High Wind Warning 4, NWS Albuquerque, NM

000 
WWUS75 KABQ 171859
NPWABQ

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
1159 AM MST TUE FEB 17 2009

...STRONG AND POSSIBLY DAMAGING WINDS TO CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON
AND EARLY EVENING OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO...

.VERY STRONG WEST WINDS ALOFT WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT CENTRAL AND
EASTERN NEW MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING. AT
THE SAME TIME...SURFACE LOW PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY
OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS STATES. THE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO
FEATURES WILL RESULT IN STRONG AND GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS FROM THE
RIO GRANDE VALLEY OVER THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN EASTWARD TO THE
TEXAS BORDER. THE WIND SHOULD BEGIN TO WEAKEN AROUND SUNSET BEFORE
DIMINISHING AT LOWER ELEVATIONS LATER IN THE EVENING. MOUNTAIN TOP
WINDS WILL REMAIN STRONG THROUGH TONIGHT...AND BREEZY TO WINDY
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO MUCH OF THE EAST CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST PLAINS ON WEDNESDAY.

NMZ005>007-010>013-016-017-026-180200-
/O.CON.KABQ.HW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-090218T0200Z/
NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-HARDING COUNTY-FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS-
SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS/ESTANCIA VALLEY-
CONCHAS LAKE/GUADALUPE COUNTY-QUAY COUNTY-
LINCOLN COUNTY HIGH PLAINS/HONDO VALLEY-
CAPITAN/NORTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF CHAVES COUNTY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LAS VEGAS/RATON...ROY...CLAYTON...
SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST...MORIARTY/ESTANCIA...SANTA ROSA...
TUCUMCARI...CARRIZOZO...RUIDOSO
1159 AM MST TUE FEB 17 2009

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS
EVENING...

A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS
EVENING. 

VERY STRONG WEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BLOW AT SPEEDS FROM 25 TO
45 MPH WITH GUSTS PEAKING AROUND 60 MPH DURING THE AFTERNOON...THEN
WEAKEN DURING THE EVENING.

THE STRONG WINDS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE AREAS OF REDUCED
VISIBILITIES IN BLOWING DUST. TRAVEL WILL BE IMPACTED OVER THE
REGION...INCLUDING INTERSTATE 40...AND ESPECIALLY ON NORTH TO
SOUTH ORIENTED HIGHWAYS. DRIVERS OF HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES SHOULD
BE ALERT FOR SUDDEN CROSSWINDS.

REMEMBER...A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY.

$$

NMZ003-004-009-180200-
/O.CON.KABQ.WI.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-090218T0200Z/
UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ESPANOLA...RED RIVER/TAOS/SANTA FE...
ALBUQUERQUE
1159 AM MST TUE FEB 17 2009

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING...

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING. 

STRONG WEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BLOW AT SPEEDS FROM 25 TO 40 MPH
WITH GUSTS PEAKING AROUND 55 MPH DURING THE AFTERNOON...THEN WEAKEN
DURING THE EVENING.

THE STRONG WINDS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE AREAS OF REDUCED
VISIBILITIES IN BLOWING DUST IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. THE WIND...
COUPLED WITH SNOW SHOWERS IN THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS MAY
RESULT IN LOCAL AREAS OF REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN BLOWING SNOW...
ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN.

MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE TRAVELING IN THE WIND
ADVISORY AREA. SUDDEN GUSTS OF WIND MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL
OF YOUR VEHICLE. EXTRA ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO CROSS WINDS...
ESPECIALLY ON NORTH TO SOUTH ORIENTED HIGHWAYS SUCH AS INTERSTATE
25.

$$

NMZ018>021-180200-
/O.CON.KABQ.WI.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-090218T0200Z/
DE BACA COUNTY-CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FORT SUMNER...ROSWELL...PORTALES...
CLOVIS
1159 AM MST TUE FEB 17 2009

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING...

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING. 

