Heavy Snow in Albuquerque Metro Area, New Mexico

Storm total snowfall accumulations of roughly 2 to 7 inches were reported from COOP, trained spotters, CoCoRaHS and the public. Several traffic accidents were reported in the Albuquerque Foothills where the highest amounts were reported. This was the greatest 24 hour snowfall in several years for many reporting stations in the metro area. Sergeant Robert Baron with Sandoval County who was responding to a weather-related traffic incident early on the 5th was struck by another car and later died from his injuries on the 6th despite significant efforts by paramedics.

A powerful jet stream that surged over the area on the 3rd and 4th drove an arctic airmass south across a vast section of the western United States. This airmass pushed into New Mexico early on the 4th and interacted with a moist upper level disturbance shifting northeast out of eastern Pacific Ocean through the 5th. The eastern plains were socked in by low clouds, freezing fog, freezing drizzle and snow behind this front. Meanwhile, a band of snow developed over northwestern New Mexico then shifted southeast across the Continental Divide and diminished quickly over the Rio Grande Valley. A secondary band of snowfall then developed over southwestern New Mexico and shifted slowly northeast across the Rio Grande Valley and into the eastern plains, producing significant snowfall for the Albuquerque and Santa Fe Metro areas and the East Mountain communities. Numerous accidents were reported along with several highway and interstate closures. At least 2 fatalities were attributed to the wintry weather.