Daylight saving time arrived as scheduled Sunday morning — but it was snow, not spring, that was in the air by midafternoon.

And by Sunday night, travel on roadways in Santa Fe County turned treacherous as snowfall, icy conditions and low visibility forced the closure of portions of Interstate 25 and stranded motorists on Hyde Park Road returning from ski outings.

State Police closed N.M. 475 — Hyde Park Road — at Gonzales Road, and the interstate northbound at Exit 290, where 285 heads south to Cline's Corners.

An advisory from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department reported that roads in the county were snow-packed, and low visibility made traveling even more dangerous. Travel in the county was being "highly discouraged."

The advisory also said that numerous motorists were stranded as they tried to return from Santa Fe-area ski sites.

Delays were expected in school and government office openings today. Santa Fe Public Schools announced a two-hour delay. Santa Fe Community College put off classes until 10 a.m.

The Sheriff's Department reported eight weather-related crashes by about 8 p.m., three with injuries, five without.

None of the injuries was thought to be serious.

Santa Fe police reported eight traffic accidents, none with serious injuries.

Many minor accidents were also occurring in other communities in and around Santa Fe.

The National Weather Service on Sunday issued a winter storm warning for Santa Fe effective until 6 tonight. Up to 6 inches of snow was forecast for the city and foothills, with 10 to 12 inches in the surrounding mountains.

Annette Mokry, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, said Santa Fe-area temperatures dipped lower than expected, leading to snowfall at lower elevations.

"One thing we were unsure of was how cold it would get, and it got colder than we thought," Mokry said.

The snow is expected to begin tapering off by midday.

She said today's highs are forecast to climb into the mid-40s, with overnight lows in the 20s.

The storm system, which originated in the Pacific Northwest and picked up strength as it plowed south through the Great Basin, was expected to push south through the state today, with 1 to 3 inches of snow forecast for Albuquerque.

Isolated spots of blowing snow is possible in the Santa Fe area today, with winds of 10 to 20 miles per hour.

The Santa Fe forecast for Tuesday calls for mostly sunny skies, with temperatures in the 50s during the day and overnight lows back down to the 20s.