STRONG WEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BLOW AT SPEEDS FROM 25 TO 40
MPH WITH GUSTS PEAKING AROUND 55 MPH DURING THE AFTERNOON...THEN WEAKEN
DURING THE EVENING.

THE STRONG WINDS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE AREAS OF REDUCED
VISIBILITIES IN BLOWING DUST. TRAVEL WILL BE IMPACTED OVER THE
REGION...ESPECIALLY ON NORTH TO SOUTH ORIENTED HIGHWAYS.  DRIVERS
OF HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES SHOULD BE ALERT FOR SUDDEN CROSSWINDS.

$$

44/46/43

000 
WWUS75 KABQ 180119
NPWABQ

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
619 PM MST TUE FEB 17 2009

...HIGH WIND WARNING AND WIND ADVISORIES CANCELLED...

NMZ005>007-010>013-016-017-026-180230-
/O.CAN.KABQ.HW.W.0004.000000T0000Z-090218T0200Z/
NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-HARDING COUNTY-FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS-
SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS/ESTANCIA VALLEY-
CONCHAS LAKE/GUADALUPE COUNTY-QUAY COUNTY-
LINCOLN COUNTY HIGH PLAINS/HONDO VALLEY-
CAPITAN/NORTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF CHAVES COUNTY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LAS VEGAS/RATON...ROY...CLAYTON...
SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST...MORIARTY/ESTANCIA...SANTA ROSA...
TUCUMCARI...CARRIZOZO...RUIDOSO
619 PM MST TUE FEB 17 2009

...HIGH WIND WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS CANCELLED THE
HIGH WIND WARNING. 

WINDS ACROSS THE REGION CONTINUE TO DIMINISH QUICKLY WITH THE
SETTING SUN. A FEW LOCALES MAY STILL EXPERIENCE SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO
25 MPH OVER THE NEXT HOUR.

$$

NMZ003-004-009-018>021-180230-
/O.CAN.KABQ.WI.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-090218T0200Z/
UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-DE BACA COUNTY-
CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ESPANOLA...RED RIVER/TAOS/SANTA FE...
ALBUQUERQUE...FORT SUMNER...ROSWELL...PORTALES...CLOVIS
619 PM MST TUE FEB 17 2009

...WIND ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS CANCELLED THE
WIND ADVISORY. 

WINDS ACROSS THE REGION WILL CONTINUE TO DIMINISH QUICKLY WITH THE
SETTING SUN. A FEW LOCALES MAY STILL EXPERIENCE SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO
25 MPH OVER THE NEXT HOUR.

$$

KW

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
300 AM MST TUE FEB 17 2009

.DISCUSSION....PRECIPITATION HAS BEEN SLOWER TO BEGIN OVER NORTHWEST
NEW MEXICO SO FAR. BAND OF CLOUDS/SHOWERS OVER ARIZONA CONTINUES TO
TRACK EASTWARD BUT APPEARS TO BE THINNING OUT SOMEWHAT AS IT TRACKS
EASTWARD.  WILL LEAVE WINTER WX ADVISORY AS IS BUT HAVE DOUBTS
CRITERIA SNOW AMOUNTS WILL BE WIDESPREAD OVER THE AREA. AREA ALONG
THE COLORADO BORDER MOST LIKELY TO GET AT LEAST SOME ACCUMULATION
TODAY.

WIND HIGHLIGHTS ALSO PROBLEMATIC TODAY/THIS EVENING. STRONGEST H7
WINDS STILL PASS THROUGH BEFORE MIDDAY...BUT BAND OF STRONGEST H5
WINDS APPEAR LATER TODAY AND CROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO
AS THE SHORTWAVE PASSES THROUGH.  SURFACE LOW POSITION TO BE WELL TO
OUR NORTHEAST...AND BEST SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT ALSO ACROSS
NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO. BEST AND BROADEST AREA OF DOWNWARD MOTION
INDICATED OVER NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO AS WELL...BUT ALSO EXTENDED
SOUTHWARD THROUGH CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN.  HAVE DECIDED TO UPGRADE
WATCH TO HIGH WIND WARNING OVER THESE AREAS...WITH WIND ADVISORY
OVER SOUTHEAST PLAINS AND SANGRE DE CRISTO AND UPPER AND MIDDLE RIO
GRANDE VALLEY.

