Snow, rain hit Southwest

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Parts of the Southwest dealt with a second day of snow Saturday, while a storm moved across areas of California and brought much-needed precipitation.

Sections of central and northern New Mexico received a record-breaking snowfall Friday and Saturday with more expected throughout the weekend, weather officials said. More snow and rain is expected in the state’s north-central and northwest areas, with the impact hitting the northern mountains, meteorologist Todd Shoemake said.

Albuquerque, however, was getting a lighter snowfall Saturday, though residents might not be able to tell. “Most of Albuquerque has had anywhere from 4 to 10 inches of snow. It’s really kind of crippled the city,” Shoemake said.

Albuquerque and Santa Fe have received as much as 1 inch of snow per hour for several hours since Friday, according to the National Weather Service. The Weather Service said a “snow band” developed over both cities, which have been brought to a standstill by slick and icy roads.

The wintry weather brought driving problems and numerous accidents in many areas, but things appeared to be improving by late Saturday afternoon with transportation officials giving the all clear for several problem highways.

Some California and Nevada ski resorts were getting a welcome dose of snow.

It began snowing in the Sierra Nevada late Friday, and ski resorts reported receiving 12 to 18 inches of snow at 8,000 to 10,000 feet, said Jim Matthews, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento.

“We are thrilled,” Melissa Matheney, a spokeswoman for Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski resorts, told the San Francisco Chronicle. “We couldn’t be happier with this storm. It exceeded expectations, which is fantastic.”

The Sugar Bowl ski resort near Donner Summit reported up to 2 feet of snow by Saturday afternoon.

The storm system also brought scattered showers as it moved into the central and southern areas of California by late afternoon. The weather service said around 7 p.m., light rain moved toward the wildfire-scarred hillsides above Glendora and Asuza east of Los Angeles, the site of the devastating Colby Fire in January 2014.

Up to a foot of snow could fall through Monday, including in the San Bernardino and Angeles national forests. That follows a spell of dry weather that had some ski resorts talking about closing.

In other parts of the country, flights were canceled because of ice on the runways, snow collapsed a skating rink roof in Massachusetts, and local governments readied for what was to come.

STUCK IN DALLAS

In Texas, freezing rain for the second consecutive day left highways slick and forced the cancellation of nearly another 1,000 flights Saturday at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, one of the nation’s biggest airline hubs.

The chaos Saturday was on top of about 600 flights nixed Friday, forcing about 5,000 travelers to spend the night at the airport, spokesman David Magana said. The airport provided cots, blankets and toiletries to the passengers, plus kept concession stands open overnight, Magana said.

ROOF COLLAPSES

A youth hockey team escaped without injury when part of a snow-weighted roof collapsed at a Canton, Massachusetts, skating rink on Saturday morning, officials said.

Police said the rear portion of the roof at the Metropolis Skating Rink began to fail as a Norwood youth team was inside. But the team was able to get out along with parents and rink workers. All are safe and accounted for.

FINES WAIVED

Boulder, Colorado, is temporarily waiving fines and fees for residents who do not clear their public sidewalks because of the extreme weather conditions. The city doesn’t want people getting hurt trying remove thick ice and snow, code enforcement supervisor Jennifer Riley said. The city usually gives residents 24 hours to clear their sidewalks, beginning once the National Weather Service declares a snowstorm over, according to the Boulder Daily Camera.

Residents who fail to clear the sidewalks usually are liable for a civil penalty and the cost of a contractor to remove the snow.