Snow Squall Warning Issued for Rio Arriba, Sandoval, and San Juan Counties in New Mexico

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Snow Squall Warning (SQW) for portions of north central and northwestern New Mexico. This alert is effective immediately as a dangerous snow squall moves through the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions:

• Southwestern Rio Arriba County
• Northwestern Sandoval County
• Southeastern San Juan County

Impacted locations include Cuba, Counselor, Lindrith, Regina, Nageezi, and La Jara. This specifically includes Highway 550 between Mile Markers 46 and 117.

What You Should Do

Motorists are advised to slow down immediately. Rapid changes in visibility and road conditions are expected with this dangerous snow squall. Drivers should be alert for sudden whiteout conditions and consider delaying travel until the squall passes. The NWS response recommendation is to avoid the area if possible.

Expected Conditions

At 8:46 AM MST, radar indicated a snow squall located 7 miles west of Counselor (or 38 miles west of Cuba), moving east at 40 mph. Hazards include:

• Intense bursts of heavy snow
• Gusty winds exceeding 35 mph
• Blowing snow causing visibility to drop rapidly to less than one-quarter mile
• Potentially dangerous travel conditions developing within minutes

Timeline

The Snow Squall Warning is effective from 8:46 AM MST until 9:45 AM MST on February 20, 2026.