A strong and well organized winter storm system crossed west to east across northern and central NM on January 7th and exited into TX on January 8th. Heavy snow was observed across much of the western and northern mountains with travel impacts reported on area highways.
Every event with a place to put it; 20 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 and well organized winter storm system crossed west to east across northern and central NM on January 7th and exited into TX on January 8th. Heavy snow was observed across much of the western and northern mountains with travel impacts reported on area highways. Wrap around moisture combined with strong northerly winds gusts produced blizzard conditions through most of northeastern NM in an area between Raton, Clayton, Clovis, and Las Vegas. Reports of high winds gusting 60 to 70 mph and as high was 90 mph at Raton combined with blowing snow and snow drifts several feet high were collected in this area. Blizzard conditions resulted in a tragic multivehicle pileup along I-40 at Cuervo, NM east of Santa Rosa that unfortunately involved a loss of life. There were many road closures along both I-40 and I-25 as well as area highways across northeastern and east-central NM due to the high winds and blizzard conditions. Severe driving conditions and more isolated road closures were reported from heavy snow across western and northern NM. Snow amounts of one to two feet were reported atop the peaks of the northern mountains and at ski areas. High wind gusts of 62 to 66 mph were also observed at the Roswell and Sierra Blanca Airports. Key Impacts: road closures, traffic accidents.
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 7, 3:33 AM MST, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 333 AM MST Sun Jan 7 2024 ...New SYNOPSIS, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, FIRE WEATHER... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 331 AM MST Sun Jan 7 2024 The main focus for the forecast will be on a potent system impacting the region today through Monday night. This system will provide snow to most of the region. Gusty southerly and southwest winds will occur ahead of the system today, followed by very strong north and west winds, especially across eastern New Mexico on the backside of the system. The wind will also be accompanied by a band of heavy snow in far northeast New Mexico, including Raton, Des Moines, and Clayton, where blizzard conditions look likely. North and northwest winds will slowly taper off Monday night as the coldest air of the season moves in. With this, below 0 to single digit winds chills are expected. Northwest to west winds across the central highlands Tuesday and eastern New Mexico Wednesday will remain gusty behind Monday's winter storm and ahead of the next winter storm impacting the state on Thursday. This winter storm will provide another quick round of snow for the forecast area along with brisk west winds for the southern high terrain. Another shot of colder air moves in behind the system Friday with brisk northwest and north winds. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Monday) Issued at 331 AM MST Sun Jan 7 2024 Models are agreeing well on a strong and cold upper level low pressure system crossing northern parts of the forecast area from the northwest today through tonight, bringing heavy snow to much of the northern and western parts of the forecast area. A trowal looks to set up over the northeast corner of the forecast area on the back side of the upper low as it slowly exits eastward across the TX and OK panhandles, with additional snow accumulation and very strong north winds near the CO border Monday and Monday night. Will upgrade the Winter Storm Watch to a Blizzard Warning across northeast areas with this forecast package, except for Harding County where a High Wind Warning will be issued instead due to limited snowfall there. Will also issue a High Wind Watch for the far eastern San Miguel, Quay, and Curry Counties for Monday and Monday night. In addition, strong winds over the south central mountains are likely to linger through tonight and Monday, and will extend the Wind Advisory through tonight and Monday. Later shifts may need to upgrade southwest Chaves County to a High Wind Warning, but at this time the stronger winds look just south and east of there. && .LONG TERM... (Monday night through Saturday) Issued at 331 AM