A slow-moving winter storm that pummeled Arizona with record heavy snowfall on February 21, 2019 shifted east into New Mexico on the 22nd and 23rd. A large band of snow and associated Pacific cold front moved into the Gallup and Farmington areas late on the 21st before drifting east across the Continental Divide and into the Rio Grande Valley through the 22nd. Gallup picked up 10 to 15 inches of snowfall in less than 12 hours with blowing snow and low visibility. Interstate 40 was closed for several hours due to very dangerous travel conditions and several accidents. Snow and wind then slammed the Rio Grande Valley by the evening of the 22nd with widespread reports of two to six inches of heavy wet snow from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. Snow continued to pummel the northern mountains through the early morning hours of the 23rd, leaving behind a whopping 18 to 24 inches of fresh snow. Several locations across northern and central New Mexico established new daily snowfall records. The storm system then exited into the eastern plains where snow, blowing snow, low visibility, and icy roadways resulted in the closure of U.S. 64 from Clayton to Raton and Interstate 25 within Raton Pass. Strong winds in the wake of this system produced wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph across the eastern plains along with areas of blowing dust.

High Wind in SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 06:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Various sources around the Sandia and Manzano mountains reported sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts between 50 and 60 mph. The Sandia Peak ski area was closed at noon due to hazardous wind levels and blowing snow.

High Wind in ESTANCIA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 08:05:00 to 23-FEB-19 08:28:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A public weather station in Stanley reported peak wind gusts up to 58 mph. The combination of strong winds and a couple inches of snow from the previous evening caused blowing and drifting snow within the Estancia Valley.

High Wind in CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 07:25:00 to 23-FEB-19 10:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Clines Corners reported peak wind gusts up to 59 mph. The combination of strong winds and a couple inches of snow from the previous evening caused blowing snow and severe travel conditions along U.S. Highway 285.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 05:44:00 to 23-FEB-19 05:46:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station at the Corona public library reported a peak wind gust up to 60 mph.

High Wind in UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 05:26:00 to 23-FEB-19 05:32:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet site on White Sands Missile Range reported a peak wind gust up to 59 mph.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 13:38:00 to 23-FEB-19 13:40:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station at the Upper Hondo Water & Conservation District office in Capitan reported at peak wind gust up to 60 mph.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 09:25:00 to 23-FEB-19 14:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 39.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station at the Upper Hondo Water & Conservation District office in Capitan reported sustained winds of 40 to 45 mph for several hours.

High Wind in CURRY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 07:28:00 to 23-FEB-19 10:18:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 38.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The Clovis airport reported sustained winds of 40 to 44 mph for several hours.

High Wind in CURRY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 08:10:00 to 23-FEB-19 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station in Clovis reported peak wind gusts up to 66 mph.

High Wind in ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 10:02:00 to 23-FEB-19 11:48:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 41.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The West Texas mesonet site at Dora reported sustained winds between 40 and 47 mph.

High Wind in ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 10:13:00 to 23-FEB-19 11:33:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The West Texas mesonet site at Dora reported peak wind gusts up to 59 mph.

High Wind in DE BACA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 04:44:00 to 23-FEB-19 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station at Sumner Lake reported sustained winds between 40 and 43 mph for several hours.

High Wind in CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-FEB-19 09:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Eight Mile Draw RAWS site reported peak wind gusts up to 63 mph.

Heavy Snow in NORTHWEST PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 21-FEB-19 09:00:00 to 22-FEB-19 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Various sources across the Farmington, Aztec, and Bloomfield areas reported 4 to 7 inches of snow. Difficult travel was reported.

Heavy Snow in CHUSKA MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 21-FEB-19 06:00:00 to 22-FEB-19 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

The Navajo Whiskey SNOTEL reported 15 inches of snow. Difficult travel was reported through Narbona Pass.

Heavy Snow in FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 21-FEB-19 08:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Areas from Cedar Hill east along the Colorado border to Dulce picked up 8 to 12 inches of snow. Tribal police in Dulce estimated that nearly 2 feet of snow had fallen in Dulce over a two day period. Difficult travel was also reported.

