Strong 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. Several inches of snow quickly accumulated across the Northwest Plateau.  After a brief lull on the night of the 29th, snow quickly picked back up along and behind a cold front that swept from west to east. Strong winds both ahead of and behind the front created areas of blowing snow and blizzard conditions across the southwest and south central mountains.  Though little or no precipitation occurred across the southeast, high winds were noted along and behind the front.

Heavy Snow in FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 07:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Over a foot and a half of snow fell across portions of the far northwest highlands. One foot was reported north of La Plata along the Colorado border, while 8 inches was reported at Navajo Dam.  Meanwhile, Dulce picked up close to 21 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow in WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 07:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Up to a foot of snow fell across the west central plateau.  The highest amounts were around Fence Lake, meanwhile the Gallup area received 5 to 6 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow in NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 08:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Over a foot of snow fell across the northwest highlands, with the greatest amounts found near Cuba and Lindrith.  Snowfall accumulations include 5 inches at Torreon Navajo Mission, 8 inches near Cuba and 12.5 inches near Lindrith.

Heavy Snow in WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 08:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The west central mountains received up to 16 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow in SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 12:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The San Francisco River Valley received up to 5 inches of snow.

High Wind in EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 16:00:00 to 29-DEC-10 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winds over 60 mph plagued the east slopes before snow began to fall. A measured wind gust of 63 mph was recorded at north-northwest of Rociada, meanwhile a cabin roof was blown off and large cottonwood trees were blown down along the Cimarron River near Ute Park.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 18:00:00 to 29-DEC-10 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Smokey Bear RAWS recorded a wind gust of 70 mph between 6 and 7 pm, before the heavy snow began.

Heavy Snow in NORTHWEST PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 06:30:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Up to 10 inches of snow fell across the Northwest Plateau.  The highest snow amounts were near the Colorado border around Aztec and La Plata.

Heavy Snow in SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 07:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall amounts of 12 to 18 inches were common across the San Juan Mountains.  Some snowfall reports include 14.5 inches at Chama, 18 inches at Tierra Amarilla, and 11 inches at El Vado.

High Wind in CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 30-DEC-10 10:37:00 to 30-DEC-10 11:37:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Eight Mile Draw RAWS site recorded a 58 mph wind gust.

Heavy Snow in CHUSKA MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 06:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Navajo Whiskey Creek SNOTEL picked up around 19 inches of fresh snow.

High Wind in EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 30-DEC-10 12:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility Transwestern Pump weather station 18 miles north-northeast of Encinoso recorded a 63 mph wind gust.

High Wind in DE BACA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 30-DEC-10 13:15:00 to 30-DEC-10 13:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A 65 mph wind gust was recorded at Sumner Lake while a 59 mph wind gust was recorded at the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility Fort Sumner weather station.

High Wind in SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 30-DEC-10 14:09:00 to 30-DEC-10 15:09:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Dunken RAWS site recorded a wind gust of 60 mph between 209 and 309pm.

Heavy Snow in SANTA FE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 10:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Around 4 to 5 inches of snow fell in Santa Fe and the Santa Fe foothills.

Blizzard in SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 10:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The Mogollon and Luna areas were the hardest hit as winds blasted around 50 to 60 mph while around one foot of snow fell. The Mogollon RAWS site recorded a 58 mph wind gust between 713 and 813am on the 30th, which was approximately the same time as some of the heavier snow fall.

Blizzard in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 30-DEC-10 00:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Sierra Blanca SNOTEL picked up 16 inches of snow while Ski Apache received about 11 inches.  Winds gusting at 50 to 60 mph created dangerous blowing snow conditions with visibilities reduced under one half mile.

Heavy Snow in SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 10:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Snowfall accumulations over 12 inches were common across the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Heavy Snow in UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 11:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS observers around Taos picked up around 4 inches of snow.  Higher amounts are suspected near Tres Piedras.

Heavy Snow in LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 11:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Three to six inches of fresh snow were common across the lower Chama River Valley.  However, up to 11 inches of snow fell around Coyote.

Heavy Snow in JEMEZ MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 07:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall amounts over 8 inches were common across the Jemez Mountains.  Snowfall reports include 12 inches at Wolf Canyon and 20 inches at Pajarito Ski area.

Heavy Snow in WEST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 10:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The Sipapu Ski area picked up around 15 inches of snow while areas near Tererro received around one foot. Areas east of Taos were also hit hard with heavy snow. A volunteer firefighter was killed just after 9 am on the 30th, when he lost control on an icy U.S. 64 around a sharp curve.

Heavy Snow in NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER, NEW MEXICO
From 29-DEC-10 10:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Taos Ski Area picked up over a foot of snow, while the Red River Ski area picked up 10 inches.  Several of the SNOTELs in the area received over 8 inches of snow as well.