An open wave trough over the Great Basin pushed across New Mexico bringing with it snow and high winds.  Snow developed over northern and western portions of the state late on the 18th and spread east and south across the remainder of western and northern New Mexico by daybreak on the 19th.  Heavy snow and blowing snow were reported Wednesday over the northern and western higher terrain and the Continental Divide of western New Mexico.  Aside from the snow, wind was the major impact with this system across southern and eastern New Mexico.  Dangerous, damaging wind speeds occurred in eastern areas with some reduced visibility in blowing snow and dust.  The entire system pushed quickly east into Texas late Wednesday afternoon allowing wind and snow to diminish across New Mexico.

Heavy Snow in NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall amounts of 6 to 8 inches were reported along the Highway 550 corridor around Cuba.  Treacherous travel conditions and numerous high profile vehicles were crashed in the area.  The combination of snow and wind created winter storm conditions for several hours from the predawn hours on Wednesday through the early afternoon hours.

Heavy Snow in WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 02:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Snowfall amounts between 1 and 4 inches were reported across the region with gusty winds, difficult travel conditions, and blowing snow.  The main area of snow and blowing snow was reported in the region well south of Gallup toward Fence Lake.

Heavy Snow in WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 02:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall amounts between 4 and 8 inches were reported across the area from COOP observer and SNOTEL sites.  The combination of snow, blowing snow, and reduced visibility created difficult travel conditions along the Interstate 40 corridor with numerous accidents reported.

Heavy Snow in SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 01:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall amounts between 3 and 11 inches were reported across the area from COOP observers and SNOTEL sites. The combination of snow, blowing snow, and reduced visibilities created hazardous travel conditions across the region for several hours early Wednesday morning.

Heavy Snow in JEMEZ MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 02:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches were reported across the region from COOP observers, ski sites, and SNOTEL data.  The combination of snow, blowing snow, reduced visibilities, and hazardous travel conditions likely created winter storm conditions for several hours late Wednesday morning.

Heavy Snow in NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 03:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall amounts of 5 to 9 inches were reported across this region from COOP observers, ski sites, and SNOTEL data.  The combination of snow, blowing snow, reduced visibilities, and hazardous travel likely caused winter storm conditions to develop by the early afternoon hours on Wednesday.

Heavy Snow in CHUSKA MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 00:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Snowfall amounts around 7 inches were reported at the Navajo Whiskey SNOTEL along with winds of 35mph from nearby RAWS data.  The combination of cold temperatures, snow, blowing and falling snow, likely created winter storm conditions for several hours during the early afternoon on the 19th.

High Wind in ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 12:35:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:40:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Belen airport reported peak wind gust to 58 mph.

High Wind in DE BACA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 12:40:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Fort Sumner airport reported peak wind gust to 59 mph.

High Wind in QUAY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 14:10:00 to 19-DEC-12 14:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Tucumcari Municipal airport reported peak wind gust to 60 mph.

High Wind in CURRY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 14:33:00 to 19-DEC-12 14:38:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Cannon Air Force base reported peak wind gust to 64 mph.

High Wind in EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 11:15:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 40.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Transwestern Pump CSBF reported sustained winds around 46 mph.

High Wind in SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 74.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Top of Sandia Tram reported gusts between between 70 and 80 mph from late morning on the 19th into the late afternoon.

High Wind in ESTANCIA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Moriarty airport reported peak sustained winds around 40 mph.

High Wind in GUADALUPE COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 12:28:00 to 19-DEC-12 13:28:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Union Pacific Railroad site 426 reported peak sustained winds around 40 mph.

High Wind in NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 05:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 05:10:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Top of Taos ski area.

High Wind in CURRY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 14:30:00 to 19-DEC-12 14:35:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Roof blown off the First Baptist Church at West Grand Ave and Giddling Street.

High Wind in SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 06:28:00 to 19-DEC-12 07:19:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 75.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Magdalena Ridge Observatory experienced high sustained winds peaking between 55 and 63mph early on the 19th with gusts peaking between 70 and 86mph.  Observations in the lower elevations surrounding this location support high winds likely in many other areas in the San Mateo and Magdalena Mountains.

High Wind in ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 09:15:00 to 19-DEC-12 10:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 36.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Double Eagle II airport reported peak sustained winds to 41 mph.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 11:15:00 to 19-DEC-12 16:55:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Clines Corners reported peak sustained winds to 43 mph for several hours.

High Wind in QUAY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 10:53:00 to 19-DEC-12 14:10:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Tucumcari Municipal airport reported peak winds up to 60 mph for several hours.

High Wind in SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Dunken RAWS reported peak winds up to 63 mph for over an hour.

High Wind in ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Melrose Range RAWS reported peak sustained winds up to 40 mph.

High Wind in SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 06:28:00 to 19-DEC-12 07:28:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Magdalena Ridge Observatory experienced high sustained winds peaking between 55 and 63mph early on the 19th with gusts peaking between 70 and 86mph.  Observations in the lower elevations surrounding this location support high winds likely in many other areas in the San Mateo and Magdalena Mountains.

High Wind in ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Belen airport reported peak sustained winds up to 41 mph.

High Wind in ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 11:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 16:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 43.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Dora mesonet reported peak sustained winds up to 50 mph for several hours.

High Wind in ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 10:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Clovis AWOS reported peak sustained winds up to 43 mph for several hours.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 10:00:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:35:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Ruidoso Regional airport reported peak wind gusts to 59 mph on and off for a couple hours.

High Wind in CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 11:52:00 to 19-DEC-12 11:57:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Roswell ASOS reported peak wind gust to 58 mph.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 12:01:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:06:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Nogal APRSWXNET reported peak wind gust to 59 mph.

High Wind in SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 12:09:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Dunken RAWS reported peak wind gust to 63 mph.

High Wind in ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 19-DEC-12 12:25:00 to 19-DEC-12 12:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Dora mesonet reported peak wind gusts up to 62 mph.