Archive for Weather
Global Warming And Nuclear Contamination Cause Icicle Mutations In Santa Fe County
by John Weckerle
Okay, maybe not, but this is one funky looking icicle. If any of our readers has a weird icicle picture to share, send it along and we’ll be glad to post it!
Here We Go Again…
by John Weckerle
Senior Sculpture Correspondent Wilson with his latest work, "Pack Leader With Arms Folded."
By all accounts, tonight and tomorrow (perhaps into Monday) will bring us yet another storm. We still have plenty left over from the last one, and at least during the day, it’s Mud Season here at New Mexico Central headquarters.
It is not clear how much snow we’ll get out of this next system, but given the intensity of this past week’s event, we’re advising people to get their provisions today and plan on either a warm, toasty day indoors or a day of outdoor fun close to home. We’re also going to let the NMDOT, county governments, and municipalities (as well as anybody with a parking lot; hint, hint post offices and grocery stores) in on a little secret. Starting the plowing relatively early in the storm may mean doing it twice, but it will cut down on things like packed snow and ice and ultimately get the roads clear and dry more quickly.
Storm Slams Mountains, Valley
by John Weckerle
Another Update: According to NM-Roads, at 12:55 p.m.: I-40 is closed from mile marker 165 to Moriarty.
Update: Moriarty-Edgewood Schools will close at 1 p.m.
Highway Camera at Sedillo Hill, 11 a.m. Today
Your editor just took a drive to Edgewood, and the situation is not good. Roads are snow-packed and icy and, perhaps predictably, there was no evidence of any plowing, sanding or other response from either the Town of Edgewood or the New Mexico DOT. Visibility was less than a quarter mile coming north on 344.
As this photo from the Sedillo Hill highway camera shows, I-40 is in bad shape and, based on what we’re seeing here at New Mexico Central headquarters, it’s probably getting worse rather than better. According to KOB.com, Mountainair Municipal schools will have early dismissal at 11:45 a.m., and Estancia Schools will have dismissal at 1:00 p.m. If you’re home and can stay there, we suggest you do so. If you’re not home, you may want to consider heading there now rather than later.
Winter Storm Dumps Major Snow Load (So Far)
Sedillo Hill camera at 8:33 a.m.
by John Weckerle
Snow is falling heavily here at New Mexico Central headquarters, and has been since sometime during the night. Depending on where we dig, we can see anything from eight inches to a foot. Areas shoveled less than half an hour ago are under two to three inches of snow already. Road reports are not encouraging, and neither are the roadside camera shots from NMRoads.com. Cameras at I-40 & NM 14, and at Carnuel, are iced over, with no image available except for the ice on the camera. The I-40 & Zamora Rd. Camera shows some snow in both lanes, and having looked at two consecutive images, we think it may be getting worse there. The Sedillo Hill camera shows at least some snow in all lanes – and both cameras show snow still falling. According to KOB.com, the following schools in our area are closed:
- East Mountain High School
Senior Meteorological Correspondent Wilson Taking Scientific Snow Depth Measurements
- Edgewood Christian School
- Mountainair Junior High
- Albuquerque Public Schools East Mountain Schools
- Estancia Municipal Schools
- Moriarty-Edgewood Schools
- Mountainair Public Schools
TCPO To Go Transportation and the Estancia and Moriarty Magistrate Courts are also closed. If we’ve missed any schools, we’d appreciate it if our readers would let us know.
Lest the local climate change “skeptics” get too excited, let’s remember that winter storms of this nature (and the frequency with which they’ve been occurring) are typical of El Nino conditions – a warming of surface waters in the Pacific Ocean.