Updated: 3:01 p.m. The third storm system to hit the Santa Fe area is losing strength quicker than expected, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service says Santa Fe has 30 to 40 percent chance of a little more moisture this afternoon.

Weather forecast Jan. 22-23, 2010
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind around 10 mph.

Saturday: Scattered snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. West wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. North wind between 10 and 15 mph.

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Below is the report that appeared in the print edition of The New Mexican and Santafenewmexican.com Jan. 22, 2010.


Up to seven inches of snow are predicted for Santa Fe by tonight as the last in a series of three Pacific Coast winter storms this week passes through New Mexico.

National Weather Service forecasters are calling it the region's most significant storm since December 2008.

Forecasters predicted 1 to 3 inches would fall around the city beginning Thursday night with another 1 to 2 inches possible through today.

The weather agency said this final storm of the week will impact the upper two-thirds of New Mexico, making driving difficult in the northern and western mountains.

Some snow or rain showers are likely below 6,500 feet into Saturday before the moist weather system moves out by Sunday.

Ski Santa Fe picked up another 4 inches of snow on Thursday. Up to 23 inches of snow are expected in today's storm for higher elevations in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Jemez Mountains. The San Juans and the Gila could get more than 2 feet of snow.

High temperatures will be in the 30s with wind gusts of up to 60 miles an hour in the eastern portions of the state.

Taos on Thursday took pre-emptive action with regard to snowy weather. Taos Public Schools interim superintendent Roberto J. Gonzales dismissed all students early and the municipal court also closed mid-day.

Classes at Santa Fe Public Schools already had been canceled for today to allow teachers to take part in an "in service" training day.

The predicted snowfall will add to accumulations of snow and ice that have disrupted city trash and recycling pickups this week, caused driving hazards, and might have prompted some commuters between Albuquerque and Santa Fe to consider riding Rail Runner commuter trains.

Officials urge travelers who are driving to take extra clothes.

The Navajo Nation Commission on Emergency Management on Thursday evening declared a state of emergency on the Navajo Nation because of severe winter weather conditions.

The Santa Fe New Mexican will post updates on the storm's impact on a live blog throughout the day at www.santafenewmexican.com.