An upper level low pressure system slowly moved east along the New Mexico-Colorado border during the late night hours of the 2nd and early morning hours of the 3rd. This aided in snow shower development across northern portions of the state.
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.
An upper level low pressure system slowly moved east along the New Mexico-Colorado border during the late night hours of the 2nd and early morning hours of the 3rd. This aided in snow shower development across northern portions of the state. Accumulations were greatest across the highest terrain of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. However, snow that was associated with a mesoscale circulation Friday morning dropped up to 6 inches of snow over the Santa Fe Metro area.
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 Feb 2, 3:11 AM MST, 11 hours 49 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 311 AM MST THU FEB 2 2012 .DISCUSSION... AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DEVELOPING OVER UT EARLY THIS MORNING WILL TRACK EASTWARD ALONG THE CO/NM BORDER TODAY AND TONIGHT...THEN NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH KS FRI. THIS TRACK WILL PLACE THE BEST DYNAMICS FOR PRECIPITATION OVER CO. HOWEVER...THE PROXIMITY OF THE UPPER LOW SHOULD ENABLE NM ZONES NEAR THE CO BORDER TO ACCUMULATE SOME SNOW. WITH THIS FORECAST PACKAGE WE ARE ADDING THE FAR NW HIGHLANDS TO THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...WHERE UPSLOPE FLOW OUT OF THE SW SHOULD PRODUCE WIDESPREAD COVERAGE OF 1-2 INCHES OF SNOW WITH ISOLATED 3 INCH REPORTS. MOST OF THE SNOW IN THAT ZONE SHOULD FALL THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. OTHERWISE...WE WILL LEAVE THE ONGOING WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES IN TACT WITHOUT MUCH CHANGE. FAIRLY WIDESPREAD COVERAGE OF NEGATIVE LIFTED INDICES NORTH OF I-40 AND ALONG THE TX BORDER SHOULD ENABLE ISOLATED EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP. THE POLAR JET STREAM WILL ALSO ROUND THE BASE OF THE UPPER LOW TODAY...RESULTING IN SW WINDS BECOMING BREEZY TO WINDY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TIER OF ZONES THIS AFTERNOON. AS THE STORM SYSTEM EXITS NORTHEASTWARD FRI...A BACK DOOR COLD FRONT WILL PLUNGE SOUTHWARD THROUGH NE NM UNDER WRAP AROUND FLOW ALOFT. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT SHOULD BE TIGHT ENOUGH FOR N AND NW WINDS TO GUST AT SPEEDS AROUND 45 MPH WITHIN AND NEAR UNION COUNTY...ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON. EARLIER MODEL RUNS WERE SUGGESTING UNION COUNTY MAY RECEIVE A FEW INCHES OF SNOW...BUT THE LATEST RUNS KEEP MOST OF THE WRAP AROUND MOISTURE IN CO WITH LITTLE OR NO ACCUMULATION ON OUR NE PLAINS. TEMPERATURES WILL TREND DOWNWARD TODAY...BUT REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL ACROSS THE EAST CENTRAL AND SE PLAINS. HIGH TEMPERATURES FRI AND SAT WILL BOTTOM OUT BETWEEN A FEW AND 17 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL...BEFORE REBOUNDING SUN AND MON AS ZONAL FLOW DEVELOPS ALOFT. TUE AND WED...MODELS DEPICT AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DEVELOPING AND SINKING SOUTHWARD ALONG THE CA COASTLINE WHILE A PRECEDING UPPER TROUGH TRACKS EASTWARD ACROSS AZ AND NM. ECMWF DEPICTS A SHARPER TROUGH WITH MORE WIDESPREAD QPF THAN THE GFS. REGARDLESS OF HOW WIDESPREAD THE SHOWERS BECOME...THE TRAJECTORY OF THE SYSTEM FROM THE BAJA SHOULD RESULT IN A WARMER EVENT WITH MAINLY RAIN AND HIGH TERRAIN SNOW TUE AND TUE NIGHT. THE UPPER LOW ON THE COAST IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO DROP SOUTHWARD ALONG THE COAST...BUT IT MAY BE LARGE ENOUGH TO SEND SOME RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS THE W AND SW MOUNTAINS OF NM WED AND WED NIGHT. 