High Wind, Westcentral Mountains
- When
- April 3, 2:53 PM MST
- Where
- Westcentral Mountains forecast zone
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
A wind gust to 60 mph was also recorded at 353 pm MST.
High Wind in New Mexico, April 3 to 4, 2009
A storm slowly crossed Northern New Mexico on the 3rd and moved into western Kansas on the 4th. Meanwhile, a surface low deepened rapidly over northeast New Mexico and then lifted into western Kansas.
The toll
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $120,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 13
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.
A storm slowly crossed Northern New Mexico on the 3rd and moved into western Kansas on the 4th. Meanwhile, a surface low deepened rapidly over northeast New Mexico and then lifted into western Kansas. A very tight surface pressure gradient led to widespread reports of high winds and locally damaging winds.
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 Apr 3, 2:35 PM MST, 18 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 3, 2:35 PM MST, 18 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 335 PM MDT FRI APR 3 2009 .DISCUSSION... A LOT OF HAZARDS TO WORK THROUGH AND ISSUE. IN BRIEF...STRONG WINDS ALOFT AND INCREASING PRES GRADIENT A POTENT ENOUGH COMBINATION TO NECESSITATE UPGRADE MOST E ZONES AND WESTERN ZONES 8 AND 14 TO HI WIND WARNING. WILL KEEP ZONES 9 AND 15...MID AND LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY...IN WIND ADVISORY THRU 3Z AND GIVE EVENING SHIFT OPTION TO EXTEND IF NEED BE. NORMALLY ITS QUITE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN EVEN WIND ADVISORY WINDS OVERNIGHT ALL OR EVEN MOST OF NIGHT IN MOST OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. WITH BOUNDARY AND ASSOCIATED BAROCLINIC ZONE COMING THROUGH VERY LATE TONIGHT INTO THIS AREA MAY BE ENOUGH UPSWING FOR AN HOUR OR TWO OF ADVISORY OR NEAR ADVISORY WINDS. BUT FELT THAT LENGTH OF TIME THAT SUB ADVISORY WINDS ARE LIKELY WOULD BE LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE ADVISORY ALL NIGHT NOT ADVISABLE, AS FOR WESTERN ZONES HIGH WIND WARNING CRITERIA WINDS LIKELY TO ONLY BE MET LATER TONIGHT ON THE HIGHER RIDGES AND PEAKS...WHILE LOW TERRAIN MAY EVEN AT TIMES DROP BELOW WIND ADVISORY LEVELS. LASTLY AM HOISTING WINTER WX ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN NM ZONES 2 AND 4 LATE TONIGHT FOR WINDS...BLOWING SNOW AND JUST ENOUGH FALLING SNOW TO APPROACH BUT NOT NECESSARILY REACH/EXCEED SNOW ADVISORY CRITERIA. MAY BE JUST A FEW SPOTS IN THE S SAN JUANS OF RIO ARRIBA COUNTY THAT REACH CRITERIA...BUT MAJORITY OF ZONES TO BE BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA AMOUNTS. FINALLY A LONGER QUIET PERIOD ACROSS NM SAT NIGHT INTO TUE NIGHT BEFORE ANOTHER MORE OR LESS COPYCAT SYSTEM APPROACHES AND CRANKS UP THE WIND MACHINE WITH A LITTLE MOISTURE THROWN IN. AHHHH...SPRING IN THE SOUTHWEST. 43 && .AVIATION... MVFR CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER OF THE STATE OVERNIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. THANKS IN LARGE PART TO SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS WHERE CIGS WILL DROP BELOW 3000 FEET. OTHERWISE...WIND WILL BE THE BIGGEST CONCERN THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS. STRONG TO VERY STRONG WINDS WITH SUSTAINED READINGS BETWEEN 25 TO 35 KT WILL AFFECT MOST OF THE TERMINAL SITES TODAY. WINDS WILL WEAKEN SOMEWHAT OVERNIGHT ALTHOUGH HIGHER MOUNTAIN RIDGE AREAS AND AREAS TO THE LEE OF THOSE RIDGES WILL REMAIN AFFECTED BY STRONG WINDS. RESUMPTION OF STRONG TO VERY STRONG WINDS EXPECTED ON SATURDAY AS A PACIFIC FRONT CROSSES THE AREA. WIND SPEEDS WILL RANGE BETWEEN 25 TO 40 KT WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 45 TO 60 KTS TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY. NEXT AVIATION DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR 09Z. 50 && .FIRE WEATHER... CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT A GOOD CHUNK OF THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING. WINDS WILL REMAIN STRONG ACROSS THE HIGHER RIDGES AND AREAS TO THE LEE OF THOSE RIDGES OVERNIGHT. THIS WILL ALSO BE COUPLED WITH POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERIES GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40. WINDS WILL REMAIN STRONG ACROSS THE SOUTH AND EAST ON SATURDAY. LOWEST HUMIDITY READINGS WILL BE FOUND ACROSS THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS ON SATURDAY. PACIFIC FRONT WILL CROSS OVER THE AREA LATER TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY AND PROVIDE HIGHER HUMIDITY ACROSS THE NORTH. SOME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE ALSO EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS FAVORING THE COLORADO BORDER. MODELS REMAIN CONSISTENT IN BUILDING AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE STATE SUNDAY THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM AND HUMIDITY WILL LOWER AS A RESULT. TEMPERATURES ON TUESDAY ARE STILL EXPECTED TO RANGE BETWEEN 5 TO 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL AREAWIDE. THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM IS STILL EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE STATE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. WINDS WILL MOST LIKELY STRENGTHEN AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM AND COULD AFFECT PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN PLAINS AS EARLY AS TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE MAIN UNCERTAINTY FOR THIS SYSTEM PASSAGE REMAINS PRECIPITATION CHANCES. MODELS STILL LOOK TO BE MORE ROBUST FOR MORE PRECIPITATION WESTERN AND NORTHERN AREAS. SUSPECT AFTER IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE THAT STRONGER WINDS WILL BE FOUND ACROSS SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AREAS WHILE PRECIPITATION REMAINS MORE PROMINENT ACROSS NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL AREAS. PRETTY MUCH THE TRACK RECORD FOR THIS SPRING BUT WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT UNFOLDS. 