Heavy Snow — San Juan Mountains, New Mexico

2015-01-12 to 2015-01-14 · San Juan Mountains, New Mexico

Event narrative

COOP and SNOTEL sites reported between 8 and 10 inches of snowfall. The majority of this snowfall accumulated on the 13th.

Wider weather episode

A series of winter storm systems tracked slowly through New Mexico from the 12th to the 14th and produced a long duration period of winter weather. The first storm system moved eastward out of Arizona and through New Mexico central and southern New Mexico. Temperatures with the first system hovered close to freezing so most of the significant impacts were experienced primarily in the higher terrain. The second system dove southeast out of the Pacific Northwest and become quasi-stationary over Arizona before weakening as it pushed through New Mexico. This second storm produced the most widespread snowfall and greatest impacts across central and western New Mexico. The most significant accumulations occurred along the Continental Divide and the northwest mountains where 6 to 12 inches were reported. Several schools and businesses were closed or operated on 2-hour delays.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 548327. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.