ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Parts of the Southwest dealt with a second day of snow Saturday as Californians spent the day waiting for the start of a storm that was expected to bring much-needed rain for much of the state.
Sections of central and northern New Mexico received a record-breaking snowfall overnight, with more expected throughout the weekend, weather officials said. More snow and rain is expected in the state’s north-central and northwest areas, with the impact hitting the northern mountains, meteorologist Todd Shoemake said.
Albuquerque, however, should see a lighter snowfall Saturday, though residents might not be able to tell. “Most of Albuquerque has had anywhere from 4 to 10 inches of snow. It’s really kind of crippled the city,” Shoemake said.
Albuquerque and Santa Fe have received as much as 1 inch of snow per hour for several hours since Friday, according to the National Weather Service. The Weather Service said a “snow band” developed over both cities, which have been brought to a standstill by slick and icy roads.
Southern California’s suffering ski resorts could get a healthy dose of snow this weekend. Up to a foot of snow could fall from Saturday through Monday in the San Bernardino and Angeles national forests. That follows a spell of dry weather that had some ski resorts talking about closing.