Winter in New Mexico is a magical time of year. We’ve got glittering snow, roaring fires, and occasionally, epic blizzards. While thinking of the more charming aspects of winter can be wonderful, it doesn’t take long to remember it can also be a disastrous time of year. Here’s a look at some winter storms in New Mexico that turned into true disaster scenarios.

1. February 1956
Gila National Forest/Flickr
This one originally started as a fairly mild winter storm over eastern New Mexico and western Texas. Soon, it grew into a full-blown blizzard. The storm occurred between February 1 and 5. So much snow was dropped in the region that it was a record snowfall in New Mexico. The previous record had stood for over 50 years! Sadly, 18 people died during this storm.
2. December 1967
Jared Tarbell/Flickr
The deadliest known of all winter storms in New Mexico began around December 11. The state was blanketed in five feet of snow, with some areas receiving even more! The Navajo Nation was hit especially hard. Families were stranded in their homes as the snow reached rooftops. In extreme cases, the National Guard and Air Force airdropped supplies such as food, hay bales, and emergency kits outside homes as the storm began to let up. Overall, the storm led to 51 deaths.

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3. December 2006
Jared Tarbell/Flickr
This snowstorm that started on December 29 was one of the largest since the blizzard of 1967. It was actually a pretty similar storm to its predecessor, with many occurrences mimicking that one. This storm dropped between 11 and 100 inches of snow across the state in just three days. A state of emergency was declared in 12 counties.
4. December 2009
Patrick Nouhailler/Flickr
The highest wind gusts ever recorded in New Mexico occurred during this snow storm. Gusts reached a high of 135 miles per hour at the Magdalena Ridge Observatory near Socorro. The early December winds were so bad that the instrument ended up failing and no further measurements could be taken. In other areas, people were being lifted up off their feet by the wind gusts!
5. December 2015
Chris Scully/Flickr
Another record-breaking snowstorm hit New Mexico during this one that began the day after Christmas. Wind gusts peaked at 82 miles per hour. Snow reached up to 41 inches high at Ski Apache during this two-day storm. There were several reports of motorists getting stranded in the storm. Some vehicles were even pushed into embankments by the strength of the wind. Snowdrifts piled up to 10 feet high in some areas.

Hopefully this winter will not bring anything as awful as these storms to the Land of Enchantment. Do you remember these horrible winter storms in New Mexico? Share your experiences in the comments!

If you want to read about more of these storms in greater detail, we recommend starting by reading about the blizzard of 2006. We mentioned that one on our list because it’s one of the worst winter storms in New Mexico history. Read more in this article: A Massive Blizzard Blanketed New Mexico In Snow In 2006 And It Will Never Be Forgotten.

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Winter In New Mexico

Lisa Sammons | October 01, 2021

What are some natural disasters in New Mexico history?

We've had some terrible disasters in New Mexico. It was not necessarily a natural disaster, but the coal mining accident of 1913 was terribly tragic and resulted in the loss of 263 lives. Sadly, it was not the only mining accident to occur in New Mexico. Check out this list of other tragic disasters in New Mexico.

What is winter in New Mexico like?

Winter in New Mexico tends to be pretty dry. It's a wonderful time to travel to the state, since you don't have to deal with our famously scorching summer heat. The landscape is gorgeous, and there are so many places worth checking out.

What are the numbers for record snowfall in New Mexico?

Snowfall in New Mexico varies dramatically depending on where you are in the state. Some areas of the state rarely receive any snow at all, but it's a common occurrence in the more northern regions. The 24-hour max snowfall record in New Mexico was set in 1964, when Kelly Ranch saw 41 inches.

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