NWS ABQ - January 5th-7th: Rain and Snow Event

January 5-7, 2008: Rain and Snow Event

The first significant storm of 2008 delivered rain and snow to northern and central New Mexico from the 5th through the 7th. A powerful storm along the west coast on the 4th allowed for a surge of moisture into the state late on the 4th and 5th. Then additional storm systems moved across the Southwest United States on the 6th and 7th, helping produce widespread and significant precipitation. The water vapor and infrared satellite loops below show the progression of the storms during this time period.

Temperatures were intially mild on the 5th and 6th, with rain over most areas except the higher mountains of Rio Arriba county. But as the storm approached the mercury lowered on the night of the 6th and on the 7th, dropping snow levels to the western and central valley floors. The surface temperature loop below on the left illustrates the temperature drop. The radar loop below on the right shows the band of precipitation slowly shifting southeast over the three day period.

With a long duration of precipitation over the northwest, snow amounts were substantial in the mountains. The tables below list some of the more impressive snowfall and precipitation totals from the three days. Strong and gusty winds also existed during these three days, especially on the 5th and 7th.

Total Snowfall 5th - 7th (inches)
Location	Amount
Narbona Pass	24
Luna 5 W	22
Chama 2 N	21.2
Cowles	16
Cuba 13 ESE	15
Angel Fire area	9-14
Tres Ritos 2 NW	13
Ramah 6 E	12
McGaffey 5 SE	12
Quemado Lake	11
Farmington	6

Total Precipitation 5th - 7th (inches)
Location	Amount
Chama 2 N	1.83
Angel Fire	1.55
Navajo Dam	1.52
Sedillo 2 NW	1.38
Gallup	0.81
Los Alamos	0.79
Santa Fe 2 E	0.72
Cedar Grove	0.70
Espanola 2 SE	0.50
Star Lake	0.48
Albuquerque Foothills	0.31

A thin squall line moved rapidly east across the Albuquerque/Santa Fe metro areas between 400 pm and 500 pm Monday December 7, 2005. The composite radar image below shows the line of rain, snow, and wind as it moved east into the area. Residents across Albuquerque reported gusty west winds between 35 and 45 mph, a rain/snow mix in the valley, 1/2 inch of snow in the Albuquerque Foothills, and poor visibilities.