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

2015-12-11 to 2015-12-13 · West Slopes of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico

Event narrative

Public, SNOTEL, and ski sites reported between 3 and 9 inches of snow with blowing snow. Difficult travel was reported across the entire area, especially mountain passes.

Wider weather episode

The first winter storm to impact New Mexico since the widespread mid November event delivered a hard blow to the state. A relatively moisture starved, disorganized, and slow-moving upper level storm system over the Great Basin chugged eastward across Arizona on the 11th then bombed out over New Mexico on the 12th and 13th. Strong dynamics and a tap of subtropical moisture gathered with cold air moving into the state to produce widespread heavy snowfall. Hazardous travel conditions were reported across much of the area as snowfall persisted for several hours from the 12th through the 13th. This was a top-25 two day snowfall event at the Albuquerque Sunport where 5.4 inches of snow fell. As low pressure intensified over northeastern New Mexico early on the 13th, blizzard conditions were reported across Union County. Whiteout conditions developed at Clayton for nearly 6 hours straight. Snow drifts reached 2 feet and numerous roads were closed across the county.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 604541. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.