Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 20 to 23, 2010

Name: Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 20 to 23, 2010
Start: 2010-02-20T16:00
End: 2010-02-23T23:00
Location: New Mexico

February 20 to 23, 2010 · NWS ABQ · 33 events in 33 counties and zones

A series of storm systems brought heavy snow to much of the state between the 20th and the 22nd of February. Light to moderate snows began across northwest New Mexico on the evening of the 20th.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 33

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.

A series of storm systems brought heavy snow to much of the state between the 20th and the 22nd of February. Light to moderate snows began across northwest New Mexico on the evening of the 20th. However, as stronger systems passed over the state, snow amounts began to increase on the 21st and 22nd. Over a foot of snow was noted in many mountain locales, while low lying areas generally received between 2 and 8 inches of snow. By the afternoon of the 22nd, the eastern plains started to receive snow, which continued into the early morning hours of the 23rd.

Event by event

33 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, San Juan Mountains

When: February 20, 4:00 PM MST to February 22, 4:00 PM MST
Where: San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Most areas across the San Juan Mountains received between 6 and 12 inches of snow. The COOP Observer at Chama reported 12.2 inches.

Heavy Snow, Chuska Mountains

When: February 20, 5:00 PM MST to February 22, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Chuska Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

About 15 inches of snow was reported at the Navajo Whiskey Creek SNOTEL.

Heavy Snow, Far Northwest Highlands

When: February 20, 5:00 PM MST to February 22, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Far Northwest Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Up to 7 inches of snow was reported around Dulce.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Highlands

When: February 20, 6:00 PM MST to February 22, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Northwest Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Around 3 to 8 inches of snow was reported across the Northwest Highlands. Some totals include 6.5 inches near Lindrith and 6 inches just south of Cuba.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Plateau

When: February 20, 7:00 PM MST to February 22, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Northwest Plateau forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 3 and 8 inches of snow was common across northern portions of the Northwest Plateau.

Heavy Snow, Jemez Mountains

When: February 21, 12:00 AM MST to February 23, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Jemez Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The highest elevations of the Jemez Mountains received over a foot of snow.

Heavy Snow, West Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

When: February 21, 1:00 AM MST to February 23, 1:00 AM MST
Where: West Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Public

The west slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains picked up between 6 and 13 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet/Red River

When: February 21, 1:00 AM MST to February 22, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet/Red River forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Taos Ski Area reportedly picked up about 32 inches of fresh snow.

Heavy Snow, Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet

When: February 21, 1:00 AM MST to February 23, 1:00 AM MST
Where: Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

Santa Fe Ski Area received around 23 inches of new snow, while the Wesner Springs SNOTEL received around 15 inches.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

When: February 21, 1:00 AM MST to February 23, 11:00 PM MST
Where: East Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Angel Fire Ski Area once again racked up the highest snowfall totals, however, even the town of Angel Fire received just over 13 inches. The highest totals were generally above 8000 feet.

Heavy Snow, Upper Rio Grande Valley

When: February 21, 1:00 AM MST to February 22, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Upper Rio Grande Valley forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snow amounts ranged from 3 to 12 inches in the Upper Rio Grande Valley.

Heavy Snow, Lower Chama River Valley

When: February 21, 1:00 AM MST to February 22, 11:00 PM MST
Where: Lower Chama River Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 2 and 8 inches of snow was reported across the valley.

Heavy Snow, West Central Mountains

When: February 21, 4:00 AM MST to February 22, 4:00 PM MST
Where: West Central Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Widespread snow amounts were reported across the West Central Mountains. Up to 14 inches was reported east of El Morro.

Heavy Snow, Raton Ridge/Johnson Mesa

When: February 21, 4:00 PM MST to February 22, 8:00 PM MST
Where: Raton Ridge/Johnson Mesa forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Up to 8 inches of snow was reported across the area.

Heavy Snow, Southwest Mountains

When: February 21, 5:00 PM MST to February 22, 6:00 PM MST
Where: Southwest Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Around 10 inches of snow was reported around Mogollon and Quemado.

