A storm system passed north of New Mexico and brought strong mid level winds to the state. A 989 millibar surface low also formed over extreme southeast Colorado.
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 episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.
A storm system passed north of New Mexico and brought strong mid level winds to the state. A 989 millibar surface low also formed over extreme southeast Colorado. This resulted in high winds over a fairly large area of northern and central New Mexico, with the central mountains and eastern plains the favored locations.
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 29, 2:22 AM MST, 9 hours 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 322 AM MDT FRI APR 29 2011 ...STRONG WIND AND FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS TODAY... ...MUCH COLDER WITH SNOW IN SOME AREAS SUNDAY AND MONDAY... .DISCUSSION... A BROAD UPPER LEVEL TROUGH IS DEVELOPING OVER THE ROCKIES AND GREAT BASIN EARLY THIS MORNING. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL DEVELOP OVER THE NORTHERN ROCKIES TODAY AND EJECT EASTWARD INTO THE DAKOTAS TONIGHT. THIS WILL STEER THE POLAR JET STREAM IN THE VICINITY OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICO CAUSING WINDS ALOFT TO INCREASE. HIGH TEMPERATURES 5 TO 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL THIS AFTERNOON WILL ENABLE THE STRONGER MOMENTUM ALOFT TO MIX DOWN TO THE SURFACE. FURTHER...A 992 MB LOW WILL DEVELOP IN SE CO TODAY WITH A SHARP SURFACE TROUGH IN THE LEE OF THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES. AS A RESULT OF ALL THESE INGREDIENTS...WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH WILL BE COMMON TODAY WITH GUSTS AROUND 60 MPH POSSIBLE MAINLY ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN...BUT MAYBE ALSO IN THE WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. THIS SCENARIO IS WELL COVERED BY THE CURRENT WIND ADVISORIES AND HIGH WIND WARNINGS. HOWEVER...WITH THIS MORNINGS FORECAST PACKAGE WE WILL START THE WIND HEADLINES A COUPLE HOURS SOONER MAINLY DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR ADVISORY CRITERIA GUSTS BY MID MORNING FROM LAS VEGAS SOUTHWARD TO PERHAPS RUIDOSO. FURTHER...WE WILL EXTEND THE HEADLINES IN TIME UNTIL MID EVENING BECAUSE MODELS INDICATE THAT WINDS ALOFT WILL ACTUALLY STRENGTHEN DURING THE EVENING AND A COLD FRONT WILL BEGIN PUSHING INTO THE STATE FROM THE NORTHWEST TIGHTENING THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT. SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...THE BROAD UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL DIG DEEPER INTO THE GREAT BASIN AND SOUTHERN ROCKIES AS SHORTWAVES DROP SOUTHWARD INTO THE WESTERN U.S. ACCOMPANIED BY UNSEASONABLY COLD AIR. THE NAM IS A BIT COLDER WITH THE SYSTEM THAN THE GFS...BUT ITS SAFE TO SAY THAT 500 MB TEMPS OVER SE UT WILL APPROACH -30C BY SUNDAY MORNING. THE COLD FRONT WILL MAKE SLOW PROGRESS ON ITS SOUTHWARD JOURNEY THROUGH NORTHERN NM SATURDAY...THEN BETTER PROGRESS SATURDAY NIGHT AS THE COLD CORE ALOFT BEGINS TO MOVE OVER NW NM. ON THE NORTHEAST PLAINS THE FRONT WILL RESULT IN MOIST LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE FLOW...RESULTING IN RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW SHOWERS MAINLY NEAR THE CO BORDER BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THE CORE OF THE POLAR JET WILL SHIFT EAST AND SOUTH SATURDAY RESULTING IN WEAKER