Heavy Snow, San Juan Mountains
- When
- January 16, 12:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- San Juan Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
Several SNOTELs in the San Juan Mountains picked up between 8 and 13 inches of snow.
Heavy Snow in New Mexico, January 16, 2012
A pair of storm systems brought increased moisture and stronger winds as they quickly moved across the state. The northern high terrain of New Mexico picked up over 8 inches of snow, with the highest amounts along the west facing slopes.
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 4
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 pair of storm systems brought increased moisture and stronger winds as they quickly moved across the state. The northern high terrain of New Mexico picked up over 8 inches of snow, with the highest amounts along the west facing slopes. Blowing snow resulted in low visibilities and a few roadways were closed due to the snow and blowing snow. Temperatures remained too warm for heavy accumulations at lower elevations.
Event by event
4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy Snow, West Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- When
- January 16, 12:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- West Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
Sipapu ski area picked up 9 inches of fresh snow.
Heavy Snow, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet/Red River
- When
- January 16, 12:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet/Red River forecast zone
- Reported by
- Public
Taos ski area picked up 8 inches of new snow, while area SNOTELs received up to 10 inches of snow.
Heavy Snow, Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet
- When
- January 16, 12:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
Between 10 and 11 inches of snow fell across the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
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
- Strong Wind in Texas, January 16, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Missouri, January 16 to 17, 2012
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Washington, January 16 to 20, 2012
- Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, January 16 to 17, 2012
- Heavy Snow in Washington, January 16 to 18, 2012
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Hawaii, January 16 to 17, 2012
- Winter Weather in New Jersey, January 16 to 17, 2012
- Heavy Snow in Washington, January 16 to 17, 2012
- Frost and Freeze in California, January 16 to 19, 2012
- Frost and Freeze in Florida, January 16, 2012
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, January 16 to 19, 2012
- Heavy Snow in Washington, January 16 to 18, 2012
More
Every storm in New Mexico in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, January 2012
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: 354098, 354099, 354100, 354101.