Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Mexico, February 25 to 28, 2015

Name: Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Mexico, February 25 to 28, 2015
Start: 2015-02-25T17:00
End: 2015-02-28T23:59
Location: New Mexico

February 25 to 28, 2015 · NWS ABQ · 33 events in 33 counties and zones

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 33

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.

This heavy snow event followed quickly on the heels of the initial heavy snow event from the 22nd to the 24th. Several upper level disturbances embedded in a deep fetch of abundant subtropical moisture continued shifting northeastward over New Mexico. This moisture and instability interacted with a record cold airmass entrenched over the state. Numerous locations reported record low maximum temperatures. Snow was measured in feet over the northern high terrain where record-breaking amounts were reported. This was the best period of snow in years for many resort locations across the northern mountains. Snowpack received a huge boost as many SNOTELs overcame huge deficits to end the month near normal to even above normal.

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 Feb 25, 3:33 PM MST, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 25, 3:33 PM MST, 1 hour 27 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
333 PM MST WED FEB 25 2015

.SYNOPSIS...
AN ACTIVE WINTER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE FOR THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT
THROUGH NEXT WEEK AS A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES IMPACT
THE AREA. THE FIRST WILL COMBINE WITH A POTENT BACKDOOR COLD FRONT
TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ACROSS THE SANGRE DE CRISTO
MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT HIGHLANDS TONIGHT INTO LATE THURSDAY
MORNING...WITH LESSER AMOUNTS FOR THE REST OF THE EASTERN PLAINS.
THE SECOND WILL BRING POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT SNOW THURSDAY NIGHT
INTO FRIDAY...IMPACTING MUCH OF THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS...AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS. THE LAST SYSTEM WILL
POTENTIALLY BE THE STRONGEST AND LONGEST LASTING...BRINGING
POTENTIALLY HEAVY SNOW TO MUCH OF NORTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW
MEXICO. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN BELOW TO WELL BELOW NORMAL
THROUGHOUT THIS TIME...WITH PORTIONS OF THE NORTHEAST POTENTIALLY NOT
SEEING HIGHS ABOVE FREEZING AGAIN UNTIL MONDAY.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
A VERY ACTIVE WINTER WEATHER PATTERN WILL OFFER LITTLE BREAK FOR
THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT THROUGH THE NEXT WEEK...SO ENJOY THE BRIEF
BREAK TODAY WHILE YOU CAN. RADAR IMAGES ALREADY INDICATE SHOWERS
BEGINNING TO DEVELOP ALONG AND JUST EAST OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO
MOUNTAINS THANKS TO A BIT OF AFTERNOON INSTABILITY. THE FIRST
UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE CURRENTLY SITS OVER FAR SE UTAH AND WILL
BE THE FOCUS FOR ACTIVITY INTO THURSDAY. A POTENT BACKDOOR COLD
FRONT WILL SLIDE DOWN THE EASTERN PLAINS TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY
MORNING...AND PROVIDE MUCH COOLER AIR AND SIGNIFICANT UPSLOPE
FLOW. THE FRONT AND DISTURBANCE WILL COMBINE TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT
SNOWFALL ACROSS THE SANGRES AND ADJACENT HIGHLANDS WITH LESSER
AMOUNTS ELSEWHERE. ONE THING TO WATCH IS FRONTOGENSIS DEVELOPMENT
BETWEEN TUCUMCARI AND NORTHERN CURRY COUNTY...WHICH MAY CREATE
HEAVIER BANDS OF SNOW IN THAT AREA AND RESULT IN HIGHER AMOUNTS.
SHOWERS WILL TAPER OFF IN THE LATE MORNING HOURS THURSDAY AS THE
DISTURBANCE MOVES EAST...BUT NOT COMPLETELY END OVER THE MOUNTAINS
AS THE SECOND DISTURBANCE IS RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF THE FIRST.
HIGHS THURSDAY WILL BE WELL BELOW NORMAL AREA WIDE...AND UP TO 40
DEGREES BELOW NORMAL ACROSS THE NE.

