Winter Storm Batters Southern New Mexico Mountains: Thousands Still Without Power as Restoration Efforts Continue

Alamogordo, NM – January 26, 2026 – A powerful winter storm that dumped heavy snow, freezing rain, and ice across the Sacramento Mountains has left thousands of residents in Otero County without electricity, with utility crews facing relentless challenges from fallen trees and damaged infrastructure.

Otero County Electric Cooperative (OCEC), the primary provider for many mountain communities including Cloudcroft, reported late Sunday evening that more than 3,000 meters remained without power despite significant progress during the day. Crews concluded operations for a mandatory rest period and are scheduled to resume work at 6:00 a.m. today.

The storm’s impacts have been particularly severe in higher elevations, where up to nearly 16 inches of snow accumulated in some areas, compounded by strong winds and prior freezing precipitation. This combination caused widespread tree failures, with branches and entire trees repeatedly falling onto power lines—even after initial clearings and repairs.

OCEC’s restoration effort is substantial, involving:

• 20 OCEC line personnel

• 9 OCEC vegetation crew members

• 18 line crew members from A.R.C. Power Line Construction

• Equipment operators from Batte Gravel and Penasco Gravel

Supporting equipment includes four digger trucks, three bucket trucks, a dozer, and an excavator. Damage assessments have confirmed at least 10 broken poles, 10–12 broken crossarms, and countless downed trees contributing to persistent outages.

Photos captured by OCEC linemen along the Sac Peak line illustrate the scale of the destruction, showing heavily damaged lines buried under fallen timber—conditions representative of many locations across the service territory.

The Cloudcroft Fire Department has also highlighted significant damage to power lines in the area, with reports of more than 30 spans of transmission lines suffering moderate to heavy impacts, largely due to ice-laden trees and high winds.

While the basin areas around Alamogordo experienced lighter snow and calmer conditions—mostly clear skies today with highs in the 50–55°F range and overnight lows in the 20s—the mountain zones continue to grapple with the aftermath. No new major winter weather advisories are in effect, but lingering ice and debris may still pose hazards on elevated roads.

OCEC emphasized safety as the top priority amid the challenging terrain and repeated outages. Residents are urged to check the cooperative’s outage map for the latest status in their area and to exercise caution around downed lines.

Local officials and utility teams continue to work around the clock to restore service as quickly and safely as possible. Updates will be provided as progress is made.

For the most current information, visit OCEC’s website or follow local news sources. This is a developing situation stemming from Winter Storm Fern’s heavy impacts on southern New Mexico’s mountainous regions.

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