La Nina? Really?
by John Weckerle
Update 8:30 a.m. The weather channel “weather in motion” shows precipitation approaching Belen from the southwest, and NMRoads indicates difficult driving conditions in the west-central and southwest portions of the state, mostly “snow packed and icy.”
Well, here we go again: another winter storm is bearing down upon us. We’re providing the current Winter Storm Warning from the National Weather Service (NWS) below. We’ll note that before the last storm, the winter storm warning indicated 4 to 8 inches above 7,500 feet, which is the weather we usually get at New Mexico Central Headquarters – and we got more than a foot. This time the NWS is projecting 5 to 9 inches. The NWS also has indicated that travel will be impacted, including areas of I-25 and I-40. We suggest that our readers pay close attention to their favorite weather sites and also keep an eye on NMRoads.com. Stay warm, and be careful driving!
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MST MONDAY... A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MST MONDAY. * SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...GENERALLY 5 TO 9 INCHES POSSIBLE FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 7500 FEET AND 2 TO 6 INCHES POSSIBLE BELOW 7500 FEET. LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS CLOSER TO A FOOT ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS INTO EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY. * TIMING...SNOW WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE TODAY AND CONTINUE TONIGHT. SNOW WILL GRADUALLY DECREASE FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST ON MONDAY...POTENTIALLY EXTENDING INTO MID DAY OVER THE SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. * WINDS...SIGNIFICANT WINDS ARE NOT EXPECTED. * SNOW LEVELS...SOME RAIN MAY MIX WITH SNOW DURING THE AFTERNOON AT ELEVATIONS BELOW 6500 FEET...BUT TEMPERATURES WILL QUICKLY TURN COLD ENOUGH FOR SNOW AT ALL LOCATIONS AS PRECIPITATION INCREASES. * LOCAL IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ALONG WITH REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN SNOW. TRAVEL MAY BECOME DIFFICULT ACROSS THE REGION. THIS INCLUDES PORTIONS OF U.S. HIGHWAYS 60...70...AND 380.