THE SECOND DISTURBANCE WILL DIG SLIGHTLY FARTHER SW THURSDAY NIGHT
INTO FRIDAY...SHIFTING THE MAIN PRECIPITATION FOCUS TO CENTRAL NEW
MEXICO. HEAVIEST AMOUNTS WILL BE ALONG AND EAST OF THE
SANDIAS AND SOUTHERN SANGRES...BUT MUCH OF NORTH CENTRAL AND
EASTERN NM WILL SEE SOME SNOW. EXISTING WARNINGS/ADVISORIES MAY BE
EXTENDED AS A RESULT OF THE CONTINUATION OF THE SNOW...OR FOLLOWING
SHIFTS MIGHT DEEM ENOUGH OF A LULL TO ISSUE SEPARATE HAZARDS FOR
THIS SECOND EVENT. EXPANSION OF WATCH IS POSSIBLE TOO...BUT WILL
LET FOLLOWING SHIFTS MAKE FINAL JUDGMENT. THE ALBUQUERQUE METRO
WILL BE TOUGHEST TO PEG...AS NEAR ADVISORY LEVEL GAP
WINDS...THOUGH SHALLOW...BATTLE POTENTIAL SNOW BANDING OVER THE
AREA. THE 12Z NAM SHOWED A STRONG BAND OVER THE METRO THAT WOULD
BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE FAIRLY SHALLOW EAST WIND LAYER...BUT THE
SUBSEQUENT 18Z RUN HAS A BAND FARTHER SOUTH AND NORTH OF THE AREA.
THIS WILL BE SOMETHING TO MONITOR FOR EVENTUAL WARNING/ADVISORY
DECISION. AGAIN...WITH THIS DISTURBANCE QUICKLY EXITING EAST
FRIDAY...SHOWERS WILL TAPER OFF BY THE AFTERNOON...ONLY FOR THE
THIRD DISTURBANCE TO INITIATE SHOWERS AGAIN ACROSS W/NW NM FRIDAY
NIGHT. HIGHS FRIDAY WILL GENERALLY BE A FEW DEGREES COOLER THAN
THURSDAY.

THE THIRD DISTURBANCE WILL BE THE STRONGEST...BECOMING A CLOSED
LOW OVER OREGON FRIDAY AND PRETTY MUCH REMAINING CLOSED AS IT DIGS
SOUTH INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. SW FLOW AHEAD OF THAT SYSTEM WILL
KEEP GOOD FORCING OVER NW NM FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...WITH
PRECIPITATION CHANCES BEING FOCUSED OVER WESTERN NM. THE SYSTEM WILL
EJECT AND WEAKEN SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...AND PRECIPITATION WILL
SPREAD EAST WITH IT. SNOW LEVELS WILL INITIALLY BE HIGH WITH THIS
SYSTEM AS THE SW FLOW DRAGS WARMER AIR ALOFT TO THE
AREA...EVIDENCED BY 700MB TEMPS NEAR FREEZING OVER ABQ SUNDAY AND
MONDAY. SO RAIN WILL BE COMMON FOR VALLEY LOCATIONS WITH A
RAIN/SNOW MIX HIGHER UP. HIGHS TEMPS WILL WARM AS WELL...THOUGH
GENERALLY REMAIN BELOW NORMAL. JUST WHEN YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE
OVER...A FOURTH DISTURBANCE WILL FOLLOW RIGHT IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF
THE THIRD...AND KEEP SHOWERS GOING FOR MUCH OF NORTHERN AND
CENTRAL NM THROUGH THURSDAY. AFTER IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE...FEET
OF SNOW WILL HAVE LIKELY FALLEN OVER PARTS OF THE NORTHERN
MOUNTAINS THROUGH THURSDAY. FORTUNATELY...MODELS SEEM TO AGREE
THAT SOME REPRIEVE FROM THIS ACTIVE PATTERN WILL COME LATE NEXT
WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND...THOUGH THAT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
STILL LOOKS VERY UNSETTLED THROUGH AT LEAST THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK
DUE TO SEVERAL SYSTEM PASSAGES. SOME OF THE SYSTEMS WILL FAVOR
EASTERN AREAS LIKE THE NEAR TERM SYSTEM WHILE OTHERS WILL FAVOR
WESTERN/CENTRAL AREAS.

