A slow moving winter storm feed by tropical moisture produced a record snow of 32 inches at Sandia Crest in central New Mexico and dumped heavy wet snow from the west central mountains northeastward into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains northwest of Las Vegas. Pietown measured 12 inches in the west while Gascon reported 24 inches in western Mora County.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.
A slow moving winter storm feed by tropical moisture produced a record snow of 32 inches at Sandia Crest in central New Mexico and dumped heavy wet snow from the west central mountains northeastward into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains northwest of Las Vegas. Pietown measured 12 inches in the west while Gascon reported 24 inches in western Mora County. Outside these isolated areas snow amounts averaged 8 inches. The heavy wet snow downed trees and utility lines in the east mountain communities of eastern Bernalillo County causing power and phone outages affecting over 2000 customers for 24 to 48 hours. Power outages and light shed damage were also reported in Mora County. Interstate 40 was closed at Tijeras for 6 hours. Rural roads in the heavy snow areas became muddy messes that once again taxed county road crews.
5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, March 1998
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5638458, 5638459, 5638460, 5638461, 5638462.