Winter Storm — Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass, New Mexico

2022-03-21 to 2022-03-22 · Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass, New Mexico

Event narrative

The combination of heavy snow and high winds created blizzard-like conditions in the area which forced the closure of U.S. Highway 64 from Raton to Clayton.

Wider weather episode

A typical spring time storm system impacted New Mexico from March 21st through March 23, 2022. This system approached from the west and tracked over southern New Mexico over this time period, bringing multiple hazards. Daily rounds of high winds were common, especially across northeast New Mexico behind a strong backdoor cold front. Precipitation began as low elevation rain and mountain snow across western and northern portions of New Mexico, but as snow levels fell with the passage of this system, lower elevations across the Rio Grande Valley picked up a few inches of snow as well. The highest impacts from this system were across northeast New Mexico where the combination of the strongest winds and snow created blizzard-like conditions. Difficult to severe travel was common across Colfax and Union counties, and several roadways, such as U.S. Highway 64 between Raton and Clayton, were forced to close. Impacts were felt in the Santa Fe and Albuquerque metros as well as a band of heavy snow traveling south through the Rio Grande Valley produced three to six inches of snow in the early morning hours of the 23rd as the storm system was finally exiting the area. This last round of heavy snow forced the closure of Interstate 40 west of Albuquerque, stranding travelers. Impacts: heavy snow, high winds, blizzard conditions, severe travel conditions, road closures.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1004949. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.