Southwestern US, Rockies brace for more snow and cold air at the start of 2019
Another round of cold and snow will spread through the Colorado Rockies, Arizona and New Mexico through Tuesday.
"This storm could be a near repeat of snow for the areas that were hit with last Friday's snowstorm around New Mexico," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.
Snow will blanket the lower elevations and valleys, and bury the higher elevations of New Mexico and Colorado.
The snow will create slippery conditions on roads and sidewalks, even after the snow has stopped. This will be especially true for communities and roadways in the higher elevations.
"The heaviest snow will be confined to the mountains where 6-12 inches of snow is expected with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 18 inches," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyson Hoegg.
Enough snow to shovel and plow is also expected in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Difficult travel will be likely across much of I-25 and I-40. Parts of US 160 in Arizona and Colorado as well as Highway 555 in New Mexico and Colorado could also have treacherous conditions.
Drivers on I-40 nearing the New Mexico state line can expect snowy, icy roads and should try to delay travel. #azwx #aztraffic pic.twitter.com/DmUF89Fany
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) January 1, 2019
"This storm will be slow moving, allowing for snow to fall for several hours in most places. In northwestern New Mexico, snow may continue into Tuesday evening," Hoegg added.
Download the free AccuWeather app to see the exact forecast, including start and end times for snow in your area.
In addition to accumulating snow, those on the roadways could also be dealing with increasingly windy conditions.
Winds could gust as high as 30 mph through Tuesday. Winds of this strength could further reduce visibility for those traveling to celebrate the new year.
Following the snow and wind on Tuesday will be a change in the pattern later in the week.
By late-week, temperatures will return to above-freezing levels for cities like Albuquerque, Denver and Flagstaff. Residents will need to be wary of icy patches as snow melts during the day and then refreezes at night.
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