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

2019-01-11 · Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet, New Mexico

Event narrative

Snowfall amounts averaged 10 inches over the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Wider weather episode

A disorganized area of low pressure approaching from the Four Corners region on January 10th spread light to moderate snow across much of northern New Mexico through January 11th. This storm became more organized as it drifted eastward into northeastern New Mexico through the 11th. A persistent band of heavy snowfall developed on the back side of this storm system over the upper Rio Grande Valley. Orographic forcing with northwest flow aloft in the area from Taos to Pot Creek and Picuris Pueblo resulted in a small area of heavy snowfall with amounts ranged from eight to 14 inches. U.S. Highway 64 was closed between Taos and the Colfax County line.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 792699. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.