Heavy Snow, Northwest Highlands
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Northwest Highlands forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Four inches of snow fell around Crownpoint.
Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 1 to 2, 2011
Two successive upper level storm systems effectively brought a one-two punch to New Mexico. Winter weather began on the 31st of January when an arctic cold front blasted through the eastern plains.
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 4
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 29
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.
Two successive upper level storm systems effectively brought a one-two punch to New Mexico. Winter weather began on the 31st of January when an arctic cold front blasted through the eastern plains. Snow began that evening in earnest across the eastern plains and central mountain chain. Rain also changed to snow across the west as temperatures plummeted. Snow continued into the 2nd, which was followed by extremely cold temperatures area wide that not only shattered daily records on the 3rd but at some locales broke the all-time coldest temperatures on record. It was the most significant outbreak of arctic air since January 1941. Snow totals exceeded one foot in many mountain locales, while somewhat lower amounts were noted below 7500 feet.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Albuquerque, NM wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 31, 3:06 PM MST, 8 hours 54 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 3:06 PM MST, 8 hours 54 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 306 PM MST MON JAN 31 2011 .DISCUSSION... ...MAJOR WINTER STORM DEVELOPING ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NM... THE CURRENT SUITE OF SATELLITE AND SFC OBS ACROSS THE AREA ALONG WITH SHORT-TERM GUIDANCE INDICATES THE MUCH ANTICIPATED WINTER STORM IS TAKING SHAPE AS EXPECTED. THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPORTANT FEATURES TO NOTE WITH THIS EVENT: LIFE THREATENING COLD AND EXTREME WIND CHILL VALUES THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY...WIDESPREAD MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS...AND SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ACROSS THE EAST AND BELOW CANYONS IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. THE 22Z SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS THE ARCTIC FRONTAL BNDRY DRAPED FROM NEAR LAS VEGAS SOUTHEAST TO PORTALES...WHILE SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS THE UPR TROUGH AXIS FROM THE FOUR CORNERS SOUTH TO NEAR TUSCON. LAPS DATA SHOWS LIFTED INDICES NEAR -2C WITH CAPE NEAR 500J/KG SUPPORTING THUNDERSTORMS WITHIN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND WESTERN NM UNDER THE UPR LOW. EVAPORATIONAL COOLING AND COLD TEMPS ALOFT ARE ALLOWING TEMPS TO FALL IN ASSCN WITH PRECIP THUS RAIN/SNOW/SNOW GRAINS/SMALL HAIL ARE FALLING WITH THIS ACTIVITY. SFC CONVERGENCE WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD WEST TOWARD THE CENTRAL MT CHAIN AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY THIS EVENING AS DIVERGENCE ALOFT AND INSTABILITY BENEATH THE UPR LOW SPREADS EAST. HAVE INCREASED SNOW AMOUNTS WITHIN THE VALLEY AND CENTRAL MTS FOR TONIGHT AND UPGRADED TO A WINTER STORM WARNING. THE NEXT WAVE CURRENTLY UPSTREAM NEAR SALT LAKE CITY WILL REINFORCE SUPPORT ALOFT AS THE SFC FRONT CONTINUES PROGRESSING WEST. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR A BRIEF LULL TUESDAY BUT THEN MORE PRECIP FROM THE CENTRAL MTS WESTWARD TO THE ARIZONA STATE LINE TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. TEMPS IN ASSCN WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL BE 25 TO 45F BELOW NORMAL AREAWIDE THRU THURSDAY. WIND CHILL VALUES WILL AVERAGE -10 TO -40F AS WELL BOTH WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNINGS. MODELS SHOW CONTINUED COLD INTO SATURDAY THEN ANOTHER WAVE DIVING SOUTH INTO THE AREA BY SUNDAY...WITH MORE SNOW AND VERY COLD TEMPS IN STORE. GUYER && .AVIATION... PLENTY OF AVIATION WEATHER CONCERNS DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS AND BEYOND. INITIAL WAVE OF ENERGY AND ARCTIC COLD FRONT WILL RESULT IN CONTINUED DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS NM LATER THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT...WITH IFR CIGS AND MT OBSCURATIONS BECOMING WIDESPREAD...PARTICULARLY OVER THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND EASTERN HIGHLANDS AND PLAINS...WHERE LIFR TO VLIFR WILL BECOME COMMON DURING THE