Lesser amounts were generally found elsewhere with 2 to 4 inches common across the eastern plains and the northwest highlands. This heavy snow did result in widespread travel impacts, especially across western and northern New Mexico. Interstate 40 near Gallup and U.S. Highway 64 from Taos to Eagle Nest were particularly impacted. Multiple vehicle accidents that involved semi trucks was reported along Interstate 40 near Thoreau. Impacts: heavy snow, avalanches, vehicle accidents, travel impacts.