An upper level storm system over Utah shifted slowly east southeast across New Mexico on the 15th and 16th. Meanwhile a powerful back door cold front moved south and west across the eastern plains, ushering in the coldest temperatures of the fall season.
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 storm system over Utah shifted slowly east southeast across New Mexico on the 15th and 16th. Meanwhile a powerful back door cold front moved south and west across the eastern plains, ushering in the coldest temperatures of the fall season. The combination of cold air, sufficient moisture, and upslope flow along the central mountain chain produced hefty snowfall accumulations. Upwards of 12 to 18 inches were reported in portions of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with roughly 1 to 5 inches over much of the eastern plains. No major impacts to travel were noted along interstate corridors, however U.S. Highway 54 was closed within Quay County.
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 Nov 15, 4:59 PM MST, 3 hours 1 minute earlier.
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</html>15 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Trained spotters, SNOTELs, and COOP sites reported between 6 and 9 inches of snow. No major impacts to travel were noted.
Numerous reports across the area reported between 6 and 18 inches of snow. The heaviest amounts occurred around Angel Fire. This was the first major snowfall of the fall season for the area. Difficult driving conditions were reported across much of this region.
Numerous reports of between 3 and 12 inches of snow from social media, CoCoRaHS, and SNOTELs. The heaviest amounts fell along U.S. Highway 64 between Taos and Angel Fire. Difficult driving conditions were reported across the area.
Ski sites and SNOTELs reported between 5 and 8 inches of snow. Difficult driving conditions were reported across the area.
Social media and SNOTELs reported between 4 and 8 inches of snow. Difficult driving conditions were reported across the area.
Numerous reports across the area reported between 2 and 5 inches of snow. Difficult driving conditions were reported across much of this area.
Numerous reports from trained spotters, CoCoRaHS, public, and social media across the area reported between 4 and 8 inches of snow. Difficult driving conditions were reported across the area.
Numerous reports from trained spotters and public across the area reported between 4 and 7 inches of snow. Difficult driving conditions were reported across the area.
Numerous reports from trained spotters, CoCoRaHS, public, and social media across the area reported between 2 and 4 inches of snow.
Numerous reports from trained spotters, CoCoRaHS, public, and social media across the area reported between 2 and 4 inches of snow.
Numerous reports from COOP and public reported between 3 and 5 inches of snow. U.S. Highway 54 was closed at mile marker 304 near Montoya. Roads were impassible.
Reports from fire department and trained spotters reported between 3 and 5 inches of snow.
Numerous sites including COOP reported between 2 and 4 inches of snow.
Numerous reports from trained spotters, CoCoRaHS, public, and social media across the area reported between 3 and 7 inches of snow.
Numerous reports from COOP and trained spotters reported between 3 and 5 inches of snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, November 2014
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: 544046, 544050, 544047, 544048, 544049, 544051, 544056, 544057, 544053, 544054, 544058, 544060, 544052, 544055, 544059.