Winter in Ruidoso and Silver Springs (Cloudcroft: living in, rank, areas)

[james57]

From the weather reports, it seems that Colorado has had a severe winter this year. Also even NM has had some big snows. I am wondering how it has been for snow and cold in Ruidoso and also Silver Springs.

I am assuming that if this is considered to be a severe winter compared to normal, then it should be the worst it gets. So am wondering how those living in these southern mountain areas rank this winter. Any really big snowstorms?

Thanks.

Jim

[jecc]

I don't know anything about Silver Springs, but I live near Ruidoso. I would say this is on the mild side of average. The drought of the past 10 years might make this year seem severe, but in fact this is closer to how it used to be, according to the old-timers I've talked to. My neighbors in the Cloudcroft area remember 2- and 3-foot snows as being the norm. This year we are getting several inches at a time, not 2-3 feet at one time. So I'd say that, in the big historical picture, this ain't nothing.

Now, there's no telling what's to come. With global warming, this might be the new definition of "severe." Compared with Colorado this year, southern NM is very mild (the north is a different story). Biggest single dump so far in Cloudcroft has been about 9 inches. It's been piling up, though, and I would guess that we've had 2-3 feet total so far. Lows in Ruidoso have been in the teens and 20s, highs in the 30s and 40s. I live 2,000 feet higher than Ruidoso, so temps here have been 5-10 degrees lower. We've also had more snow than Ruidoso.