44 && .AVIATION... CIGS WILL CONTINUE TO LOWER OVER THE NORTHERN TIER OF NEW MEXICO THROUGH TODAY AND TONIGHT IN RESPONSE TO AN APPROACHING STORM. MAINLY LOOKING AT VFR CONDITIONS FOR MOST OF THE AREA THROUGH 18Z BUT LOOK FOR SOME INITIAL MTN TOP OBSC NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL MTNS THIS MORNING. THEN MOST LIKELY SOME MVFR CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SNOWFALL ACROSS THE SAME AREAS THIS AFTERNOON. WILL HAVE MVFR CONDITIONS AT KFMN...KGUP AND KSAF DUE TO SNOWFALL FOR A PORTION OF THE TIME THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THESE SITES COULD ALSO LOWER TO IFR CONDITIONS WITH THE ADDITION OF FOG AFTER 06Z TONIGHT. SLIGHT RISK OF MVFR CONDITIONS TONIGHT AT KLVS AND KTCC. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED NEXT 24 HOURS KABQ AND KROW. NEXT AVIATION DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR 22Z. CHJ && .FIRE WEATHER... STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING NEW MEXICO. THE WEATHER MODELS REMAIN BULLISH WITH PROVIDING THE BEST PRECIPITATION...IN THE FORM OF SNOWFALL...ACROSS THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE COLORADO BORDER AS WELL AS THE FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS AND HIGHLANDS. PRECIPITATION WILL GET UNDERWAY THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY. A SECONDARY LOW FORMING ACROSS THE CENTRAL ROCKIES COULD ALLOW THE PRECIPITATION TO CONTINUE OVER THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND FAR NORTHEAST INTO SATURDAY. THERE MAY ENOUGH INSTABILITY FOR A FEW THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST AREAS THIS AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION OF BREEZY CONDITIONS AND LOW HUMIDITIES MAY RESULT IN AN HOUR OR TWO OF CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER ROOSEVELT COUNTY...ZONE 108...THIS AFTERNOON. VENTILATION WILL IMPROVE SIGNIFICANTLY TODAY BUT LESSEN SOME ACROSS THE WEST ON FRIDAY. DECENT READINGS ARE EXPECTED INTO SATURDAY AS MIXING HEIGHTS REMAIN HIGH ENOUGH IN AREAS. STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS SHOULD DEVELOP ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN PLAINS...ESPECIALLY THE NORTHEAST ON FRIDAY AS A BACK DOOR COLD FRONT BLASTS IN. LIGHTER WIND FLOWS EXPECTED FOR SATURDAY AT THE SURFACE. MODELS STILL ARE PAINTING A DRIER AND WARMER SCENARIO FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK...THEN A WEAK DISTURBANCE COULD BRING LIGHT PRECIPITATION TUESDAY. THE EUROPEAN IS MORE BULLISH ON THIS SOLUTION. VENTILATION WILL BE MOSTLY POOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH SOME IMPROVEMENT TUESDAY. THE LONGER RANGE PICTURE FOR THE LATTER HALF OF NEXT WEEK LOOKS TO BE CLEARING UP SOME BUT CONFIDENCE REMAINS PRETTY LOW. MODELS ARE SHOWING A CLOSED LOW DEVELOPING OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEXT WEDNESDAY AND DROP IT SOUTH INTO BAJA CALIFORNIA THEREAFTER. MEANWHILE A NORTHERN BRANCH SHORT WAVE ARRIVES FROM THE NORTH WITH AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT LATE THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY...BRINGING COLDER TEMPERATURES AND MAYBE SOME PRECIPITATION TO THE EAST. CHJ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FARMINGTON...................... 44 21 40 18 / 50 20 5 0 DULCE........................... 39 13 36 15 / 70 40 20 10 CUBA............................ 42 21 39 19 / 50 20 10 5 GALLUP.......................... 43 15 40 12 / 20 10 5 0 EL MORRO........................ 42 20 38 15 / 20 5 10 0 GRANTS.......................... 44 14 39 9 / 20 5 5 0 QUEMADO......................... 45 24 39 21 / 10 5 0 0 GLENWOOD........................ 56 25 52 21 / 5 5 0 0 CHAMA........................... 36 16 33 16 / 90 60 30 10 LOS ALAMOS...................... 44 25 40 23 / 30 20 20 5 PECOS........................... 43 22 39 19 / 20 20 20 5 CERRO/QUESTA.................... 39 10 35 8 / 50 50 30 20 RED RIVER....................... 