Heavy Snow, Sandia/Manzano Mountains

When: February 22, 2:00 AM MST to February 23, 4:00 AM MST
Where: Sandia/Manzano Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Up to 8 inches of snow was reported across the Sandia and Manzano Mountains.

Heavy Snow, Central Highlands

When: February 22, 2:00 AM MST to February 23, 12:00 AM MST
Where: Central Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Up to 6 inches of snow fell across eastern Torrance County and southwestern San Miguel County.

Heavy Snow, Santa Fe Metro Area

When: February 22, 5:00 AM MST to February 23, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Santa Fe Metro Area forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A burst of heavy snow that formed along the east slopes of the Jemez Mountains moved over the Santa Fe Metro Area on the evening of the 22nd. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were reported. Much of Santa Fe received between 6 and 9 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow, West Central Highlands

When: February 22, 7:00 AM MST to February 23, 5:00 AM MST
Where: West Central Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Public

Up to 5 inches of snow was reported just north of Milan.

Heavy Snow, South Central Mountains

When: February 22, 9:00 AM MST to February 23, 5:00 AM MST
Where: South Central Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Though Ruidoso only received around 5 inches of snow, Ski Apache received around 20 inches of new snow. A trained spotter around White Oaks picked up 10.5 inches.

Heavy Snow, Union County

When: February 22, 12:00 PM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where: Union County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 3 and 5 inches of snow fell across Union County.

Heavy Snow, Far Northeast Highlands

When: February 22, 1:00 PM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where: Far Northeast Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Up to 6 inches of snow quickly fell across the area.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Highlands

When: February 22, 1:00 PM MST to February 23, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Northeast Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Over 5 inches of snow fell to the west of the Interstate 25 corridor, while 3 to 5 inches fell elsewhere.

Heavy Snow, Eastern San Miguel County

When: February 22, 2:00 PM MST to 9:00 PM MST
Where: Eastern San Miguel County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 3 and 5 inches fell across the area.

Heavy Snow, Quay County

When: February 22, 2:00 PM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where: Quay County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 2 and 5 inches fell across the county.

Heavy Snow, Curry County

When: February 22, 2:00 PM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where: Curry County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 1 and 5 inches fell across the county. The highest amounts were noted across the northern portions of the county.

Heavy Snow, Guadalupe County

When: February 22, 3:00 PM MST to 10:00 PM MST
Where: Guadalupe County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 3 and 6 inches fell across the area.

Heavy Snow, Roosevelt County

When: February 22, 3:00 PM MST to February 23, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Roosevelt County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 1 and 4 inches fell across the county, including 4 inches just west of Portales.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Lincoln County

When: February 22, 4:00 PM MST to February 23, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Eastern Lincoln County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 3 and 7 inches of snow was reported across eastern Lincoln County.

Heavy Snow, South Central Highlands

When: February 22, 5:00 PM MST to February 23, 2:00 AM MST
Where: South Central Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Eastern portions of the South Central Highlands received between 3 and 6 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow, De Baca County

When: February 22, 5:00 PM MST to February 23, 3:00 AM MST
Where: De Baca County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 2 and 5 inches of snow was reported across the county.

Heavy Snow, Chaves County Plains

When: February 22, 5:00 PM MST to February 23, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Chaves County Plains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 2 and 7 inches of snow was reported across the county. Between 5 and 7 inches was reported across Roswell.

Heavy Snow, Southwest Chaves County

When: February 22, 5:00 PM MST to February 23, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Southwest Chaves County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Up to 4 inches of snow was reported.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New Mexico in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in New Mexico, February 2010

Sources

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 210349, 210326, 210327, 210328, 210325, 210350, 210351, 210352, 210353, 210354, 210363, 210364, 210329, 210372, 210345, 210367, 210368, 210366, 210385, 210371, 210375, 210373, 210374, 210376, 210378, 210379, 210377, 210380, 210383, 210370, 210381, 210382, 210384.