SOME LINGERING SNOW TONIGHT AND INTO WEDNESDAY MAINLY NORTH CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS. WINDS SHOULD TAPER OFF AFTER SUNSET THIS EVENING OVER
MOST AREAS BUT PERSIST NORTHEAST/EASTCENTRAL. WINDY AGAIN ON
WEDNESDAY SOUTH AND EAST IN NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT. NORTHWEST WINDS
ALOFT PERSIST THROUGH REST OF WEEK WITH ANOTHER SURFACE FRONT FRIDAY
NIGHT. MAY GET INTO SOME STRONGER WINDS AND SHOWERS NORTH BY
SUNDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...VERY WINDY CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ALONG AND EAST OF THE
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN WHERE WEST WINDS MAY GUST UP TO 50KTS BETWEEN
15Z AND 02Z. OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE
EASTERN PLAINS FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.  MEANWHILE...A BAND OF
PRECIPITATION WILL MOVE INTO NW NM BETWEEN 15 AND 21Z WHERE
OCCASIONAL IFR CEILINGS AND VSBYS WILL BE POSSIBLE. TAF SITES MOST
LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED INCLUDE KFMN AND KGUP. NORTHERN AND WESTERN
MTNS MAY BE OCCASIONALLY OBSCURED.

NEXT AVIATION DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR 22Z.

.FIRE WEATHER...AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL CROSS THE STATE
DURING THE DAY BRINGING HIGH WINDS TO THE EASTERN HALF OF THE
STATE...WHILE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE
POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN AREAS. DEWPOINTS CURRENTLY
IN THE SINGLE DIGITS JUST EAST OF THE CENTRAL MTNS WHERE CONFIDENCE
HAD NOT BEEN AS HIGH FOR A RED FLAG WARNING TODAY.  HOWEVER...SINCE
IT APPEARS MODEL GUIDANCE HAS HAD DEWPOINTS TOO HIGH FOR TODAY...AND
HAVE ALSO RAISED MAX TEMPS A DEGREE OR TWO...IT NOW APPEARS THAT THE
EASTERN AND SOUTHERN  SECTIONS OF ZONES 103 AND 107 WILL REACH RED
FLAG CRITERIA FOR A FEW HOURS THIS AFTERNOON.  THE FIRE WEATHER
WATCH FOR THESE ZONES WILL BE UPGRADED TO A RED FLAG WARNING. IT
SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WINDS WILL BE EXTREMELY HIGH...AND GUSTS UP TO
60 MPH ARE NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION TODAY.  MINIMUM RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES WILL RANGE BETWEEN 10 AND 15 PERCENT FOR MOST OF THESE
AREAS. PORTIONS OF ZONE 106 MAY ALSO OBSERVE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS FOR AN HOUR OR TWO THIS AFTERNOON...BUT WILL NOT ISSUE
ANY HEADLINES AT THIS TIME.

A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH THE AREA TONIGHT AS THE UPPER LEVEL
SYSTEM DEPARTS.  THOUGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLER ON
WEDNESDAY...IT STILL APPEARS THAT RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL DROP
BELOW 15 PERCENT ACROSS A GOOD PORTION OF ZONE 108 AND POSSIBLY
EXTREME SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF ZONE 104. APPEARS THAT 20 FOOT WINDS
WILL ALSO BE SUFFICIENT FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS UNDER
NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT. THUS...WILL ISSUE A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR
ZONE 108 ONLY...WHERE CONFIDENCE IS HIGHER...FOR WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON.

