Heavy Snow — Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico

2009-04-16 to 2009-04-17 · Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico

Event narrative

Widespread snows of 3 to 7 inches were reported across the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. However, thundersnow resulted in localized heavy snowfall near Gascon, where a trained spotter reported 13 inches. In addition, 8 inches of snow was reported northwest of Taos by a CoCoRaHS observer.

Wider weather episode

A slow moving upper level low inched eastward across northern New Mexico between the 16th and the 18th of April. By early morning on the 17th, portions of the Northern Mountains and Northeast Highlands had already received a couple inches of snow. Snow spread southward across the Sandia Mountains during the afternoon and quickly dropped several inches of snow. Occasional rounds of thundersnow during the period resulted in locally higher amounts.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 154704. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.