Winter storm hits NM
Snow, bitter cold expected in northern and eastern parts of state; small accumulations of snow predicted for Albuquerque
Moist Pacific air and an arctic front collided over New Mexico on Thursday, bringing blowing snow and bitter cold across northern and eastern parts of the state and making travel hazardous.
The National Weather Service was predicting massive snowfalls in some areas Thursday night and early today — 10 inches on the northwestern plains, up to 20 inches for areas over 7,500 feet and up to 30 inches at northern mountain elevations of 9,500 feet and higher.
Snow was expected in Albuquerque, but accumulations were predicted to be only about a half-inch before skies should
start to clear around midday today.
The weather service warned drivers to reconsider plans to travel on Interstates 25 or 40 east or north of Albuquerque because of the possibility of road closures. Conditions were already described as difficult or hazardous on parts of I-25 and on other highways near the Colorado border by early Thursday evening.
“The (combination) of bitterly cold temps, gusty winds and falling snow will create rapidly deteriorating travel conditions over the northeast plains after 4 p.m.,” the National Weather Service said in a written statement Thursday.
Daytime highs in the mid40s Thursday were expected to plunge into the teens and 20s across much of the state, with some northern areas in for single digits and subzero temperatures.
Temperatures of 13 degrees in Raton on Thursday afternoon were expected to drop to 2 below zero.
Wind gusts topping 40 mph were reported Thursday in San Miguel, Quay, Lincoln and Chaves counties.
Between 4 and 6 inches of snow was expected in the Santa Fe area, where rain and high winds had moved in by Thursday evening.
David Silver, Santa Fe’s emergency manager, said city road maintenance crews were ready to clear streets, but he urged drivers to refrain from driving this morning until the roadways can be plowed and salted.
Hergert said low temperatures over the next two days may keep snow and ice lingering into Saturday, and more cars on the roads only make conditions worse.
“Icing is always a problem,” Silver said. “When it gets compacted by vehicles, that’s when you build up the ice. If the crews get out there without any vehicles on them, it helps alleviate them quicker.”
A Journal photographer traveling east from Santa Fe saw his truck’s outside thermometer drop from 43 degrees to 14 degrees over the 15 miles into Rowe, south of Pecos, in early evening.
The Valles Caldera National Preserve in the Jemez Mountains west of Los Alamos shut down Thursday.
“Severe winter weather, snowpacked roads, and blowing snow has made travel to and into the preserve unsafe,” said a posting on the preserve’s website.
Randall Hergert, a meteorologist at the weather service, said 8 to 12 inches of snow was expected on I-25 between Glorieta, just southeast of Santa Fe, and the Colorado border. Most of the northern mountains will be under a winter storm warning until 4 p.m. today, he said.
Skiers and snowboarders should be happy, though. Hergert said the Ski Santa Fe and surrounding Sangre de Cristo Mountains peaks may get 20 to 30 inches of powder, while Taos Ski Valley could expect up to 20 inches.
Las Vegas, N.M., which is expected to be in the heart of the storm, could get up to a foot of snow, Hergert said.
As the storm approached, Gov. Susana Martinez activated the New Mexico Emergency Operations Center to monitor, prepare for, and respond to what the Weather Channel has dubbed Winter Storm Helena.
“I’ve activated our Emergency Operations Center to coordinate with state agencies, local communities and other partners to work together to prepare for and respond to the storm throughout the state to protect the health and safety of New Mexicans,” the governor said.
The center coordinates efforts by agencies including the state’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, State Police and other state, local, and community agencies.
The Governor’s Office encouraged residents to have essential supplies ready to stay safe at home, work, or on the road, including food, water, first-aid kits, blankets, flashlights, jumper cables and spare tires.
Department of Transportation Secretary Tom Church said, “We have crews and equipment ready to go as soon as they are called into action. We want everyone to get to and from their destination safely.”
He said the department is prepared for the weather with 116 graders, 258 front-end loaders, 11 snow-blower trucks and 556 dump trucks with plows and salt spreaders.