50 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FARMINGTON...................... 37 48 25 55 / 60 20 0 0 GALLUP.......................... 33 47 17 55 / 50 5 0 0 GRANTS.......................... 36 50 19 55 / 40 5 0 0 GLENWOOD........................ 39 61 27 67 / 10 0 0 0 CHAMA........................... 29 38 16 46 / 80 50 20 5 LOS ALAMOS...................... 38 45 27 48 / 40 20 10 5 RED RIVER....................... 29 36 13 42 / 50 40 20 5 TAOS............................ 34 45 18 46 / 30 20 10 5 SANTA FE........................ 35 49 24 50 / 30 10 5 0 SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 35 52 27 53 / 30 10 5 0 ESPANOLA........................ 35 54 23 55 / 30 20 5 0 ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 43 57 34 58 / 20 0 0 0 ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 43 58 30 60 / 20 0 0 0 ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 42 55 32 57 / 20 0 0 0 ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 43 58 33 59 / 20 0 0 0 SOCORRO......................... 46 67 32 64 / 5 0 0 0 SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 33 47 22 50 / 30 5 0 0 MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 37 53 31 53 / 10 0 0 0 CARRIZOZO....................... 43 66 30 60 / 5 0 0 0 RUIDOSO......................... 41 59 30 52 / 5 5 0 0 RATON........................... 34 54 21 49 / 20 20 20 5 LAS VEGAS....................... 38 52 19 48 / 20 10 5 0 ROY............................. 41 54 22 47 / 10 5 10 0 CLAYTON......................... 42 57 23 45 / 0 10 10 0 SANTA ROSA...................... 44 66 28 54 / 0 0 0 0 TUCUMCARI....................... 45 66 27 52 / 0 0 5 0 FORT SUMNER..................... 44 68 30 56 / 0 0 0 0 CLOVIS.......................... 46 68 29 54 / 0 0 0 0 PORTALES........................ 47 71 30 55 / 0 0 0 0 ROSWELL......................... 49 78 38 61 / 0 0 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ103-104-106>108. RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ106>108. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM MDT SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ002-004. HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 6 AM TO 8 PM MDT SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ006-007-012-013-018>021. HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MDT SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... NMZ005-010-011-016-017-026. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... NMZ009-015. HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 AM MDT SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... NMZ008-014. && 43/50
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 3, 11:02 AM MST, 3 hours 51 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 1202 PM MDT FRI APR 3 2009 NMZ001>021-026-041200- 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- 600 AM MDT FRI APR 3 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE REST OF TODAY INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS FOR THE WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS. WIND ADVISORY HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED FOR THE LOWER AND MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND WILL TAKE EFFECT 3 PM AND LAST THROUGH 9 PM. WIND ADVISORIES FOR THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND EASTERN PLAINS AS WELL AS THE HIGH WIND WATCH FOR THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS REMAIN IN EFFECT. A RED FLAG WARNING ALSO IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS AFTERNOON FROM THE LOWER AND MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY EASTWARD ACROSS THE EAST CENTRAL PLAINS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT SATURDAY FOR THE EASTERN PLAINS AND PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN. WIND ADVISORIES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE SATURDAY FOR THE LOWER AND MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT SATURDAY FROM THE LOWER AND MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY EASTWARD ACROSS THE EAST CENTRAL PLAINS. ANOTHER SYSTEM MAY AFFECT NEW MEXICO TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY WITH STRONG WINDS AND CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. WEATHER CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST FORECASTS... WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AT 911 AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT 1.888.386.7637 TO REPORT WILDFIRE OUTBREAKS. SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 40 MPH OR GREATER AND OR GUSTS OVER 50 MPH TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. GUYER/WACHTER
Event by event
13 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High Wind, Capitan/Northern Sacramento Mountains
- When
- April 3, 3:55 PM MST
- Where
- Capitan/Northern Sacramento Mountains forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- AWOS
A 58 mph gust was also recorded at 1536 pm MST and a sustained wind of 49 mph was recorded at 1555 pm MST.
