Surprise! For the first time in 35 years, it snowed in Las Cruces in March

Miranda Cyr, Las Cruces Sun-News
·2 min read

LAS CRUCES – Many residents in southern New Mexico saw an unexpected sight on their commute to work Friday morning — it was snowing!

For the first time in 35 years, Las Cruces received measurable snow in March, according to National Weather Service meteorologists.

Most in Las Cruces woke up to light rain, but that suddenly turned to snow around 8:30 a.m. The NWS had anticipated the rainfall, but didn't expect the snow due to warmer temperatures the night before and warm soil temperatures. The warmer ground caused the snow not to stick in most places.

In some areas of Las Cruces, near the foothills of the Organ Mountains, snowfall totals were between half-an-inch to an inch, while just a trace fell at lower elevations.

Las Cruces gets a smattering of snow the morning of Friday, March 11, 2022 around 8:30 a.m. Following early morning rain, snowflakes as large as dimes fall.
Las Cruces gets a smattering of snow the morning of Friday, March 11, 2022 around 8:30 a.m. Following early morning rain, snowflakes as large as dimes fall.

By about 1 p.m., the sun was shining and clouds were receding.

More snow accumulated the east and south of Las Cruces, including in Alamogordo and Carlsbad, though it wasn't expected to last the day. However, 3 to 5 inches of snow with ice accumulations were expected in elevations above 7,500 feet in Otero and Lincoln counties.

More: Snow makes quick visit to El Paso, but blue sky returns

Snow this late in the year for southern New Mexico isn't unheard of. The meteorologist on duty at the NWS station in Santa Teresa said that there has been significant late snowstorms in the past, notably, accumulations of multiple inches of snow in March 1984 and April 1983.

The last time there was measurable snow in March in Las Cruces was in 1987. However, as recently as March 16, 2019, the Organ peaks have been dusted with snow.

Temperatures will be cold Friday night, with lows in the upper 20s. For the rest of the weekend, Las Crucens can look forward to clear skies and warming temperatures. By Sunday, the NWS expects a return to "normal" March weather.

News Director Lucas Peeman contributed to this report.

Miranda Cyr, a Report for America corps member, can be reached at mcyr@lcsun-news.com or @mirandacyr on Twitter. Show your support for the Report for America program at https://bit.ly/LCSNRFA.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: For the first time in 35 years, it snowed in Las Cruces in March