High Wind in New Mexico, February 24, 2007

Name: High Wind in New Mexico, February 24, 2007
Start: 2007-02-24T04:30
End: 2007-02-24T12:00
Location: New Mexico

February 24, 2007 · NWS ABQ · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

Strong winds developed across the south central mountains and eastern plains during the late night and mid morning hours.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

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 winds developed across the south central mountains and eastern plains during the late night and mid morning hours.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Albuquerque, NM wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 24, 4:14 AM MST, 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 24, 4:14 AM MST, 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
414 AM MST SAT FEB 24 2007

.UPDATE...UPDATED FOR EXPANDED FIRE HIGHLIGHTS FOR TODAY.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...300 AM MST SAT FEB 24 2007...
WILL ADD THE FAR EASTERN BORDER COUNTIES TO HIGH WIND
WARNING THAT/S IN EFFECT THROUGH TODAY. FORECAST 850-700 MB WINDS
40-50 KTS THROUGH MIDDAY ALONG EASTERN BORDER...GFS STRONGER BY
ABOUT 5-10 KTS. OBSERVED WINDS ON TCC PROFILER CONTINUE TO
STRENGTHEN...WITH 35 TO 45 KTS IN LOWEST LEVELS...50 KTS AT H7.
DITTO FOR WSMR PROFILER.  WILL ALSO ADD ZONE 4 TO TODAY/S WIND
ADVISORY...WITH KSAF MOS GUIDANCE PUSHING CRITERIA. ZONE 5 WILL STAY
IN WIND ADVISORY AS MODELS SUGGEST CORE OF STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE
EITHER TO THE SOUTH OR EAST OF THAT AREA.  DECIDED TO KEY ON WIND
HIGHLIGHTS IN NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO VERSUS WINTER WEATHER...AS
FORECAST QPF/SNOW AMOUNTS ARE LOWER THAN WHAT WAS INDICATED 24 HOURS
AGO...AND WIND WILL BE THE MORE SIGNIFICANT FEATURE/REASON FOR ANY
OTHER WEATHER PHENOMENA...SUCH AS BLOWING SNOW. TODAY/S MOS FORECAST
HIGH TEMPS REMAIN A THORN FOR ISSUING ANY WINTER WEATHER
HIGHLIGHTS...ALTHOUGH RAPID COOLING ALOFT IS FORECAST BY THE MODELS
TODAY. A COUPLE OF INCHES OF SNOW NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION IN PLACES
ALONG THE COLORADO BORDER IN ZONES 2/4/5/7 ON NORTHWEST TO NORTH
FACING SLOPES. THE WIND COULD WHIP ANY NEW SNOW AROUND TO PRODUCE
AREAS OF LOW VISIBILITIES...WILL MENTION THIS HAZARD IN THE NPW
SEGMENTS. WESTERN AREAS OF THE CWA WILL BLOW TODAY AS WELL...AND MAY
BE CLOSE TO ADVISORY CRITERIA AT SPOTS IN THE NORTHWEST
QUARTER...BUT WILL NOT RAISE A WIND ADVISORY AT THIS TIME. FIRE
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS MAY BE CONSIDERED FOR TODAY FOR A LARGER AREA
THAN THE CURRENT WATCH...WILL UPDATE THIS DISCUSSION AS REQUIRED.

BREEZY TO OCCASIONALLY WINDY CONDITIONS FROM THE EAST SLOPES OF THE
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN EASTWARD LOOK TO PERSIST SATURDAY
NIGHT...THROUGH SUNDAY AND INTO MONDAY WITH NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT.
WINDS PICK UP AGAIN WEDNESDAY WITH A LARGE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE
DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ROCKIES. UPPER RIDGE
FORECAST TO REGAIN DOMINANCE BY NEXT WEEKEND.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
FARMINGTON......................  43  18  48  23 /  10   0   5   5
GALLUP..........................  42  10  52  15 /   0   0   0   0
GRANTS..........................  44  11  52  17 /   0   0   0   0
GLENWOOD........................  51  23  60  28 /   0   0   0   0
CHAMA...........................  31   5  38   3 /  30   5   5   5
LOS ALAMOS......................  38  17  50  20 /  10   0   0   0
RED RIVER.......................  29   4  34   7 /  40   5   5   5
TAOS............................  40   7  44  17 /  20   5   5   0
SANTA FE........................  42  15  47  20 /   5   0   0   0
SANTA FE AIRPORT................  43  18  49  24 /   5   0   0   0
ESPANOLA........................  46  18  51  25 /  10   5   0   0
ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS.............  49  24  54  32 /   0   0   0   0
ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY..............  51  19  55  29 /   0   0   0   0
ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS...........  44  20  50  29 /   0   0   0   0
ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA...........  51  24  54  31 /   0   0   0   0
SOCORRO.........................  52  22  59  30 /   0   0   0   0
SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST.........  42  19  48  26 /  20   0   0   0
MORIARTY/ESTANCIA...............  43  20  49  28 /   5   0   0   0
CARRIZOZO.......................  50  24  59  31 /   0   0   0   0
RUIDOSO.........................  45  26  56  34 /   0   0   0   0
RATON...........................  45  15  47  18 /  20   5   5   5
LAS VEGAS.......................  45  17  49  23 /   5   0   5   0
ROY.............................  44  18  49  24 /  20   0   5   0
CLAYTON.........................  45  20  50  26 /  40   5   5   0
SANTA ROSA......................  54  25  54  28 /   5   0   5   0
TUCUMCARI.......................  57  25  58  30 /  20   0   5   0
FORT SUMNER.....................  56  27  61  29 /   0   0   5   0
CLOVIS..........................  56  26  60  30 /   5   0   5   0
PORTALES........................  57  26  62  30 /   0   0   5   0
ROSWELL.........................  64  31  66  35 /   0   0   5   0

