ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The Latest on New Mexico weather (all times local):
2:40 p.m.
A series of storms that began last week has dropped more than 3 feet (1 meter) of snow in some parts of New Mexico.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque summed up the results of the winter weather Wednesday and warned that another storm is expected to cross the state Sunday into Monday.
Forecasters also warned that temperatures will “drop like a rock” into the single digits and even lower before a warming trend kicks in later this week. The northern New Mexico community of Angel Fire could see an overnight low of -23 degrees.
The recent storms didn’t break any snowfall records, but forecasters say nearly 40 inches were reported in the mountains east of Albuquerque since Dec. 26. Tijeras and Los Alamos also reported over 3 feet (1 meter) of snow.
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1:15 p.m.
Roads in New Mexico’s largest city remain slick and packed with snow as other parts of the state brace for more winter weather.
Albuquerque police continued midday Wednesday to discourage driving in the city as road conditions remained dangerous. City officials say more than two dozen trucks would be working in 12-hour shifts to clear main roads, intersections and bridges.
Mayor Tim Keller warned during a news conference that crews would not be able to plow residential roads.
Police say a tow truck driver who had stopped to help a state police officer was killed along Interstate 40 in Albuquerque when his truck was struck by a tractor-trailer rig.
Winter storm warnings and advisories remain in effect for parts of southern New Mexico as forecasters with the National Weather Service expect light to moderate snowfall south of I-40.
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9 a.m.
Authorities say one person was killed and a New Mexico State Police officer was injured in crashes early Wednesday on Interstate 40 in Albuquerque where the State Police on Twitter described road conditions in the area as “a sheet of ice.”
According to the State Police, a tractor-trailer rig collided with a State Police vehicle and that a second big rig then collided with a tow truck whose driver stopped to help the officer involved in the first collision.
Identities and additional information about the circumstances of the wrecks and the officer’s injuries were not released.
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7:30 a.m.
The city of Albuquerque and the University of New Mexico were among numerous employers closing offices and other facilities Wednesday due to snowfall that also caused road closures in the region.
Other employers closing municipal offices or having only essential personnel work Wednesday included the cities of Las Vegas and Rio Rancho along with Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories and Kirtland Air Force Base, while state offices in Santa delayed openings by two hours.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation’s road-conditions website reported severe driving conditions in the Albuquerque, Moriarity and Gallup areas.
The National Weather Service issued winter storm warning for southwestern New Mexico where snowfall was expected to slowly taper off Wednesday evening.
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