A pair of storm systems helped to usher in a new year as they impacted much of northern and central New Mexico on December 31, 2021 and January 1, 2022. The first storm system was a closed upper-level low pressure system off the coast of Baja California. This system moved northeastward through the area on December 31, 2021, bringing a deep tap of subtropical moisture with it. This system brought the first round of heavy snowfall to the mountainous terrain areas. The second, much colder storm system then tracked southeastward across the state on New Years' Day. Another round of heavy snow fell across much of northern and western New Mexico. With an associated backdoor cold front moving into eastern New Mexico early on January 1, 2022, this cold air advection also set the stage for additional snow accumulations across the eastern plains. Much of northern and central New Mexico received measurable snowfall with the main exceptions being the middle and lower Rio Grande Valley, including Albuquerque. The highest snowfall totals were received in the northern mountains where 10 to 20 inches of snow fell over the two day period. Due to snow-packed and icy roads, difficult to severe driving conditions were reported along several major roadways, including Interstate 40 near Gallup, Moriarty, and Tucumcari. As this event continued into January 1, 2022, it will be repeated in the January 2022 StormData entries. Key Impacts: poor travel conditions.

Heavy Snow in EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 14:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. A member of the public near Angel Fire measured seventeen inches of new snow on January 1, 2022.

Heavy Snow in FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 12:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. A trained spotter near Regina measured twelve inches of new snow on January 1, 2022.

Heavy Snow in UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 12:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. On the morning of January 1, 2022, a CoCoRaHS observer near Taos measured seven inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 07:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Snow began falling across the area early on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. By January 1, 2022, a SNOTEL site near Bluewater Lake had received an estimated twelve inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in SANTA FE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 10:40:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. The highest snow totals in this area were found on the north and northeast side of Santa Fe. By the morning of January 1, 2022, several CoCoRaHS observers in the area measured new snow totals of six to seven inches.

Heavy Snow in SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 05:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy snow began falling in the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. A trained spotter near Pietown measured ten inches of new snow on January 1, 2022.

Heavy Snow in SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS INCLUDING EDGEWOOD, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 07:30:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Snow began falling across the Sandia/Manzano Mountains early on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. By January 1, 2022, a member of the public near Sandia Park measured eleven inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in TUSAS MOUNTAINS INCLUDING CHAMA, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 12:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. Numerous SNOTELs across the Tusas Mountains received new snow totals ranging from ten to fourteen inches. The highest snow totals were received near Canjilon and Canon Plaza where each SNOTEL received an estimated fourteen inches of new snow by January 1, 2022.

Heavy Snow in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 05:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Snow began falling across the area early on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. By January 1, 2022, a SNOTEL site near Bonito Lake received an estimated ten inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in JEMEZ MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 10:30:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. Numerous SNOTELs across the Jemez Mountains received estimated new snow totals of five to ten inches. The highest snow totals were received near Cuba where a SNOTEL received an estimated ten inches of new snow by January 1, 2022.

Winter Storm in WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 08:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snow began falling across the area early on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. Conditions near Gallup rapidly deteriorated into early January 1, 2022. Several sources across the West Central Plateau measured four to five inches of new snow by New Years' morning. Snow-packed and icy roads resulted in severe driving conditions along Interstate 40 near Gallup.

Heavy Snow in GLORIETA MESA INCLUDING GLORIETA PASS, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 09:30:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. On January 1, 2022, a trained spotter near Tererro measured seven inches of new snow.

Heavy Snow in NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 12:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. Various SNOTELs across the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains received snow totals ranging from ten to sixteen inches. The highest snow totals were found near Red River where a SNOTEL received an estimated sixteen inches of new snow by January 1, 2022.

Heavy Snow in SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 31-DEC-21 10:00:00 to 31-DEC-21 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Snow began falling across the area on December 31, 2021, and continued through the overnight hours. Some of the highest snow totals from this event were found across the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains where snow totals ranged from about 10 to 20 inches. A SNOTEL near Chupadero received an estimated 21 inches of new snow by January 1, 2022.