A strong closed upper low pressure system slid south across western New Mexico while dragging a strong back door cold front across the eastern plains.  The northern mountains as well as the east slopes of the central mountain chain were hit the hardest - with some locations receiving up to a foot of snow. The snow was responsible for several road closures, including portions of Interstate 25 and Interstate 40.  State Highway 475, also known as Hyde Park Road, was closed by State Police which stranded travelers returning from a day of skiing at Santa Fe Ski Area.

Heavy Snow in GUADALUPE COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 17:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Around 8 inches of snow fell near Anton Chico.  Elsewhere, between 1 and 4 inches of snow fell.

Heavy Snow in NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 16:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 07:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 5 and 10 inches fell across the area.  The heaviest snow was reported west of Interstate 25.

Heavy Snow in UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 09:00:00 to 14-MAR-10 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A band of snow set up over Tres Piedras, dropping around 6 inches of snow.  Most of it fell in a period of 4 hours.

Heavy Snow in LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 11:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 00:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 5 and 10 inches of snow fell across the Lower Chama River Valley.  The heaviest amounts were reported between Ghost Ranch and Youngsville as well as around Espanola.

Heavy Snow in SANTA FE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 11:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Widespread snow amounts of 5 to 8 inches were reported across the Santa Fe Metro Area.

Heavy Snow in SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 15:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The east slopes of the Sandia and Manzano Mountains was one of the hardest hit areas.  Some reports included 14 inches south of Golden, around a foot just northeast of Tajique and near 10 inches around Sedillo.

Heavy Snow in NORTHWEST PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 03:00:00 to 14-MAR-10 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Up to 4 inches of snow fell around Bloomfield and areas just north of Farmington.

Heavy Snow in FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 03:00:00 to 14-MAR-10 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Up to 5.5 inches of snow fell across northeast San Juan County.

Heavy Snow in SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 15-MAR-10 02:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Up to a foot of snow fell in a short amount of time around Magdalena.

Heavy Snow in SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 06:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The southern San Juan Mountains received up to a foot of snow as snow bands continued to move from south to north.

Heavy Snow in ESTANCIA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 15:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Areas west of a line from Moriarty to Willard received the most snow.  Reports between 6 and 10 inches were received.

Heavy Snow in CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 15:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 6 and 12 inches of snow was reported across the Central Highlands.

Heavy Snow in SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 16:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Five to six inches of snow was reported around Corona.

Heavy Snow in FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 16:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 07:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 2 and 6 inches of snow fell across the area.

Heavy Snow in WEST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 14:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Up to 8 inches of snow was reported across the west slopes of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains.  The heaviest amounts were reported around Tres Ritos.

Heavy Snow in JEMEZ MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 06:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 02:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The Jemez Mountains received up to a foot of snow, including at Pajarito Ski Area.

Heavy Snow in SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 15:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Santa Fe Ski Area received around 15 inches of snow while the Wesner Springs SNOTEL received around 10 inches.

Heavy Snow in EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 16:00:00 to 15-MAR-10 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The east slopes were one of the hardest hit areas.  Widespread snow amounts of 8 to 10 inches were reported.

Winter Weather in WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 14-MAR-10 04:00:00 to 14-MAR-10 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Approximately 1 to 3 inches of snow created slick and hazardous roadways across the West Central Plateau.  A man, age 60, was killed after losing control of his SUV on Interstate 40 near Gallup around 645 am MST.  His wife and grandchildren were also in the vehicle, but survived with only minor injuries.  Almost 30 crashes were reported, though no others resulted in injuries.