Forecasters: Near-blizzard on the way

Editor

[email protected]

The exact amount of snowfall eastern New Mexico can expect this weekend remains a mystery.

But Curry County Emergency Management Coordinator Dan Heerding is pretty sure about one thing: “We’re in for a doozy of a storm.”

Heerding participated in a briefing with National Weather Service officials on Wednesday afternoon to gather the latest on the predicted “near-blizzard conditions,” Heerding said.

“Right now they’re saying anywhere from 8 to 16 inches (of snow) starting Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening,” Heerding said at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

“Temperatures are going to drop significantly, and winds are going to pick up. I’m sure we’re going to get some drifting snow with that.”

Heerding said the forecast should become more accurate today and Friday, but “confidence is high that we’re going to get an impact storm. They’re just not sure how much storm we might get.”

While Christmas Day is expected to see highs in the mid-60s with little chance of moisture, Saturday night could see temperatures in the teens with blowing snow.

“The colder temperatures will arrive on very strong northerly winds,” according to the National Weather Service. “Gusts as high as 50 to 60 mph are possible over the eastern Plains Saturday afternoon and evening.”

Forecasters expect “significant accumulating snow” along and south of Interstate 40 as well as east of Interstate 25 to the Texas border.

“Gusty winds would create areas of reduced visibilities in blowing and drifting snow,” NWS reports. “Wind-chill temperatures may plummet to zero to 10 degrees below zero from the Sangre de Cristo mountains into the east central Plains Saturday night.”

Heerding said forecasters expect the storm to end sometime Sunday, “but I’m sure we’ll have residual effects on Monday morning.

“The road departments will be working through the holiday to make it all clear, but you don’t want to go anywhere unless you absolutely have to,” Heerding said.

“The best advice is to stay home, hunker down and enjoy the holiday. We’re going to get a big wallop is what it sounds like.”