NIGHT. FOCUS FOR THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL BE FOUND ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN TO THE NORTHEAST HALF OF THE STATE...WHILE PRECIP GRADUALLY TAPERS OFF ACROSS THE WEST TONIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING. AS THE ARCTIC AIR MASS DEEPENS... LOCALLY GUSTY EAST WINDS ARE LIKELY FOR KSAF AND KABQ AFTER 06Z. NEXT AVIATION DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR 10Z. 40 && .FIRE WEATHER... THE MUCH ADVERTISED WEATHER CHANGE IS UPON US. NO BIG CHANGES TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST TRENDS...ALTHOUGH WE CONTINUE TO ADJUST THE TIMING OF THE PRECIPITATION AS WELL AS SNOW AMOUNTS. OVERALL...A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE WEATHER IN THE COMING DAYS AND TEMPERATURES WILL BE AS COLD IF NOT COLDER THAN THE ARCTIC BLAST EXPERIENCED OVER THE NEW YEARS HOLIDAY PERIOD. PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD SOUTH AND EAST TONIGHT AS THE FIRST OF THE TWO STORMS CROSSES NEW MEXICO. AT THE SAME TIME...THE LEADING EDGE OF THE ARCTIC AIR MASS WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS SOUTH AND WEST ACROSS THE EAST CENTRAL PLAINS...REACHING THE EAST SLOPES OF THE SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS THIS EVENING. THE ARCTIC AIR WILL BEGIN TO POUR INTO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AROUND OR AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AND RUSH TO THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TUESDAY...AND EVEN TO THE ARIZONA BORDER TUESDAY NIGHT. THE EAST WINDS WILL BE A LONG DURATION EVENT OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL AREAS...CONTINUING INTO WEDNESDAY. UPSLOPE FLOW OVER THE EAST SIDE OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN ONTO THE EASTERN PLAINS WILL LEAD TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. THE GROWING CONSENSUS AMONG THE FORECAST MODELS IS FOR THE MAIN PIECE OF ENERGY DROPPING SOUTH FROM THE ROCKIES LATER TUESDAY TO TRACK FARTHER WEST AND SOUTH...WITH A CLOSED CIRCULATION TRACKING FROM JUST WEST OF THE FOUR CORNERS TUESDAY NIGHT...SOUTHWARD ALONG THE NM/AZ BORDER INTO SOUTHWEST NM WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL BE A VERY INTENSE LOW PRESSURE AND COMBINED WITH THE WESTWARD-MOVING ARCTIC FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL PRODUCE WIDESPREAD AND SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST AREAS OF THE STATE LATER TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. IMPROVING WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT...WITH QUIETER WEATHER EXPECTED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. REGARDLESS...TEMPERATURES...ALTHOUGH MODERATING SOMEWHAT...WILL REMAIN BELOW TO WELL BELOW AVERAGE. THE UPCOMING WEEKEND LOOKS TO BEGIN DRY WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES NEAR NORMAL AT THE START...THEN BECOMES UNSETTLED AND COLDER AS A ANOTHER TROUGH ALOFT DROPS INTO THE STATE FROM THE NORTH AND A REINFORCING SURGE OF ARCTIC AIR INFILTRATES THE STATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. 40 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FARMINGTON...................... 20 31 9 19 / 50 50 60 30 DULCE........................... 14 27 3 18 / 60 70 70 40 CUBA............................ 15 29 1 17 / 60 80 80 50 GALLUP.......................... 13 32 0 16 / 50 50 80 40 EL MORRO........................ 14 31 -1 12 / 50 70 80 60 GRANTS.......................... 15 30 1 13 / 50 70 80 60 QUEMADO......................... 16 32 9 18 / 50 70 80 60 GLENWOOD........................ 22 44 19 30 / 50 50 60 50 CHAMA........................... 8 22 -6 12 / 70 100 70 50 LOS ALAMOS...................... 10 20 -3 10 / 70 70 80 60 PECOS........................... 8 22 -7 10 / 100 70 80 50 CERRO/QUESTA.................... 12 19 -9 11 / 80 90 60 50 RED RIVER....................... 3 12 -17 0 / 100 100 70 50 ANGEL FIRE...................... 1 14 -19 3 / 100 90 70 50 TAOS............................ 8 17 -3 12 / 60 80 60 50 MORA............................ 5 15 -8 9 / 100 70 80 50 ESPANOLA........................ 15 28 9 18 / 60 60 60 50 SANTA FE........................ 11 22 -1 11 / 70 60 70 60 SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 13 24 0 12 / 70 60 70 60 ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 20 26 7 14 / 60 60 70 60 ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 22 29 9 16 / 60 60 70 50 ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 20 31 8 18 / 60 60 70 50 ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 19 30 7 17 / 60 60 70 60 LOS LUNAS....................... 