A series of upper level disturbances tracked across northern NM from March 20, 2023 to March 22, 2023. Long duration snow reached the northern mountains of NM with little to no breaks during this three day stretch.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 series of upper level disturbances tracked across northern NM from March 20, 2023 to March 22, 2023. Long duration snow reached the northern mountains of NM with little to no breaks during this three day stretch. The heavy snow brought difficult to severe driving conditions to many of the high mountain passes, but surprisingly there was only one road closure on State Highway 17 near the CO border reported. There was also nuisance flooding reported in Taos from persistent light to moderate rainfall and snow melt.
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 Mar 19, 5:20 PM MST, 4 hours 40 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow impacted the Chuska Mountains where there was an estimated 11 inches of snow at the Navajo Whiskey SNOTEL.
Heavy snow impacted the Tusas Mountains where there was an estimated 13 inches of snow at the Chamita and Hopewell SNOTEL sites. There were various snow reports of 3 to 8 inches across the western half of the zone. The heavy snow forced State Highway 17 to be closed in coordination with CO Department of Transportation.
Heavy snow impacted the Jemez Mountains. There were reports of 11 to 13 inches by SNOTEL sites along the northern and northwestern sections of the zone. There were various other snow reports of 2 to 9 inches near Los Alamos and Jemez Pueblo.
Heavy snow impacted the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Santa Fe Ski area reported 17 inches of snow, where other reports reported 6 to 12 inches of snow throughout the zone. Difficult to severe winter driving conditions were also relayed by the NM Emergency Operations Center throughout the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in general.
Heavy snow impacted the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains. There was a 12 inch report from Kachina Peak by the Taos Ski Valley. There we two other reports of 8 inches in the central area of the zone. Difficult to severe winter driving conditions were also relayed by the NM Emergency Operations Center throughout the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in general.
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, March 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: 1077896, 1077898, 1077899, 1077903, 1077901.