A strong winter storm system deepened over the Rockies before tracking southward into New Mexico on February 1, 2022 and continuing into February 2nd. Accompanying this system was a backdoor cold front that brought in very cold arctic air into northern and central New Mexico.
Every event with a place to put it; 33 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 strong winter storm system deepened over the Rockies before tracking southward into New Mexico on February 1, 2022 and continuing into February 2nd. Accompanying this system was a backdoor cold front that brought in very cold arctic air into northern and central New Mexico. This blast of cold air combined with the slow moving system set the stage for widespread snow and winter weather impacts. The highest snow totals were measured across the northern high terrain of New Mexico where numerous SNOTELs and ski sites received two to three feet of new snow. Lower elevations also received heavy snow totals with with four to six inches common across the northeast and east central plains. Portions of the Santa Fe and Albuquerque metro areas also received snow totals near eight inches. While the heavy snow resulted in severe travel conditions across most of northern and central New Mexico, these already poor conditions were exacerbated by the very cold temperatures from the arctic airmass. Snow and any water on the roadways were quickly frozen, leading to extremely icy conditions that lasted into February 4th before temperatures finally warmed above freezing. Across the Albuquerque area, numerous automobile accidents were reported with some injuries as well. Unfortunately, this storm system was indirectly responsible for four fatalities in automobile accidents. Two occurred at Sandia Peak, one occurred in Los Lunas, and the fourth occurred near Santa Rosa. Impacts: extreme cold, heavy snow, icy road conditions, poor travel, indirect fatalities, indirect injuries.
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 1, 4:49 PM MST, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 449 PM MST Tue Feb 1 2022 .AVIATION... 00Z TAF CYCLE Ceilings will continue to lower this evening and areas of light snow expand, mainly over and near the northern mountains. A potent winter storm system remains on track to cross tonight through Thursday with widespread snow and mountain obscurations. Snow with MVFR and IFR ceilings are forecast to spread southward across lower elevations tonight into Wednesday and Wednesday night. A backdoor cold front banking up against the central mountain chain will push through canyons in the central mountain chain with gusty winds mainly from Santa Fe southward tonight. The gusty east canyon winds will persist through Wednesday and Wednesday night with widespread snow continuing. Snow and blowing snow will be common from KSAF southward to KAEG, and KABQ. 33 && .PREV DISCUSSION...310 PM MST Tue Feb 1 2022... .SYNOPSIS... After one initial cold front arrived last night and this morning in eastern New Mexico, another more potent Arctic front will spill into the eastern half of the state tonight before expanding westward into Wednesday. In addition, a vigorous upper level disturbance will arrive from the northwest, combining with the very cold air to produce significant snowfall over much of central New Mexico. The northern mountains will observe the highest snowfall totals of more than a foot on the highest peaks with much of the central mountains and highlands expected to receive several inches up to a foot. Elsewhere, most surrounding lower elevation areas will tend to receive a couple to a few inches of snow accumulation. Snowfall will turn lighter and less persistent on Thursday and will then come to an end by the evening. Frigid temperatures are also expected Thursday through Friday with Friday morning's low temperatures dropping to the single digits and below zero, and wind chills will plummet well below zero in many locations. Into the weekend and early next week a drier, warmer and more tranquil weather pattern is expected. && .DISCUSSION... ...SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM TO UNFOLD OVER CENTRAL NEW MEXICO THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY... SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT)... With this forecast will spread the coverage of Winter Storm Warnings to include the upper Tularosa Valley, as well as the eastern plains from Conchas southward through Fort Sumner and Roswell, where snow amounts generally from 2-5 inches are expected, except for 3-7 inches in eastern San Miguel County. Will also sprinkle Winter Weather Advisories around the Warnings in the west central mountains, Socorro County, Quay, Curry, and Roosevelt Counties. Holding off elsewhere for now given uncertainty that snow amounts will read Advisory criteria. The night shift may end up issuing for some of the southwest mountains and valleys. A sharp upper level trough approaching from the northwest will interact with one backdoor cold front that already moved over central parts of the state, and another Arctic front that will arrive through the backdoor with some moisture late tonight through Wednesday night. The upper level trough will move fairly slowly, reaching directly over the forecast area Wednesday and Wednesday night when snowfall will be the heaviest. Models have weakened the east wind some in the Rio Grande Valley Wednesday afternoon and night, with speeds of 20-30 mph and gusts around 40 mph now expected. Partially as a result, mesoscale models have strengthened the expected east wind convergence zone west of the Rio Grande and brought it closer to Albuquerque, with the potential for 4 to 8 inches of snow along an axis from Rio Rancho to southeast Cibola County including a broad portion of the I-40 corridor between Albuquerque and Grants. In addition, a few to several inches of