Heavy Snow in New Mexico
Every heavy snow event the National Weather Service has filed in New Mexico, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
The most significant on the map
The most significant heavy snow 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
- 2,245
- Deaths
- 29
- Injuries
- 101
- Damage
- $2.8 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.
- Heavy Snow in New Mexico, January 1 to 2, 2019A third winter storm in a series hammered much of New Mexico during the New Year's holiday with widespread snowfall, bitterly cold temperatures, and major travel impacts.
- Winter Storm and Extreme Cold in New Mexico, February 1 to 4, 2022A strong winter storm system deepened over the Rockies before tracking southward into New Mexico on February 1, 2022 and continuing into February 2nd. Accompanying this system was a backdoor cold front that brought in very cold arctic air into northern and central New Mexico.
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 15 to 17, 2016A powerful jet stream approaching from the eastern Pacific carved out a potent storm system over New Mexico the week before Christmas. This was the most impactful winter storm since the blizzard from December 2015 and the first significant storm of the 2016-2017 season.
- 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.
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Mexico, February 3 to 4, 2010Moisture spread from south to north across the state as an upper level low pressure system tracked from the boot-heel of New Mexico northeastward into the Texas panhandle.
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Mexico, December 30 to 31, 2009A fast moving, but intense short wave trough moved from northwest to southeast across New Mexico later on the 30th into the 31st. The atmosphere was very unstable during this time and temperatures were well below freezing in many areas.
- Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 16 to 17, 2010A weak upper level trough, combined with a back door cold front and abundant moisture, set the stage for heavy snow across much of central and eastern New Mexico.
- Tornado and Avalanche in New Mexico, March 11 to 14, 2019A record breaking late winter storm system moved through New Mexico on March 12-14, 2019. A deep tap of subtropical moisture surged north into the state ahead of this system on March 12th as a surface low deepened over northeastern New Mexico.
- Heavy Snow and Freezing Fog in New Mexico, December 2 to 3, 2011After a very strong back door frontal passage on December 1st, which plowed through the eastern plains and westward through the gaps of the central mountain chain toward the Arizona border, much cooler temperatures were in place across the state.
- Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 15 to 16, 2008A deep low pressure area centered over California continued to pump moisture into Mew Mexico on the 15th and 16th. A strong short wave trough ejected out of the low and helped bring widespread, heavy snow to much of the area near and north of Interstate 40.
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in New Mexico, December 25 to 26, 2008The third upper level trough of the Christmas week brought high winds and moderate snows to northern and central New Mexico. Snow amounts ranged from just a few inches at low elevations to one to two feet in the ski areas.
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 21 to 27, 1997A series of heavy snow events produced totals of 15 to 30 inches across eastern and central New Mexico just before Christmas.
- Dust Storm and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 26 to 27, 2024A very strong segment of the jet stream associated with an upper level system dove down across northern and central NM February 26th and 27th.
- 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.
- Ice Storm and Winter Storm in New Mexico, November 21 to 25, 2013An arctic cold front pushed south across the eastern plains and through the central mountain chain and Rio Grande Valley late on the 21st through the 22nd. Record to near record cold temperatures moved into the area with this arctic air mass.
- Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 31, 2018A third winter storm in a series hammered much of New Mexico during the New Year's holiday with widespread snowfall, bitterly cold temperatures, and major travel impacts.
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in New Mexico, December 22 to 25, 2011A strong upper level low pressure system that slowly moved south over Arizona and then over southern New Mexico brought copious amounts of snow to the state. Some of the areas that were hit the hardest included the same areas that were blanketed by snow from the previous storm.
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, March 23 to 24, 2021A strong and cold low pressure system deepened over the Great Basin area before tracking eastward over the state of New Mexico starting on March 23 and continuing through March 24, 2021.
- Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 22 to 24, 2009A storm over the Pacific Northwest on the 21st moved to the Great Basin on the 22nd, into northern Arizona on the 23rd and crossed New Mexico from northwest to southeast late on the 23rd into the early morning hours of the 24th.
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 17 to 19, 2019A deep upper level low pressure system moved into the Great Basin on February 17, 2019 and forced moist southwest flow over New Mexico through the 18th and 19th.
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Mexico, December 4 to 6, 2013A powerful jet stream that surged over the area on the 3rd and 4th drove an arctic airmass south across a vast section of the western United States.
- 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.
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.