A slow-moving, moist upper level storm system pushed across New Mexico delivering strong winds along and east of the central mountain chain and heavy snow for portions of the northern mountains. The first wave of this storm brought high elevation snow to the northern and western mountains and gusty southwest winds to central and eastern New Mexico.
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, moist upper level storm system pushed across New Mexico delivering strong winds along and east of the central mountain chain and heavy snow for portions of the northern mountains. The first wave of this storm brought high elevation snow to the northern and western mountains and gusty southwest winds to central and eastern New Mexico. The second wave of this storm was much colder and delivered widespread snowfall and gusty northwest winds. The heaviest snowfall accumulations occurred over the northern mountains where the Sangre de Cristos picked up 12 to 24 inches of snow...particularly from the second wave of the system when cold moist westerly upslope flow impacted the area.
4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Combination of SNOTEL, COOP, and trained spotters reported total snowfall accumulation of 4 to 7 inches over the San Juan mountains. Cold temperatures and gusty winds created areas of blowing snow...low visibilities...and hazardous travel with significant winter impacts probable across the area.
Combination of SNOTEL, public, and ski sites reported total snowfall accumulation of 12 to 18 inches along the west slopes of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Cold temperatures and gusty winds created areas of blowing snow and hazardous travel.
Combination of SNOTEL, COOP, and ski sites reported total snowfall accumulation of 12 to 24 inches over the northern Sangre de Cristo mountains. Cold temperatures and gusty winds created areas of blowing snow...very low visibilities...and hazardous travel.
Combination of SNOTEL and ski sites reported total snowfall accumulation of 8 to 16 inches over the southern Sangre de Cristo mountains. Cold temperatures and gusty winds created areas of blowing snow...very low visibilities...and hazardous travel.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, January 2013
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: 421823, 421816, 421817, 421818.