snow (peaking near 20" over the high peaks of the northern mountains), very cold temperatures will arrive with the second backdoor front. By Thursday morning low temperatures will mostly vary within the single digits above and below zero with wind chill temperatures dropping into the negative teens across much of the area along and east of the central mountain chain. LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY)... Surface high pressure will hold over eastern NM into the Great Plains, but should relax considerably on Thursday. This will allow the gap/canyon winds to relax through the late morning, but the north northeasterly gradient winds in the plains might be a bit slower to weaken going into the afternoon. The main vort lobe aloft will be overtaking central to eastern NM through the morning, exiting into the afternoon while the secondary lobe dives southward into AZ. This will keep a broad cold pool aloft over NM, and while low layer frontogenesis will be dissipating, there should be sufficient instability to keep scattered intermittent showers going for many central to eastern zones Thursday afternoon. Most of these short- lived showers would not produce really high additional accumulations through the day Thursday, and they should mostly dissipate into the evening. Thursday will also have the coldest daytime temperatures of the week with readings falling short of normal by 25 to 40 degrees in central to eastern NM. After a cold day on Thursday, Thursday night into Friday morning will be the coldest of the week and of the season thus far. Some patchy freezing fog and low clouds could linger, but most of the precipitation will have come to an end. Widespread single digit to sub-zero readings are expected Friday morning and wind chills will be bitter with wind chill advisories possibly needed for some north central and northeastern zones. The secondary vort lobe will translate eastward into TX Thursday night into Friday with pressure heights rising in its wake. Still, the warmup with daytime temperatures will be limited as snow melt processes will gobble up available insolation and consequently have leaned below guidance in a few places for this reason. Into the weekend, a warmer and drier trend is expected despite another fast-moving clipper dropping southward into NM. This feature will shed a low over southern AZ on Sunday, but insufficient moisture or dynamics will preclude precipitation. Daytime temperatures on Tuesday may finally get back closer to seasonal averages. Lighter northwest flow aloft on Monday and Tuesday will then give way to another clipper late on Wednesday of next week. 44/52 && .FIRE WEATHER... Winter weather will be the focus through Thursday with a few to several inches of snow, except near 20" on the high peaks of the northern mountains and lighter amounts along the AZ border. The storm system will deliver a very cold airmass with temperatures well below normal Wednesday through the weekend. Poor ventilation will be the norm for the next 7 days, except for smaller areas of poor ventilation mainly over the west on Wednesday, and pockets of poor ventilation over the east on Sunday. 44 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until noon MST Thursday for the following zones... NMZ203-204-210>218-221>223-229. Winter Weather Advisory until noon MST Thursday for the following zones... NMZ227-228-230-231. Winter Storm Warning from 5 AM Wednesday to noon MST Thursday for the following zones... NMZ207-219-224>226-232-233-237>240. Winter Weather Advisory from 5 AM Wednesday to noon MST Thursday for the following zones... NMZ206-220-234>236. &&
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
22 heavy snow, 9 extreme cold/wind chill, 2 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Various SNOTELs and ski sites across the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains received snow totals of two to three feet. The highest snow totals were measured near Taos where the Taos Ski Valley received an estimated 37 inches of new snow.
Various SNOTELs across the Tusas Mountains measured snow totals in excess of ten inches. The highest snow totals in the area were near Canon Plaza where a SNOTEL received an estimated 21 inches.
Various SNOTELs across the Jemez Mountains received snow totals in excess of ten inches. The highest snow totals were near Cuba where a SNOTEL east of Cuba received an estimated 16.5 inches.
A trained spotter near Regina measured eight inches of new snow.
Various sources measured heavy snow totals in excess of six inches across the area. The highest snow totals were near Sandia Park where a CoCoRaHS observer measured 16.4 inches of snow while areas near Sedillo and Edgewood received 10 to 12 inches of new snow. The heavy snow resulted in snow packed and icy roads which lead to severe driving conditions in the area. Several motor vehicle accidents were reported, but one of these crashes resulted in two indirect fatalities. Two people inside of a car traveling near Sandia Crest fell nearly 100 feet down the side of the mountain. One was declared dead at the scene while the other was rescued and transported to the hospital, but they later succumbed to their injuries.
A CoCoRaHS observer near Glorieta measured 10 inches of new snow.
A CoCoRaHS observer near La Madera measured 11.4 inches of snow.
A SNOTEL southwest of Rociada received an estimated 10 inches of new snow.
Various sources across the south central mountains reported heavy snow. The highest snow totals were measured near Ruidoso where both a CoCoRaHS observer and a member of the public measured 11 inches of new snow.
A COOP observer near Eagle Nest measured 13.2 inches of new snow. This set a new daily record for highest snowfall for the COOP site which has been reporting since 1929. Severe driving conditions were reported along U.S. Highway 64 in the Eagle Nest area.
