San Juan Mountains storm history

Peak wind gusts up to 58 mph were reported around Chama.

Severe drought conditions from March 2019 improved to moderate drought in April.

Various sources within the higher terrain of eastern Rio Arriba County reported between 12 and 19 inches of heavy snow. The storm total of 19 inches at Chama ending March 15th broke the two-day and three-day records dating back to 1973 and 1941 respectively.

Various sources in the higher terrain of eastern Rio Arriba County reported between 6 and 13 inches of snowfall. Difficult to severe travel conditions were reported.

Extreme drought conditions from February 2019 improved to severe drought in March.

Various sources across Rio Arriba County reported between 2 and 12 inches of snow. The heaviest snow fell in the Chama area. Difficult travel was reported.

Various sources from near Chama to Tierra Amarilla and Canjilon reported snowfall amounts from 6 to 12 inches. Difficult travel conditions were reported.

Various observations in the area from Canjilon to Tierra Amarilla and Chama reported six to 14 inches of snow along with gusty winds, low visibility, and difficult travel conditions.

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…

Extreme drought conditions from January 2019 continued through February.

Snowfall amounts ranged from six to 12 inches from Chama to Tierra Amarilla and Canjilon. Severe travel conditions due to snow, low visibility, and frigid temperatures were reported across much of the area.

Exceptional drought conditions from December 2018 improved to extreme drought in January 2019.

Snowfall amounts ranged from six to 12 inches from Chama to Tierra Amarilla and Canjilon. Severe travel conditions due to snow, low visibility, and frigid temperatures were reported across much of the area.

Exceptional drought conditions from November continued through December 2018.

Exceptional drought conditions from October continued through November 2018.

Exceptional drought conditions from September continued through October 2018.

Exceptional drought conditions from August continued through September 2018.

Exceptional drought conditions from July continued through August 2018.

Exceptional drought conditions from June continued through July 2018. The Carson National Forest was re-opened during July 2018 and fire restrictions were dropped to stage one at most locations.

Exceptional drought conditions from May continued through June 2018. The Carson National Forest was closed during June 2018.

Extreme drought conditions from April deteriorated to exceptional drought on May 15, 2018.

Extreme drought conditions from March continued through April 2018.

Extreme drought conditions from February continued through the end of March. A couple weak storm systems moved through the region during March with only light snowfall amounts. Snow-water equivalent for the Rio Chama River basin was a paltry 43 percent of normal at the end of Mar…

COOP and SNOTEL reports across eastern Rio Arriba County reported between six and 11 inches of snowfall.

Severe drought conditions over the San Juan Mountains deteriorated even further to extreme drought on February 13, 2018. A few weak storm systems moved through the area during February with light to moderate rain and snow amounts. This additional precipitation was no match for th…

Various sources from eastern Rio Arriba County reported between 4 and 8 inches of snow with blowing snow. Travel across the area was difficult with very cold temperatures and gusty winds. This storm was the first impactful storm of the 2017-2018 winter season.

Various sources within the Jemez Mountains reported between eight and 16 inches of snow with blowing and drifting snow. Travel across the area was difficult with very cold temperatures and gusty winds. This storm was the first impactful storm of the 2017-2018 winter season.

Severe drought conditions were declared on January 23, 2018 for the San Juan Mountains region from near El Vado and Heron lakes to Chama and Tierra Amarilla. Precipitation amounts were well below normal during the last three months of 2017 coupled with warm temperatures. Snowpack…

SNOTEL sites across the high terrain of eastern Rio Arriba County reported a quick burst of heavy snowfall with amounts between 6 and 11 inches in just 7 hours.

Snowfall amounts across the high terrain of eastern Rio Arriba County ranged from 12 to 20 inches. The 17 inches reported at Chama on the morning of the 28th set a new daily record.

Public, COOP, and SNOTEL sites reported between 8 and 15 inches from Chama to Hopewell Lake and Tres Piedras. Difficult travel was reported.

Various sources across Rio Arriba County reported between 10 and 16 inches of snow. The heaviest amounts occurred from Chama into the higher terrain around Hopewell Lake.

Snowfall across the high terrain of eastern Rio Arriba County ranged from 12 to 18 inches, including 12 inches at Chama.

Snowfall amounts averaged 3 to 7 inches across the higher terrain of eastern Rio Arriba County. Moderate snowfall amounts combined with strong wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph created winter storm conditions from Chama to Tierra Amarilla eastward into the high terrain.

Reports around eastern Rio Arriba County indicated between 2 and 8 inches of new snow fell with amounts as high as 11 inches in the high terrain.

COOP and SNOTEL observations supported widespread snowfall accumulations of 9 to 16 inches across the area. The combination of strong winds and heavy snow produced near blizzard conditions in the high terrain.

Various sources reported between 6 and 18 inches of snow within the San Juan Mountains of Rio Arriba County. This was a very heavy, wet snow event for the area with snow water equivalent values ranging from 1 to 3 inches. Power outages were reported across the area for nearly 18 …

Snowfall amounts generally ranged between 5 and 16 inches. Chama received just over a foot (13.5 inches) while Dulce farther west and lower in elevation received 4 inches. Gusty winds and blowing snow resulted in difficult to severe driving conditions throughout the region.

Observer in Chama reported a 2-day total of 15 inches. Various SNOTEL sites across the high terrain reported between 10 and 15 inches. Snow water equivalent was high with this event thus snowfall was wet and heavy.

Various sources across eastern Rio Arriba County reported between 4 and 9 inches of new snow. Blowing snow and frigid temperatures with this event led to low visibilities in the high terrain along with hazardous travel conditions.

COOP and SNOTEL reports across the area indicated between 6 and 10 inches of snowfall with hazardous travel conditions in blowing snow.

COOP, CoCoRaHS, and SNOTEL sites reported between 3 and 5 feet of snowfall over the area during this extended heavy snowfall event. The storm total of 59 inches for the 8-day period was the 11th heaviest event on record dating back to 1893. The 33 inches reported by the Chama COO…

COOP, CoCoRaHS, SNOTEL, and public reports averaged between 20 and 43 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm. The 16 inches reported in Chama on the 28th was a record for the date and the 17 inches on the 1st was also a record for the date. The 33 inches for th…

COOP, CoCoRaHS, and SNOTEL sites reported between 12 and 18 inches of snowfall over the area during this first of several winter events to occur through early March. It was the heaviest 2-day event in Chama since 2008. The 9 inches on the 23rd was a record snowfall for the date.

COOP Observer and SNOTEL reports indicated between 7 and 14 inches of snow.

COOP and SNOTEL sites reported between 8 and 10 inches of snowfall. The majority of this snowfall accumulated on the 13th.

COOP, CoCoRaHS and SNOTEL reports across the area indicated between 6 to 11 inches of snowfall.

COOP and SNOTEL reports across the area indicated between 6 to 12 inches of snowfall.