It’s not even officially winter, and another major winter storm is hitting Route 66’s midsection.
On Tuesday night, the National Weather Service had issued winter storm warnings in the upper two-thirds of New Mexico and all of the Texas Panhandle. The Albuquerque Journal reported that Interstate 40 from the Duke City to Gallup was closed for nine hours.
Four to eight inches of snow fell in most areas in the Land of Enchantment, with a high of 16 inches in the Route 66 town of Grants.
For winter images from Albuquerque, check out the Duke City Fix photo pool.
In the Texas Panhandle, the Amarillo Globe-News reports that all of I-40 from Amarillo to the New Mexico border is closed Tuesday night until further notice. Most of the problem in the Panhandle is freezing rain and sleet.
UPDATE: I-40 from Amarillo to Tucumcari reopened about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, reported the Globe-News. Roads are still a mess, as these highway cams show.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the storm was not as bad as anticipated. However, another big storm is expected by the weekend. The Duke City may not just dream of a white Christmas.
Don’t forget to check out the cool wintertime images at the Duke City Fix photo pool.
UPDATE2: The Gallup Independent has just posted a story about the storm.
One of the photos from the photo pool is now my wallpaper for a while. It (and two others) were posted there by someone nicknamed “i8route66.” There has to be a story behind that name. Not sure I want to hear it, tho. He/she appears to be a good photographer, however.
My apologies to “i8route66!” After checking more of his photos (by clicking on his name under the pix at the photo pool) I discovered that the nickname means “I ate Route 66!” The profile says something to the effect of “we’re eating our way down Route 66 in Albuquerque” — and he’s (she’s?) even posted pictures of some of the food eaten. They include the “re-mudding” of the adobe San Ysidro Church, an historic landmark in Corrales.