Winter Storm — San Juan Mountains, New Mexico

2019-02-06 to 2019-02-07 · San Juan Mountains, New Mexico

Event narrative

The combination of three to six inches of snow, strong winds, blowing snow, low visibility, and very cold temperatures led to severe travel conditions along U.S. 84 and NM-17 near the Colorado border. U.S. 64 was also closed between Tierra Amarilla and Tres Piedras due to extreme travel conditions.

Wider weather episode

A large winter storm system moved slowly east from California into the central Rockies on February 6, 2019. A potent Pacific cold front in association with this system raced eastward across New Mexico during the early morning hours then through eastern New Mexico through the afternoon. A band of snow along the front produced strong winds, blowing snow, and low visibility as it moved through western and central New Mexico. Several accidents were reported along Interstate 40 west of Albuquerque due to wintry travel conditions. Southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts near 45 mph impacted many areas of the state, but the strongest winds impacted eastern New Mexico where gusts near 60 mph were common. Blowing dust was reported in areas downwind of White Sands National Monument and around the Caprock.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 795896. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.