Heavy Snow — San Juan Mountains, New Mexico

2016-04-17 to 2016-04-18 · San Juan Mountains, New Mexico

Event narrative

Various sources reported between 6 and 18 inches of snow within the San Juan Mountains of Rio Arriba County. This was a very heavy, wet snow event for the area with snow water equivalent values ranging from 1 to 3 inches. Power outages were reported across the area for nearly 18 hours, including Chama.

Wider weather episode

An unseasonably cold and powerful upper level low pressure system moving very slowly through the southern Rockies delivered the final punch of wild winter weather for New Mexico on the 17th and 18th. Widespread rain and snow showers developed along the Continental Divide on the afternoon of the 17th then drifted into the northern mountains as an area of very heavy snow through the morning of the 18th. Snowfall rates on the order of 1 to 2 inches per hour impacted the area around the Jemez Mountains and the San Juans of Rio Arriba County. Storm total snowfall amounts of 10 to 18 inches were common. The 1-day total of 9 inches at Chama was a record for April 18th. The heavy, wet nature of the snow caused widespread power outages across the region. Residents around Chama were without power for nearly 18 hours. This heavy, wet snow also brought some much needed relief to snowpack that was nearly decimated from the very warm and dry March. High temperatures across much of northern and central New Mexico were some of the coldest observed for mid April in 40 years.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 619954. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.