Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari and Quay County largely were spared the brunt of a winter storm that moved through the region during the travel rush of the Thanksgiving holiday.
About 2 inches of snow fell in Tucumcari by Thursday morning, and much of it had melted by the afternoon amid temperatures in the high 30s. A National Weather Service observer west of Logan reported 1.5 inches. Earlier forecasts had predicted as much as 7 inches of snow in the county.
Roads were wet but clear in much of Quay County on Thursday morning, save for a section of U.S. 54 northeast of Logan the New Mexico Department of Transportation described as “hazardous” driving conditions. But that highway’s condition improved by afternoon, as well.
Call logs to the Tucumcari-Quay Regional Emergency Communications Center indicated few driving problems Wednesday and Thursday. Only one accident was reported, and that was non-injury crash in Tucumcari.
Hazardous driving conditions also were reported Thursday in the last 30 miles of Highway 104 to Las Vegas.
Those traveling west and north, however, encountered trouble.
Albuquerque received as much as 8 inches of snow, a record for Thanksgiving.
Sandia Park received up to a foot of snow, Santa Fe received 6 to 8 inches, and Glorieta received 9 inches, reported the Albuquerque Journal.
Parts of Interstate 40 were closed between Moriarty and Santa Rosa because of accidents on the snow-covered pavement.
The highway department also reported “difficult” driving conditions Thursday morning in neighboring Guadalupe County.