A pair of storm systems helped to usher in a new year as they impacted much of northern and central New Mexico on December 31, 2021 and January 1, 2022. The first storm system was a closed upper-level low pressure system off the coast of Baja California.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 pair of storm systems helped to usher in a new year as they impacted much of northern and central New Mexico on December 31, 2021 and January 1, 2022. The first storm system was a closed upper-level low pressure system off the coast of Baja California. This system moved northeastward through the area on December 31, 2021, bringing a deep tap of subtropical moisture with it. This system brought the first round of heavy snowfall to the mountainous terrain areas. The second, much colder storm system then tracked southeastward across the state on New Years' Day. Another round of heavy snow fell across much of northern and western New Mexico. With an associated backdoor cold front moving into eastern New Mexico early on January 1, 2022, this cold air advection also set the stage for additional snow accumulations across the eastern plains. Much of northern and central New Mexico received measurable snowfall with the main exceptions being the middle and lower Rio Grande Valley, including Albuquerque. The highest snowfall totals were received in the northern mountains where 10 to 20 inches of snow fell over the two day period. Due to snow-packed and icy roads, difficult to severe driving conditions were reported along several major roadways, including Interstate 40 near Gallup, Moriarty, and Tucumcari. As this event continued into January 1, 2022, it will be repeated in the January 2022 StormData entries. Key Impacts: poor travel conditions.
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 Dec 31, 3:04 AM MST, 1 hour 56 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 304 AM MST Fri Dec 31 2021 .SYNOPSIS... A winter storm will develop over NM today and deliver a major punch of heavy snow, blowing snow, low visibility, bitterly cold air, and significant travel disruptions tonight and Saturday. 5 to 10 inches of snow is likely across much of northern and western NM, with 10 to 20 inches likely above 9,000 feet. Areas from the Albuquerque metro southward may see a mix with rain initially then a couple inches by Saturday morning. A strong cold front will also move into eastern NM where snow and blowing snow is likely across the northeast plains. Bitterly cold air on Saturday will knock wind chill values into the teens below zero in many areas through Sunday morning. A slow warming trend is expected through next week with mostly sunny skies and more wind. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY)... Weather prediction models continue to trend toward a more potent and slower phasing of two upper-level troughs today through Saturday as a one-two punch remains on track to impact much of the state. The first punch is a closed upper-level low now approaching Ensenada/Northern Baja. This feature has quite a subtropical moisture tap with precipitable water (PWAT) values forecast to rise to between a third and a half inch by midday. Favored areas in southwest flow aloft (Sierra Blanca, western Tusas, western Jemez, southern Sangre de Cristo mountains east of Santa Fe along with areas in and around Wheeler Peak/TSV) will do very well with moderate to heavy snow from the moist and relatively warm storm systems moving through today. The second, much colder, punch/storm system is then forecast to race southeastward through the Great Basin and then through northern NM late tonight and New Year's Day morning. Much colder air will push in from the northwest New Year's Day with 700 mb temperatures as cold as -19C near Raton Pass and -17C near the Four Corners. Strong wind will also accompany this cold air making for wintry first day of 2022. This trough is also expected to result in a backdoor surge with snow developing Saturday afternoon across much of the northeast NM. Decided on a Winter Weather Advisory for much of the northeast NM Saturday as a result of this surge and the likelihood of any snow that falls immediately sticking to roadways. Additionally, a flash freeze is possible for many lower elevation locations Saturday morning as the very cold air races in from the north and northwest. 