A little surprise awaited me this morning.
A few minutes ago, I was putting some clothes in the dryer when I looked out the window and noticed about 1/4 inch layer of snow on the garage roof.
I wasn't expecting snow today, so it is a surprise. But I am not complaining, we can use it.
I took this shot:
 |
| Above, having some coffee before "Uncle Bob" arrived. |
But, fortunately, it moved out of the area so that plenty of time for thawing out took place. This allowed me to head into Gallup for my usual Friday dinner at Jerry's Café.
The streets of Gallup were clear of any ice and snow. There were piles of it at different businesses after it was shoved.
At first, the restaurant was about two thirds full, so I was able to get a table for myself and "Uncle Bob" as soon as I walked in. Then the restaurant got packed.
Looking out this morning, there was no new snow on the ground. This was the first in three days that we didn't get overnight snow.
The upcoming week will be a warmer one, almost spring-like, with highs reaching into the 60s. That's according to the National Weather Service.
The week's forecast:
 |
| Above, this morning's snow (so far). Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
When getting my morning coffee today, I took a look outside and, sure enough, it is snowing.
This storm, on top of what we received yesterday, will accumulate to probably around 2 to 3 inches deep. It isn't what is received in the midwest or the northern eastern seaboard, but it is welcome.
According to the McKinley County Office of Emergency Management a few minutes ago:
Blustery Pacific cold front to cross W central, NW, and N central NM this morning with moderate snow squall: wind gusts up to 45 mph, visibilities around 1/4-1/2 mile, and ~1" of snow in about 1 hr. It will be cold enough for the snow to stick making driving hazardous.
I had to go to the post office yesterday in Continental Divide. It was a windy drive and a trucker ahead of me was swerving around. Thankfully, the driver got the tractor and trailer under control. Still, a lot of them are driving to fast for road conditions.
Hopefully, the wind and snow will taper off by this afternoon so that I can go into Gallup this evening for my Friday dinner at Jerry's Cafe.
Now that we got some daylight, I was able to see and photograph the backyard from my bedroom window.
This is the first real heavy snow since I cut down the brush in the backyard.
By the way, that's a deer butchering/skinning rack at center left foreground.
Here's a photo:
It's nothing like waking up to a yard that is snow-covered.
That's exactly what I woke up to this morning. The deck table has about four inches of snow that fell overnight. This snowstorm started yesterday afternoon/evening. That was on top of the freezing winds we also had.
It looks like I have some snow shoveling to do today.
I took a couple of quick shots of it:
Yesterday morning, I was awakened by strong winds hitting my bedroom window and a bathroom vent cover. This was about 3:00 in the morning.
About an hour later, I heard rain hitting my bedroom window. Sure enough, it was raining outside. Then, around 4:30, it started snowing. In all, we received about an inch of snow until it ended a few hours later.
The rain/snow were welcome. That, plus the rain we received last week, is a big help to the trees out in the yard. One pine tree is starting to revive.
I took the below photo after doing a little shoveling. It was almost melted away by late afternoon. We're supposed to get more in a couple of days.
 |
| Above, the deck is covered with snow this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It started out with high winds and rain and then it turned into snow flurries. At this time, we have about a quarter inch on the ground.
We'll have to brave it to drive to Denny's this morning for our Tuesday coffee.
According to the National Weather Service, the week's forecast in the Jamestown/Gallup area is as follows:
First of all, Happy Valentine's Day!
Yesterday (Friday the 13th, by the way), we had steady light rain for most of the day. This will be a big help to the plants and trees.
It did snow a little bit after I got home from Gallup where I had dinner at Jerry's Café. But it was too warm out to last and it melted as soon as it hit the ground. Still, we are happy to get the rain. It rained all the way to and from Gallup. We got a good soak.
We aren't forecast for any real precipitation today, the next chance for rain/snow will start Monday night, according to the National Weather Service.
The forecast:
 |
| Above, my commuter train stopped at a Chiba station due to heavy snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Here's a story that brings back memories.
Japan is currently being hit by a rare heavy snowstorm. The storm has caused flight cancellations and Shinkansen stoppages.
According to Travel + Leisure:
Parts of Japan, including southwestern Fukui Prefecture, eastern Tottori Prefecture, Kyoto, Tokyo, and other regions along the Sea of Japan coast, are grappling with heavy snowfall. Extreme weather in Japan has made roads dangerously icy, triggering widespread travel disruptions such as cancelled flights and bullet train suspensions. The operational crisis triggered over 100 cancelled All Nippon Airways and ANA Wings flights, and delays were reported by Japan Airlines and Ibex. So far, over 371 flight cancellations and 1,710 delays have been reported in total.
 |
| Above, yours truly at the Chiba station. |
This all brings back memories of my 2014 trip to Japan. Upon arrival at Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, a heavy snowstorm also arrived. I managed to get on a commuter train to Tokyo, but the storm forced the train to halt at a train station midway. I was stuck in the train car for almost 24 hours.
Luckily for me, a Japanese gentleman called my hotel for me to let them know of my predicament.
 |
| Above, the snow-covered Godzilla slide in Yokosuka. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It was an interesting trip nonetheless. I was able to go to the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka as well as Yokohama. I also went to Kappabashi "Kitchen Town" in Tokyo and picked up some chef's knives.
Just before leaving Japan, a second storm hit.
 |
| Above, my hotel after the second snow storm hit. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
To read the full story, go here.
It looks like we're done with the snow, except for what's on the ground.
It didn't snow much overnight in Jamestown. We have about an inch and a half of it, judging from the layer on the garage roof.
