The third and final weather system in a series moved across the Four Corners and southern Rockies February 20th. A snow squall along the cold front resulted in a very brief period of quarter mile visibility at several locations across western New Mexico during the mid to late morning hours, including Farmington, Gallup, and Grants.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 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.
The third and final weather system in a series moved across the Four Corners and southern Rockies February 20th. A snow squall along the cold front resulted in a very brief period of quarter mile visibility at several locations across western New Mexico during the mid to late morning hours, including Farmington, Gallup, and Grants. This snow squall also resulted in a vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 550 just west of Cuba, NM. The snow squall along the cold front dissipated as it moved east into the Rio Grande Valley, resulting in some high wind gusts in the zone. Upslope flow resulted in light to moderate snow across the north central mountains with a localized area of heavy snow across Taos Ski Valley. Snow across the north central mountains tapered off midday February 20th. Additional high wind gusts were observed across eastern NM along and just behind the cold front during the early afternoon hours before winds tapered off around sunset.
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 19, 10:45 PM MST, 4 hours 15 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1045 PM MST Thu Feb 19 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1039 PM MST Thu Feb 19 2026 - Strong to potentially damaging westerly winds will plague much of eastern NM once again on Friday, creating hazardous crosswinds on north-to-south oriented roadways. - Snow will produce difficult winter driving conditions across the west central and northern mountains tonight into Friday, with a moderate risk of snow squalls even at lower elevations Friday morning as a blustery cold front crosses west central, northwest, and north central New Mexico. - Critical fire weather conditions will increase the risk of rapid fire spread across northeast and east central areas today and Friday. - A warming trend will begin this weekend and continue into the middle of next week, with temperatures rising above average areawide by Monday or Tuesday. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Friday night) Issued at 1148 AM MST Thu Feb 19 2026 The next in a series of upper level troughs is over central CA per the latest water vapor satellite imagery and is forecast to race east across the southern Rockies and NM on Friday, bringing more strong winds, snow to the northern/western mountains and critical fire weather conditions to eastern portions of the area (see Fire Weather section below). The trough will push a Pacific cold front through on Friday, with blustery conditions and the potential for snow squalls across western and north central NM during the morning hours. 700mb temperatures are forecast to reach down to between -6 and -10C across much of northern NM on Friday. Forcing associated with the passing upper level trough, combined with orographic forcing from strong westerly winds, will result in some significant snow accumulation in the Tusas Mountains, where a Winter Storm Warning is now in effect. The peaks of the Tusas will likely pick up an additional 10-12", but lesser amounts of 3-6" are forecast in Chama and nearby communities. Lesser amounts are forecast across the Sangre De Cristos, Jemez and Chuska mountains and do not warrant the issuance of an advisory or warning at this time. Strong winds at the base of the passing upper level trough will reach up to 50kts at 700mb on Friday, with strong to potentially damaging winds likely both ahead of and behind the Pacific cold front as it races east across the area. The main focus area for wind gusts to 60mph will be some of the usual suspects between Clines Corners, Las Vegas and Santa Rosa, where a High Wind Warning is now in effect for Friday. Surrounding that area and extending east to the TX border is a Wind Advisory for the same period. Blowing dust is possible Friday as well, but lower forecast confidence on the extent. For now, the middle RGV and Chaves County near Roswell are the areas most likely to be impacted. Snow and winds will diminish rapidly late Friday as the upper level trough ejects east of the area, with cold air advection resulting in a cold night with low temperatures 5-10 degrees below average. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Wednesday) Issued at 1148 AM MST Thu Feb 19 2026 Dry conditions and a slow warming trend will begin this weekend and continue into the middle of next week under the influence of a broad upper level ridge over northwest MX and the southwest US. Temperatures will rise above average areawide by Monday or Tuesday. The ridge will flatten some and give way to increasing westerly flow aloft from Tuesday through Thursday, bringing breezy to windy conditions back to the forecast area. Dry west to northwest flow aloft is modeled to persist beyond the forecast period and into the following weekend. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1039 PM MST Thu Feb 19 2026 A Pacific storm system and associated cold front will bring several aviation concerns into play over the next 18 hours, particularly for KFMN and KGUP. Low-level wind shear expected to impact KGUP overnight, until surface winds pick up around 09-10Z. Snow showers, coupled with gusty winds, should bring MVFR ceilings from about 09-18Z at those terminals. Slight chance of flurries/sprinkles at KABQ and KAEG late morning, but winds will be more impactful, with high (80%) confidence in an Airport Weather Warning being needed for KABQ. Patchy blowing dust also in the forecast, but not confident enough in a visibility restriction to include in TAF. Also low-moderate confidence in snow showers affecting KSAF around mid-day and blowing dust at KROW. Northwest breezes continue across the state for several hours after sunset Friday. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1148 AM MST Thu Feb 19 2026 Strong westerly winds and critical fire weather conditions will persist across eastern portions of the area through Friday. A fast-moving upper level trough will push a Pacific cold front east across the region on Friday, bringing good to excellent ventilation, blustery conditions and accumulating snow to the west central and north central mountains. A broad upper level ridge will take shape across northern Mexico and the southwest US thereafter, bringing a warming/drying trend and deteriorating ventilation going into Monday. Temperatures are forecast to reach above average areawide by Monday or Tuesday. Vent rates will improve going into the middle of next week as the ridge flattens and gives way to increasing westerlies. Elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions are forecast to return at the same time, with low probabilities for critical conditions. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 26 38 16 41 / 70 80 5 0 Dulce........................... 14 34 2 41 / 90 100 10 0 Cuba............................ 22 37 14 42 / 40 80 5 0 Gallup.......................... 19 36 6 44 / 70 80 0 0 El Morro........................ 21 34 14 45 / 20 80 0 0 Grants.......................... 19 39 9 47 / 10 70 0 0 Quemado......................... 24 40 15 50 / 5 30 0 0 Magdalena....................... 30 46 23 48 / 0 10 0 0 Datil........................... 26 41 19 47 / 0 20 0 0 Reserve......................... 25 45 14 57 / 10 50 0 0 Glenwood........................ 24 48 18 61 / 20 50 0 0 Chama........................... 10 27 1 36 / 90 100 20 0 Los Alamos...................... 24 36 18 41 / 30 60 0 0 Pecos........................... 20 37 16 45 / 10 60 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 18 31 10 38 / 40 90 5 0 Red River....................... 11 23 5 30 / 50 90 10 0 Angel Fire...................... 7 29 3 36 / 30 80 5 0 Taos............................ 17 35 8 43 / 40 70 5 0 Mora............................ 16 36 13 44 / 10 70 0 0 Espanola........................ 21 44 14 49 / 30 60 5 0 Santa Fe........................ 25 38 19 44 / 20 60 5 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 24 41 18 46 / 20 50 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 32 46 27 50 / 10 30 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 30 49 25 52 / 5 20 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 27 51 22 55 / 5 20 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 30 49 24 52 / 5 20 0 0 Belen........................... 26 52 19 54 / 0 20 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 29 49 24 53 / 10 30 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 25 51 19 54 / 5 20 0 0 Corrales........................ 29 50 24 53 / 10 20 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 27 51 21 54 / 5 20 0 0 Placitas........................ 30 45 24 48 / 10 30 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 29 49 24 52 / 10 20 0 0 Socorro......................... 30 57 25 56 / 0 5 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 27 41 21 44 / 10 40 0 0 Tijeras......................... 29 42 23 46 / 10 40 0 0 Edgewood........................ 24 43 19 47 / 5 30 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 20 45 14 49 / 5 30 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 23 40 17 44 / 0 30 0 0 Mountainair..................... 26 46 19 49 / 0 20 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 27 48 19 50 / 0 10 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 35 53 25 55 / 0 5 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 32 46 24 49 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 15 41 12 42 / 0 20 0 0 Raton........................... 14 42 11 45 / 0 40 0 0 Springer........................ 14 45 13 48 / 0 30 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 20 40 14 45 / 0 30 0 0 Clayton......................... 19 51 19 48 / 0 20 0 0 Roy............................. 21 47 16 47 / 0 20 0 0 Conchas......................... 23 57 19 54 / 0 10 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 24 52 22 50 / 0 10 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 25 59 21 53 / 0 10 0 0 Clovis.......................... 28 61 26 53 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 27 63 24 55 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 25 60 23 54 / 0 5 0 0 Roswell......................... 35 65 29 58 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 35 58 26 57 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 32 56 22 57 / 0 0 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from 9 AM to 6 PM MST Friday for NMZ104-125-126. High Wind Warning from 9 AM to 5 PM MST Friday for NMZ214-215- 223-229-232-233. Wind Advisory from 9 AM to 5 PM MST Friday for NMZ212-213-221- 222-226-228-231-234>237-239-240. Winter Storm Warning until 5 PM MST Friday for NMZ210. Winter Weather Advisory until 5 PM MST Friday for NMZ203. && SHORT TERM...11 LONG TERM....11 AVIATION...53-Schroeder
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 high wind, 4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow and near blizzard conditions resulted in the closure of U.S. 64 in the zone. The San Antonio SNOTEL measured an estimated 8 inches of snowfall with 6 to 7 inches measured elsewhere in the zone.
Snow Squall resulted in quarter mile visibility at the Four Corners Regional Airport in Farmington and 1 to 3 inches of snow in Farmington and Aztec.
Snow Squall resulted in quarter mile visibility at the Gallup Regional Airport and 1.6 inches of snowfall according to a CoCoRaHS observer in Gallup.
The KSRR AWOS and a mesonet station at Nogal measured a peak high wind gust of 59 mph and 58 mph, respectively.
Snow Squall resulted in visibility below a quarter of a mile and a vehicle crash on U.S 550 at mile marker 97 just west of Cuba. The crash led to the brief closure of the highway. The extent of any injuries is unknown.
The mesonet station on La Bajada Hill along I-25 and the ASOS at the Santa Fe Regional Airport measured brief high wind gusts of 61 and 60 mph, respectively, during the cold front passage.
The KLVS ASOS measured high wind gust peaking at 66 mph.
The ASOS at Clines Corners measured high wind gusts peaking at 64 mph. A NMDOT weather station at the same location measured peak high wind gusts of 62 mph.
The mesonet station in Placitas measured a brief high wind gust of 59 mph.
The Edgewood SWCD mesonet measured a brief high wind gust of 66 mph.
The ASOS at the Roswell Air Center measured a brief high wind gust of 62 mph during the cold front passage.
The ZiaMet station 3.3 miles E of Puerto de Luna measured a brief high wind gust of 59 mph.
The mesonet station along I-25 at Rowe measured a brief high wind gust of 65 mph.
The ASOS at Clayton Municipal Airport measured a brief high wind gust of 58 mph during the cold front passage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, February 2026
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: 1306656, 1306661, 1306662, 1306672, 1306664, 1306667, 1306673, 1306670, 1306668, 1306669, 1306675, 1306674, 1306666, 1306678.