Major winter storm taking aim at southeast New Mexico for Christmas holiday weekend

From the Current-Argus

CARLSBAD ? If you believe in luck, you may also believe that our luck is about to run out.

Unless, of course, you are looking forward to a possible white Christmas.

For several days now, local weather watchers have been warning that rain and snow are just over the horizon for Carlsbad and Eddy County. Thus far, we have managed to dodge the worst of the wet, cold weather.

Unlike northern New Mexico and large areas of Texas, we've had no black ice, no frozen water pipes, no shoveling snow from walks and driveways.

But local Skywarn Coordinator Wendell Malone released this message early Wednesday:

"Another major winter storm is getting ready to take aim on the state and the local area from late tonight (Wednesday) into Friday."

Winter storm watches are out for most of southeastern New Mexico with the exception of parts of Lea County.

"Current thinking is that here in Eddy County, we are expecting 4 to 6 inches of snow by Friday night," Malone stated.

The snow could extend north to Roswell and west to the Sacramento Mountains, where 4 to 8 inches could fall, depending on altitude.

If the snow falls heavily enough, it could cause significant travel problems by Thursday and into Friday.

Heavy snow and blowing snow make for poor visibility - half a mile or less. Add that to slick, icy roads and it means dangerous travel across southeast New Mexico, with road closures possible.

Forecasts are for colder temperatures,

with Carlsbad struggling to get above freezing on Friday. If the skies clear, we'll be even colder, with single digits or teens possible in areas with snow. The deeper the snow cover, the lower the temps.

Christmas Eve could be cold, Malone warned.

"This is our shot at a white Christmas," he said.

For more details, and links to current forecasts and radar images, go to www.senmwx.com.

The site is operated by Malone, and also provides information from the National Weather Service.

Source: http://www.currentargus.com/ci_19596360?source=rss_viewed

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