NEXT STORM SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY BEARING DOWN ON THE FORECAST AREA AND
ESPECIALLY THE PLAINS AND EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO
TONIGHT. A PREFRONTAL WIND SHIFT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED ACROSS MOST OF
THE EASTERN PLAINS AND ADDITIONAL COLD AIR WILL RAPIDLY DESCEND ON
THE PLAINS THIS EVENING. THIS IS WHEN THE WETTING PRECIPITATION WILL
START UP. THE COOLER AIR SHOULD PUSH THROUGH THE CENTRAL MTN
GAPS...ESPECIALLY AT ALBUQUERQUE AND SANTA FE...AND CREATE GUSTY GAP
WINDS LATER TONIGHT. IN ALL ACTUALITY...THERE WILL BE VERY LITTLE
SEPARATION IN THE TWO CLIPPER WAVES AND BACK DOOR SURGES THAT OCCUR
THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. THE THURSDAY NIGHT/FRIDAY SYSTEM SHOULD PUSH
COOLER AIR EVEN FURTHER WEST AND ALLOW FOR SOME ACCUMULATIONS
FURTHER WEST OF THE CENTRAL MTNS. VENTILATION ON THURSDAY WILL BE
PRETTY GOOD BUT LOWER ON FRIDAY THANKS TO LOWER MIXING HEIGHTS.
HUMIDITY VALUES WILL BE UNUSUALLY HIGH WITH A COOLER THAN NORMAL
AIRMASS.

THE FOCUS WILL SHIFT TOWARDS WESTERN/CENTRAL AREAS DURING THE
WEEKEND AS A MORE POWERFUL PACIFIC LOW TAKES AIM ON THE STATE. THIS
LOW APPEARS TO BE SLOW MOVING AND SHOULD TAP INTO SOME HIGHER
SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE. SNOW LEVELS WILL EVENTUALLY RISE AS THE
WARMER/MORE MOIST AIR FLOWS UP OVER THE STATE. OROGRAPHIC LIFT ALONG
THE MOUNTAINS SHOULD PROVIDE BENEFICIAL WETTING MOISTURE FAVORING
THE WESTERN/NORTHERN MTNS. THE NE HIGHLANDS AND PLAINS SHOULD
BENEFIT FROM MOIST AIR FLOWING OVER A COOLER DOME FOUND NEAR THE
SURFACE. HUMIDITY VALUES WILL REMAIN QUITE HIGH ALTHOUGH
TEMPERATURES WILL MODIFY SOME. HIGH TEMPS SHOULD REMAIN BELOW NORMAL
HOWEVER. AREAS FOUND ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WESTWARD SHOULD DO
REALLY...REALLY WELL. SIMILARLY FOR AREAS AROUND CHAMA AND THE NW
MTNS. CONFIDENCE FOR THE WEEKEND EVENT IS QUITE HIGH...ESPECIALLY
LIQUID WATER AMOUNTS. TYPE OF PRECIPITATION...RAIN VERSUS FREEZING
VERSUS SNOW WILL MOST LIKELY VARY SOME AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE EVENT
PERIOD.

THE SYSTEM SHOULD WEAKEN SOMETIME ON MONDAY BUT ANOTHER PIECE OF THE
PACIFIC JET STREAM AND ASSOCIATED LOW PRESSURE AREA SHOULD TAKE AIM ON
THE STATE TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY. ANOTHER BACK DOOR COLD FRONT IS
PROJECTED AHEAD OF THIS WAVE PASSAGE WHICH MEANS A PRETTY SOLID
PHASING OF THE UPPER AND LOWER LEVEL LIFT DYNAMICS. THE BACK DOOR
COLD FRONT ALSO MEANS LOWERING SNOW LEVELS. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS
TREND BUT ECMWF/GFS LOOK PRETTY SIMILAR. CONFIDENCE FOR THIS SYSTEM
IS AT LEAST MODERATE ALTHOUGH DETAILS WOULD MOST LIKELY VARY SOME.
VENTILATION LOOKS TO BE PRETTY GOOD EARLY NEXT WEEK BASED ON
PROJECTED HIGHER MIXING HEIGHTS AND TRANSPORT WINDS. HUMIDITY VALUES
WOULD REMAIN ON THE HIGH SIDE.

