Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Gattis Middle School students make their way to their bus Thursday afternoon as classes were dismissed early because of the weather.
The season's first snowstorm closed schools, businesses and government offices, slowed traffic and forced postponements of sports and other events throughout the region Thursday and Friday.
An estimated 6 inches of snow fell across much of the Clovis-Portales area – more than double predictions just 24 hours earlier from National Weather Service and other forecasters.
Freezing temperatures and high winds complicated the event, but no serious injuries were reported.
Clovis police reported 28 "traffic contacts," 12 "traffic hazards," two stranded motorists and 17 calls for motor vehicle crashes between 5 a.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday, when sunshine began to clear the streets.
By comparison, police reported 22 "traffic contacts," two "traffic hazards," zero stranded motorists and two calls for vehicle crashes in the two days prior to the storm.
Clovis Chief Deputy Trevor Thron said the most serious accident in the Clovis area occurred four miles east of Farwell on U.S. 60 when a vehicle rolled over. The victim was walking around when help arrived from Texico and declined medical attention.
Roosevelt County Sheriff Javier Sanchez said he had just one report of a vehicle that slid off the road during the height of the storm. That was south of Portales on State Road 206. No injuries were reported.
But on Thursday night and early Friday, he said, "We had quite a few stranded motorists who slid off the road."
"I love the snow," Sanchez said. "It's pretty nice. But we ask people to slow down, allow plenty of space between cars and watch out at intersections where snow is packed, it can be slick."
Curry County Sheriff Michael Brockett said he was not aware of any serious injuries either.
"Just stuck vehicles and minor crashes," he said late Friday morning.
The storm forced postponement of the Presbyterian Plains Regional Medical Center Women's Expo planned Friday and Saturday at the Clovis Civic Center. It was rescheduled for this coming weekend.
Basketball games scheduled Thursday at the annual Eastern Plains Athletic Council had to be postponed but organizers made plans for a two-day tournament starting Friday.
NWS predicted little chance of moisture for this week, but frigid temperatures were expected all week with lows mostly in the 20s and highs unlikely to reach 60.
Last week's moisture was the first the region had seen since mid-November and the first snowfall since Feb. 11 last year when up to 8 inches fell in some areas.
Grant McGee, the Staff of The News, contributed to this report.
