Winter in New Mexico is an enchanting time of year filled with snow-topped mountains, cozy nights by the fire, and steaming bowls brimming with posole. But that magic can easily turn frightening when temperatures plummet, the heat goes out, or the snowfall doesn’t end.

That's exactly what happened during New Mexico's most disastrous snowstorm which occurred in December 1967.
Jared Tarbell/Flickr
Beginning December 11, the region experienced record snowfall over a matter of days, totaling five or more feet in many parts of the state.
Jared Tarbell/Flickr
Snow reached rooftops, some residents recall getting snowed in, and some unfortunate ones were stranded.
According to an article from Indian Country Today, the thing that made this storm more disastrous was that the non-stop, week-long snowfall was followed by freezing arctic air a week later, giving the snow little chance to melt.
digitalscully/Flickr
According to the article, 32 storm-related deaths were reported in less than a week, which increased to 51 by the time it ended. Among the deceased were an infant and a 60-year-old sheepherder.
In cities and towns that experienced snowfall, snow days were called and life was inconvenienced for some.
Keary O./Flickr

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But for New Mexicans in rural communities, this meant life became even more extreme.
Scrubhiker/Flickr
Residents were snowbound for days, roads were impassable, and rations ran dangerously low for many.
The snow continued to fall for 10 days, so residents who lived miles from larger communities ran low on food for themselves, feed for livestock, firewood, and medical supplies.
Jay Cross/Flickr
By December 18, stranded New Mexicans started to see some relief.
DVIDSHUB/Flickr
The Air Force and National Guard began airdropping food and other supplies via helicopter even as the blizzard continued. Families laid out colored blankets, dug massive X's in the snow, and found other methods to call attention to responders.
In some areas, the skies finally began to clear on December 20 and the emergency was declared over on December 27.
Esteban Monclova/Flickr
Were you in New Mexico when this snowstorm occurred? What are your memories of this event?
Paul Sableman/Flickr

Winter in rural areas of New Mexico has always been a tough experience but even more so for earlier generations. You can take a peek at what the winter weather looked like for our parents and grandparents in Here Is What Winter Looked Like In New Mexico More Than 75 Years Ago.

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