Winter Weather — West Central Highlands, New Mexico

2009-12-30 to 2009-12-31 · West Central Highlands, New Mexico

Event narrative

Though snow amounts were generally 2 inches or less, it was enough to create slick roads. Luis Segovia-Cabrera, age 39, sustained massive head injuries after he lost control of his SUV and crossed the median on Interstate 40 near exit 96 and crashed into a commercial tractor-trailer head-on. It is suspected he was driving too fast for the conditions and slid on the ice. Segovia-Cabrera died more than a month later after he was taken off of life support. Three other people sustained injuries from the crash.

Wider weather episode

A fast moving, but intense short wave trough moved from northwest to southeast across New Mexico later on the 30th into the 31st. The atmosphere was very unstable during this time and temperatures were well below freezing in many areas. This combination resulted in bands of heavy, dry snow that quickly accumulated over mainly central portions of the state. The hardest hit area was around the Sandia and Manzano Mountains.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 205983. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.