The Associated Press
A winter storm moved into New Mexico on Tuesday, leaving snowpacked, icy and slushy areas in northwestern New Mexico and raising concern about the storm's effect on voting in the state's first presidential caucus.
Winter driving conditions hit Interstate 40 from Grants west to the Arizona border, N.M. 491 from Gallup north and U.S. 550 from San Ysidro into Cuba, all in northwestern New Mexico.
"It's coming down pretty hard in that area," said state Transportation Department spokesman S.U. Mahesh.
Clearing the interstates and main highways will be the road crews' priority, Mahesh said.
"Our crews will be working all night tonight and maybe tomorrow night if the weather continues," he said. "I think we have all our equipment and crews out there plowing and sanding."
San Juan County Democratic Party chairman Victor Titus said at mid-afternoon that he couldn't see more than half a block, but said he found voters still trickling in at caucus site in Farmington.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the north-central mountains, far northeastern New Mexico and the south-central mountains, and snow advisories across much of west and central New Mexico.
A winter storm warning means severe winter weather conditions are imminent or highly likely.
The weather service said people should exercise extreme caution if they have to travel anywhere in the storm warning area. Roads, bridges and overpasses in those areas will be slick and hazardous, the weather service warned.
As much as 5 to 10 inches of snow — up to 15 inches near the Colorado border — could accumulate in those areas, the weather service said.
A winter storm warning is in effect until 11 a.m. Wednesday for the northwest mountains, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, including Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Taos, Chama and Red River. The weather service issued a similar warning until 6 p.m. Wednesday for the far northeast plains, Harding County and the northeast highlands, including Las Vegas and Raton.
A snow advisory is in effect until 5 p.m. Wednesday for the northwest plateau, southwest mountains, the upper Gila and the west-central mountains, including Farmington, Gallup and Grants; the lower and middle Rio Grande Valley, including Albuquerque; and the northern Sacramento Mountains, including Ruidoso. A snow advisory will be in effect until 11 a.m. Wednesday for the Estancia Valley and the Sandia and Manzano mountains.
Winds are expected to increase Wednesday in the far northeast plains and northeast highlands, causing blowing snow and lowering visibilities.
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