A strong upper level storm system crossed northern NM on March 24th with it's associated jet streak crossing much of southeastern NM. A strong Pacific cold front crossed west to east during the morning with gusty winds, and snow pushing through western and northern NM and into portions of the Rio Grande Valley during the morning.
Every event with a place to put it; 22 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 upper level storm system crossed northern NM on March 24th with it's associated jet streak crossing much of southeastern NM. A strong Pacific cold front crossed west to east during the morning with gusty winds, and snow pushing through western and northern NM and into portions of the Rio Grande Valley during the morning. This front along with strong southwesterly flow brought high winds through most of the eastern plains for most of the day on the 24th. Numerous locations along and east of the central recorded peak wind gusts of 58 to 75 mph. Localized dust source regions were activated causing near zero visibility between Roswell and Artesia. This forced the closure of that stretch of U.S. Highway 285. Thankfully there were not reports of accidents. Heavy snow began over the northern mountains on March 24th, continuing over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and adjacent highlands through March 25th and into the early predawn hours of March 26th. Snow totals for the event were very impressive over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in particular where the Taos and Santa Fe Ski resorts reported 40 and 34 inches respectively. Snow and blowing snow was reported along the U.S. 64 corridor in far northeastern NM between Raton and Clayton during the morning of March 25th resulting in severe winter driving 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 Mar 23, 4:53 PM MST, 13 hours 26 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
16 high wind, 5 heavy snow, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
A public weather station near Buck Mountain measured a peak wind gust of 73 mph. High sustained winds peaking to 43 mph were also observed.
The SE Vaughn mesonet station measured high sustained winds peaking at 59 mph. Peak gusts of at least 67 mph were also measured with higher speeds surpassing the limit of the instrumentation.
There was an estimated 13 inches at the Hopewell SNOTEL. Three to nine inches fell elsewhere in the zone.
The Roswell Airport measured a peak gust of 75 mph, as well as high sustained winds peaking to 54 mph. Blowing dust causing near zero visibility was also reported at and south of Roswell, resulting in the closure of U.S Highway 285.
The Zumwalt White Sands Missile Range mesonet station measured a peak gust of 67 mph. Three other mesonet stations within the White Sands Missile Range measured peak gusts of 62 to 65 mph.
The NMDOT closed U.S. Highway 285 from Roswell to Artesia due to near zero visibility from a dust storm.
The Clines Corners ASOS measured a peak wind gust 59 mph.
The Cannon Air Force Base measured a peak gust of 67 mph. Peak gusts of 62 to 66 mph were measured elsewhere in the zone.
A public weather station at the Conchas Dam measured a peak wind gust of 65 mph.
A mesonet station east of Fort Sumner measured a peak gust of 63 mph. High sustained winds peaking to 45 mph were also measured.
The Tucumcari Airport measured a peak gust of 61 mph.
The Las Vegas Airport measured a peak gust of 58 mph.
The Roosevelt SWCD mesonet measured a peak gust of 58 mph.
A public weather station at the Tequesquite Ranch measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
The Pole 616 White Sands Missile Range mesonet station measured a peak gust of 62 mph. The Oscura Range mesonet station also measured a peak gust of 60 mph.
Ski Santa Fe measured 26 inches of snow. Two to 26 inches of snow fell elsewhere in the zone.
The Albuquerque Sunport measured a peak gust of 60 mph.
The Amistad mesonet station measured high sustained winds peaking at 40 mph.
The Dunken RAWS station measured a peak gust of 58 mph.
The Taos Ski Valley measured 40 inches of snow during this timeframe. Five to 25 inches of snow fell elsewhere in the zone.
A CoCoRaHS station near Chacon measured 17.6 inches of snow. Three to 11 inches of snow fell elsewhere in the zone.
A CoCoRaHS station near San Cristobal measured 9.4 inches of snow. Five inches was reported in Taos.
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, March 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1158540, 1158543, 1160772, 1158548, 1158534, 1158550, 1158535, 1158545, 1158542, 1158547, 1158544, 1158537, 1158546, 1158541, 1158536, 1160774, 1158533, 1158538, 1158549, 1160773, 1160776, 1160777.