MST Sun Jan 7 2024 Strong north winds across northeast NM will slowly taper off on the backside of a strengthening upper low as the low exits northeast to the central US. Winds across the central high terrain will remain brisk due to 700 mb flow of 30 to 40 kts. Clearing skies, fresh snow cover and strong CAA will result in the coldest temperatures of the season Monday night into Tuesday morning with air temperatures below zero to mid teens. Combine this with the elevated northwest to north winds, wind chills will be dangerously low at well below zero for northern and western areas and near zero to mid single digits elsewhere come sunrise Tuesday. Northwest and west winds remain brisk across the central highlands Tuesday behind the upper low due to elevated winds of 30 to 40 kts at 700 mb. It will be a mostly sunny and cold day areawide with high temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below for most and 5 to 10 degrees below average across the southeast. A shortwave ahead of the next upper level longwave trough will move through the Central Rockies on Wednesday with 40 to 50 kt 700 mb northwest winds at the base across eastern NM. Some mountain wave activity could be possible along the east slopes of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains and crash to the surface Wednesday morning. Gusty west winds will expand east to the Texas border Wednesday afternoon. Highs on Wednesday will be below average by 5 to 15 degrees. The one exception with be southeast NM where temperatures will be right around average due to the downslope westerly flow. Another shortwave rounds the aforementioned longwave trough late Wednesday, diving southeast across the Pacific Coast and Great Basin and arrives to northwest NM as early as Wednesday night into Thursday morning providing another quick shot of snow for the region Thursday. The global deterministic and ensemble models vary a little on the speed of this clipper like system with the ECMWF and Canadian suite shallower and quicker, exiting east into Texas Thursday night. Meanwhile the GFS is slower by about 12 hours, due to digging the trough a little further south and west, and has the system exiting east midday Friday. Another shot of cold air will move in behind this system Friday with highs falling to 10 to 20 degrees below average. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1036 PM MST Sat Jan 6 2024 Deteriorating conditions expected over the course of the TAF period, especially across wrn NM. Snow shwrs are likely to initiate over the wrn high terrain aft 07/09Z, expanding into the lower elevations through the overnight hours. This will bring MVFR/IFR cigs/vsbys in and around KGUP and the Four Corners Region, with conditions likely to persist through the TAF period. Pockets of LLWS will be possible at wrn terminals early in the TAF period as the upper low moves into the area. Swly sfc winds will increase in the early aftn areawide, with gusts btwn 20 and 30 kts commonplace. Snow shwrs will increase in coverage and intensity throughout the day, expanding ewd into the RGV and central mts by the end of the TAF period. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 331 AM MST Sun Jan 7 2024 No critical fire weather conditions through the next seven days with cold temperatures, and repeated winter weather events. Strong winds will be a concern today and especially Monday through Monday night. The strongest winds will occur Monday when northerly wind gusts may reach 65 mph over northeast areas and 60 mph as far south as the Caprock. Northwest wind gusts from 40-55 mph are expected elsewhere across western and southern parts of the fire weather forecast area on Monday. Brisk northwest flow aloft looks to persist across the forecast area for the remainder of the week ahead with at least breezy conditions continuing daily over eastern and to a lesser extent southern parts of the forecast area. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 35 18 31 6 / 90 70 5 0 Dulce........................... 30 7 30 -8 / 100 80 30 0 Cuba............................ 30 12 25 4 / 70 80 50 0 Gallup.......................... 31 9 28 -2 / 90 70 20 0 El Morro........................ 30 9 23 1 / 90 70 40 0 Grants.......................... 34 12 28 4 / 70 60 20 0 Quemado......................... 35 10 24 2 / 70 70 40 0 Magdalena....................... 40 16 30 14 / 10 30 5 0 Datil........................... 