West Central Mountains storm history

Extreme drought was removed from the zone.

Extreme drought persisted across the western third of the zone.

Extreme drought persisted over the south-central portion and expanded to the western portion of the zone.

Extreme drought persisted over the south-central portion of the zone.

Extreme drought was reduced to the southern half of the zone.

Extreme drought persisted over the majority of the zone.

The Malpais Lava Flow RAWS observed a wind gust of 59 mph.

Extreme drought was introduced to the majority of the zone.

Emergency management in Cibola County reported a roof blown off from a workshop from an 85 mph wind gust.

Severe drought was introduced to nearly all of the zone.

Apparent temperatures as low as -29 degrees were observed within the zone.

An estimated seven inches of snow was observed at the Rice Park SNOTEL with several reports of up to 6 inches across the rest of the zone. A multi-vehicle crash was observed on I-40 between Gallup and Thoreau.

The Rice Park SNOTEL site observed an estimated snowfall accumulation of 6 inches.

A CoCoRaHS station near Ramah measured 10 inches of snow.

The Cibola County emergency manager reported 16 inches of snow just west of Mt. Taylor. Other amounts ranged from 4 to 8 inches along the Continental Divide. A significant accident involving five semi-trucks occurred along I-40 at MM47 which closed the interstate. Injuries and ca…

The Cibola County Emergency Manager reported 13 inches of snow just west of Mt. Taylor. Heavy snow lead to impacts to travel along I-40 from Thoreau to Gallup as reported on social media. Four to seven inches of snow were also reported along the Continental Divide in the central …

Severe drought was removed across southeast parts of the zone thanks to beneficial snowfall from several winter storms.

The Cibola County Emergency Manager reported 13 inches of snow just west of Mt. Taylor. Heavy snow lead to impacts to travel along I-40 from Thoreau to Gallup as reported on social media. Four to seven inches of snow were also reported along the Continental Divide in the central …

A slightly wetter than normal November resulted in the retreat of extreme drought conditions to far northeastern portion of the zone. Severe drought remained persistent in the central portion of the zone.

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

A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the persistence of severe drought conditions in the zone.

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

The El Malpais Lava Flow RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.

Heavy snow impacted areas along the Continental Divide where the emergency manager relayed reports from teams clearing areas of 12 inches of snow.

Heavy snow impacted the area with a trained spotter reported a snow accumulation of 12 inches along the Continental Divide. The New Mexico DOT also reported a weather related car crash resulting in the closure of I-40 at the Continental Divide during the afternoon at 14:10 pm loc…

The Rice Park SNOTEL estimated 10 inches of snowfall.

I-40 was closed due to severe winter weather road conditions from Grants to the Continental Divide.

Moderate to severe drought conditions from July 2022 improved to moderate drought conditions areawide in August.

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

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

A weather station near Thoreau measured a peak sustained wind speed of 44 mph.

Extreme drought conditions from April 2022 continued in May.

A RAWS station southeast of El Morro measured a peak wind gust of 60 mph.

A weather station north of Pie Town measured a peak wind gust of 65 mph.

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

Three to five inches of snow fell across the west central mountains, and this snow combined with much colder air resulted in travel impacts on roadways, particularly Interstate 40. Multiple vehicles and semi-trucks were involved in accidents near Thoreau during the morning of Mar…

Severe drought conditions from February 2022 continued in March.

Severe drought conditions from January 2022 continued in February.

Snow began falling across the area early on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. By January 1, 2022, a SNOTEL site near Bluewater Lake had received an estimated twelve inches of new snow.

Severe drought conditions from December 2021 continued in January 2022.

Snow began falling across the area early on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. By January 1, 2022, a SNOTEL site near Bluewater Lake had received an estimated twelve inches of new snow.

Snow squall. High winds and snow resulted in difficult to severe driving conditions along Interstate 40 and other major roadways with visibility down to one quarter mile. A crash was reported along Interstate 40 eastbound near Coolidge due to slick road conditions. The extent of …

A RAWS station south-southeast of El Morro measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph.

Severe drought conditions from November 2021 continued in December.

Severe conditions from October 2021 continued in November.

A Mesonet station near Mesita briefly measured a wind gust of 58 mph with the passage of a cold front.

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. Southern portions of the area did improve to moderate drought conditions.