50

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF CYCLE
WX CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE DURING THE NEXT 6 TO 12 HRS THANKS
TO A BACK DOOR COLD FRONT AND CLIPPER SYSTEM. INITIAL BAND OF MID
LEVEL CLOUDS WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EMBEDDED
WITH BE GUSTY NW WINDS. WIND SPEED GUSTS SHOULD BE 30 KT OR LESS
AT TERMINAL SITES. WIND SPEEDS WILL DECREASE ACROSS
WESTERN/CENTRAL SITES THIS EVENING AS THE COLD FRONT PLUNGES
SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE PLAINS AND EVENTUALLY SQUEEZES THROUGH THE
CENTRAL MTN GAPS. INCREASED GAP WIND EXPECTED AT ABQ/SAF AS A
RESULT BUT SPEEDS SHOULD BE MODERATE AND GENERALLY OCCUR AFTER 6Z.
THE MAIN IMPACT DUE TO THE FRONT WILL BE LOWER CIGS/VIS DUE TO
INCREASED SN. LVS/TCC WILL MOST ASSUREDLY DROP DOWN INTO IFR/LIFR
STATUS ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE A MVFR TRANSITION. THAT WILL LAST
THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. ROW WILL MOST LIKELY EXPERIENCE MVFR
CONDITIONS AFTER 12Z. MVFR CIGS POSSIBLE AT SAF LATER TONIGHT.

50

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
FARMINGTON......................  19  40  23  40 /   0  10  30  50
DULCE...........................  11  36  18  35 /  10  20  50  60
CUBA............................  17  37  16  33 /   0  10  70  50
GALLUP..........................  16  45  18  43 /   0  10  30  40
EL MORRO........................  20  40  21  40 /   0  10  50  40
GRANTS..........................  16  41  18  39 /   0  10  60  30
QUEMADO.........................  23  45  24  47 /   0  10  30  10
GLENWOOD........................  30  59  28  64 /   0   0  10   5
CHAMA...........................  10  33  14  33 /  30  30  60  60
LOS ALAMOS......................  23  30  17  28 /  20  20  90  40
PECOS...........................  20  27  11  24 /  60  50 100  50
CERRO/QUESTA....................  14  28  10  27 /  70  30  80  50
RED RIVER.......................  12  24   7  23 /  80  60  80  60
ANGEL FIRE......................   9  25   3  23 /  90  70  80  60
TAOS............................  19  29  14  29 /  60  20  70  50
MORA............................  16  24   8  24 /  90  70  90  50
ESPANOLA........................  24  36  17  31 /  20  10  80  40
SANTA FE........................  25  31  17  26 /  30  10 100  40
SANTA FE AIRPORT................  24  35  16  28 /  20  10  90  30
ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS...........  31  40  25  36 /   5   5  90  40
ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS.............  29  43  24  38 /   0   5  80  30
ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY..............  25  44  21  39 /   0   5  80  30
ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA...........  28  42  22  38 /   0   5  80  30
LOS LUNAS.......................  24  45  23  40 /   0   5  70  30
RIO RANCHO......................  27  42  22  38 /   0   5  80  20
SOCORRO.........................  29  49  26  50 /   0   5  40  10
SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST.........  22  34  17  30 /  10  10 100  50
TIJERAS.........................  24  39  20  31 /   5   5 100  50
MORIARTY/ESTANCIA...............  16  31  11  25 /  30  20 100  50
CLINES CORNERS..................  19  27   9  22 /  70  40 100  50
GRAN QUIVIRA....................  23  34  18  34 /   5  10  80  30
CARRIZOZO.......................  26  40  19  42 /   5   5  50  20
RUIDOSO.........................  22  35  12  39 /  10  20  50  20
CAPULIN.........................  11  18   4  18 /  90  80  60  50
RATON...........................  16  21   7  20 / 100  80  70  50
SPRINGER........................  17  22   8  22 / 100  80  70  50
LAS VEGAS.......................  14  20   6  20 / 100  70  90  50
CLAYTON.........................  14  19   4  18 /  70  50  60  60
ROY.............................  15  22   5  19 / 100  70  70  50
CONCHAS.........................  24  25  13  24 / 100  40  80  50
SANTA ROSA......................  22  27  13  25 /  90  40  80  50
TUCUMCARI.......................  23  27  12  24 /  80  40  80  60
CLOVIS..........................  21  30  11  24 /  70  20  60  50
PORTALES........................  23  32  12  25 /  70  20  60  40
FORT SUMNER.....................  24  31  14  26 /  60  40  60  40
ROSWELL.........................  31  37  20  31 /  20  20  30  30
PICACHO.........................  27  32  15  28 /  10  30  40  30
ELK.............................  25  30  13  30 /  10  20  40  20

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON MST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES...NMZ516-530-533>535.

WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON MST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES...NMZ512>515-527>529-531-532.

WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ510-511-517>519-521>524.

&&

24

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 25, 5:24 AM MST, 11 hours 36 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
524 AM MST WED FEB 25 2015

NMZ501>540-261300-
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-
524 AM MST WED FEB 25 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
NEW MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM AND BACK DOOR COLD FRONT WILL BRING ANOTHER
ROUND OF SNOW TO THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF NEW MEXICO TONIGHT
THROUGH THURSDAY. BEST CHANCES FOR HEAVY SNOWFALL EXIST FROM THE
SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ACROSS THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS. TRAVEL
WILL BE ADVERSELY IMPACTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

SNOW MAY NOT FULLY TAPER OFF THURSDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE THE NEXT
ROUND OF SNOW BEGINS. ANOTHER SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL BRING HEAVY
SNOWFALL TO THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...THE SANDIA AND MANZANO
MOUNTAINS...ESTANCIA VALLEY AND THE ADJACENT CENTRAL AND SOUTH
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. SNOWFALL RATES MAY EXCEED ONE INCH PER
HOUR...WHICH WILL QUICKLY DETERIORATE ROAD CONDITIONS AND SEVERELY
LOWER VISIBILITIES.

THE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND
INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH THE FOCUS FOR HEAVY SNOWFALL SHIFTING
OVER THE NORTHWEST HALF OF THE STATE. A LONG DURATION SIGNIFICANT
SNOW EVENT WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH
MONDAY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS.

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. YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT STORM REPORTS
AND PHOTOS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR VIA TWITTER USING THE HASHTAG
N M W X.

34

Event by event

32 heavy snow, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet/Red River

When: February 25, 5:00 PM MST to February 28, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet/Red River forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP and public reports averaged between 25 and 30 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm. The snowfall accumulation from February 26th through March 1st in Red River was the heaviest since 2006. The 11 inches reported on the 1st set a record for the day.

Heavy Snow, Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet

When: February 25, 5:00 PM MST to February 28, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 9500 Feet forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

SNOTEL and public reports averaged between 9 and 17 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm.

Heavy Snow, West Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

When: February 25, 5:00 PM MST to February 28, 11:59 PM MST
Where: West Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS, SNOTEL, and public reports averaged between 12 and 20 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm. Arroyo Seco reported a whopping 20.5 inches of snow for the 3-day period ending February 28th. It was the heaviest 3-day event at Pecos National Monument since 2010. The 4 inches on the 26th and the 7 inches on the 28th at Pecos set new records for those dates, respectively.

Heavy Snow, East Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

When: February 25, 5:00 PM MST to February 28, 11:59 PM MST
Where: East Slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS, SNOTEL, and public reports averaged between 12 and 18 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm. The 3-day snowfall total in Gascon was the most since 2006.

Heavy Snow, Upper Rio Grande Valley

When: February 25, 5:00 PM MST to February 28, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Upper Rio Grande Valley forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS reports averaged between 12 and 16 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm. Climate records indicated this was the 6th heaviest 3-day snowfall event for Taos dating back to 1892. Many folks attested they had not seen this amount of snow since 2006.

Heavy Snow, Raton Ridge/Johnson Mesa

When: February 25, 6:00 PM MST to February 28, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Raton Ridge/Johnson Mesa forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP reports averaged between 6 and 9 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm. Frigid temperatures and gusty winds created deeper drifts and hazardous travel conditions.

Heavy Snow, Far Northeast Highlands

When: February 25, 6:00 PM MST to February 27, 11:59 AM MST
Where: Far Northeast Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP and public reports averaged between 3 and 8 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm. The bulk of the heavy snowfall ended on the 26th followed by an extended duration of light snow and bitterly cold temperatures and gusty winds through the 27th. The 2 inches that fell in Maxwell on the 26th set a new record for the date.

