A 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. More than a foot of snow fell across Union County.  This caused drifts to be more than 6 feet high in some locations, which stranded holiday travelers, and in at least one case, buried them.

Blizzard in FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 08:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The Interstate 25 corridor was hit hard with nearly 15 inches of snow in Wagon Mound.  7 inches of snow was also reported around Abbott. The Raton ASOS measured a gust of 60 mph during the event. Sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph caused substantial blowing and drifting snow.  Snow drifts were over 4 feet.  A horse trailer going southbound overturned on Interstate 25 between Wagon Mound and Springer.  Three people were injured.

Blizzard in RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 06:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Approximately 8 inches of snow fell at the Raton Port of Entry, while nearly 11 inches of snow fell at Capulin.  Winds of 40 to 45 mph with gusts over 60 mph caused unbelievable blowing and drifting snow. Snow drifts over 4 feet were reported.

Blizzard in UNION COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 08:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

One to two feet of snow blanketed Union County. Approximately 18 inches of snow fell in Clayton, while 12 inches fell in Pasamonte. In far northern portions of the county, up to 24 inches of snow was reported.  Meanwhile, sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts over 60 mph caused unbelievable blowing and drifting snow. Snow drifts were reported to be 8 to 10 feet high in some locations.  Roads quickly took a turn for the worse, and left several travelers stranded. One family from Texas pulled over on U.S. Highway 56 near mile marker 48, east of Gladstone, due to the white-out conditions. However, snow continued to pile up on their vehicle.  The family was buried under the snow in their Yukon for 2 days before rescuers found them. Both parents had pneumonia, but their 5 year old daughter was fine.

Blizzard in NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 08:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

At least 4 to 5 inches of snow fell across the northeast highlands.

Blizzard in HARDING COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 08:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 02:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Between 5 and 6 inches of snow was common across Harding County, with locally higher amounts. Due to the strong winds of 30 to 40 mph with higher gusts, snow drifts were 3 to 4 feet high.

Heavy Snow in NORTHWEST PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 07:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Four inches of new snow fell around Chaco Canyon.  Areas near Farmington received less than an inch of snow.

Blizzard in EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 08:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 02:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 4 and 7 inches of snow fell across eastern San Miguel County.  Snow drifts were up to 3 feet high due to the strong and gusty winds.

Blizzard in GUADALUPE COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 10:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Western portions of Guadalupe County received approximately one foot of snow, including around Vaughn.  Eastern portions of the county generally received around 6 inches.  The icy roads combined with blowing and drifting snow due to the strong winds, caused a single car rollover in Vaughn.  The lone occupant was killed.

Blizzard in QUAY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 10:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Four to seven inches of snow fell across Quay County, including around 6 inches in Tucumcari.  The Tucumcari ASOS measured wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph with gusts to 60 mph, which resulted in significant blowing and drifting snow.

Heavy Snow in CURRY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 11:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

As 2 to 4 inches of snow fell across Curry County, roads quickly became icy. A driver of a Toyota sedan traveling on U.S. 60/84 four miles east of Melrose lost traction and slid head on into a pickup truck around 245 pm on the 19th. All four occupants of the sedan were killed, and both passengers of the pick up truck were sent to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Heavy Snow in WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 18-DEC-11 23:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow rapidly fell across the west central mountains during the overnight hours.  Near one foot of snow was reported around El Morro and Thoreau while even higher amounts were reported south of El Morro.

Heavy Snow in DE BACA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 11:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Northwest portions of De Baca County received the most snow.  Up to 9 inches of snow was reported in this area, while up to 4 inches was reported across eastern portions of the county.

Heavy Snow in NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Close to 4 inches of snow fell around Cuba while 4.5 inches of snow was reported east-southeast of Counselor.

Heavy Snow in WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 18-DEC-11 23:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow rapidly piled up across the west central highlands, especially around Grants.  Grants picked up 15 inches of snow, while Cubero and Acoma Pueblo received 6 and 7 inches, respectively. The heavy wet snow caused 6 carports to collapse in Grants.  No injuries were reported.

Heavy Snow in JEMEZ MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 02:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Around 8 inches of snow fell in Los Alamos, but at the Pajarito Ski site, more than a foot of snow fell.  East slopes of the Jemez Mountains received more snow than western slopes, which generally picked up around 2 to 5 inches.

Heavy Snow in SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 02:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains started with the initial round of precipitation that came up from the south, then the east slopes received another round of heavy snow when the back door front backed up to the mountains. The Wesner Springs SNOTEL picked up 19 inches of snow while the Santa Fe Ski area received 10 inches.

Heavy Snow in EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 03:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The Black Lake and Eagle Nest areas received 8 to 9 inches of snow, but the Angel Fire Ski area received approximately one foot.

Heavy Snow in LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 01:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Western portions of the lower Chama River Valley picked up the most snow, including around 4 inches at Canones and 8 inches at Coyote.

Heavy Snow in SANTA FE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 01:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Approximately 3 to 4 inches of snow fell across the Santa Fe Metro area.

Heavy Snow in ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 01:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Between 4 and 7 inches of snow fell across eastern portions of Albuquerque, including the foothills.

Heavy Snow in SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 18-DEC-11 23:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 8 and 14 inches fell across the high peaks and the east slopes of the Sandia and Manzano Mountains.

Heavy Snow in ESTANCIA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 07:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Between 7 and 9 inches of snow fell across the Estancia Valley, including 7 inches at Stanley, 8 inches at Moriarty, and 9 inches at Estancia.

Heavy Snow in CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 07:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Eight inches of snow was reported 7 miles southeast of Clines Corners, while 11 inches of snow was reported 16 miles east of Clines Corners along Interstate 40. I-40 was shutdown until roads were safe for travel.

Heavy Snow in SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-11 01:00:00 to 20-DEC-11 01:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Between 4 and 6 inches of snow fell across the south central highlands, including 6 inches at Corona.