A trained spotter near San Jose measured 8.5 inches of new snow.
A trained spotter near San Fidel measured seven inches of new snow.
A CoCoRaHS observer north-northeast of Los Cerrillos measured 6.1 inches of new snow. Other snow totals around the Santa Fe metro area generally ranged from three to five inches. This heavy snow resulted in dangerous travel conditions. A motor vehicle accident was reported on northbound Interstate 25 near La Cienega which forced the closure of the roadway.
A CoCoRaHS observer near Moriarty measured six inches of new snow.
A CoCoRaHS observer near Ranchos de Taos measured 8.4 inches of new snow. Severe driving conditions were reported along U.S. Highway 64 from Taos to Eagle Nest.
A COOP observer near Cuba measured seven inches of new snow. This two-day total is the second highest snowfall measurement for these days for the COOP station that has been reporting since 1946.
A trained spotter southwest of Corona estimated seven inches of new snow.
A trained spotter west-northwest of Milagro estimated 6.5 inches of new snow.
The combination of heavy snow and below freezing temperatures resulted in severe travel conditions. The New Mexico Department of Transportation reported severe and dangerous travel conditions along U.S. Highway 380 and U.S. Highway 54 due to snow packed and icy roads.
The fire department east-southeast of Corona reported eight inches of new snow.
Various sources reported two to five inches of snow across Guadalupe County. The combination of heavy snow and below freezing temperatures resulted in dangerous travel conditions. During the morning of February 2nd, a multi-vehicle accident that involved thirteen vehicles occurred on Interstate 40 near Santa Rosa when the driver of a semi-truck collided into the rear end of another semi-truck. Eleven other commercial motor vehicles and three passenger cars then crashed into each other. All vehicles were traveling eastbound on Interstate 40, but the multi-vehicle crash forced the shutdown of the major travel corridor in both directions. One indirect fatality resulted from the accident. The 35-year-old man was driving a van carrying six other people. He was pronounced dead at the scene while the other six people had varying injuries and were transported to a hospital. Their conditions are unknown. No other injuries were reported.
A COOP observer near Elk measured four inches of new snow. This set a new daily record for snowfall for the COOP site which has been reporting since 1895.
Numerous sources reported heavy snow across the Albuquerque metro area. Snow totals varied across the city with the highest totals located in the northern half of the metro where a CoCoRaHS observer in Rio Rancho measured 7.5 inches of snow. At the official climate site at the Albuquerque International Airport, the snow total for this event was 1.6 inches. This snow combined with dangerously cold temperatures resulted in treacherous road conditions. The Albuquerque Police Department responded to 51 vehicle accidents during this event with three of those involving injuries. One indirect fatality also resulted from this event. A Rio Grande High School senior was struck by an out-of-control pickup truck in Los Lunas as he was helping a woman whose car had gotten stuck in the ice and snow. The 18-year-old male was pronounced dead at the scene.
Several CoCoRaHS observers near Socorro measured 4 to 4.5 inches of new snow.
A CWOP weather station near Sedan measured several hours of extreme cold temperatures with wind chills of -18 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
An AWOS station in Moriarty recorded several hours of extreme cold temperatures with wind chills of -18 to -35 degrees Fahrenheit.
An ASOS station near Santa Fe measured several hours of extreme cold temperatures with wind chills of -18 degrees Fahrenheit.
A public weather station east of Corona measured several hours of extreme cold temperatures with wind chills of -18 to -21 degrees Fahrenheit.
A mesonet station near Endee measured several hours of extreme cold temperatures with wind chills of -18 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
A mesonet station near Vaughn measured several hours of extreme cold temperatures with wind chills of -18 degrees Fahrenheit.
An AWOS station in Taos recorded several hours of extreme cold temperatures with wind chills of -18 to -33 degrees Fahrenheit.
A RAWS station near Mills measured several hours of extreme cold temperatures with wind chills of -18 to -21 degrees Fahrenheit.
An ASOS station near Raton measured several hours of extreme cold temperatures with wind chills of -18 degrees Fahrenheit.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Snow, Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood | 2022-02-02 | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect | ||
| Heavy Snow, Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood | 2022-02-02 | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect | ||
| Winter Storm, Guadalupe County | 2022-02-02 | 35 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
| Heavy Snow, Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area | 2022-02-02 | 18 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, February 2022
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: 995488, 995489, 995491, 995522, 995493, 995498, 995495, 995497, 995496, 995494, 995511, 995514, 995518, 995519, 995512, 995515, 995516, 995517, 995523, 995513, 995524, 995521, 995500, 995520, 995610, 995605, 995612, 995608, 995609, 995614, 995606, 995607, 995611.