Heavy Snow — West Slopes of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico

2015-04-26 to 2015-04-27 · West Slopes of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico

Event narrative

Trained spotter and CoCoRaHS reports indicated between 9 and 15 inches fell along the higher elevations.

Wider weather episode

A potent spring storm system that developed over the Pacific Northwest dove southeast toward Arizona on the 25th and pushed very slowly east across New Mexico through the 27th. Widespread rain and high elevation snow developed during the predawn hours on the 26th over central and western New Mexico then over eastern New Mexico late on the 26th through the 27th. Many reports of heavy rain and small hail were received around the state with the convective activity on the 26th. A cold front then moved southwest over the east during the evening on the 26th and provided lift for widespread rain and very heavy, wet mountain snow. Locations across the plains picked up to 1 to 2 inches of rain, while the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo mountains were pounded with 12 to 18 inches of snow. Some power outages were reported around Angel Fire. A cold air funnel was even spotter in the Estancia Valley west of Moriarty.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 563461. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.