West Central Highlands storm history

Around Tohajiillee, 6 to 7 inches of snow was reported. Just west of Grants, a man driving too fast for the wintry conditions on Interstate 40, loss control and veered off the highway. The 65-year old man died when the vehicle struck lava rocks and overturned.

Though snow amounts were generally 2 inches or less, it was enough to create slick roads. Luis Segovia-Cabrera, age 39, sustained massive head injuries after he lost control of his SUV and crossed the median on Interstate 40 near exit 96 and crashed into a commercial tractor-trai…

The Vereda Blanca Fire was a lightning start along a mesa northeast of Mt. Taylor in the Mt. Taylor Ranger District, located right along the western edge of Sandoval County north of Marquez. The fire grew to a total of 1,307 acres by August 13th. There have been no reports of dam…

Extreme drought was removed from the zone.

Extreme drought persisted over the western and eastern edges of the zone.

The Balsam Wildfire was discovered during a very dry and critical fire weather event on the evening of April 27th, in Grants, NM. Fire crews were able to keep the fire to just 3 to 5 acres, but it unfortunately burned through a residential area. The Grants Fire Chief reported 7 s…

The NM DOT station on I-40 at State Road 6 measured a peak wind gust of 65 mph.

A trained spotter in San Fidel measured 4.3 inches of snowfall. Elsewhere in the zone, a CoCoRaHS observer in Grants measured 4.2 inches of snowfall.

Extreme drought was introduced to the western and eastern edges of the zone.

The NM DOT weather station along I-40 at NM 6 measured a peak gust of 59 mph. The Grants Airport AWOS and Laguna RAWS also measured a peak gust of 58 mph.

Severe drought was introduced to the western portion of the zone.

Apparent temperatures as low as -22 degrees were observed within the zone.

A CoCoRaHS observer in Grants measured 11.6 inches of snow.

The Encerrita Wildfire was a lightning start discovered within the El Malpais National Monument. The fire burned a total of 2,499 acres resulting in no damage or loss of life.

Severe drought was removed from the zone.

Severe drought remained persistent across the northern third of the zone.

Severe drought remained persistent across the northern third of the zone.

Severe drought contracted to the northern part of the zone thanks to beneficial snowfall from several winter storms.

Near normal to slightly above normal precipitation resulted in the slight removal of extreme drought to the northeastern portion of the zone. Severe drought remained persistent through the central portion of the zone.

A dry and warm October resulted in the persistence of severe drought conditions in the central part of the zone and extreme drought conditions in the northern part of the zone.

A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the expansion of extreme drought conditions in the northern part of the zone.

A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the southward expansion of severe drought conditions and introduction of extreme drought conditions in the northern part of the zone.

A decaying shower produced a dry microburst wind gust at the Grants airport.

The Laguna RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph.

Moderate to severe drought conditions from August 2022 continued in September.

Moderate to severe drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.

Severe to extreme drought conditions from June 2022 improved to moderate to severe drought in July.

The Cerro Bandera Fire began on June 9th on private land within the El Malpais National Monument. Dry and windy conditions allowed this fire to spread to 939 acres before it was contained on June 16th. Four structures, including one home, were destroyed. No other information was …

Extreme drought conditions from May 2022 improved to severe to extreme drought conditions across the area in June.

Extreme drought conditions from April 2022 continued in May.

A New Mexico Department of Transportation weather station located at Interstate 40 and New Mexico State Road 6 measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.

A New Mexico Department of Transportation weather station at Interstate 40 and New Mexico State Road 6 measured a peak sustained wind speed of 48 mph.

Severe drought conditions from March 2022 worsened in April with extreme drought conditions developing areawide.

Severe drought conditions from February 2022 continued in March.

A trained spotter near San Fidel measured seven inches of new snow.

Severe drought conditions from January 2022 continued in February.

Severe drought conditions from December 2021 continued in January 2022.

A New Mexico Department of Transportation weather station located along Interstate 40 near Mesita measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.

Severe drought conditions from November 2021 continued in December.

Severe conditions from October 2021 continued in November.

Severe drought conditions from September 2021 continued in October.

Severe drought conditions from August 2021 continued in September.

Severe drought conditions from July 2021 continued in August.

Severe drought conditions from June 2021 continued in July.

Severe drought conditions from May 2021 continued in June.

Severe drought conditions from April 2021 continued in May.

Severe drought conditions from March 2021 continued in April.

The highest snow totals in the area were in San Fidel where a trained spotter received 10 inches of snow.

Severe drought conditions from February 2021 continued in March.

Severe drought conditions from January 2021 continued in February.