A series of winter storm systems tracked slowly through New Mexico from the 12th to the 14th and produced a long duration period of winter weather. The first storm system moved eastward out of Arizona and through New Mexico central and southern 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 series of winter storm systems tracked slowly through New Mexico from the 12th to the 14th and produced a long duration period of winter weather. The first storm system moved eastward out of Arizona and through New Mexico central and southern New Mexico. Temperatures with the first system hovered close to freezing so most of the significant impacts were experienced primarily in the higher terrain. The second system dove southeast out of the Pacific Northwest and become quasi-stationary over Arizona before weakening as it pushed through New Mexico. This second storm produced the most widespread snowfall and greatest impacts across central and western New Mexico. The most significant accumulations occurred along the Continental Divide and the northwest mountains where 6 to 12 inches were reported. Several schools and businesses were closed or operated on 2-hour delays.
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 Jan 12, 4:55 AM MST, 3 hours 5 minutes earlier.
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</html>9 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
CoCoRaHS, trained spotters, and law enforcement reported 6 to 7 inches of snowfall, primarily along Interstate 40 between Grants, Acoma Pueblo, and Laguna Pueblo. Significant impacts to travel were reported along Interstate 40.
Navajo Whiskey SNOTEL reported 12 inches of snowfall. The bulk of this accumulation occurred on the 13th.
SNOTEL and trained spotter reports indicated between 2 and 10 inches of snowfall, primarily along the Continental Divide. Significant impacts to travel were reported along Interstate 40 between Grants and Thoreau. The area around Bluewater Lake received the heaviest snowfall.
COOP and SNOTEL sites reported between 8 and 10 inches of snowfall. The majority of this snowfall accumulated on the 13th.
COOP and SNOTEL sites reported between 2 and 10 inches of snowfall. The heaviest amounts were reported between Cuba and Wolf Canyon.
Spotters reported between 4 and 5 inches of new snow as a persistent banded feature set up around Corona. Severe impacts to travel occurred within portions of this area.
COOP and trained spotter reported between 4 and 8 inches of snowfall, primarily along the Continental Divide. Significant impacts to travel were reported along U.S. Highway 550. The area around Cuba and Lindrith received the heaviest snowfall accumulations.
SNOTEL, ski site, and spotter reports indicated between 5 and 9 inches of snow in the area from Alto to Ruidoso and Sierra Blanca peak. Severe impacts to travel occurred within portions of this area.
Trained spotter reports indicated around 7 inches of snow southeast of Corona. Severe impacts to travel occurred within portions of this area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, January 2015
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: 548325, 548318, 548323, 548327, 548328, 548329, 548320, 548330, 548331.