Heavy Snow — Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet, New Mexico

2017-01-20 to 2017-01-21 · Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet, New Mexico

Event narrative

Snowfall amounts around the high terrain east of Santa Fe ranged from 6 to 12 inches. Impacts to travel were mainly confined to higher elevation portions of Hyde Park Road.

Wider weather episode

Another slow-moving upper level low pressure system shifted east across New Mexico with abundant moisture and strong winds. Temperatures with this system were colder than the previous system so snow levels were lower and a much larger area of western New Mexico was impacted. Snowfall amounts average 10 to 15 inches in the high terrain of northern and western New Mexico. Lower terrain areas like Reserve, Gallup, Farmington, and Santa Fe even saw snowfall amounts ranging from 2 to 8 inches. Difficult to severe travel impacts were mainly confined to the higher terrain.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 666769. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.