This snow plow truck sands the road on Unser Boulevard in Rio Rancho on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. (Garrison Wells/Observer)
After a dusting of snow early Wednesday, the worst is yet to come for the Rio Rancho area, according to the National Weather Service’s Albuquerque office.
“The event is really just getting started,” Todd Shoemake, a meteorologist with the NWS’s Albuquerque office, said at about noon.
Shoemake said after intermittent periods of light snow, the snowstorm in Rio Rancho is expected to intensify between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., just in time for rush hour. Between the increasing snow and falling temperatures, that could make for slippery roads, he said.
“From about 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. I expect it to ramp up in Northwest Albuquerque and Rio Rancho,” Shoemake said. “It’s important to note, this isn’t it. It is just getting started, so don’t ignore the storm, don’t take it lightly.”
Shoemake suggested prior to hitting the roads home, people should call 511 or go to nmroads.com to check road conditions.
Overnight Wednesday, expect light snow with little accumulation.
Thursday’s forecast calls for mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 28 and wind chills as low as minus 6. On Friday, the sun returns with a high near 36, and the weekend will see sun and highs in the low to mid-40s, according to the National Weather Service.