Heavy Snow, Northeast Highlands

When: February 25, 6:00 PM MST to February 27, 11:59 AM MST
Where: Northeast Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS, trained spotters, and public reports averaged between 2 and 8 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm. A lull in precipitation occurred during the afternoon of the 26th before another impressive round of snow moved over the area during the overnight hours. The heaviest amounts fell immediately south of Las Vegas within a very heavy snow band.

Heavy Snow, Eastern San Miguel County

When: February 25, 6:00 PM MST to February 27, 11:59 AM MST
Where: Eastern San Miguel County forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS, trained spotters, and public reports averaged between 8 and 10 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm. A lull in the activity developed during the afternoon of the 26th before another round of heavy snowfall moved through overnight. The heaviest amounts occurred around Mosquero. The 3 inches that fell in Conchas Dam on the 27th set a new record for the date.

Heavy Snow, Harding County

When: February 25, 9:00 PM MST to February 27, 11:59 AM MST
Where: Harding County forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS, trained spotters, and public reports averaged from 4 to 5 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm. A lull in the precipitation during the afternoon of the 26th was followed by another intense round of heavy snowfall overnight. The heaviest amounts fell along a line from Roy to Bueyeros southward. The 2 inches of snow in Mosquero on the 27th set a new record for the day.

Heavy Snow, Jemez Mountains

When: February 26, 7:00 PM MST to February 28, 11:59 PM MST
Where: Jemez Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP, CoCoRaHS, SNOTEL, and public reports averaged between 13 and 33 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm. The 33 inches at Wolf Canyon was the 5th heaviest 4-day snowfall event ever reported at the site dating back to 1912. The 16 inches on the 28th also set a new record for the date.

Heavy Snow, San Juan Mountains

When: February 26, 7:00 PM MST to February 28, 11:59 PM MST
Where: San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP, CoCoRaHS, SNOTEL, and public reports averaged between 20 and 43 inches storm total snow during this extended winter storm. The 16 inches reported in Chama on the 28th was a record for the date and the 17 inches on the 1st was also a record for the date. The 33 inches for the 2-day period ending on the 1st was the 7th heaviest snowfall event dating back to 1893. In El Vado, the 12 inches on the 28th and the 10 inches on the 1st were a new records for the date, respectively. The 25 inches from the 27th through the 1st in El Vado set a new record for 3-day accumulations dating back to 1906.

Heavy Snow, Santa Fe Metro Area

When: February 26, 7:00 PM MST to February 28, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Santa Fe Metro Area forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP, CoCoRaHS, trained spotter, and public reports average between 4 and 7 inches during this prolonged winter event. The first impulse of snow early on the 27th produced a couple inches of snow followed by a lull during the afternoon. The most intense snowfall impacted the area in a very heavy band during the predawn hours of the 28th. The roughly 6 inches of snow in Santa Fe on the 28th set a new record for the date.

Heavy Snow, Sandia/Manzano Mountains

When: February 26, 7:00 PM MST to February 28, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Sandia/Manzano Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee

An extraordinary number of reports were received during this prolonged winter event. The first impulse of snow early on the 27th produced 3 to 6 inches of snow followed by a lull during the afternoon. The most intense snowfall impacted the area in a very heavy band from the evening of the 27th to sunrise on the 28th where an additional 3 to 8 inches was reported. Major impacts to travel were noted along Interstate 40 within Tijeras Canyon and around the east mountain communities.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Lincoln County

When: February 26, 7:00 PM MST to February 27, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Eastern Lincoln County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotters between 3 and 8 inches of new snow from near Picacho north to areas east of Corona. The heaviest snowfall occurred during the overnight hours of the 26th through sunrise on the 27th.

Heavy Snow, South Central Highlands

When: February 26, 7:00 PM MST to February 27, 10:00 AM MST
Where: South Central Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotters between 5 and 7 inches of new snow from near Corona to areas south of Mountainair. The heaviest snowfall occurred from the late evening hours of the 26th through the predawn hours of the 27th. U.S. Highway 54 closed from Carrizozo, through Corona towards Vaughn due to the weather conditions and accidents.

