Winter Storm in San Juan Mountains, New Mexico

Snowfall amounts averaged 3 to 7 inches across the higher terrain of eastern Rio Arriba County. Moderate snowfall amounts combined with strong wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph created winter storm conditions from Chama to Tierra Amarilla eastward into the high terrain.

The last in a series of storm systems raced New Mexico on Christmas Day. Snow spread into northern and western New Mexico late on Christmas Eve then moved quickly eastward through central New Mexico Christmas morning. Many folks woke up to a white Christmas with generally light accumulations of fresh snow. The combination of heavy snow in the northern high terrain with strong winds created near blizzard conditions. The Taos Ski Valley weather station at the top of Kachina Peak reported a hurricane force wind gust of 105 mph. Strong winds spread into much of central and eastern New Mexico as colder air filtered into the area Christmas afternoon. Many locations across eastern New Mexico saw sustained winds over 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.