The season’s first substantial snowfall has slowed or stopped operations of some local offices and organizations, and led to more than 100 motor-vehicle accidents on city streets and loss of electricity for thousands of local customers.
Mayor Tim Keller, speaking at a news conference regarding the City of Albuquerque’s response to the storm, said road hazards included nearly two dozen inoperable traffic signals, along with a number of downed tree limbs and clogged drains.
He said the Department of Municipal Development had all 70 of its trucks on the streets, keeping them plowed as the storm carried on.
Albuquerque Police Deputy Chief Josh Brown said there were 20 accidents with injuries on city streets between 8 a.m. Wednesday and 1:30 p.m. Thursday, along with 104 non-injury accidents.
“That means speed’s a factor, weather’s a factor, and four-wheel drive doesn’t mean that you can drive any better than anybody else,” he said, adding that motorists should drive according to road conditions, not just for the posted speed limit.
Jeff Buell, a spokesperson for Public Service Company of New Mexico, said the storm knocked out power to about 50,000 customers in its service area. He said that as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, there were 35,000 customers without power, including about 14,000 in Albuquerque.
He said PNM had crews working on the outages and had asked for assistance from other utilities. Buell said some customers should be prepared to be without power overnight.
Lt. Jason Fejer of Albuquerque Fire Rescue said department personnel had, in 24 hours, responded to more than 100 emergency calls related to electric service, including downed power lines.
He urged residents without power to not “get creative” in trying to heat their homes. He said using stovetops and ovens for heat could create dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
Albuquerque Community Safety Director Jodie Esquibel said the department has provided more than 50 rides for people on the streets to city shelters. She encouraged anyone needing a ride to call 505-418-6178. Health, Housing, and Homelessness Director Gilbert Ramírez said the city has available space in its Gateway Center and westside shelters and can provide beds in other locations if needed.
The city placed “non-essential services” on a two-hour weather delay, with facilities opening at 10 a.m. Thursday.
ABQ RIDE and Sun Van service was delayed until 8 a.m. Residential trash collection was delayed by an hour.
Bernalillo County Thursday closed all of its facilities, due to a storm the National Weather Service expects to drop several inches before it passes the area Friday.
Within city limits, the Weather Service said snowfall totals Wednesday and Thursday ranged from 0.4 inches at Albuquerque International Sunport to as much as 6 inches on the west side.
Albuquerque Public Schools closed all campuses, putting students on an “asynchronous learning day,” with classwork expected to be done at home.
The East Mountains region was expected to see a series of snow showers and periods of heavy snow — possibly up to 18 inches.
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