Albuquerque, NMUpdated: December 19, 2020 6:07 PM MDT

Weather Forecast OfficeWhite Christmas Feature

weather.gov/abqNWS Albuquerque

2020

Every year we receive inquiries regarding our chances for a “WhiteChristmas” As you can imagine, the definition of a White Christmas canvary, depending on who you ask. For some, a solid snow cover onChristmas Day under bright blue New Mexico sunshine would qualify.For others, it means seeing snowflakes on Christmas Day, regardless ofwhether there’s snow on the ground. And for the snow hounds, it meansseeing snowflakes and having snow on the ground!

The chances for a White Christmas in Albuquerque and other lowerelevation locations across central and northern New Mexico are notgood, as shown in the image to the right produced by the NationalCenters for Environmental Information (NCEI). The image depicts theprobability of having at least one inch of snow on the ground onChristmas Day. At the Albuquerque International Airport, for example, aChristmas snowfall (measurable) has occurred, on average, once every16 years since snowfall records began at or near the airport (1931).Top Left Image: Gil Gallegos - Picuris Mtn, Top Middle Image: Carol Nash - Clovis, Top Right Image: Leah Ostro – Sandia Mtn

Albuquerque, NMUpdated: December 19, 2020 6:07 PM MDT

Weather Forecast OfficeWhite Christmas Feature

weather.gov/abqNWS Albuquerque

Probabilities

Obviously, the higher in elevation and farther north you are in New Mexico, the better your chances for experiencing aWhite Christmas. But just how much better? The table below shows the various probabilities for a half dozencommunities: Red River, Chama, Gallup, Clayton, the Albuquerque International Sunport, and Roswell.

Christmas Day Red River Chama Gallup Clayton Albuquerque Roswell

Elevation (feet) 8676' 7871' 6801' 4969' 5314' 3669'

Period of record (years) 113 114 47 107 128 89

Probability of seeing snowflakes 17% 23% 13% 4% 5% 8%

Probability of having any snow on the ground 78% 74% 27% 10% 3% 5%

Probability of seeing snowflakes and snow on the ground 13% 17% 4%

Albuquerque, NMUpdated: December 19, 2020 6:07 PM MDT

Weather Forecast OfficeWhite Christmas Feature

weather.gov/abqNWS Albuquerque

Snow Cover (2011-2019)

2019

2012201320142015

201620172018

2011

2020 ?

The charts below from the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) show the coverage of snow onthe ground on Christmas Day. The last time widespread snow was observed on the ground for Christmas was in 2011. Mostyears since 2011 have seen the bulk of snow cover in the climatologically favored higher terrain of northern and western NM.

Albuquerque, NMUpdated: December 19, 2020 6:07 PM MDT

Weather Forecast OfficeWhite Christmas Feature

weather.gov/abqNWS Albuquerque

Historical Accounts

2010s• 2018 - Light snow developed over the Four Corners region on Christmas Day then spread east across northern New Mexico

through Christmas night. Snowfall amounts ranged from six to 10 inches across the northern mountains to three to six inchesaround Santa Fe and Raton. U.S. 64 was closed west of Raton due to extremely slick travel and numerous accidents were reportedaround Santa Fe. Two to five inches of snow fell in Albuquerque the day after Christmas.

• 2016 - Snow spread across northern and western New Mexico on Christmas Eve then into central and eastern New Mexico onChristmas Day. Many folks woke up to a white Christmas with at least light snow accumulations. Six to 12 inches fell over thenorthern mountains. Blizzard conditions were reported at Taos Ski Valley with heavy snow and wind gusts up to 105 mph atKachina Peak. A trace of snow fell in Albuquerque.

• 2015 - A winter storm approaching from Arizona on Christmas Day developed into a major blizzard across New Mexico on the26th and 27th. Travel across eastern New Mexico was shut down for days, including I-40 from Tijeras Canyon all the way to Texas.A civil emergency was declared for several counties across eastern New Mexico as heavy snow and high winds resulted in drifts upto 10 feet in some places. Rescue crews assisted almost 500 stranded motorists. Power outages effected over 30,000 customersdue to downed power lines and roof collapses. Two people died in the storm, including nearly 50,000 livestock across eastern NewMexico. Losses from this blizzard exceeded 400 million dollars. Around two inches of snow fell in the Albuquerque metro area.

• 2014 - Snow developed over northwestern NM late on Christmas Day then spread east across the northern mountains and thehigh plains of eastern New Mexico through the morning of the 26th. Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 12 inches over the highterrain with 3 to 6 inches along I-40 from the Sandia Mountains to Clines Corners. Light snow fell around the Albuquerque metroarea with less than two inches of accumulation.

• 2011 - An active weather pattern the week before Christmas resulted in White Christmas conditions for much of the state. InAlbuquerque, lower elevations were snow free but several inches remained in the foothills on Christmas Day.