20 31 9 19 / 60 60 70 60 RIO RANCHO...................... 21 29 8 17 / 60 60 70 60 SOCORRO......................... 23 31 11 19 / 50 60 80 60 SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 13 22 -2 10 / 100 80 80 60 TIJERAS......................... 18 25 2 12 / 90 70 80 60 MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 13 20 -2 10 / 90 70 80 60 CLINES CORNERS.................. 6 15 -6 2 / 100 80 80 60 GRAN QUIVIRA.................... 15 22 3 11 / 80 70 80 60 CARRIZOZO....................... 18 25 8 16 / 50 50 60 50 RUIDOSO......................... 17 26 1 18 / 100 70 90 60 CAPULIN......................... -2 0 -13 4 / 100 60 50 30 RATON........................... 3 9 -10 6 / 100 60 50 30 SPRINGER........................ 3 10 -10 6 / 100 60 50 30 LAS VEGAS....................... 3 10 -10 3 / 100 60 60 40 CLAYTON......................... -2 10 -10 7 / 80 60 50 20 ROY............................. 2 11 -5 6 / 90 60 50 30 CONCHAS......................... 8 16 -2 10 / 80 60 50 30 SANTA ROSA...................... 10 16 -1 10 / 80 60 60 40 TUCUMCARI....................... 7 14 -5 10 / 80 60 50 20 CLOVIS.......................... 8 14 0 11 / 80 60 50 20 PORTALES........................ 10 16 2 13 / 80 60 50 20 FORT SUMNER..................... 14 20 4 14 / 80 60 50 30 ROSWELL......................... 22 28 8 19 / 60 60 50 20 PICACHO......................... 19 22 5 18 / 70 60 70 50 ELK............................. 17 28 2 15 / 70 60 70 50 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 11 AM MST WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ519-520-524>526-530>534-539-540. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM MST WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ535>538. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 11 AM MST WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ503-504-506>508-510>518-521>523-527>529. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM MST WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ501-502-505-509. && GUYER/40
Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 31, 6:25 AM MST, 17 hours 35 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 625 AM MST MON JAN 31 2011 NMZ501>540-011300- NORTHWEST PLATEAU-CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS- NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS- WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS- SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS- WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET- EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY- LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-SANTA FE METRO AREA-ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA- LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-ESTANCIA VALLEY- CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY- SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA- FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-UNION COUNTY- HARDING COUNTY-EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY-GUADALUPE COUNTY-QUAY COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY-CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY-SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY- 625 AM MST MON JAN 31 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE COMBINATION OF A FAIRLY MOIST AND STRONG LOW PRESSURE TROUGH ALOFT MOVING INTO NEW MEXICO FROM THE WEST AND AN INTENSELY COLD ARCTIC AIRMASS DRIVING IN FROM THE NORTHEAST WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASING LIKELIHOOD OF SNOW ACROSS NORTH...WEST AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO TODAY AND THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA TONIGHT. BEHIND THE ADVANCING COLD FRONT MARKING THE EDGE OF THE ARCTIC AIRMASS...STRONG NORTH AND NORTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEARLY 40 MPH WILL CREATE DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES...ESPECIALLY TONIGHT. MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED EARLIER THIS MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THE MAJOR WINTER STORM EVENT WILL CONTINUE TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY AS THE SECOND UPPER LEVEL LOW APPROACHES TUESDAY THEN MOVES THROUGH WEDNESDAY. AFTER A POTENTIAL LULL IN SNOWFALL COVERAGE OR INTENSITY THROUGH THE MORNING TO MIDDAY PERIOD TUESDAY...SNOW WILL LIKELY INCREASE AGAIN ACROSS MOST OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. THE GREATEST ACCUMULATIONS ARE MOST LIKELY TO FALL FROM THE GENERAL VICINITY OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TO THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN FROM LATER TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. IN ADDITION... THE ARCTIC CHILL WILL OVERSPREAD CENTRAL AND MUCH OF WESTERN NEW MEXICO TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...THOUGH WINDS WILL NOT BE QUITE AS STRONG NOR TEMPERATURES QUITE AS COLD AS COMPARED TO NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO...WHERE READINGS OF 5 TO 15 DEGREES BELOW ZERO ARE LIKELY IN THE NORTHEAST PLAINS AND 10 TO 25 BELOW IN THE SANGRE DE CRISTOS AND NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS. STRONG NORTH AND NORTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT WILL CREATE DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES. MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE ISSUED EARLIER THIS MORNING. WEATHER CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST FORECASTS... WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS STARTING MONDAY THROUGH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/ABQ OR BY CALLING 1.888.386.7637. 43
Event by event
29 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy Snow, West Central Plateau
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- West Central Plateau forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Approximately 4 to 5 inches of snow fell around Gallup. Lesser amounts were noted farther south.
Heavy Snow, West Central Highlands
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- West Central Highlands forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Between 3 and 7 inches of snow fell across the west central highlands. Amounts included 4 inches at Grants and nearly 7 inches around Acoma.
Heavy Snow, Southwest Mountains
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Southwest Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Around 8 inches of snow fell near and in Magdalena. Elsewhere, 3 to 6 inch amounts were common.
Heavy Snow, San Francisco River Valley
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- San Francisco River Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
In Reserve, up to 6 inches of snow fell.
Heavy Snow, San Juan Mountains
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- San Juan Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
Snow amounts varied between 8 and 15 inches across the San Juan Mountains. Chama received the greatest amount at 15 inches, though most of the SNOTELs in the area picked up between 8 and 10 inches.
Heavy Snow, Jemez Mountains
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Jemez Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
The Vacas Locas SNOTEL picked up 8 inches of snow.
Heavy Snow, West Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- West Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
Over a foot of snow was reported at the Tres Ritos and Gallegos Peak SNOTELs as well as the Sipapu Ski Area.
Heavy Snow, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet/Red River
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet/Red River forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
Between 8 and 12 inches of snow fell across the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Heavy Snow, Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
Between one and two feet of snow fell across the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Heavy Snow, East Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- East Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
Between 8 and 15 inches of snow was common across the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
Heavy Snow, Upper Rio Grande Valley
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Upper Rio Grande Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Between 4 and 6 inches of snow fell around Taos.
Heavy Snow, Santa Fe Metro Area
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Santa Fe Metro Area forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Generally 3 to 4 inches of snow fell around the Santa Fe area, however, localized amounts up to 6 inches were reported.
Heavy Snow, Albuquerque Metro Area
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Albuquerque Metro Area forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
On the east side of Albuquerque, 4 to 6 inches of snow was common. West of Interstate 25, amounts were generally 1 to 2 inches. Three to 6 inches was also common around Belen, Los Lunas and Bosque Farms. Spotters also reported hearing thunder around Albuquerque.
