Heavy Snow — San Juan Mountains, New Mexico

2018-02-21 to 2018-02-22 · San Juan Mountains, New Mexico

Event narrative

COOP and SNOTEL reports across eastern Rio Arriba County reported between six and 11 inches of snowfall.

Wider weather episode

A progressive weather pattern across the western United States continued to provide regular bouts of winter weather over northern and western New Mexico. An upper level wave that moved quickly east from Arizona spread snow and wind along the Continental Divide and the northern mountains of New Mexico. Snowfall amounts averaged three to six inches between Gallup and Grants northeastward toward Cuba. The greatest amounts focused from near Dulce to Chama and within the high terrain of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains where six to 10 inches was reported. Difficult travel conditions were reported in many of these areas. The five inches reported at Dulce was the greatest 24-hour snowfall amount so far for the winter season. Strong winds were reported around the Ruidoso area once again as this storm system pulled eastward into the Great Plains.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 731521. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.