High Wind, Middle Rio Grande Valley
- When
- April 4, 12:00 AM MST
- Where
- Middle Rio Grande Valley forecast zone
- Measured
- 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- ASOS
Wind damage was reported eight miles south of Albuquerque at 1200 am MST. A 50 foot section of fence was blown over and gate hinges snapped. Golf carts were tossed around by the wind. A gust to 58 mph was recorded at the Double Eagle Airport at 1215 am MST. A wind gust to 65 mph was reported at the Isleta Pueblo, where a FEDEX truck traveling on Interstate 25 was blown off the road and another tractor trailor tipped over. There were numerous reports of shingles blown off the roofs of homes. Large trees were downed in Bosque Farms. Power to 5000 homes went out. A 40 foot tree was uprooted in the Five Points neighborhood and crushed a swing set.
High Wind, Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- When
- April 4, 12:02 AM MST
- Where
- Sangre de Cristo Mountains forecast zone
- Measured
- 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
High Wind, Southwest Mountains/Upper Gila Region
- When
- April 4, 12:13 AM MST
- Where
- Southwest Mountains/Upper Gila Region forecast zone
- Measured
- 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Park/Forest Service
High Wind, Guadalupe Mountains of Chaves County
- When
- April 4, 1:00 AM MST to 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- Guadalupe Mountains of Chaves County forecast zone
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $100,000
- Reported by
- Public
A roof was blown off the abandoned Club Cafe on Historic Route 66 in downtown Santa Rosa. Another roof was blown off a two story home. Several power poles and light posts were damaged or snapped in two. Damage occurred to 87 cars and the buildings at the Northside Auto Park.
High Wind, Capitan/Northern Sacramento Mountains
- When
- April 4, 1:15 AM MST
- Where
- Capitan/Northern Sacramento Mountains forecast zone
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- AWOS
High Wind, Quay
- When
- April 4, 2:45 AM MST
- Where
- Quay forecast zone
- Measured
- 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
High Wind, Northeast Highlands
- When
- April 4, 2:52 AM MST
- Where
- Northeast Highlands forecast zone
- Measured
- 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
High Wind, Central High Plains/Estancia Valley County
- When
- April 4, 3:18 AM MST
- Where
- Central High Plains/Estancia Valley County forecast zone
- Measured
- 64 kt (74 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
A peak wind gust of 69 mph was also recorded at 1245 am MST, and sustained winds of 49 mph were recorded at 1244 am MST.
High Wind, Far Northeast Plains
- When
- April 4, 8:55 AM MST
- Where
- Far Northeast Plains forecast zone
- Measured
- 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
High Wind, Curry
- When
- April 4, 10:55 AM MST
- Where
- Curry forecast zone
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- AWOS
A gust to 58 mph was recorded at Cannon AFB at 1055 am MST.
High Wind, Curry
- When
- April 4, 10:55 AM MST
- Where
- Curry forecast zone
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
- Deaths
- 0 direct, 1 indirect
- Reported by
- ASOS
A wind gust to 58 mph was reported three miles northwest of Texico. A 35 year old man was killed in Clovis when a gust of wind caught a door on a semitrailer and slammed the man into the loading dock wall. He suffered head injuries.
The people who died
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Wind, Curry | 2009-04-04 | 35 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
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
- Lightning Strike in New York, April 3, 2009
- Wildfire in California, April 3, 2009
- High Wind in California, April 3, 2009
- High Wind in Virginia, April 3 to 4, 2009
- Strong Wind in New Jersey, April 3 to 4, 2009
- Strong Wind in Pennsylvania, April 3 to 5, 2009
- High Wind in North Carolina, April 3 to 4, 2009
- Strong Wind in Arizona, April 3, 2009
- Winter Storm in South Dakota, April 3 to 4, 2009
- Dust Storm and High Wind in Arizona, April 3, 2009
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Wyoming, April 3 to 4, 2009
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Wyoming, April 3 to 4, 2009
More
Every storm in New Mexico in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, April 2009
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: 153272, 153273, 153274, 153275, 153276, 154677, 153278, 153279, 153280, 153277, 153281, 153282, 153432.