New Mexico, 1997

High Wind in New Mexico, June 16, 1997

June 16, 1997 · NWS MAF · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 high wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$300,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Lea

When
June 16, 4:00 PM MST to 4:30 PM MST
Where
Lea forecast zone
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage
$300,000
Coordinates
32.792, -103.412 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong gradient winds behind a developing late-season cold front were enhanced by thunderstorm outflow to produce damaging winds Hobbs. Thunderstorms remained well to the north of the city and the widespread nature of the winds suggested that the thunderstorms had only a minor role in the generation of the winds. Damage was reported in the southern 3/4 of Hobbs.Numerous large trees were downed or lost main limbs. Sections of many roofs were peeled up, and power lines and poles were knocked down as well. The emergency manager estimated the winds gusting to 70 mph in some parts of town. The airport west of town sustained a 52 mph gust but reported no damage.

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

More

Every storm in New Mexico in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, June 1997

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: 5611431.