Wintry conditions expected Friday and Saturday

CLOVIS — It’s been spring time in eastern New Mexico for more than a month, but nobody told Mother Nature.

Winter weather conditions are expected in Curry and Roosevelt counties Friday night and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Albuquerque.

The winter storm conditions will be most evident in northern and central areas of the state, with an NWS special weather statement noting, “Major travel corridors will be impacted by accumulating snow, especially along Interstate 25 between Glorieta Pass and Raton Pass and possibly along Interstate 40 between Tijeras Pass and Santa Rosa.” However, Curry and Roosevelt are among numerous counties listed in the statement.

Clay Anderson, a meteorologist with the NWS, said there is “moderate confidence” of precipitation late Friday night and Saturday in the area.

“With the event coming up Friday night and Saturday, we are going to see a cold front push through Clovis early Friday evening,” Anderson said. “That will likely continue through the overnight hours, off and on and pick up more speed Saturday (with winds between 25 and 35 mph).

“In terms of precipitation, that’s on the tricky side. We’re predicting the biggest impacts on the north central mountains and northeast New Mexico in general. Saturday would be your best chance of seeing precipitation, but you’re going to be on the periphery of seeing that occur. It is possible you can see a changeover to snow Saturday, but it would be really wet. That’s unless the storm goes farther south than anticipated; if the system trends any farther south, you’re definitely going to get some snow.”

Various school officials were working Wednesday to move some of the events set for the weekend.

• Melrose Schools announced Wednesday morning it postponed a Friday morning trash pickup and moved the District 4-1A track meet it will host to Friday morning instead of Saturday in anticipation of the weather.

• Portales Relay for Life organizer Mark Clark said the event was still scheduled for 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday at Portales’ Industrial Softball Complex, but the car show portion has been canceled due to exhibitor concerns about the weather.

• Clovis High has moved its softball and baseball doubleheaders against La Cueva to 11 a.m. Saturday instead of 1 p.m.

“There aren’t many dates available to make these up,” Clovis High Athletic Director Dale Fullerton said. “We tried to change it to Friday, and Albuquerque (Public Schools) can’t get buses.”

Clovis High’s tennis team is scheduled for the District 2-6A meet Friday and Saturday in Albuquerque, and Portales is scheduled for the District 4/1-4A meet Friday and Saturday in Roswell.

• Portales High Athletic Director Mark Gallegos was still working Wednesday afternoon on possibly rescheduling an 11 a.m. Saturday home softball doubleheader against Moriarty.

The least concerning weekend sports event might be Texico’s 11:30 a.m. baseball game at Portales, because it has the least travel required and, as a non-district game, can be canceled without ramifications.