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

2018-10-30 to 2018-10-31 · East Slopes of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico

Event narrative

Various observers reported between 8 and 14 inches of snowfall. Difficult driving were also reported across the higher terrain.

Wider weather episode

An unseasonably cold upper level low pressure system developed over the Great Basin on the 29th then moved slowly southeast into northern New Mexico through the 30th. A strong Pacific cold front moved southeast into the Four Corners region while a potent back door cold front shifted south down the front range of the Rockies. The upper level storm system interacted with the two cold fronts and sufficient moisture across the area to produce widespread valley rain and heavy mountain snow. The first bands of showers and thunderstorms with mountain snow developed over western New Mexico during the late afternoon of the 30th. Rain showers and mountain snow then developed over northeastern New Mexico during the overnight hours of the 30th before transitioning to heavy snow over the northern mountains and far northeast plains through the morning of the 31st. Many areas in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains picked up between 12 and 17 inches of snowfall. Surrounding lower elevations received 3 to 6 inches of snowfall. Difficult travel conditions were reported in many areas.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 783493. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.