Heavy Snow — Lower Chama River Valley, New Mexico

2015-02-26 to 2015-02-28 · Lower Chama River Valley, New Mexico

Event narrative

CoCoRaHS reports around the Espanola area averaged between 3 and 7 inches of snowfall. The bulk of the snow fell in a heavy band during the early morning hours of the 28th.

Wider weather episode

This heavy snow event followed quickly on the heels of the initial heavy snow event from the 22nd to the 24th. Several upper level disturbances embedded in a deep fetch of abundant subtropical moisture continued shifting northeastward over New Mexico. This moisture and instability interacted with a record cold airmass entrenched over the state. Numerous locations reported record low maximum temperatures. Snow was measured in feet over the northern high terrain where record-breaking amounts were reported. This was the best period of snow in years for many resort locations across the northern mountains. Snowpack received a huge boost as many SNOTELs overcame huge deficits to end the month near normal to even above normal.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 554381. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.