New Mexico advised to avoid holiday travel ahead of severe New Year’s snowstorm
New Mexico residents should probably ring in the new year close to home, as the state braces for a snowstorm expected to impact travel conditions.
The National Weather Service on Thursday put a winter storm warning in effect from 6 a.m. local time Friday to noon local time on New Year’s Day, affecting the mountains.
Pointing to forecasted “heavy snow and blowing snow,” the notice warned: “These hazardous conditions will impact the holiday travel period.”
The weather service warned of 8 to 12 inches of snow in certain areas — and above 9,000 feet, anywhere from 12 to 20 inches — as well as wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph and resulting in “areas of reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow.”
The notice also said that road closures and significant travel delays are possible.
Though rain could hit the valleys on Friday, snow is expected overnight due to “drastically colder air [which] will arrive after midnight,” according to a weather service statement.
Between Saturday and Sunday, the area is expected to see “strong winds with this storm system [which] will combine with bitterly cold temperatures ... to produce dangerously cold wind chills.”
For anyone needing to travel in spite of the warning, NWS advised preparing for an emergency by keeping an extra flashlight as well as food and water in the car.
With News Wire Services