35 11 24 10 / 30 60 10 0 Reserve......................... 39 8 33 4 / 90 60 30 0 Glenwood........................ 44 18 40 15 / 80 80 10 0 Chama........................... 25 5 25 -6 / 100 90 40 0 Los Alamos...................... 28 15 28 6 / 60 70 40 0 Pecos........................... 33 14 29 7 / 40 60 40 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 26 13 26 1 / 70 70 60 0 Red River....................... 23 5 22 -4 / 60 80 80 0 Angel Fire...................... 25 -1 23 -20 / 50 70 80 5 Taos............................ 29 8 28 -10 / 60 70 50 0 Mora............................ 32 8 27 4 / 30 50 60 0 Espanola........................ 36 18 34 4 / 60 60 40 0 Santa Fe........................ 32 16 27 9 / 50 70 60 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 35 16 31 6 / 40 60 30 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 39 21 33 16 / 40 70 40 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 40 23 35 15 / 30 50 20 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 42 21 37 12 / 30 50 20 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 40 23 36 16 / 30 50 20 0 Belen........................... 44 21 40 11 / 20 40 20 0 Bernalillo...................... 40 22 36 13 / 40 60 30 0 Bosque Farms.................... 43 21 38 9 / 20 50 20 0 Corrales........................ 41 22 36 14 / 40 50 30 0 Los Lunas....................... 43 21 38 11 / 20 40 20 0 Placitas........................ 37 21 32 14 / 40 60 40 0 Rio Rancho...................... 39 22 34 15 / 40 50 30 0 Socorro......................... 49 23 41 16 / 10 30 10 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 33 18 27 11 / 40 70 40 0 Tijeras......................... 35 18 29 12 / 40 70 40 0 Edgewood........................ 36 16 29 9 / 30 50 20 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 38 13 32 5 / 20 40 20 0 Clines Corners.................. 34 13 26 7 / 20 40 30 0 Mountainair..................... 37 16 31 10 / 10 40 30 0 Gran Quivira.................... 39 16 31 11 / 5 40 20 0 Carrizozo....................... 46 21 40 14 / 0 50 10 0 Ruidoso......................... 41 14 28 13 / 0 50 20 0 Capulin......................... 32 13 21 2 / 0 40 80 5 Raton........................... 35 13 27 0 / 5 50 80 5 Springer........................ 37 13 31 -1 / 0 40 60 0 Las Vegas....................... 33 13 30 5 / 10 30 40 0 Clayton......................... 37 20 27 11 / 0 20 60 5 Roy............................. 34 17 28 6 / 0 30 40 0 Conchas......................... 42 21 37 11 / 0 10 40 0 Santa Rosa...................... 41 21 36 14 / 0 10 30 0 Tucumcari....................... 44 22 35 14 / 0 10 40 0 Clovis.......................... 49 26 37 19 / 0 5 20 0 Portales........................ 51 26 39 18 / 0 5 20 0 Fort Sumner..................... 47 23 39 17 / 0 10 20 0 Roswell......................... 58 30 49 19 / 0 0 5 0 Picacho......................... 56 22 40 19 / 0 20 0 0 Elk............................. 52 18 36 16 / 0 20 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until 8 AM MST Monday for NMZ201>206-210- 211. Blizzard Warning from 2 AM Monday to 5 AM MST Tuesday for NMZ227- 228-230. High Wind Watch from Monday morning through late Monday night for NMZ232-234-235. High Wind Warning from 8 AM Monday to 5 AM MST Tuesday for NMZ231. Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 8 AM MST Monday for NMZ208-217-218-221. Winter Storm Warning until 11 AM MST Monday for NMZ213-214-216. Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 11 AM MST Monday for NMZ215. Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 5 PM MST Monday for NMZ226-240. && SHORT TERM...44 LONG TERM....71 AVIATION...12
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 heavy snow, 7 blizzard, 3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An estimated ten inches of snow fell at the Navajo Whiskey SNOTEL.
The United States Forest Service Ranger Station in Cuba reported 6 inches of snow in Cuba.
A CoCoRaHS station near Ramah measured 10 inches of snow.
The NMDOT reported a continued closures of U.S. Highway 64 through the Tusas Mountains between Tierra Amarilla and Tres Piedras due to winter storm conditions on the morning of January 8th.
The Taos Ski area and SNOTELs nearby Taos Ski area measured 12 to 14 inches of snow. Three to ten inches of snow were reported elsewhere across the zone.
There were various public reports and CoCoRaHS reports of 2 to 7 inches in Taos.