Albuquerque, NMUpdated: December 19, 2020 6:07 PM MDT

Weather Forecast OfficeWhite Christmas Feature

weather.gov/abqNWS Albuquerque

Historical Accounts

2000s• 2009 - A storm delivered snow to most of the state from later on the 22nd into early Christmas Eve morning, leaving at least 75%

of the state with snow on the ground for Christmas Day. The Albuquerque foothills reported around an inch of snow, while theSunport reported a trace.

• 2007 - A fast-moving storm brought snow to the state on Christmas and by late evening, much of the eastern plains had new snowon the ground as well as gusty north to northeast winds producing blowing snow and drifts. However, there was no snow in theAlbuquerque area.

• 2006 - Limited areas across the Northeast Highlands received a few inches of snow on Christmas Day, and Cloudcroft received atrace. In Albuquerque, however, the big snow waited for a few days after Christmas, when a record 16.3 inches fell over a two-dayperiod on December 29 and 30.

• 2003 - Temperatures statewide were near or above normal with generally quiet weather. A disturbance clipped northern NewMexico on the 26th, bringing light rain and high elevation snow showers to the northern and west central mountains. Nosignificant snow accumulations were observed.

• 2002 – A storm system affected the Land of Enchantment from late on the 22nd through the 24th. This storm moved slowly oversouthern California to northern Baja on the 22nd, then turned northeast toward New Mexico. The storm brought a trace of snowto Albuquerque on Christmas Eve.

• 2000 - A white Christmas indeed. Light snow fell across the Albuquerque Metro Area on Christmas Day, but temperatures werejust a little too warm for it to accumulate. Only trace amounts were measured at the airport and along the foothills. However, itwas a different story Christmas night and the day after (26th). A strong storm intensified as it moved over central New Mexico,dumping 6.1 inches of snow at Albuquerque's airport on the 26th. The foothills reported 7 inches, while the East Mountaincommunities were buried in 8 to 10 inches of snow.

Albuquerque, NMUpdated: December 19, 2020 6:07 PM MDT

Weather Forecast OfficeWhite Christmas Feature

weather.gov/abqNWS Albuquerque

Historical Accounts

1990s• 1999 - It snowed 1 inch between 7AM and noon on Christmas Day at

the Albuquerque Foothills NE weather observation station. A mix ofrain and snow was observed a the airport totaling 0.02 inches ofprecipitation for the day.

• 1997 - Only a trace of snow remained on the ground at the airport onChristmas Day from the stormy period of December 20-23. Snowdepth at the Albuquerque Foothills NE was 6 inches.

• 1990 - There was 1" of snow at the airport on Christmas Day. This wasleft over from a storm a few days earlier. Christmas was cold, with ahigh temperature of 28 and a low of zero. This was the first event atthe new Albuquerque Foothills NE weather station. At that location(near Tramway/Montgomery), snow depth from earlier storms was 11"at 5 PM on the 24th, and still 9" at 5 PM on Christmas Day.

1980s• 1987 - It snowed 0.4" on Christmas Eve. Flurries fell on Christmas Day

with a high temperature of 25 degrees.•

• 1983 - It snowed 0.8" on Christmas Day.

• 1982 - A trace of snow fell on Christmas Day but melted as thetemperature reached 39 degrees.

1970s• 1975 - It snowed 0.3" on Christmas Eve.

• 1974 – It began snowing Christmas afternoon.Just over half an inch (0.6") had accumulated atthe airport by late afternoon, and the storm totalwas 3.5" when the event ended later that night.

1960s• 1962 - It snowed 1" on Christmas Day.

Albuquerque, NMUpdated: December 19, 2020 6:07 PM MDT

Weather Forecast OfficeWhite Christmas Feature

weather.gov/abqNWS Albuquerque

Historical Accounts

1950s• 1957 - It snowed 2.9" on the night before Christmas at the airport, and

probably more than that over most of the city. This event was probablypretty close to the "ideal" white Christmas portrayed in the movies.

• 1952 - It snowed 0.2" on the 21st, 0.6" on the 23rd, and 0.1" onChristmas Eve. It didn't snow on Christmas Day but the hightemperature was only 29 (the low was 14). Consequently, the groundwas still "somewhat" white.

1940s• 1948 – A trace of snow fell on Christmas Day.•

• 1945 – A trace of snow fell on Christmas Day.

1930s• 1939 - It snowed 0.3" at the airport on Christmas Day. Once again,

other areas of the city (or what is now the city) probably had more.

1920s• 1924 - It snowed 3" on the 24th. Snow remained

pretty much intact on Christmas Day as the hightemperature was 21 and the low was 8 below zero.

• 1923 – A trace of snow fell on Christmas Day.

1910s• 1914 - It snowed 6" from 7 AM till 7 PM on

Christmas Eve. Since the weather station was neardowntown at that time, the area that nowrepresents the Far Northeast Heights and Foothillsprobably got buried in that one!

• 1911 - It snowed 2" from 6 AM till 10 AM onChristmas Day with the temperature hovering at 30degrees.

1900s• 1905 - It snowed 1" on Christmas Day. The high

temperature was 29 and the low was 4.

• 1901 – A trace of snow fell on Christmas Day.