31 18 28 15 / 70 70 50 30 ANGEL FIRE...................... 36 16 30 12 / 50 50 50 30 TAOS............................ 42 15 37 15 / 50 30 20 10 MORA............................ 42 19 33 15 / 20 20 20 10 ESPANOLA........................ 50 21 45 17 / 20 10 10 0 SANTA FE........................ 45 24 41 20 / 40 30 20 5 SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 48 23 44 22 / 30 20 10 5 ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 50 29 46 24 / 20 10 5 0 ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 52 30 48 28 / 20 5 0 0 ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 53 28 49 25 / 20 5 0 0 ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 51 29 48 24 / 20 5 0 0 LOS LUNAS....................... 54 25 49 22 / 20 5 0 0 RIO RANCHO...................... 51 29 48 24 / 20 5 5 0 SOCORRO......................... 58 29 49 25 / 10 0 0 0 SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 46 25 45 18 / 30 20 5 0 TIJERAS......................... 49 27 48 20 / 20 10 5 0 MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 50 24 43 19 / 20 5 5 5 CLINES CORNERS.................. 47 24 41 17 / 20 10 5 5 GRAN QUIVIRA.................... 51 26 45 22 / 10 0 5 0 CARRIZOZO....................... 56 24 49 23 / 5 5 0 0 RUIDOSO......................... 53 28 43 22 / 5 5 5 5 CAPULIN......................... 45 24 30 18 / 40 80 60 20 RATON........................... 48 22 37 17 / 30 50 40 20 SPRINGER........................ 49 23 41 19 / 20 40 20 10 LAS VEGAS....................... 46 19 39 15 / 20 20 20 10 CLAYTON......................... 50 28 43 23 / 40 60 40 10 ROY............................. 49 27 42 22 / 20 30 20 10 CONCHAS......................... 59 27 50 25 / 10 20 10 5 SANTA ROSA...................... 60 29 50 24 / 10 10 5 5 TUCUMCARI....................... 62 29 50 23 / 10 20 10 5 CLOVIS.......................... 64 30 52 25 / 10 10 5 5 PORTALES........................ 65 32 53 25 / 10 10 5 0 FORT SUMNER..................... 66 29 54 25 / 10 5 5 5 ROSWELL......................... 71 32 59 29 / 5 5 0 0 PICACHO......................... 66 30 55 25 / 5 5 0 0 ELK............................. 61 30 51 24 / 5 5 5 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM MST FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ512>515-527. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 AM MST FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ503-510. && 44/40
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 601 AM MST THU FEB 2 2012 NMZ501>540-031300- 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- 601 AM MST THU FEB 2 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL PASS SLOWLY EASTWARD ALONG THE NEW MEXICO AND COLORADO BORDER TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY...BEFORE EXITING NORTHEASTWARD FRIDAY NIGHT. SNOW WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY OVER NORTHERN NEW MEXICO TODAY...WITH ACCUMULATIONS FAVORING THE NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS AND FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS. TONIGHT...THE FOCUS FOR SNOW WILL SHIFT TO THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS. PLEASE REVIEW THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL LINGER THROUGH THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS. A BACK DOOR COLD FRONT WILL ALSO BRING NORTH AND NORTHWEST WINDS WITH GUSTS AROUND 45 MPH TO THE NORTHEAST PLAINS FRIDAY. 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 THROUGH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/ABQ OR BY CALLING 1.888.386.7637. 44
3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Ski areas reported over 8 inches of snow.
Both the Santa Fe Ski area and the Santa Fe SNOTEL received just over a foot of snow.
Between 2 and 6 inches of snow was reported across the Santa Fe Metro area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, February 2012
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: 355867, 355868, 355869.