Heavy Snow, Guadalupe County

When: February 26, 7:00 PM MST to February 27, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Guadalupe County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotters reported between 3 and 6 inches of new snow from Anton Chico to Santa Rosa and Newkirk. The heaviest snowfall occurred during the overnight hours of the 26th through sunrise on the 27th. Hazardous travel conditions were reported along Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 54 was closed from Vaughn towards Corona. The 6.5 inches on the 26th and the 3 inches on the 27th in Dilia each set a new record for the date. It was also the heaviest 3-day accumulation in Dilia since 2005.

Winter Weather, Upper Tularosa Valley

When: February 26, 7:00 PM MST to February 27, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Upper Tularosa Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways

Light snow, freezing fog and black ice caused the closure of U.S. Highway 54 around 530am on the 27th from Carrizozo to Corona.

Heavy Snow, Lower Chama River Valley

When: February 26, 8:00 PM MST to February 28, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Lower Chama River Valley forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS reports around the Espanola area averaged between 3 and 7 inches of snowfall. The bulk of the snow fell in a heavy band during the early morning hours of the 28th.

Heavy Snow, Albuquerque Metro Area

When: February 26, 8:00 PM MST to February 28, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Albuquerque Metro Area forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee

An extraordinary number of reports were received during this prolonged winter event. This was the most significant event to impact the Albuquerque metro area since 2006. The Albuquerque International Sunport broke daily snowfall records on both the 27th and the 28th. It was the 9th heaviest 2-day snowfall event on record dating back to 1931. The first impulse of snow early on the 27th produced a couple inches of snow followed by a lull during the afternoon. The most intense snowfall impacted the area in a very heavy band from the evening of the 27th to sunrise on the 28th. Interstate 40 west of Albuquerque closed late on the 26th and the on-ramp from Coors Road onto Interstate 40 EB closed during the morning on the 27th due to snowl and icy conditions. This snow also caused Rio Rancho public schools to close on the 27th. The interchange from Interstate 25 NB onto Interstate 40 WB closed late on the 27th into the 28th due to heavy snow and ice on the overpass. Both Albuquerque and Rio Rancho public schools closed on the 28th.

Heavy Snow, De Baca County

When: February 26, 8:00 PM MST to February 27, 12:00 PM MST
Where: De Baca County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotters and public reported between 3 and 6 inches of new snow from Fort Sumner to Sumner Lake and Taiban. The heaviest snowfall occurred during the overnight hours of the 26th through sunrise on the 27th. The 4 inches in Sumner Lake and the 5 inches south of Fort Sumner on the 27th each set a new record for the date. The 1-day snowfall total in Fort Sumner was the most since 2010.

Heavy Snow, Estancia Valley

When: February 26, 8:00 PM MST to February 27, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Estancia Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A large area of snowfall pushed east over the Estancia Valley during the evening of the 26th and produced around 3 to 5 inches of snowfall. The heaviest snow fell around midnight when visibilities were reduced to three-quarters of a mile at Moriarty. Impacts to travel were noted along Interstate 40. The 3.2 inches on the 27th and the 9 inches on the 28th in Stanley, NM set new records for the date, with records dating back to 1955. The 9 inches also was the heaviest 1-day total since 2006 and ranks as the 5th highest on record.

Heavy Snow, Central Highlands

When: February 26, 8:00 PM MST to February 27, 11:00 AM MST
Where: Central Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Strong and bitterly cold easterly upslope flow produced a heavy round of snow during the evening of the 26th through the morning of the 27th. The heaviest snow fell around Duran where 10 inches was reported. Impacts to travel were noted along Interstate 40 as well. The 2.8 inches on the 27th in Pedernal, NM set a new record for the date, dating back to 1956.

Heavy Snow, Quay County

When: February 26, 8:00 PM MST to February 27, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Quay County forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS and trained spotters reported between 3 and 6 inches of new snow over the entire county. The heaviest snowfall occurred during the overnight hours of the 26th through sunrise on the 27th. Travel was impacted along Interstate 40. The 2.3 inches reported on the 27th in Tucumcari, NM and the 4 inches reported on the 26th in Ragland, NM each set a new record for the respective dates.

Heavy Snow, Roosevelt County

When: February 26, 9:00 PM MST to February 27, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Roosevelt County forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotters reported between 2 and 6 inches of new snow from Portales to Arch and Floyd. The heaviest snowfall occurred during the overnight hours of the 26th through sunrise on the 27th. The 1 inch of snow on the 26th and the 2.1 inches on the 27th in Portales set new records for the dates.

