ATTN:
CASE:

SUMMARY OF WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE VICINITY OF SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, FOR DECEMBER 29 - 30, 2001.

INTRODUCTION:

This report is based on an analysis of weather data recorded in the vicinity of Santa Fe, New Mexico. In order to determine the weather conditions and state of the ground for December 29 - 30, 2001, copies of National Weather Service (NWS) hourly weather observations from December 29 - 30, 2001 and climatological summaries from December 2001 were studied for Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF), Santa Fe 2 and Santa Fe 8 SE. These stations are all located in the state of New Mexico and within a range of approximately 5 -25 miles of the incident site.

ANALYSIS:

On December 29, 2001, a period of light snow fell between approximately 11am and 12:12pm. Light snow redeveloped between 10:03pm on the 29th and approximately 12am on the 30th and continued overnight with a few brief breaks (except at Santa Fe 8 SE which reported a break between approximately 2am and 6am). Snow ended between approximately 6:04am and 7:00am on December 30, 2001, however, at Santa Fe 8 SE, snow continued until 11am on the 30th with another period of snow from 1pm to 2pm. Total liquid equivalent for the snowfall event of December 29-30, 2001 ranged from 0.11 to 0.20 with snowfall totals of around 1.5 inches. High temperatures for December 29, 2001 were around 41 degrees Fahrenheit (F) while lows were around 17 degrees (F). High temperatures for December 30, 2001 were around 32 degrees Fahrenheit (F) while lows were around 22 degrees (F). Reported snow depths for December 29, 2001 were as follows: a trace (a trace of snow depth is defined as any amount of snow or ice of 0.4 inches or less) at Santa Fe 8 SE at 7am. Reported snow depths for December 30, 2001 were as follows: 1 inch at Santa Fe 8 SE at 7am and 1 inch at Santa Fe 2 at 7am.

At the time of the incident (between approximately 12pm - 1pm on December 30, 2001), no precipitation was reported but snow fell from 1pm to 2pm at Santa Fe 8 SE. Skies were cloudy and the temperature ranged from approximately 27 to 28 degrees F. Winds were out of the south-southeast at 14 to 17 miles per hour. Reported snow depths after the time of the incident were as follows: 1 inch at Santa Fe 8 SE at 7am on December 31, 2001.

CONCLUSION:

I, the undersigned, can state with a reasonable degree of meteorological
certainty that 1.5 inches of fresh snow fell between December 29 - 30, 2001, in and around Santa Fe, New Mexico . I can also state that a snow depth of around 1 inch is representative of the snow on untreated exposed surfaces in the vicinity of Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the time of the incident (between approximately 12pm and 1pm on December 30, 2001).

________________________
Brett E. Zweiback
Metro Weather Meteorologist