Winter Storm Anya Spread Heavy Snow To Colorado And New Mexico (RECAP)

Winter Storm A​nya was a stubborn, but high-impact early-season winter storm that dropped into the Four Corners region in early November. It carried a particular punch in northern New Mexico, where it snarled traffic on hundreds of miles of interstate. The storm also brought widespread first snows to the region and allowed ski resorts to open early for the season.

T​his system was named Winter Storm Anya by The Weather Channel due to the severity of its impacts in this region.

T​he flakes first started flying on November 4-6 as lighter snow from the northern to the central Rockies as a deep dip in the jet stream carved out a path through the region.

A​nya's circulation became cut off on November 7 in the Four Corners as snow intensified in New Mexico and eastern Colorado. Heavy snow pelted parts of northern New Mexico and southeastern Colorado. This forced the closure of Interstates 25 and 40 in northern New Mexico as traffic stalled. A blizzard warning was issued for northeastern New Mexico. More than 100 vehicles became stranded.

T​he snow fell across the region before leaves had fallen, which led to spotty power outages. At times more than 50,000 customers had been left without power. ​

In Albuquerque, city officials said the frigid temperatures and snowfall resulted in about 120 traffic crashes while the fire department answered more than 100 calls related to downed power lines and fallen trees, according to the Associated Press.

I​n Colorado, Anya was largely just a transportation concern. Interstate 70 was closed to all traffic east of Denver and through the Plains, and many U.S. highways and local roads were also closed to high-profile traffic. More than 1,000 flights were cancelled or delayed into and out of Denver International Airport.

A​nya finally lifted out of the Four Corners on Saturday, Nov. 9, and moved toward the northeast into the Plains and Midwest, but lacked air cold enough to produce snow in those regions outside of Colorado.

S​nowfall Totals

T​he heaviest totals are 53.3 inches near Fort Garland, Colorado, and 36 inches in Rociada, New Mexico.

L​as Vegas, New Mexico, picked up 31.7 inches, passing their annual snowfall average of 22 inches and the previous record snowstorm, which was 27 inches set in 1958. Records date back to 1940. The Santa Fe, New Mexico, area saw up to 16 inches of snow.

Denver's snow came in two rounds with the total from November 6-9 adding up to 19.2 inches at Denver International Airport.

Early snows also occurred in Kansas, Nebraska and the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma. More than two feet of snow fell in the northwestern panhandles of those states.

S​ki Resorts Open Early

T​he news wasn't all bad. Ski areas opened weeks early in Colorado and New Mexico.

I​n New Mexico, Pajarito Mountain, located not far from Santa Fe, opened earlier than it had in 40 years. The ski area typically opens after Thanksgiving.

I​n Colorado, several resorts opened following the major snowstorm, including Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, and Loveland. A few other resorts had already opened the lifts before the storm but welcomed the fresh snow.