QUIETER CONDITIONS WILL RETURN ON THURSDAY AND THROUGH THE REMAINDER
OF THE WEEKEND THANKS TO A RIDGE BUILDING INTO THE WESTERN UNITED
STATES.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
FARMINGTON......................  48  25  47  20 /  40  10   5   0
GALLUP..........................  45  15  44  10 /  50  10   5   0
GRANTS..........................  49  14  45   9 /  20  10   5   0
GLENWOOD........................  58  22  57  21 /  30   0   5   0
CHAMA...........................  37   6  42   8 /  70  50  30   0
LOS ALAMOS......................  47  23  48  21 /  30  10   5   0
RED RIVER.......................  33   2  36   2 /  40  30  30   0
TAOS............................  44  14  43  10 /  30  10  20   0
SANTA FE........................  47  19  44  17 /  20  10   5   0
SANTA FE AIRPORT................  50  23  46  20 /  10  10   5   0
ESPANOLA........................  53  19  46  16 /  20  10   5   0
ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS.............  56  30  52  28 /  10   5   5   0
ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY..............  58  23  53  20 /  10   0   5   0
ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS...........  52  27  49  25 /  10   5   5   0
ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA...........  57  26  52  22 /  10   5   5   0
SOCORRO.........................  61  27  56  22 /   5   0   0   0
SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST.........  46  24  45  22 /  10  10   5   0
MORIARTY/ESTANCIA...............  52  27  48  19 /  10   0   5   0
CARRIZOZO.......................  61  28  53  23 /   0   0   0   0
RUIDOSO.........................  57  26  50  23 /   0   0   5   0
RATON...........................  57  19  49  15 /   5   0   5   0
LAS VEGAS.......................  52  24  48  16 /  10   5   5   0
ROY.............................  58  23  50  18 /   5   0   0   0
CLAYTON.........................  63  26  54  22 /   0   0   0   0
SANTA ROSA......................  65  25  55  22 /   5   0   0   0
TUCUMCARI.......................  67  33  60  24 /   0   0   0   0
FORT SUMNER.....................  67  30  58  23 /   0   0   0   0
CLOVIS..........................  71  33  60  25 /   0   0   0   0
PORTALES........................  71  33  62  24 /   0   0   0   0
ROSWELL.........................  72  37  65  29 /   0   0   0   0

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR
THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ003-004-009-018>021.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ002.

HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ005>007-010>013-016-017-026.

RED FLAG WARNING FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM MST THIS EVENING
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ103-104-107-108.

FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ108.

&&

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
1019 PM MST MON FEB 16 2009

NMZ001>021-026-171215-
NORTHWEST PLATEAU-NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS INCLUDING JEMEZ-
UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-HARDING COUNTY-FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS-
WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-
SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS/ESTANCIA VALLEY-
CONCHAS LAKE/GUADALUPE COUNTY-QUAY COUNTY-
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS/UPPER GILA REGION-LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
LINCOLN COUNTY HIGH PLAINS/HONDO VALLEY-
CAPITAN/NORTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-DE BACA COUNTY-
CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF CHAVES COUNTY-
1019 PM MST MON FEB 16 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
NEW MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT TUESDAY FOR MUCH THE EASTERN
PLAINS DUE TO ANTICIPATED STRONG WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITIES. A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT TUESDAY FOR THE NORTHEAST
HIGHLANDS AND CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS.

WEST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE FROM
THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS EAST TO THE TEXAS STATE LINE TUESDAY. A HIGH
WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN AND THE EAST
CENTRAL TO SOUTHEASTERN PLAINS FOR THE LATE MORNING TO EARLY
EVENING.

IN ADDITION...A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE
NORTHWESTERN MOUNTAINS FROM EARLY TUESDAY MORNING UNTIL TUESDAY
AFTERNOON WHERE SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE.

PLEASE SEE INDIVIDUAL STATEMENTS FOR MORE DETAILS. WEATHER CAN
CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST FORECASTS...WATCHES AND
WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

17/52