Heavy Snow in Middle Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico

Heavy snow and thunderstorms developed across northern New Mexico as moist tropical air overran a layer of Arctic air. Snow amounts averaged 3 inches for many lower elevation sites causing widespread travel problems as roads and highways quickly became wet and slushy while a 2 hour burst of precipitation with thunder produced nearly 4 inches of road clogging snow in Albuquerque. Locally heavier amounts included 6 to 8 inches across Quay and eastern San Miguel counties and 8 to 10 inches in the communities on the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo mountains between Raton and Las Vegas. The northern and central mountains saw storm totals averaging 12-15 inches. Numerous minor traffic accidents were reported on wet and slushy roads during mid and late afternoon. Icy conditions formed quickly during the early evening causing closure of Interstate Highways 25 and 40 at different points across the state.