The last in a series of storm systems raced New Mexico on Christmas Day. Snow spread into northern and western New Mexico late on Christmas Eve then moved quickly eastward through central New Mexico Christmas morning. Many folks woke up to a white Christmas with generally light accumulations of fresh snow. The combination of heavy snow in the northern high terrain with strong winds created near blizzard conditions. The Taos Ski Valley weather station at the top of Kachina Peak reported a hurricane force wind gust of 105 mph. Strong winds spread into much of central and eastern New Mexico as colder air filtered into the area Christmas afternoon. Many locations across eastern New Mexico saw sustained winds over 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

High Wind in SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 25-DEC-16 11:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Dunken.

High Wind in NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER, NEW MEXICO
From 25-DEC-16 15:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 06:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The weather station on Kachina Peak at Taos Ski Valley reported wind gusts near 58 mph behind the exiting winter storm.

High Wind in CURRY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 25-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 38.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Clovis airport.

High Wind in UNION COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 25-DEC-16 13:15:00 to 25-DEC-16 13:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Wind gust to 62 mph near Sedan.

High Wind in NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 25-DEC-16 12:30:00 to 25-DEC-16 14:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Las Vegas airport.

High Wind in FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 25-DEC-16 13:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Raton Crews airport.

High Wind in EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 25-DEC-16 11:45:00 to 25-DEC-16 15:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 43.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility Transwestern Pump Station.

High Wind in EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility Transwestern Pump Station.

High Wind in CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 25-DEC-16 14:45:00 to 25-DEC-16 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 38.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Clines Corners and the Union Pacific Railroad station near Duran reported sustained winds up to 44 mph.

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET, NEW MEXICO
From 24-DEC-16 22:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Snowfall amounts averaged 4 to 7 inches across the higher terrain east of Santa Fe. Moderate snowfall amounts combined with strong wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph created winter storm conditions.

High Wind in UNION COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 25-DEC-16 13:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 14:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Clayton airport.

High Wind in CURRY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 25-DEC-16 11:15:00 to 25-DEC-16 11:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Wind gust to 58 mph at Cannon Air Force Base.

Winter Storm in NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER, NEW MEXICO
From 24-DEC-16 22:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Snowfall amounts averaged 6 to 12 inches across the higher terrain of Taos County. Heavy snowfall combined with dangerously high winds created blizzard conditions around Taos Ski Valley. Kachina Peak reported a peak wind gust of 105 mph. Ski patrol did not note any significant damage from these high winds.

Winter Storm in SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 24-DEC-16 21:00:00 to 25-DEC-16 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Snowfall amounts averaged 3 to 7 inches across the higher terrain of eastern Rio Arriba County. Moderate snowfall amounts combined with strong wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph created winter storm conditions from Chama to Tierra Amarilla eastward into the high terrain.