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
RED FLAG WARNING FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ106>108.

WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES...NMZ003>005-009-015.

HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES...NMZ006-007-013-020-021.

HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES...NMZ010>012-016>019-026.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 23, 11:15 AM MST, 17 hours 15 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
1115 AM MST FRI FEB 23 2007

NMZ001>021-026-241300-
CAPITAN/NORTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS-
CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS/ESTANCIA VALLEY-CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-
CONCHAS LAKE/GUADALUPE COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY-
FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS-GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF CHAVES COUNTY-
HARDING COUNTY-LINCOLN COUNTY HIGH PLAINS/HONDO VALLEY-
LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-
NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS INCLUDING JEMEZ-NORTHWEST PLATEAU-QUAY COUNTY-
ROOSEVELT COUNTY-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS/UPPER GILA REGION-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
1115 AM MST FRI FEB 23 2007

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL BUT THE NORTHWEST PLATEAU AND
NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS THROUGH AT LEAST 1100 PM TODAY. THE WIND
ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT OVERNIGHT AND SATURDAY FOR THE
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN AND MUCH OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO. SUSTAINED
SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS OF AT LEAST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 OR
55 MPH ARE ANTICIPATED. DUE TO LOW HUMIDITIES...STRONG WINDS AND
HIGH FIRE DANGER...A RED FLAG WARNING WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM
TODAY FOR THE MIDDLE AND LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY...CENTRAL HIGH
PLAINS AND MUCH OF THE NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS.

IN ADDITION...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT OVER THE
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...WITH AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 6 INCHES POSSIBLE...MAINLY
OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN AND ALONG THE COLORADO BORDER. LESSER
AMOUNTS COULD FALL OVER THE NORTHWEST PLATEAU...WESTERN MOUNTAINS
AND THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PORTION OF EASTERN NEW
MEXICO INCLUDING THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN SATURDAY FOR SUSTAINED
NORTHWEST TO NORTH WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 50
MPH. ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL MAY COMBINE WITH THESE STRONG WINDS IN
THE FAR NORTHEAST SATURDAY...RESULTING IN AREAS OF REDUCED
VISIBILITIES IN BLOWING SNOW.

REMEMBER...WEATHER CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST
FORECASTS...WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS THROUGH THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE WEB SITE OR BY CALLING
1.888.386.7637.

07

Event by event

12 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Central High Plains/Estancia Valley County

When: February 24, 4:30 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Central High Plains/Estancia Valley County forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind, Harding

When: February 24, 6:30 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Harding forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: COOP Observer

High Wind, Far Northeast Plains

When: February 24, 6:30 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Far Northeast Plains forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind, Conchas Lake/Guadalupe

When: February 24, 6:30 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Conchas Lake/Guadalupe forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: COOP Observer

High Wind, Quay

When: February 24, 6:30 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Quay forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: COOP Observer

High Wind, Lincoln County High Plains/Hondo Valley

When: February 24, 6:30 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Lincoln County High Plains/Hondo Valley forecast zone
Measured: 36 kt (41 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: AWOS

High Wind, Capitan/Northern Sacramento Mountains

When: February 24, 6:30 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Capitan/Northern Sacramento Mountains forecast zone
Measured: 36 kt (41 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: COOP Observer

High Wind, De Baca

When: February 24, 6:30 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: De Baca forecast zone
Measured: 36 kt (41 mph) estimated sustained
Reported by: COOP Observer

High Wind, Chaves County Plains

When: February 24, 6:30 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Chaves County Plains forecast zone
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Several poles or power lines knocked down starting grass fires east side of Roswell.

High Wind, Curry

When: February 24, 6:30 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Curry forecast zone
Measured: 36 kt (41 mph) estimated sustained
Reported by: COOP Observer

High Wind, Roosevelt

When: February 24, 6:30 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Roosevelt forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Department of Highways

High Wind, Guadalupe Mountains of Chaves County

When: February 24, 6:30 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where: Guadalupe Mountains of Chaves County forecast zone
Measured: 68 kt (78 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Department of Highways

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

Every storm in New Mexico in 2007 Every state in 2007 This day in weather history Warnings in New Mexico, February 2007

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: 18953, 18951, 18952, 18954, 18955, 18956, 18957, 18958, 18959, 18960, 18961, 18966.