Road conditions worsen as snow spreads

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The latest winter storm to invade New Mexico is complicating travel in parts of the state.

The storm expected to linger through Thursday brought snow overnight to the Four Corners and spread eastward across the San Juan, northern Jemez and Sangre de Cristo mountains to Raton and beyond by midday.

Shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday driving conditions on U.S. Highway 285 from Ojo Caliente north through Tres Piedras to the Colorado border were described as severe with poor visibility and snowpacked and icy pavement.

Motorists reported trouble spots in the long stretch of U.S. Highway 550 from northwest of Rio Rancho to the Colorado border.

"This morning it was bad from Farmington to about Nageezi, and then it cleared off," Sharon Pays told KRQE News 13.  "Coming back it's been bad from San Isidro.

"The roads are wet, but it's been snowing on and off on pretty badly."

A winter storm warning in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday from the southwestern mountains to the San Juans and Jemez say as much as 2 feet of snow could fall on mountain peaks with 5-10 inches above 7,500 feet elevation and 2-6 inches below 7,500 feet.  Snow levels are expected to drop into the valleys later in the day and stay there overnight.

The warning issued by the National Weather Service extends until noon Thursday in the Sangre de Cristos.

As of 1 p.m. the New Mexico Department of Transportation reported difficult driving conditions on highways around Farmington, Gallup Chama, Taos, Raton and rural roads nearby.

Interstate 40 was reported to be slushy in spots from the Arizona state line 36 miles east to Iyanbito approaching the Continental Divide.  Interstate 25 was described as wet with icy spots over Glorieta Pass east of Santa Fe and slushy in places over Raton Pass into Colorado.

By midafternoon snow also was falling on Interstate 10 at Steins Pass on the Arizona border west of Lordsburg.

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Farther north a DOT traffic camera showed snow falling and sticking on U.S. Highway 550 on the Continental Divide northwest of Cuba.

Thunder, lightning and snow were reported around midday at Heron Lake State Park in northwestern Rio Arriba County.

Overnight snow totals reported to the weather service Wednesday morning include:

• Red River, 12 inches
• Arroyo Seco area, 8 inches
• Bloomfield area, 2.5 inches

The weather service forecasts a chance of rain turning to snow in metro Albuquerque with light if any accumulation of snow.

Sustained winds of just over 30 mph also were reported along with gusts of 41 mph at Moriarty, Clines Corners and Fort Stanton.

At 10 a.m. winds at the Albuquerque Sunport were reported at 39 mph gusting to 37 mph.

An update from the weather service shortly after noon Wednesday indicated the high country of west-central New Mexico and particularly the Grants area on I-40 could see 4 inches of snow.

As the storm exits the state wraparound moisture is expect to generate snow through midday Thursday in northeastern counties.