New Mexico Daily Snow

Heads up, there may be fresher snow! Read the latest New Mexico Daily Snow

By Julien Ross, Forecaster Posted 3 years ago April 14, 2020

Storm recap ~ next snow...late April?

Update

All New Mexico ski areas are closed for the season. New Mexico is under a public health emergency shelter in place order. You can read about the latest regulations here. I will continue to post regular weather forecasts through April 15 for informational purposes and to provide a source for positive news.

I am reporting on the new snow for weather purposes and not to encourage skiing or excursions into the mountains. We should all adhere to the NM order and stay home. I agree with Ski Santa Fe Manager, Ben Abruzzo, who said it best: "I plan to stay home, to exercise and recreate at my home and to do what I can to support our community. I ask that you do the same." And I agree with Taos Ski Valley: "Our mountain will still be here when this is all said and done. The best thing we can do now is stay home and stay safe, freeing up our rockstar healthcare and essential workers to do their jobs without adding extra burdens."

We are all in this together. Together we will get through this. And our beloved mountains will be here with us when we do.

April 13 storm recap

The April 13 storm performed about as expected. Snowfall observation maps, webcams, and SNOTEL indicate the following approximate snowfall totals:

4-7" Ski Santa Fe, Sandia Peak: 
2-5" Taos Ski Valley: 
1-3" Pajarito, Sipapu
trace-1": Red River, Angel Fire

This storm took a unique track across the central latitude mountains of New Mexico and thus some of the heaviest snow of 6-10" totals fell in the Zuni, San Mateo, Sandia, and Manzano Mountains.

Here is the 24-hr snowfall accumulation using NOAA's NOHRSC sensor data projected onto a graphic courtesy of Pivotal Weather. This offers a wonderful opportunity to get to study up on some of the lesser-known mountain names across the Land of Enchantment. I learned a few new mountain range names as I researched the April 13 snowfall locations, including the Ladron Mountains and the Black Range. 

Potentially long dry period ahead

The latest projections put the storm track just to our north through the latter part of April. We will need a southern shift to see any meaningful snowfall or precipitation in New Mexico. The Euro, GFS and Canadian Ensembles all keep New Mexico relatively dry through April 30. Only showing the GFS and Canadian below.

This doesn't mean that New Mexico won't see snow over the next two weeks. Northern New Mexico should see some snow being right on the edge of the storm track. But we are definitely not favored for snowfall overall and there is a greater probability of drier conditions. The NOAA 6-10 day outlook for precipitation, and the 8-14 day outlook of the same below, keep New Mexico on the drier side, but with northern New Mexico in the wildcard zone.

The 6-10 day and 8-14 day outlook for temperatures have New Mexico above normal indicating a warmer than usual finish to the month of April.

I will post my final New Mexico Daily Snow for the 2019-2020 season on Wednesday, April 15. If you have any questions or would like to see any specific data or have a take on the 2019-2020 season from a snow and storm perspective, please email me at [email protected].

Stay safe and healthy. ¡Que viva Nuevo Mexico!

JULIEN ROSS

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About Our Forecaster

Julien Ross

Forecaster

Julien was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico and was introduced to skiing at age 7 through the public schools subsidized ski program at Ski Santa Fe. It was love at first turn and Julien has been chasing deep powder and good mogul lines ever since. Julien grew up fascinated by weather and studied physical geography with a focus on meteorology at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

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