Tuesday night was proof that Rio Rancho weather can be finicky.

On Sunday, spring arrived.

On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, it snowed — big, wet flakes that clung to everything, from trees, to automobiles, playground equipment and roads.

Light snow was forecast. Big, fat flakes and snow 3-6 inches deep were not.

“It was quite bad,” said Brian Guyer, meteorologist with the Albuquerque office of the National Weather Service. “But we really needed it.”

Snow in March after spring slogs its way in is not unusual, he said.

“A lot of times, March is a very active month for winter storms to roll through New Mexico,” Guyer said.

What’s more, the snows this time of year can carry more moisture, which is the thick, wet stuff that clings to everything.

“It’s warmer, so when you do get snowfall, the liquid equivalent tends to be higher,” he said.

There is also often impact from the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California, he added.

And while the rest of the week is expected to warm significantly, approaching 80 degrees by Saturday, there could be more snow in the offing.

“We could see snow again. We’ve seen snow in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque in early May,” Guyer said.