Heavy Snow, Curry County

When: February 26, 9:00 PM MST to February 27, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Curry County forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP, CoCoRaHS, trained spotters, and public reports averaged between 3 and 7 inches of new snow over the entire county. The heaviest snowfall occurred along the Quay County border during the overnight hours of the 26th through sunrise on the 27th.

Heavy Snow, Chaves County Plains

When: February 26, 10:00 PM MST to February 27, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Chaves County Plains forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP, CoCoRaHS, trained spotters, and public reports averaged between 3 and 5 inches of new snow. The heaviest snowfall occurred during the overnight hours of the 26th through sunrise on the 27th. Severe driving conditions were reported along U.S. Highway 70 near Roswell due to black ice, which caused 1 semi-truck to jackknife early on the 27th. Travel along U.S. Highway 285 was also impacted. The 5 inches at the Bitter Lakes Wildlife Refuge on the 27th set a new record for the date, and tied for the 14th heaviest single-day snowfall dating back to 1951. The 3.8 inches in Roswell on the 27th also set a new record for the date.

Heavy Snow, Chuska Mountains

When: February 27, 8:00 AM MST to February 28, 3:00 PM MST
Where: Chuska Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Navajo Whiskey SNOTEL reported a 2-day total of around 9 inches. Storm total amounts through the entire active pattern since the 24th averaged about 15 inches.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Plateau

When: February 27, 9:00 AM MST to February 28, 5:00 PM MST
Where: Northwest Plateau forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS and trained spotters reported between 3 and 7 inches of snowfall around Farmington, Bloomfield, and Aztec. The first round of snow on the morning of the 27th was followed by freezing fog and flurries before the heaviest round of snow impacted the area early on the 28th. These were the heaviest 2-day snowfall amounts seen in the area since 2010.

Heavy Snow, Far Northwest Highlands

When: February 27, 9:00 AM MST to February 28, 5:00 PM MST
Where: Far Northwest Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS and public reports averaged between 2 and 6 inches between Navajo and points around Cedar Hill.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Highlands

When: February 27, 10:00 AM MST to February 28, 5:00 PM MST
Where: Northwest Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media

Public reported near 11 inches in Ojo Encino with drifts as high as 3 feet. The heaviest snow fell during the early morning hours of the 28th along the north edge of the same intense snow band that impacted the Albuquerque and Santa Fe metropolitan areas. Otis ,NM set new records for the date on the 27th and 28th, with 3.6 inches and 16.3 inches, respectively. The 16.3 inches was the heaviest 1-day total on record, dating back to 1958. Lindrith, NM received 15 inches on the 28th, setting a new record for the date and becoming the heaviest 1-day total on record, dating back to 1972. The 9 inches that fell near Cuba on the 28th also set a new record for the date.

Heavy Snow, West Central Plateau

When: February 27, 12:00 PM MST to February 28, 9:00 AM MST
Where: West Central Plateau forecast zone
Reported by: Amateur Radio

CoCoRaHS, public, and amateur radio reports averaged between 4 and 5 inches around the Gallup area. Observers reported the snow was very wet and heavy. The 4 inches in the Gallup area set a new record for the date.

Heavy Snow, West Central Highlands

When: February 27, 12:00 PM MST to February 28, 10:00 AM MST
Where: West Central Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP, trained spotters, and public reports indicated between 3 and 6 inches of snow fell from Grants to Cubero and Laguna. The heaviest snowfall impacted the area as an intense band of snow moved through during the early morning hours of the 28th. Hazardous travel conditions were reported along Interstate 40. Cubero received 6 inches of snow on the 28th, setting a new record for the date and was the most snowfall seen in 1 day since 2011.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Winter Weather: Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in New Mexico in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in New Mexico, February 2015

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: 554327, 554328, 554329, 554330, 554401, 554326, 554332, 554334, 554337, 554336, 554377, 554378, 554382, 554384, 554387, 554388, 554473, 554533, 554381, 554383, 554386, 554389, 554390, 554475, 554385, 554477, 554478, 554458, 554457, 554459, 554464, 554465, 554469.