Major Snowstorm Strands 100 Vehicles in Freezing New Mexico Conditions
A powerful winter storm blanketed northern New Mexico and Colorado with heavy snow and intense winds on Thursday, leaving approximately 100 vehicles stranded on a rural New Mexico highway after a semi-truck jackknifed, authorities reported.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Albuquerque placed over 5.8 million people under winter storm warnings across Colorado and New Mexico. The storm has created “difficult or impossible travel” conditions in many areas, leading to road closures and multiple accidents as snow continues to fall.
Parts of the region have already seen over 10 inches of snow, with more expected, according to an NWS spokesperson. Additionally, wind gusts up to 40 mph have created near-blizzard conditions, dropping wind chills to around 17 degrees and forming snow drifts as high as 8 feet.
In Union County, one of five counties in New Mexico under a blizzard warning, the jackknifed semi-truck on U.S. Highway 64/87 caused a significant traffic backup. Snow drifts quickly accumulated, trapping dozens of drivers, according to Union County emergency manager Kristopher Lawrence.
“Most vehicles out here are small cars, making it almost impossible to free them without substantial snow removal,” Lawrence told CNN. “We’re working to get people out, but it’s challenging.”
Officials have urged drivers to stay off the roads as the New Mexico National Guard attempts to reach those stranded. Resources are limited in the rural area near Des Moines, New Mexico, where the incident occurred.
With the jackknifed semi removed, about 30 to 40 cars have already been freed, but emergency crews are still working to clear paths through the snow for other stranded vehicles. Lawrence noted that it may take hours to free everyone due to below-freezing temperatures.
To conserve fuel and avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, stranded drivers are advised to run their vehicles for 10 to 15 minutes every half hour to stay warm.
Meanwhile, over 30,000 New Mexico residents have lost power due to the storm, PowerOutage.us reported. Blizzard conditions continue to impact visibility due to strong winds and blowing snow, the NWS added.
The NWS predicts that Clayton and Des Moines, New Mexico, could receive an additional 12 to 20 inches of snow by the end of Friday. A blizzard warning remains in effect for several counties in New Mexico, including San Miguel, Harding, Highlands, and Union, until Thursday evening.
Wind gusts at Clayton Municipal Airpark in Union County exceeded 30 mph throughout Thursday, reaching up to 45 mph in some instances. Southeastern Colorado is also affected, with a winter storm warning in place until Saturday morning.
Northern New Mexico and southern Colorado have reported snow accumulations up to 12 inches, while some locations in Colorado have received up to 36 inches in recent days.
Las Vegas, New Mexico, has already reached its November snowfall record of 24 inches. The Weather Prediction Center warns that extreme snowfall is expected to continue across northeastern New Mexico and eastern Colorado, with an additional 1 to 2 feet of snow forecasted.
