Tens of thousands remain without power as a winter storm rumbles across New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Tens of thousands of people in New Mexico were without power Thursday as the season's first major winter storm rolled across the northern two-thirds of the state, bringing snow and high winds that forced schools and government offices to close become.

Dozens of crews from the Public Service Co. of New Mexico were mobilized to address widespread outages that were reported overnight and into the early morning hours from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and beyond. The energy supplier urged residents to be patient.

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

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

Plows were busy keeping major highways clear, but state police announced at midday that Interstate 25 was closed in both directions south of the Colorado border.

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued a blizzard warning for parts of the state and reported that more than 100 vehicles were stuck on highways in the northeast part of the state. Meteorologists warned of “very dangerous driving conditions” made worse by poor visibility due to blowing snow.

Tonja Goode Ross said she will stay home and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate rather than try to brave the “first real snow” of the season because of coronavirus. This rural part of central New Mexico was transformed into a winter wonderland, its pastures covered in a thick blanket of snow and its branches bowing under the weight of fresh powder.

By early morning, nearly a foot (30.48 centimeters) of snow had fallen, and another 2.5 inches (6.35 centimeters) fell within two hours.

“Moisture is always a blessing here – no matter what form it takes,” she said.

The weather service in Albuquerque warned that the storm could bring historic amounts of snow through Friday. More than 3 feet (91.44 centimeters) was expected for Las Vegas and other parts of northern New Mexico. Snowdrifts could reach up to 6 feet (1.83 meters) high and make some travel impossible – possibly for days, forecasters said.