Santa Fe, N.M. – More than 10 inches of heavy, wet snow could blanket the Sangre de Cristo Mountains by Tuesday evening, raising the risk of power outages, tree damage, and treacherous driving for communities above 8,000 feet.
According to the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, snow will continue through Tuesday across northern New Mexico’s high terrain, particularly near Taos, Red River, and Angel Fire. Wet snow accumulation and strong winds may snap tree limbs and down power lines, potentially leading to isolated outages. Visibility will drop quickly in heavier bands, making travel on mountain roads like U.S. 64 and NM-518 hazardous.
Communities from Santa Fe to Mora should prepare for slick roads and reduced visibility overnight and into Tuesday morning. Drivers are urged to avoid non-essential travel in the high country and to pack emergency supplies if travel is necessary. Snowmelt could also contribute to ponding in low-lying areas.
This marks one of the latest significant winter events in recent years for the region, underscoring the importance of late-season preparedness. Local utilities and emergency crews are on standby for outages and blocked roads.
Snowfall and strong impacts are expected to taper by late Tuesday, but winter storm warnings may remain in effect through early Wednesday depending on elevation.
