Parts of New Mexico Crippled by Epic Snowstorm

Residents are encouraged to stay home and avoid traveling on I-40, which is also closed in Texas and Oklahoma.

On Sunday, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez declared a State of Emergency in response to the statewide snowstorm.

Stay with KRQE News 13 for developing weather conditions. “I can not express how serious the situation is”.

Travel will remain risky across most of eastern New Mexico this evening due to strong winds and blowing drifting snow.

The Governor’s office reports more than 16 inches of snow have fallen and some drifts even as high as eight feet. Weather conditions will continue to gradually improve from west to east as the afternoon progresses. “We had to abandon these vehicles overnight”, Snyder said.

Clovis Media says the Andersons were buried in a seven-foot drift in a white Ford Fusion.

Preliminary snowfall amounts reported by the National Weather Service for 39 hours that ended early Monday morning include 1 to 5 inches of snow in Albuquerque, 10 inches in Socorro, 15 to 20 inches in Roswell, 10 inches in Clovis and 21 inches in Ruidoso.

New Mexico authorities advise that Interstate 40 is closed indefinitely in the eastern part of that state, between Albuquerque and the Texas line, and are urging eastbound travelers through New Mexico to use Interstate 10 instead.

The National Weather Service says some cities in southeastern New Mexico likely broke one-day snowfall records this weekend. According to meteorologists, metropolitan Albuquerque received as much as 6 inches of snow within 24 hours. Some snow packed and icy conditions still exist throughout the state, especially in the southeast region. “There will just be a lot of leftover snow and ice”.