Heavy Snow in NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 21-FEB-19 10:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 00:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Areas along U.S. 550 received around 6 inches of snow. Difficult travel conditions were reported.

Heavy Snow in WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 21-FEB-19 07:00:00 to 22-FEB-19 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Various sources from Tohatchi to Gallup and Zuni reported between 5 and 15 inches of snow. The heaviest snow fell in the area from west of Gallup to Tohatchi. Interstate 40 was closed in the Gallup area for several hours due to extreme travel and several motor vehicle accidents.

Heavy Snow in SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET, NEW MEXICO
From 22-FEB-19 03:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Various sources in the high terrain east of Santa Fe reported between 12 and 24 inches of snow. Difficult travel was reported.

Heavy Snow in UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 22-FEB-19 03:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Various sources in the area from Taos to El Prado and Arroyo Hondo reported between 8 and 16 inches of snow. Snowfall rates near 2 inches per hour occurred for several hours around El Prado and Arroyo Hondo. Difficult travel was reported.

Heavy Snow in ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 22-FEB-19 16:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 00:00:00 (MST-7)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Various sources in the Albuquerque metro area reported between 2 and 7 inches of snow. Snowfall rates on the east side of the metro area exceeded 1 inch per hour for a couple hours during the evening. A couple mile stretch of Tramway Boulevard was closed due to extreme travel conditions and several motor vehicle accidents. The 3.6 inches of snowfall at the Albuquerque Sunport on February 22, 2019 broke the previous daily record of 1.5 inches from 1979.

Heavy Snow in NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER, NEW MEXICO
From 22-FEB-19 03:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Various sources in the area from Red River to Taos Ski Valley reported between 12 and 24 inches of snow. Difficult travel was reported.

Heavy Snow in WEST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 22-FEB-19 03:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Various sources in the area from Questa to Arroyo Seco south to near Cundiyo reported between 6 and 26 inches of snow. The heaviest snow buried the area around Arroyo Seco where snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour occurred for several hours. Difficult travel was reported.

Heavy Snow in SANTA FE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 22-FEB-19 16:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 00:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Various sources in the area from Madrid to Santa Fe and Tesuque reported between 2 and 8 inches of snow. Snowfall rates from the Santa Fe foothills to Tesuque exceeded 1 inch per hour for several hours. Difficult travel was reported.

Winter Weather in UNION COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 22-FEB-19 17:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The combination of a couple inches of snow with strong winds resulted in blowing snow, low visibility, and extremely hazardous travel over northwestern Union County. U.S. Highway 64/87 was closed between Clayton and Raton for several hours on the morning of February 23, 2019.

Winter Weather in RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA, NEW MEXICO
From 22-FEB-19 17:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The combination of a couple inches of snow with strong winds resulted in blowing snow, low visibility, and extremely hazardous travel over northwestern Union County. U.S. Highway 64/87 was closed between Clayton and Raton for several hours on the morning of February 23, 2019.

Heavy Snow in WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 21-FEB-19 07:00:00 to 22-FEB-19 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Various sources along the Continental Divide reported between 5 and 10 inches of snow. Interstate 40 was closed along the Continental Divide for several hours due to extreme travel conditions.

Heavy Snow in SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 21-FEB-19 08:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 00:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

SNOTEL sites in the Gila region reported between 12 and 18 inches of snow while areas around Quemado picked up 4 to 8 inches. Difficult travel was reported across the area.

Heavy Snow in SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 21-FEB-19 06:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Various sources across Rio Arriba County reported between 2 and 12 inches of snow. The heaviest snow fell in the Chama area. Difficult travel was reported.

Heavy Snow in JEMEZ MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 21-FEB-19 08:00:00 to 23-FEB-19 00:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Various sources around the Jemez Mountains reported between 6 and 12 inches of snow. The heaviest snow fell in the Valles Caldera. Difficult travel was reported.