A closed upper low in combination with a strong surface cold front brought moderate to heavy snow accumulations. Accumulations ranging from 4 to 7 inches fell during the day of February 7, 2023 as the upper low crossed west to east over southern New Mexico, with easterly upslope flow behind the cold front enhancing snowfall rates.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 closed upper low in combination with a strong surface cold front brought moderate to heavy snow accumulations. Accumulations ranging from 4 to 7 inches fell during the day of February 7, 2023 as the upper low crossed west to east over southern New Mexico, with easterly upslope flow behind the cold front enhancing snowfall rates. This was especially true during the evening hours through the Sandia and Manzano Mountains. The heaviest accumulations focused within the east mountain communities along the Sandia and Manzano Mountains, and in Magdalena in the San Agustin Plains in western Socorro County.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow impacted the zone where a trained spotter near Sandia Park reported 7 inches of snow. There were various other reports of 3 to 7 inches of snow were reported throughout the east mountain communities.
Heavy snow impacted the San Agustin Plains where a CoCoRaHS observer near Magdalena reported 6.8 inches of snow. Various other reports of 2 to 5 inches of snow were reported. Difficult travel was also reported along U.S. Highway 60 east of the Very Large Array.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, February 2023
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: 1068902, 1068911.