Planning to travel New Mexico this week? Snow, rain may make roads hazardous
Travel to portions of northern New Mexico was discouraged as forecasts of Friday morning weather indicated nearly two feet of snow was possible in the state's mountainous regions.
The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque issued a winter storm warning for the northern mountains and northeastern highlands from 11 a.m. Wednesday to 2 a.m. Friday with total snow accumulations up to 16 inches in some locations with 12 to 24 inches forecast for mountain peaks above 8,500 feet.
Snow could fall as much as 30 inches deep for the high peaks and ridges of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, according to the NWS in Albuquerque.
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“Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Some roads may be closed. Significant travel delays are possible,” read an NWS forecast.
The NWS in Midland, Texas did not anticipate hazardous weather in southeast New Mexico or west Texas. Local heavy rainfall was forecast with some isolated flash flooding through Friday morning in the southern and southeastern New Mexico, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
NWS predicted a 50% chance of showers and fog in Carlsbad on Wednesday. Rain chances increased to 80% on Wednesday night and Thursday. Rain chances were forecast to dip to 50% Thursday night.
An 80% to 90% chance of rain was forecast for the Ruidoso and Cloudcroft areas of the Sacramento Mountains Wednesday night and Thursday.
A rain and snow mix for Cloudcroft was predicted during the Wednesday night to Thursday night forecast period, according to the NWS in El Paso.
Little to no snow accumulation was forecast for Cloudcroft.
Drought continues in Eddy County
The rainfall was welcome in Eddy County as three-tenths of an inch rain fell late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning at the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Agricultural Science Center south of Artesia.
For the year 5.45 inches of rain has fallen at the Science Center.
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The U.S. Drought Monitor indicated that a majority of Eddy County is in an exceptional drought. Some southern portions are in extreme drought and some far southeast portions were either in severe drought or moderate drought.
The U.S. Drought monthly outlook predicted persistent drought for most of New Mexico, including Eddy County for the rest of December.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Snow, rain expected to make travel in New Mexico difficult this week