Even though the snows are done (at least for now), we'll have to contend with bitter nighttime cold temperatures for the next few days. It is currently around 18° outside.
According to the National Weather Service for Jamestown, the week ahead is shaping like this:
A couple of snapshots of the front yard taken a few minutes ago:
After a relatively dry day, until this afternoon, we are now getting some snow.
It snowed a little bit during the afternoon, it was basically a trace that melted almost immediately. A few minutes ago, I took a look outside and it is snowing.
At present, we have about a little more than an inch of snow on the ground. This is the most since a storm that came through two weeks ago.
Below, are two photos from my front porch that I took minutes ago:
Now that there's some daylight outside, I took a look and I see that we got a little more snow.
It is still barely more than a trace but it is forecast that Gallup/Jamestown has a 90% chance of snow today.
According to the National Weather Service:
While getting my morning cup of coffee, I took a look outside to see how much snow we received overnight.
As the below photo shows, not too much. It's hardly a trace. We're at the western edge of the storm system.
 |
| Above, the mesas following a 2019 storm. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Well, today's the day the massive winter storm is going to arrive in New Mexico.
It will be interesting to see if we get any significant amount of snow before tonight. The reason being, I usually have dinner on Fridays at Jerry's Cafe with friend Bob Weeks. If the storm produces snow in the Gallup/Jamestown area, then I may have to re-think heading for dinner in Gallup. The brunt of the storm is expected tomorrow.
I have plenty of food and water, so I don't have to worry about being stuck at home without any provisions. I just hope that the power grid holds up during the storm.
But, as of now, here's what the National Weather Service forecasts:
Today
 |
| Above, snow on the mesas across from Jamestown, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
People in New Mexico are bracing for the incoming winter storm.
The possibility of having high amounts of snowfall isn't upsetting to many people as drought conditions have rendered this winter drier than usual. Yes, we can use the moisture!
KRQE reported:
A significant winter storm is still forecast to move into New Mexico starting Friday, bringing widespread snowfall. The heaviest snow will be Saturday as bitterly cold air moves into the state.
Another relatively quiet day of weather across New Mexico Wednesday. Temperatures were slightly cooler in northeast New Mexico this afternoon behind a weak cold front this morning. The rest of the state sat a couple degrees warmer. Clouds are increasing across New Mexico tonight. Despite the clouds, it will again be warmer across the state with a westerly, down sloping breeze.
A winter storm will start moving into New Mexico Friday morning. Light snow will develop Friday morning across northern and eastern New Mexico, mainly above 6,000′. Rain will move into western, central and southern parts of the state. A strong cold front with arctic air behind it is what will be producing the snow in eastern New Mexico and bringing much colder air. Unfortunately, this could lead to accumulating ice on roadways from Tucumcari down to Hobbs Friday night. Meanwhile, snow will continue in northern New Mexico and rain showers across the rest of the state.
Precipitation will increase across the state Saturday as colder air will move in through the day. This will cause snow levels to lower through the day as well. By noon on Saturday, the heaviest of the snow will start to develop in northern and eastern New Mexico as snow levels drop down to as low as 6,000′ and as far south as Roswell, while the rest of the state will continue to see rain. The snow level should drop down to below 5,000′ Saturday evening, causing a transition from rain to snow in the Albuquerque Metro and Rio Grande Valley through Saturday night. Snow could fall as far south as the I-10 corridor by Sunday morning. Snow will wrap up across the state from northwest to southeast through Sunday morning. Bitterly cold air will be settling in though, with high temperatures staying below freezing in northern and eastern New Mexico, and wind chills dropping down to near and below 0°.
To read more, go here.
 |
| Above, after a heavy snowstorm in January 2024. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The brunt of it will be from Texas to the east into the deep South. We may get a little bit from this weather pattern, but not like what the South will be getting.
Here's what the National Weather Service forecasts for Jamestown/Gallup, New Mexico:
It will be hitting the Jamestown/Gallup starting Friday and through Saturday night.
According to the Albuquerque Journal:
Snow lovers hold your breath.
Areas of northern and central New Mexico could see snowfall of up to 6 inches this weekend thanks to an incoming winter storm. At least a few inches, maybe more, could drop in parts of the Duke City.
A cold front Thursday will turn into precipitation beginning Friday afternoon — a “mix of rain and snow,” according to meteorologist David Craft with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque. The NWS predicts snowfall will start Friday night, reaching its heaviest point around Saturday afternoon.
The Albuquerque area has a 40% chance of more than 3 inches of snow, Craft said. The chance for that much snowfall goes up to around 50% in Rio Rancho and 60% in Santa Fe.
“If anybody's thinking about traveling this weekend, they really need to pay close attention to the weather forecast and any warnings and advisories that we issue, because we could be looking at some road closures and some very treacherous travel,” Craft said.
Actually, we really do need the moisture. It has been a relatively dry winter so far.
To read more, go here.
 |
| Above, the deck this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It was expected to be a stronger storm than the first, but it left only about an inch of snow, about the same as the first. We'd have two inches of it on the ground, but the snow from the first storm melted mostly away.
Today is expected to be clear, but cold.
According to the National Weather Service for Jamestown, New Mexico:
It will be interesting to see how low the temperature will be tomorrow when the gang heads over to Grandpa's Grill in Gallup for breakfast.
Now that we have some daylight, I went out and took a few photos of last night's snow.
It appears we got an inch worth of snow. More is expected later today.
Here's the photos:
UPDATE (0935):
It is snowing now. It looks like I will be home and indoors today
