Las Vegas, New Mexico, was gripped by an unprecedented early winter storm last week as residents woke up to snow covered streets and rooftops. The storm, which began on Monday, dumped over 30 inches of snow in some areas, shattering previous records and bringing the city to a standstill.
A local resident, Zachary Vigil, described the initial disbelief to KRQE: “It started with light snowflakes, and then it just kept piling up. Being stuck at home for the first time in a while was kind of crazy.”
The snowfall in Las Vegas broke the all-time record of 27 inches set in 1958, with the city receiving a staggering 31.7 inches. According to KRQE News 13’s meteorologist Josh Redwine, this amount is nearly eight times the average November snowfall of four inches.
“We don’t typically see this powerful snowstorm come in this early in the season. Roadways were not as equipped to deal with this amount of snowfall as they would be if we saw it late December or early January.”
– Josh Redwine
The extreme weather caused widespread disruptions, including road closures and several-hour power outages. Another Las Vegas resident, Erica Chavez, told KRQE, “We all just snuggled under a blanket, wearing warm clothes and gloves. Lots of body heat.”
City Manager Tim Montgomery anticipates that Las Vegas will be fully operational by Tuesday, following the observance of Veterans Day. However, with more snow in the forecast, residents are advised to stay home and off the slick roads.
