Winter Storm — Eddy County Plains, New Mexico

2026-01-23 to 2026-01-25 · Eddy County Plains, New Mexico

Event narrative

A trained spotter reported a two-day storm total snow/sleet accumulation of 4.3 inches with a liquid equivalent of 0.89 inches. Light snow continued after the report came in. The total duration of the event is estimated by radar and the spotter's reports.

Wider weather episode

A strong arctic cold front moved across west Texas and southeast New Mexico during the afternoon and evening hours of the 23rd. Meanwhile, a potent upper-level trough neared the region from the west. Widespread rain began during the morning of the 23rd in western portions of the area and gradually transitioned eastward through the day. As the front moved across the area, rain transitioned to sleet and snow from north to south (with freezing rain being more common south of the Pecos River and in the Davis Mountains). Off and on bands of sleet and snow continued across the Permian Basin and southeast New Mexico on the 24th, and became mostly snow by the 25th before moving east of the area late in the afternoon. Snowfall/sleet totals reached winter storm criteria across much of the northern basin and in southeast New Mexico. Lower snow and ice totals were reported further south.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1306523. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.