Car Condition – Winter Travel

• Keep a FULL tank of gas in your car.
• Make sure you have good tires.
• Get a mechanic to do a winter check.
• Make sure they look at your: battery, antifreeze, wipers, windshield fluid, ignition system, thermostat, lights, heater, brakes, defroster and oil.
• Keep an ice scraper handy and a small broom if your area is expecting snow.

Always Carry in Your Car

• Butane lighter and or matches.
• Flashlight and batteries.
• Small tool kit.
• Booster cables.
• Bottled water.
• Snack bars.
• Small shovel.
• Snow Chains.
• Tow Strap.
• Small bag of sand to use as traction under your tires.

Trapped in a Snow Storm

• Stay in the car.
• Only leave the car if help is visible within 100 yards.
• Display a brightly colored cloth or other sign of trouble outside your car.
• Turn on the car’s engine for about 10 minutes each hour. Run the heater and turn on the inside light when the car is running to help keep warm.
• Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Clear the exhaust pipe of snow and if necessary open a downwind window for air.
• Watch for signs of hypothermia. That includes loss of feeling and pale color in the skin.
• To keep warm, do exercises, huddle together and use newspapers, maps and even inside car mats.

Outdoors

• Wear loose fitting, layered, light-weight clothes.
• Layers can be pulled off to prevent perspiration which can quickly turn cold near the body.
• Cover your mouth. That protects your lungs.
• Keep dry.

Winter Driving Tips

• Do so only during the daytime.
• Check the news or call friends for an idea of what shape the roads are in ahead of you.
• If going on a long trip, check the weather for your destination and places along the way.
• It could save frustration and even time to wait. Plows could clear roads and sunlight may melt ice.

Hypothermia

• Seek immediate help if at all possible.
• Slowly warm the person’s body, starting with their trunk.
• Warm up arms and legs last because stimulation of the limbs could send cold blood to the heart and cause heart failure.
• Put the person in dry clothing and wrap their whole body with a blanket if possible.
• Use your own body to warm them.
• Do not give them anything with caffeine or alcohol in it. Caffeine speeds up the heart and can intensify the effects of cold weather. Alcohol slows down the heart and therefore also speeds up some effects of cold weather.

Over 3 1/2 feet in the past 48 hours opens the entire Angel Fire Ski Resort.  Every run open

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
318 PM MST WED DEC 5 2007

NMZ001>021-026-060500-
CAPITAN/NORTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS/ESTANCIA VALLEY-CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-
CONCHAS LAKE/GUADALUPE COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY-
FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS-GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF CHAVES COUNTY-
HARDING COUNTY-LINCOLN COUNTY HIGH PLAINS/HONDO VALLEY-
LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-
NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS INCLUDING JEMEZ-NORTHWEST PLATEAU-QUAY COUNTY-
ROOSEVELT COUNTY-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS/UPPER GILA REGION-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
318 PM MST WED DEC 5 2007

Winter Storm Warning in effect from 6 am Friday to 6 PM MST Saturday…

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Winter Storm Warning… which is in effect from 6 am Friday to 6 PM MST Saturday. The Winter Storm Watch is no longer in effect.

Heavy snow is expected Friday through Saturday afternoon across the northern mountains as well as the northeast Highlands. Snow accumulations will range from 3 to 6 inches below 7500 feet… to  6 to 12 inches above 7500 feet… with locally higher amounts over  the highest terrain. Snow will diminish Saturday afternoon. Areas
of blowing and drifting snow are possible as strong winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph are likely.

If traveling through the region… stay alert to the latest forecasts and statements as this winter storm may produce
dangerous travel conditions.

Remember… a Winter Storm Warning means severe winter weather conditions are imminent or highly likely.

Taos Ski Valley started snowmaking October 20th 2006

Angel Fire gets it's first big snowfall of the season.

With 8″” already on the slopes and more to come it's looking like we may get close to a foot before the storm ends.

With little or now snowmaking so far this season this snow was desperately needed!