Blizzard in New Mexico
Every blizzard event the National Weather Service has filed in New Mexico, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
The most significant on the map
The most significant blizzard episodes in New Mexico.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 77
- Deaths
- 3
- Injuries
- 8
- Damage
- $406 million
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 18 to 20, 2011A strong upper level storm system moved across southern New Mexico, and initially brought heavy snow to western and central New Mexico. Then, a very strong cold front plowed across the northeast and east central plains bringing winds up to 60 mph and more heavy snow.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in New Mexico, November 6 to 8, 2024An upper low dove south into the Four Corners area during the day November 6th with much colder air diving south into northern and central NM during the day. Snow developed across northwest and north central NM during the day.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 6 to 8, 2009A potent storm system brought heavy snow and high winds across the state. Snowfall started on December 6th across the San Juan Mountains.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 26 to 27, 2015A potent upper level storm system developed over Arizona on Christmas Day then moved slowly east along the Mexico border through the 27th. Snow developed quickly from south to north over New Mexico on the 26th while an arctic cold front raced south and west across the state.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, January 7 to 8, 2024A 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.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 29 to 30, 2010Strong winds and heavy snow plagued much of western and central New Mexico on the 29th and 30th. The heavy snow began on the 29th across northwest New Mexico as a very large and cold upper level system slid southward across the Great Basin.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 24 to 25, 2013A slow moving upper level storm system sliding southeast out of the Great Basin interacted with a potent back door cold front sliding south down the Front Range to produce widespread heavy snowfall, strong to damaging winds, and blizzard to near blizzard conditions for much of…
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in New Mexico, October 25 to 28, 2020A powerful cold front surged southwest through eastern New Mexico on October 25, 2020 in advance of a potent upper level storm system approaching from the west.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in New Mexico, February 13 to 15, 2021A major and historic winter storm impacted New Mexico over multiple days from February 13th through the morning hours of February 15, 2021.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 27 to 29, 2018A second punch of winter weather struck New Mexico shortly after Christmas as a slow-moving storm system shifted southeast through the Four Corners region.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, March 23 to 24, 2017A low pressure system developing off the California coastline on the 22nd shifted quickly east into New Mexico on the 23rd and forced strong west to southwest winds across much of the state. This system intensified rapidly as it crossed the southern Rockies through the 24th.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in New Mexico, December 28 to 31, 2006Record snows measuring in feet instead of the usual inches developed across central and northeastern New Mexico as an upper level closed low remained nearly stationary for about 36 hours over southwest areas of the state.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, November 16 to 17, 2015A potent storm system that rapidly strengthened just west of the Four Corners on November 15th produced strong winds and widespread precipitation across the area through the 17th, including 1 to 3 feet of snow for the central and northern mountains and parts of northeastern New…
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 11 to 13, 2015The first winter storm to impact New Mexico since the widespread mid November event delivered a hard blow to the state.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, March 16 to 17, 2021An active pattern over New Mexico continued over March 16-17, 2021 as another strong winter storm system impacted the state. As the low pressure system and its associated cold front tracked eastward across New Mexico, westerly winds strengthened across much of the area.
- Blizzard in New Mexico, December 26 to 28, 2015An upper level storm system intensified over the southwest United States on Christmas Day. This system moved southeastward over the next two days across portions of northeast Mexico and Far West Texas.
- Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, November 28 to 30, 2009A strong upper level system brought snow to much of New Mexico over a four day period. Snow began over the northern mountains on the 28th and lingered through the morning hours of the 30th. Amounts were typically light - on the order of 4 inches or less.
- Blizzard in New Mexico, December 29 to 30, 2010A powerful upper low digging out of the Pacific Northwest brought a strong cold front with damaging winds and heavy mountain snows to the region. Blizzard conditions were reported in many areas of Northern Grant County and the Sacramento Mountains.
More
Sources
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.