Snow Squall Warning Issued for West Central and North Central New Mexico

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Snow Squall Warning for portions of north central, northwestern, and west central New Mexico. This alert is effective immediately following the detection of a dangerous snow squall near Thoreau.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions:

• Western Sandoval County in north central New Mexico
• Southern San Juan County in northwestern New Mexico
• North Central Cibola County in west central New Mexico
• Northeastern McKinley County in west central New Mexico

Specific locations impacted include Grants, Crownpoint, Thoreau, Milan, San Mateo, Pueblo Pintado, Prewitt, Bluewater Lake, Bluewater Lake State Park, and Ojo Encino. Impacted travel corridors include Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 45 and 96, and Highway 550 between Mile Markers 44 and 45.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the warning area are advised to slow down immediately. Rapid changes in visibility and road conditions are expected. Drivers should be alert for sudden whiteout conditions and avoid travel if possible until the squall passes.

Expected Conditions

Radar indicates a dangerous snow squall moving east at 40 mph. Hazards include:

• Heavy Snow: Intense bursts of heavy snow accumulation.
• Wind: Gusty winds exceeding 35 mph.
• Visibility: Blowing snow will cause visibility to drop rapidly to less than one-quarter mile.
• Travel Impact: Conditions are expected to become difficult and potentially dangerous within minutes.

Timeline

The Snow Squall Warning is in effect until 9:45 AM MST on February 20, 2026. The storm was tracked near Thoreau at 8:59 AM MST moving eastward.