Santa Fe sees winter whiteout, storm system expected to stay through end of week

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Santa Fe said the area has dozens of powerlines down during a storm system that is expected to stay through the end of the week. "The leaves are still on the trees. That's one of the issues about why the branches are breaking. The weight of the snow on top of the leaves shears off the branches. The branches get into the powerlines, the powerlines come down. They're dangerous," said Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber.

Weather Information

According to PNM, there were upwards of 50,000 people without power statewide on Thursday with some of those customers in parts of Santa Fe. PNM told KRQE that 100 crews were dispatched statewide on Thursday to get electrical systems back up and running. There is still no word on when some areas will be restored. The city of Santa Fe said dozens of powerlines were down on Thursday with 1,500 residents still without power as of 5 p.m. on Thursday.

The city's Code Blue program was activated on Thursday which is a service where first responders hand out supplies to the homeless. The service also provides the homeless a ride to a shelter if they want it. Crews have handed out 50 weather bags with gloves, hats, socks, and foot warmers since Wednesday.

"We tend to check and look about the city throughout the areas that may be particularly heavy spots for the unhoused. We have a lot of encampments throughout the city that we cruise by and anywhere that we may see someone that may look like they're in need," said Lt. Isaiah Gonzales, City of Santa Fe Fire Dept.

Mayor Webber said on Wednesday night that there were more than 180 people in their shelters staying out of the winter weather. There are reports of Santa Fe getting more than ten inches on Thursday with more snow on the way.