High Wind, Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- When
- December 5, 3:00 AM MST to December 6, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Sangre de Cristo Mountains forecast zone
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph)
- Property damage
- $150,000
High Wind in New Mexico, December 5 to 6, 1996
Strong downslope wind developed across the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo mountains and also through the Estancia Valley of southern Santa Fe and western Torrance counties. Wind gusting 70 to 80 mph tore away roofs and overturned trailer homes in Mora, Ocate and Cimarron.
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $150,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.
Strong downslope wind developed across the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo mountains and also through the Estancia Valley of southern Santa Fe and western Torrance counties. Wind gusting 70 to 80 mph tore away roofs and overturned trailer homes in Mora, Ocate and Cimarron. Gusts near 70 mph caused damaged trees and windows in Las Vegas.
Event by event
3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High Wind, Northeast Highlands
- When
- December 5, 3:00 AM MST to December 6, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Northeast Highlands forecast zone
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph)
High Wind, Central High Plains/Estancia Valley County
- When
- December 6, 3:00 AM MST to 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Central High Plains/Estancia Valley County forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
What these are
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Heavy Snow in Utah, December 5 to 6, 1996
- Heavy Rain in California, December 5, 1996
- Heavy Rain in California, December 5, 1996
- High Wind in Colorado, December 5, 1996
- Tornado in Oregon, December 5, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Virginia, December 5 to 6, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Virginia, December 5, 1996
- Winter Storm in Colorado, December 5 to 6, 1996
- Heavy Rain in New Jersey, December 5 to 6, 1996
- Winter Weather in North Carolina, December 5, 1996
- Heavy Rain in Pennsylvania, December 5 to 6, 1996
- Winter Weather in Virginia, December 5 to 6, 1996
More
Every storm in New Mexico in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, December 1996
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5578429, 5578430, 5578431.