Tens of thousands of people were left without power as winter storm affected New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Tens of thousands of people were left without power in New Mexico on Thursday as the season’s first major winter storm slammed into the northern two-thirds of the state, with snow and high winds straining schools and schools. Government offices will be closed.

Dozens of crews from the Public Service Company of New Mexico were mobilized to address widespread outages reported throughout the night and early morning from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and beyond. Authorities called on citizens to be patient.

“We know that any time without power is frustrating,” the company said in messages to customers.

Some school districts that initially considered holding virtual classes canceled classes due to power outages. Other schools in Santa Fe and Los Alamos opted for a snow day, citing significant snowfall overnight and what was expected the next day.

Plows were busy trying to keep major highways open, but state police announced around noon that Interstate 25, just south of the Colorado border, was closed in both directions.

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued a blizzard warning for parts of the state and reported more than 100 vehicles were stranded on highways in the state’s northeast corner. Forecasters warned of “very dangerous driving conditions” made worse by low visibility due to snowfall.

Tonja Goode Ross said she would stay home and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate instead of trying to face the “first real snow” of the season for Corona. This rural part of central New Mexico has become a winter wonderland, with pastures blanketed in a thick blanket of snow and tree branches bending from the weight of fresh gunpowder.

Almost 30.48 centimeters of snow fell in the early morning hours, and another 6.35 centimeters (2.5 inches) fell in a 2-hour period.

“Moisture is always a blessing here, no matter what its form,” he said.

The weather service in Albuquerque warned that the storm could bring historic amounts of snow by Friday. More than 3 feet (91.44 centimeters) were expected for Las Vegas and other parts of northern New Mexico. Forecasters said snowdrifts could reach as high as 6 feet, potentially making some travel impossible for days.