First meaningful snow in northern NM Mountains (Albuquerque, Taos: hotel, neighborhood)

[Johnhw2]

I have visit the N NM mountains at a location about 8600 feet above sea level between Taos and Angel Fire. I saw snow on the peaks in Aspen and monitor Angel Fire web cams but have seen no indication of a first snow. When does it typically occur? A trip is planned for Nov sometime and this info might help me set the dates. Last year at Thanksgiving, we had accumulated snow on the north facing mountains but not in the valley or South facing mountains.

Any guidance on this year's snow as it occurs is welcomed as well as the theoretical hard to answer when is typical for first snow.

[Zoidberg]

There's a chance of it today, but if it doesn't happen, the forecast is going to be at least two weeks.

I bet we'll see something late October for a dump of snow up there.

[aries63]

On the NWS Albuquerque facebook page they posted a picture of the first noteworthy snow of the season in the Sangre de Cristos on Sept. 22. Here it is:

[jiminnm]

We were just in Angel Fire for a few days. We were at 9,000 feet had a snow rain mix Friday night, but nothing stuck. There was snow on Baldy (peak only) and a few other peaks to the north end of the Moreno valley and further north. Nothing on the Angel Fire ski runs.

There is no good way to predict the snow on Thanksgiving. We could get the snow Zoidberg predicts in October, and by Thanksgiving it could be gone, twice as deep, or somewhere in between.

[Johnhw2]

Our fall trip is finally scheduled, will be in Taos/Angel Fire area around Nov 15. I assume we might well see snow this time of year as the place we stay is 8600 ft elevation and on the north facing side of a mountain.

We are prepared for cold weather when out and about.

Cant wait to get back out to NM again and see the early signs on winter, perphaps.

Thanks for the earlier reports and early snowfall picture in the moutains.

[Champ le monstre du lac]

I saw a bit of a dusting of snow covering the crest on the Sandias this morning on my way to work.

[Johnhw2]

Originally Posted by caphillsea77

I saw a bit of a dusting of snow covering the crest on the Sandias this morning on my way to work.

Thanks, I could see a good amount of snow on Angel Fire Resorts web site webcams. The place I go to is not too far from angel fire valley and is similar in elevation so I use it as a proxy for what the conditions are where I stay. Looks like a good amount of snow happened early this week with the front passing through.

Any good ideas of things to do in this season up near Taos/Angel Fire or down around SF which is just an hour and a half away?

[bongo]

Yes, there was a good snow and some muddy dirty roads yesterday in the area.

I would certainly drive out to the Rio Grande gorge bridge & hike a little along the gorge trail. Then I would drive out a bit further to see the earthship community. Google their website to see if there will be a tour while you are there. Eat at Michael's Kitchen & Orlandos for good new mexican food. Visit San Francisco de Assisi Mission Church in Ranchos. Go to the Taos plaza & then walk some of the neighborhood lanes west of the plaza, plus Ladeux, Bent, etc. The stores have a historic map you can follow. Have fun!

[Johnhw2]

Thanks for the great input. Also on Saturday the guys would like to find a good sports bars to watch the football games. The place we stay does not have a TV. Thanks in advance

[jiminnm]

There's no sports bar, per se, in Angel Fire. Check with Zeb's on 434. They had a couple of TVs the last time I was there (about 6 mos. ago). The bar upstairs at the AF country club may also have some TVs. I'm not sure what's at the hotel. The pizza place on the road heading up to the ski area has one TV. Angel Fired Pizza, upstairs and next to the market, has at least one big screen.

Other than that, you'll have to check in Taos.