Heavy Snow, Lower Rio Grande Valley
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Lower Rio Grande Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Four to 6 inches of snow was common around Socorro, though further east, near Bingham, around 10 inches of snow was reported.
Heavy Snow, Sandia/Manzano Mountains
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Sandia/Manzano Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Eight to 13 inches of snow was common across the mountains, though locally higher amounts around Sandia Peak were reported.
Heavy Snow, Estancia Valley
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Estancia Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
About 9 inches of snow fell in Moriarty, though around 6 inches of snow was reported near Stanley.
Heavy Snow, Central Highlands
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Central Highlands forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Six to 8 inches of snow was common across the central highlands.
Heavy Snow, South Central Highlands
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- South Central Highlands forecast zone
- Injuries
- 0 direct, 4 indirect
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Between 7 and 13 inches of snow fell across the south central highlands. Along Highway 54, approximately 15 miles south of Corona, a family of four skidded off the road and landed upside down in a 30 foot deep ravine. Highway workers patrolling the area found and rescued the family. The family sustained some injuries and showed early signs of hypothermia.
Heavy Snow, Upper Tularosa Valley
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Upper Tularosa Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Approximately 5 inches of snow fell around Carrizozo.
Heavy Snow, South Central Mountains
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- South Central Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Amounts varied significantly across the south central mountains. However, around Alto and Ruidoso, more than a foot of snow was common. The highest elevations around Sierra Blanca received 18 inches or more.
Heavy Snow, Far Northeast Highlands
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
- Where
- Far Northeast Highlands forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Snow totals varied from 3 to 8 inches across the far northeast highlands, though the highest amounts were noted southwest of Wagon Mound.
Heavy Snow, Northeast Highlands
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
- Where
- Northeast Highlands forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
The highest snow totals were generally along and west of Interstate 25 where 6 to 12 inches of snow was reported. During the evening of the 31st, 3 to 4 inch snow rates existed at times around San Jose.
Heavy Snow, Union County
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
- Where
- Union County forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
Up to 4 inches of snow fell around Clayton.
Heavy Snow, Harding County
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to 2:00 PM MST
- Where
- Harding County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Up to 4 inches of snow fell in Harding County.
Heavy Snow, Eastern San Miguel County
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
- Where
- Eastern San Miguel County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Up to 4 inches of snow fell in eastern San Miguel County.
Heavy Snow, Guadalupe County
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM MST
- Where
- Guadalupe County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Between 2 and 6 inches of snow fell across Guadalupe County, with the highest amounts across western portions of the county.
Heavy Snow, Eastern Lincoln County
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Eastern Lincoln County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
Between 3 and 10 inches of snow fell across eastern Lincoln County. The highest amounts were several miles north of Encinoso.
Heavy Snow, Southwest Chaves County
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM MST to February 2, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Southwest Chaves County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
About 6 inches of snow fell around Dunken.
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
- Blizzard in Illinois, February 1 to 2, 2011
- Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Texas, February 1 to 4, 2011
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Missouri, February 1, 2011
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Oklahoma, February 1, 2011
- Blizzard and Ice Storm in Illinois, February 1 to 2, 2011
- Blizzard in Indiana, February 1 to 2, 2011
- Blizzard in Wisconsin, February 1 to 2, 2011
- Winter Storm and Extreme Cold in Texas, February 1 to 4, 2011
- Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Ohio, February 1 to 2, 2011
- Winter Weather in Vermont, February 1, 2011
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Kansas, February 1, 2011
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Oklahoma, February 1, 2011
More
Every storm in New Mexico in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, February 2011
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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 270991, 270992, 270993, 270994, 270995, 270996, 270997, 270998, 270999, 271000, 271008, 271010, 271011, 271014, 271015, 271016, 271017, 271018, 271019, 271020, 271021, 271022, 271023, 271024, 271025, 271026, 271027, 271028, 271029.