Heavy Snow — Santa Fe Metro Area, New Mexico

2009-12-23 · Santa Fe Metro Area, New Mexico

Event narrative

Between 2 and 7 inches of snow fell across the Santa Fe Metro Area, with the heaviest amounts falling in the Santa Fe Foothills. Icy roads lead to a three-car crash 7 miles south of El Dorado on Highway 285 on the morning of the 23rd. Kendall Kalstad, age 59, died when his Volkswagen Beetle was struck head-on by a car that slid on the ice at mile marker 282. The man's car was then struck from behind by another vehicle that couldn't stop in time. Three other people were also injured in the accident. The highway was closed for several hours after the crash.

Wider weather episode

A storm over the Pacific Northwest on the 21st moved to the Great Basin on the 22nd, into northern Arizona on the 23rd and crossed New Mexico from northwest to southeast late on the 23rd into the early morning hours of the 24th. Widespread snow fell over northern and central New Mexico, with the highest amounts over the northern, western and south central Mountains as well as a portion of the eastern plains.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 200965. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.