33 LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)... By Sunday morning, the upper level storm system responsible for the major blast of winter weather will have shifted well east into the southern Great Plains. Model surface pressure values near 1045mb will build south from CO with strong cold advection and very dry air. Min temps will bottom out in the single digits in many areas with teens below zero across northern and western valleys. The surface pressure gradient will still be strong over the area and interact with brisk northwest flow aloft to force wind chill values below zero over the entire area, with 20s below zero possible in a few spots. Wind Chill Advisories may be needed but that can wait while contending with the current heavy snow scenario for now. The remainder of next week will feature fast west to northwest flow aloft and a rather swift warming trend, especially for eastern NM. Guyer && .FIRE WEATHER... Widespread wetting precipitation is expected for much of the forecast area today into New Year's Day. Heavy snow along with strong winds are forecast for all mountain locations today and Saturday with a drying and warming trend forecast for early next week. Much colder air will push in from the north and northwest New Year's Day. Critical fire weather conditions could return Tuesday afternoon to the east-central plains thanks to strong westerly flow aloft and a relatively strong lee side low over the TX panhandle. 33 && .AVIATION... 06Z TAF CYCLE The west sees a mix of MVFR/IFR cigs tonight, with mtn obscurations and spotty SKC currently. Valley rain and mtn snow begin reaching western terminals mid to late morning 09Z-15Z, spreading to the Rio Grande Valley by 18Z. Snow spreads to lower elevations after 00Z into Friday night near the end of the TAF period. More widespread vis and cig restrictions result, notably at KSAF near midnight New Years. The eastern plains again look to miss out on precipitation Friday with more WSW/SW wind gusts of 25-35kts. A few spotty light showers could reach the southeastern plains near KROW being the exception especially after 00Z. 24 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 40 17 27 3 / 80 90 10 0 Dulce........................... 37 12 27 -13 / 100 100 50 5 Cuba............................ 36 14 25 -4 / 90 100 50 0 Gallup.......................... 37 12 23 -6 / 80 90 40 0 El Morro........................ 36 15 23 -7 / 90 100 70 0 Grants.......................... 41 16 27 -8 / 80 90 60 0 Quemado......................... 41 18 28 -4 / 80 90 80 0 Magdalena....................... 45 25 34 7 / 70 70 70 0 Datil........................... 41 24 29 3 / 70 80 80 0 Reserve......................... 45 11 37 -7 / 100 90 80 5 Glenwood........................ 46 28 39 8 / 100 90 80 5 Chama........................... 32 9 22 -11 / 100 100 70 10 Los Alamos...................... 35 23 27 4 / 90 100 70 5 Pecos........................... 39 23 31 2 / 70 90 70 20 Cerro/Questa.................... 34 22 26 -5 / 70 90 80 10 Red River....................... 31 13 23 -11 / 70 90 80 20 Angel Fire...................... 33 16 22 -18 / 70 90 90 20 Taos............................ 36 11 29 -11 / 80 90 70 10 Mora............................ 42 15 34 0 / 60 90 80 20 Espanola........................ 42 19 35 -2 / 80 90 60 5 Santa Fe........................ 37 26 30 6 / 90 90 80 10 Santa Fe Airport................ 39 23 32 4 / 80 90 70 5 Albuquerque Foothills........... 44 30 36 12 / 70 90 60 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 45 27 37 11 / 70 80 60 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 47 24 39 8 / 70 80 50 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 45 28 36 10 / 70 90 60 0 Belen........................... 50 20 40 4 / 60 70 60 0 Bernalillo...................... 46 26 38 8 / 80 90 60 0 Bosque Farms.................... 48 20 39 4 / 60 80 60 0 Corrales........................ 46 26 38 8 / 70 90 60 0 Los Lunas....................... 48 22 39 5 / 60 80 60 0 Placitas........................ 41 30 34 10 / 80 90 60 0 Rio Rancho...................... 44 27 37 9 / 70 90 60 0 Socorro......................... 51 26 42 9 / 70 60 70 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 39 28 31 8 / 70 90 70 5 Tijeras......................... 42 27 34 8 / 70 90 70 5 Edgewood........................ 43 22 36 4 / 70 90 70 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 45 16 37 -2 / 60 90 70 5 Clines Corners.................. 40 23 33 3 / 60 80 70 10 Mountainair..................... 43 25 36 6 / 70 80 70 0 Gran Quivira.................... 43 27 36 8 / 80 70 70 0 Carrizozo....................... 47 27 42 11 / 100 80 80 5 Ruidoso......................... 42 28 35 8 / 100 80 80 10 Capulin......................... 42 4 13 -4 / 20 60 70 5 Raton........................... 45 5 19 -6 / 20 60 70 5 Springer........................ 47 11 28 -8 / 20 60 60 5 Las Vegas....................... 42 23 34 2 / 50 70 70 10 Clayton......................... 53 8 17 3 / 5 60 60 5 Roy............................. 46 18 27 1 / 20 50 60 10 Conchas......................... 