Weather
This forecast was created at 4:00 p.m. PST on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
A strong winter storm targets New Mexico from Friday into Sunday morning, with the deepest totals in the Sacramentos and a colder, fluffier finish for the northern mountains. Snow levels start relatively high in the south on Friday, then crash Saturday night into Sunday as much colder air settles in, improving quality and keeping surfaces chalky and light where the snow stacks up. Expect the best powder window late Saturday into early Sunday at higher elevations, while winds ramp up enough at times to keep exposed terrain feeling sharp. Early next week turns drier and gradually less brutal, then late January into early February trends warmer overall with limited new precipitation for most mountain zones.
Friday Night–Sunday Winter Storm delivers a widespread refresh with improving quality as colder air deepens through the weekend. Snow spreads in on Friday, with the southern mountains starting closer to the rain line at lower elevations; coverage then expands and intensifies Saturday as colder air and better lift overlap. Snow levels run highest early in the south near 8,500 feet, then fall steadily through Saturday and drop hard Saturday night into Sunday, settling near 2,000–3,000 feet by the end of the event. Northern mountains see lower snow levels sooner, so accumulations there stay largely snow from base to summit.
Snow quality trends from dense to increasingly light and dry as the coldest air arrives late Saturday through Sunday. In the north, SLRs stay mostly in the 14–18:1 range, so turns should be fairly good Friday night and Saturday, then notably fluffier Saturday night into Sunday as ratios push into the upper teens. Taos and Ski Santa Fe look primed for a cold, dry finish with snow levels dropping below all terrain and temperatures falling into the teens and single digits by Sunday. Farther south at Ski Apache, SLRs start in the 8–10:1 range with snow levels near 8,700–7,600 feet Friday into Saturday, so the early snow will ski denser and more supportable, then quality improves Saturday night into Sunday as ratios rise toward 12–14:1 and snow levels fall toward 2,600 feet. Winds also become a real part of the story, with peak gusts frequently 40–60 mph at exposed ridgelines, so expect wind-affected snow on upper mountain faces and a sharper feel on open lifts and high terrain.
Early next week brings a quieter, colder-to-milder reset, followed by a late-January to early-February pattern that leans warmer overall with limited storminess for most New Mexico ski areas. After the snow ends Sunday, conditions trend dry and cold Monday, then slowly moderate into midweek with a gradual warm-up and occasional breezes along the central mountain chain. The broader outlook favors near- to above-normal temperatures heading into the end of January, while precipitation chances remain limited across much of the interior, so expect fewer widespread powder reloads and more preservation dependent on aspect and elevation. The best odds for meaningful precipitation during the extended window favor areas farther south and east of the mountains, which usually translates to slimmer upside for the main ski zones in the north and central ranges. If a weak late-week disturbance brushes the region, it will likely be more of a minor top-off than a full refresh.
Resort Forecast Totals
- Ski Apache – 21″–29″ Fri (01/23) – Sun (01/25)
- Taos – 11″–16″ Fri night (01/23) – Sun (01/25)
- Ski Santa Fe – 10″–15″ Fri night (01/23) – Sun (01/25)
- Red River – 6″–8″ Fri night (01/23) – Sun (01/25)
- Angel Fire – 6″–8″ Fri night (01/23) – Sun (01/25)