Ski Santa Fe reported 30 inches of snow. An estimated 10 to 18 inches fell at mountain tops from various SNOTELs across the zone with 8 to 10 inches elsewhere.
A public report shared by broadcast media showed an isolated 16 inches of snow in Chamisal, NM. Two to 4.3 inches of snow fell elsewhere across the zone.
The Sierra Blanca Airport measured high sustained winds of 40 to 49 mph.
The Sierra Blanca Airport measured gusts of 60 to 66 mph.
A mix of public and CoCoRaHS reports of 2 to 8 inches were across the East Mountain Communities from Sandia Park to the east slopes of the Manzano Mountains. The highest were 10.5 to 14 inches near the intersection of NM State Highway 337 and NM State Highway 217.
Several CoCoRaHS reports of 5 to 6 inches were in the foothills northeast of downtown Santa Fe. Two to 5 inches of snow were reported lower down in Santa Fe.
The NMDOT closed U.S. Highway 64/87 between Raton and Clayton due to blizzard conditions. NMDOT webcams showed continued whiteout conditions along the highway. A public weather station near Des Moines recorded wind gusts as high was 55 mph.
The NMDOT closed I-25 at Springer and at MM336 at the Mora and San Miguel County line due to zero visibility and blizzard conditions. A CoCoRaHS report west of Springer also reported strong winds and blizzard conditions with snow drifts. The Raton ASOS measured wind gusts of 45 to 90 mph between 5am to 1pm MST. The peak gust of 90 mph ocurred at 10:53 MST.
The Clayton ASOS observed continued visibility less than one quarter statute mile with gusts of 40 to 58 mph between 6am to 8am MST before the anemometer went offline. Peak gusts of 58 mph were recorded at 6:48am MST and again at 7:23am MST. Several other mesonet stations measured peak gusts of 67 mph south of Clayton between 12:15pm and 14:05pm MST. Estimated snow amounts ranged between 7 and 13 inches in Clayton with several reports of snow drifts several feet high. The County EM also reported 11 vehicles stranded along U.S. Highway 56 three miles west of Clayton that required a rescue.
There was a CoCoRaHS report of blizzard conditions with snow drifts and high winds. A public weather station near Roy measured peak wind gusts up to 60 mph at 12:54pm MST. High winds prevented accurate snow measurements, but a CoCoRaHS observer estimated 3 inches.
The Santa Rosa AWOS measured low visibility below a quarter statute mile for 3 hours while a public weather station north of Santa Rosa measured peak wind gusts of 40 to 47 mph during the morning. There were two reports of 3 and 4 inches of snow north and south of Santa Rosa. The NMDOT reported a 43 to 45 vehicle crash along I-40 at Cuervo, NM that involved one fatality. Media reports shared an official report that weather and driver inattention resulted in the semi-truck driver crashing into a van in front of them. The driver of the van died while the passenger was injured.
There was a CoCoRaHS report of blizzard conditions from 09:10 to 13:15 MST in Quay County. The Tucumcari ASOS also observed blizzard conditions with low visibility under a quarter statute mile and high winds gusting 45 to 51 mph. Between 2 to 4 inches of snow were reported across the zone.
The Clovis Municipal Airport alongside Cannon AFB observed blizzard conditions from low visibility under a quarter statute mile and high winds gusting 40 to 47 mph. A storm spotter also reported blizzard conditions in Clovis. The NMDOT closed U.S. Highway 60/84 through Curry County with snow drifts up to 3 feet. A trained spotter near Broadview measured 5 inches of snow.
The Roswell Airport measured a peak gust of 62 mph. Blowing dust also dropped visibility to 1 to 2 miles at times in the hour leading up to this peak gust.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzard, Guadalupe County | 2024-01-08 | 71 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, January 2024
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: 1147424, 1147425, 1147426, 1147427, 1147428, 1147430, 1147429, 1147431, 1147492, 1147491, 1147433, 1147432, 1147434, 1147435, 1147437, 1147438, 1147446, 1147439, 1147440, 1147493.