Las Cruces hit with winter wonderland

Las Cruces was hit with an inch of snow Monday and near freezing temperatures.

Las Crucen Jerry Duenas said that he wasn't expecting this much white stuff to hit the ground. He was on his way to Albuquerque for work Monday afternoon, but worried whether he would be able to make it all the way there on the icy roads.

"It's hard for us when we have to work in this weather," Duenas said. "I'll just take precautions. Drive slowly and safe."

The New Mexico Department of Transportation said that drivers should stay away from the major highways, and shouldn't travel a long distance.

"Roads are very icy, very slick," spokesperson for NMDOT Bridget Spedalieri said.

NMDOT is working with Las Cruces police and the Housing Authority to make sure that drivers who aren't close to home can pull over and stay in a temporary shelter until conditions get better.

They're also working on preparing for the cleanup, and will need help from up north to get the job done.

"We're not fully equipped as much as the northern areas in regards to our snow removal operations, so some of our patrols will send out some of our equipment to other areas," Spedalieri said.

U.S. 70 from NASA to White Sands Missile Range was closed because of the heavy snowfall.

I-10 was also closed from Las Cruces to Lordsburg.

While many residents worried about the dangers posed by the winter weather, some said the snowfall was actually a pleasant surprise, especially during the start of the holiday season.

"I do like it," Irania Gamez said. "Hopefully, it's like this for Christmas for the kids, you know. Something nice for them."

New Mexico State police patrolled I-10 and I-25 to direct drivers where to go in the case of road closures.