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

2018-12-27 to 2018-12-28 · West Slopes of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico

Event narrative

Snowfall amounts ranged from four to nine inches from Tres Ritos to the Santa Fe foothills and Pecos. Severe travel impacts were reported along U.S 64 between Taos and Angel Fire.

Wider weather episode

A second punch of winter weather struck New Mexico shortly after Christmas as a slow-moving storm system shifted southeast through the Four Corners region. A potent back door cold front over eastern New Mexico set the stage for easterly upslope flow along the central mountain chain and strong gap winds in the Rio Grande Valley. Snow developed over western New Mexico on the afternoon of the 27th as the storm system approached from the Four Corners. Snow spread into the Rio Grande Valley and central mountain chain by the evening hours. The most significant portion of the storm blasted the region on the 28th as the storm system moving in from the west interacted with the very cold and moist airmass in place over eastern New Mexico. Widespread heavy snowfall amounts of 12 to 18 were reported with upwards of 30 inches in the Ruidoso area. The Albuquerque metro area and the Sandia/Manzano mountains saw periods of blizzard conditions with high winds. Widespread difficult to severe travel occurred over the area with road closures and stranded motorists.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 791076. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.