Albuquerque, New Mexico – A high-impact winter storm is expected to spread across much of New Mexico beginning Friday morning, bringing heavy snowfall, dangerous travel conditions, and bitter cold that could strain infrastructure through late Saturday night.
According to the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, a Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for large portions of central, eastern, northern, and southeastern New Mexico from Friday morning through late Saturday night. Snow totals of 5 to 10 inches are possible across many lower elevations, with up to 16 inches expected above 9,000 feet. In the Albuquerque metro area and Middle Rio Grande Valley, accumulations of 2 to 6 inches are possible, with higher amounts in surrounding foothills and mountain zones.
Travel impacts are expected to be significant, especially along I-40 from Tijeras Canyon to the Texas border and along portions of I-25. Roads may become impassable at times as snow intensifies, particularly Friday night into Saturday. Forecasters also warn that the weight of heavy snow could stress the power grid, leading to potential outages.
The storm will be accompanied by an extended period of bitter cold, with single-digit temperatures expected across much of eastern New Mexico by Sunday morning. Residents are urged to prepare for prolonged sub-freezing conditions, limit travel, and monitor updates closely, as hazardous conditions could persist into the weekend before gradual improvement.
