Winter Storm in Middle Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico

Heavy snows developed over the central and southern mountains and then spread northeast through the plains as an intense upper level storm moved slowly over New Mexico. Snows began Christmas afternoon over the peaks and nearby foothills of the Sandia, Manzano and Sacramento mountains. Snow levels dropped in elevation considerably by early on the 26th with amounts of 4 to 6 inches accumulating in the Rio Grande Valleys from Socorro north through the Albuquerque metro area into Santa Fe by late afternoon. Snows of 5 to 8 inches were being reported across the eastern plains by early evening on the 26th. By the time snow tapered off during early morning on the 27th, eastern slopes of the Sandia-Manzano mountains had measured 12 to 14 inches, while the southern Sangre de Cristo mountain communities of Cowles, Pecos and Mineral Hill were buried in 16 to 20 inches of heavy snow. Despite the heavy snow, this storm caused mainly just delays in post-Christmas travel. Interstate Highways 25 and 40 were closed during the late night both north and east of Albuquerque. A number of state government offices in Santa Fe and in the smaller communities across the eastern plains were closed throughout the 26th and the morning of the 27th.