3/6 -3/7 REPORTS: NM/OK/TX/AR winter storm

[John Farley]

From the afternoon of March 5 through the morning of March 6, snow was widespread over northern and eastern New Mexico. An especially intense and persistent area of snow set up from just north of Santa Fe into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains northest of the city. At the Santa Fe Ski area (elevation 10,300 to 12,075 feet) 31 incehs of snow fell in 18 hours, from 4 p.m. on the 5th to around 10 a.m. on the 6th. Now, it is not unusual to get heavy snows at that altitude, but that much snow in such a short time is very unusual. Even in valley areas below the mountains, some ares got 12-15 inches.

The storm, which like most in the NM montains, was convective in nature, had some interesting features much like spring thunderstorms in its early stages, and I am pretty sure I saw a couple flashes of lightning Wednesday night, though I heard no thunder. Here are a couple pics from Ski Santa Fe:

More pictures and a more detailed report at:

http://www.johnefarley.com/snow30608.htm

 

[Brian Emfinger]

Wow great pictures! We got 8-9 inches here. Some places in West Central Arkansas and Southeast OK got over 15 inches of snow as well as the Stone County area in North Central Arkansas (18 inches).

I may try and get out later today or tomorrow and see if I can get to the heavier total areas.

More pictures - HERE

 

[Stephen Levine]

Report, 3/6-7; DFW area

Much hype and a winter storm warning yeilded a disappointing outcome here in Garland, though some interesting weather happened for other folk not too far away.
Here in Garland (18 miles ENE of downtown Dallas) on the 6th, we had all rain and zero snow.
However not too far north, accumulating snow happened with surprisingly sharp gradients of accumulation.
McKinney reported 2", and Denton just 30 miles to it's west had 9".
Sherman, just 30 miles north of McKinney also had 9".
Garland is approximately 40 miles south of McKinney.
Thus in a 70 mile range, it went from zero to 9 inches, which is quite remarkable.
Before dawn, here in Garland a 2nd system rolled through, I finally saw snow on the ground; a whopping 2/10 inch. However, at least I saw something.
Snows of any type are pretty rare around the Dallas metro area, so for some this was quite an event.
Seeing snow falling twice in a week is especially rare here, but it happened this week with snow on Monday night.
I walked in flakes that were briefly up to 1/2 inch fat, but it was too warm here for things to stick.

 

[jladue]

impressive Santa Fe snows

John, You're making me envious. I haven't skied in a couple years and your shots are putting me over the edge in powder deprivation syndrome. Last time I was in SAF was in March of 2005 when downtown SAF got 18" and the ski area got 3'. It was surprisingly nonconvective but I do remember other convective events from the ski area including one with a spectacular shelf cloud and gust front. The core consisted of nickle size soft graupel...a rare treat. Gotta watch that lightning, especially when you're one of the last to get on the metal chair lift. :^)

 

[Terry Tyler]

crazy snow out here, i couldent believe my eyes!

especially out on the roads, it was accumulating on the roads and on the grass sooo bad, i seen people stranded in ditches and all that it was coming down so bad...i wrecked my truck off in a ditch and i wasnt goin but about 35MPH...that should tell you how the roads were right there...ruined my whole damn nite!!!

the weather was awful, but i liked it...aint never seen a snowfall like it in several years...