Heavy Snow — Upper Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico

2024-01-07 to 2024-01-08 · Upper Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico

Event narrative

There were various public reports and CoCoRaHS reports of 2 to 7 inches in Taos.

Wider weather episode

A strong and well organized winter storm system crossed west to east across northern and central NM on January 7th and exited into TX on January 8th. Heavy snow was observed across much of the western and northern mountains with travel impacts reported on area highways. Wrap around moisture combined with strong northerly winds gusts produced blizzard conditions through most of northeastern NM in an area between Raton, Clayton, Clovis, and Las Vegas. Reports of high winds gusting 60 to 70 mph and as high was 90 mph at Raton combined with blowing snow and snow drifts several feet high were collected in this area. Blizzard conditions resulted in a tragic multivehicle pileup along I-40 at Cuervo, NM east of Santa Rosa that unfortunately involved a loss of life. There were many road closures along both I-40 and I-25 as well as area highways across northeastern and east-central NM due to the high winds and blizzard conditions. Severe driving conditions and more isolated road closures were reported from heavy snow across western and northern NM. Snow amounts of one to two feet were reported atop the peaks of the northern mountains and at ski areas. High wind gusts of 62 to 66 mph were also observed at the Roswell and Sierra Blanca Airports. Key Impacts: road closures, traffic accidents.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1147430. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.