Dust and visibility concerns force closure of U.S. Highway 285 in Chaves County [Video]

THE ROADS. ALYSSA. YEAH. SASHA. SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO, PARTICULARLY CHAVEZ COUNTY, HAD HIGH WIND WARNINGS IN PLACE AND HAD TO CLOSE DOWN A FEW ROADS. DUST STORMS AND LOW VISIBILITY IS WHAT DRIVERS IN SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO ARE FACING. WE SPOKE WITH THE CHAVEZ COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WHO ADVISED TO STAY OFF THE ROADS UNLESS IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. THIS COUNTY RIGHT NOW, THE CONDITIONS DURING THE WINDY SEASON, ESPECIALLY THESE WIND GUSTS, THE ONES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM 30 UP TO 70 MILES AN HOUR. THOSE CONDITIONS CAUSING NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE DOWN SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC AT U.S. HIGHWAY 285 AND WEST DERBY ROAD. THE ROSWELL RELIEF ROUTE WAS ALSO CLOSED BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 107 AND 112 BECAUSE OF LOW VISIBILITY IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF CHAVEZ COUNTY. AS SOON AS YOU BREAK THE CITY LIMITS, WHERE IT’S ALL FARMLAND …