52 26 39 6 / 20 50 60 10 Santa Rosa...................... 51 30 39 10 / 40 40 50 10 Tucumcari....................... 56 28 38 6 / 20 30 60 10 Clovis.......................... 54 33 43 7 / 50 30 50 20 Portales........................ 55 32 45 6 / 60 40 50 20 Fort Sumner..................... 52 30 47 9 / 60 30 40 10 Roswell......................... 58 37 53 12 / 70 50 30 5 Picacho......................... 52 33 46 13 / 80 60 50 5 Elk............................. 50 27 44 12 / 90 70 60 5 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from noon today to noon MST Saturday for the following zones... NMZ201. Winter Storm Warning from noon today to noon MST Saturday for the following zones... NMZ202>206-208-210>216-221-226. Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to noon MST Saturday for the following zones... NMZ207-217-222-223-227>229. Winter Weather Advisory from 11 PM this evening to noon MST Saturday for the following zones... NMZ230>232. Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM this evening to noon MST Saturday for the following zones... NMZ218. &&
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
13 heavy snow, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow began falling in the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. A trained spotter near Pietown measured ten inches of new snow on January 1, 2022.
Snow began falling across the area early on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. By January 1, 2022, a SNOTEL site near Bonito Lake received an estimated ten inches of new snow.
Snow began falling across the area early on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. By January 1, 2022, a SNOTEL site near Bluewater Lake had received an estimated twelve inches of new snow.
Snow began falling across the Sandia/Manzano Mountains early on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. By January 1, 2022, a member of the public near Sandia Park measured eleven inches of new snow.
Snow began falling across the area early on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. Conditions near Gallup rapidly deteriorated into early January 1, 2022. Several sources across the West Central Plateau measured four to five inches of new snow by New Years' morning. Snow-packed and icy roads resulted in severe driving conditions along Interstate 40 near Gallup.
Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. On January 1, 2022, a trained spotter near Tererro measured seven inches of new snow.
Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. Some of the highest snow totals from this event were found across the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains where snow totals ranged from about 10 to 20 inches. A SNOTEL near Chupadero received an estimated 21 inches of new snow by January 1, 2022.
Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. Numerous SNOTELs across the Jemez Mountains received estimated new snow totals of five to ten inches. The highest snow totals were received near Cuba where a SNOTEL received an estimated ten inches of new snow by January 1, 2022.
Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. The highest snow totals in this area were found on the north and northeast side of Santa Fe. By the morning of January 1, 2022, several CoCoRaHS observers in the area measured new snow totals of six to seven inches.
Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. A trained spotter near Regina measured twelve inches of new snow on January 1, 2022.
Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. Numerous SNOTELs across the Tusas Mountains received new snow totals ranging from ten to fourteen inches. The highest snow totals were received near Canjilon and Canon Plaza where each SNOTEL received an estimated fourteen inches of new snow by January 1, 2022.
Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. Various SNOTELs across the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains received snow totals ranging from ten to sixteen inches. The highest snow totals were found near Red River where a SNOTEL received an estimated sixteen inches of new snow by January 1, 2022.
Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. On the morning of January 1, 2022, a CoCoRaHS observer near Taos measured seven inches of new snow.
Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. A member of the public near Angel Fire measured seventeen inches of new snow on January 1, 2022.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, December 2021
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: 991215, 991225, 991214, 991224, 991226, 991218, 991220, 991217, 991223, 991213, 991216, 991219, 991222, 991221.