Heavy Snow in San Francisco River Valley, New Mexico

Snowfall amounts ranged from five to 10 inches on the higher slopes of the San Francisco River Valley. Temperatures were warm enough for most of this event to allow snow to melt on roadways and limit travel impacts.

A third winter storm in a series hammered much of New Mexico during the New Year's holiday with widespread snowfall, bitterly cold temperatures, and major travel impacts. Very cold air was already in place across the state behind the second storm that exited the area after Christmas. Another potent upper level gathered strength over the Four Corners region on New Year's Eve and moved slowly south and east into western New Mexico through New Year's Day. Widespread snowfall developed over northern and western New Mexico on New Year's Eve with significant travel impacts reported during evening holiday festivities. Gap winds on the east side of the Albuquerque metro area limited snowfall until winds subsided on New Years morning. The heaviest snow fell across the northern mountains where 12 to 18 inches was reported. The Jemez Mountains picked up 36 inches just west of Los Alamos. Bitterly cold air in place over the region with snow and blowing snow resulted in major travel problems with several road closures. Fatal accidents were reported on U.S. 550 and Interstate 40 in the Albuquerque area along with roughly 66 injury accidents in the city. Frigid temperatures resulted in damage to 40 schools in the Albuquerque area of which 25 experienced serious flood damage. Low temperatures on the day after New Years were the coldest since 2013 with many areas reporting readings below zero.