WINDS IN MOST LOCATIONS...BUT IT SHOULD REMAIN BREEZY TO WINDY FROM GLENWOOD TO RUIDOSO AND ALSO ALONG THE E SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN. THE FRONT WILL PUSH WELL INTO CENTRAL AND WESTERN NM SATURDAY NIGHT RESULTING IN A GUSTY AND POTENTIALLY STRONG EAST WIND BELOW CANYONS OPENING INTO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. PRECIPITATION WILL ALSO SPREAD SOUTH AND WESTWARD WITH THE FRONT SATURDAY NIGHT. LOW TEMPERATURES SUNDAY MORNING WILL APPROACH FREEZING AS FAR SOUTH AS GLENWOOD... ALBUQUERQUE...RUIDOSO AND TUCUMCARI. THIS COULD SURPRISE SOME AMBITIOUS GARDNERS WHO MAY NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT TENDER VEGETATION. SUNDAY...AN UPPER LOW SHOULD CLOSE OFF IN THE VICINITY OF THE FOUR CORNERS...AND THIS FEATURE WILL SHIFT GRADUALLY EASTWARD ALONG THE CO/NM BORDER THROUGH MONDAY BEFORE EXITING INTO THE GREAT PLAINS MONDAY NIGHT. ACCUMULATING SNOW SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY LOOKS TO FAVOR THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND NE HIGHLANDS...AND POSSIBLY BRIEFLY THE NE PLAINS SATURDAY NIGHT. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TO APPROACH 10 OR 12 INCHES IN THE SANGRES NEAR THE CO BORDER...ESPECIALLY ON EAST FACING SLOPES. HIGH TEMPERATURES SUNDAY AND MONDAY WILL VARY FROM 5 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL AROUND GLENWOOD TO AS MUCH AS 30 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL AROUND RATON. TUESDAY THROUGH MID WEEK...A DRIER NW FLOW ALOFT WILL ESTABLISH. AT THIS TIME IT LOOKS LIKE WEATHER SYSTEMS WILL REMAIN WELL NORTH OF NM AS TROUGHS EJECT FROM THE NORTHERN ROCKIES INTO THE UPPER GREAT PLAINS. HOWEVER...THEY COULD SEND A BACK DOOR COLD FRONT OR TWO SOUTHWARD THROUGH EASTERN NEW MEXICO. CANT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME SHOWERS ALONG AND EAST OF THE SANGRES WED OR THU IF THESE FRONTS BEAR ENOUGH MOISTURE AND IF ONE OF THESE NORTHERN ROCKIES TROUGHS CAN DROP FAR ENOUGH SOUTH. 44 && .AVIATION... MAIN CONCERN TODAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA WILL BE STRONG WINDS. EXPECT MOST AREAS TO RANGE FROM 25-40 KTS BY PEAK HEATING... WITH GUSTS APPROACHING 60 KTS. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE ACROSS THE WC/SW MTS AS WELL AS ALONG/EAST OF THE CENTRAL MTN CHAIN. THE STRONGEST SPEEDS SHOULD STRETCH FROM KLVS-KCQC-KSRR FROM 19Z-23Z. BLOWING DUST MAY RESTRICT VISIBILITIES...ESPECIALLY ALONG/EAST OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY...INCLUDING KABQ. SFC WINDS WILL BE SLOW TO DIMINISH THIS EVENING WITH A DIRECTIONAL SHIFT EXPECTED BEYOND 06Z IN THE NRN SECTIONS OF THE STATE AS A FRONT SLIDES INTO THE REGION. NEXT AVIATION DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR 21Z. DPORTER && .FIRE WEATHER... EXTREME CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP TODAY ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS...MIDDLE/LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND AREAS ALONG/EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN. OTHERWISE...THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST AREAS WILL EXPERIENCE RED FLAG CONDITIONS BELOW ANY SIGNIFICANT SNOWPACK...WHICH IS MAINLY CONFINED TO THE SAN JUANS AS WELL AS THE NRN SANGRES. WITHIN THE EXTREME AREA OUTLINED ABOVE... EXPECT MINIMUM HUMIDITIES TO DROP AOB 5 PERCENT COUPLED WITH WINDS RANGING FROM 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH...ESPECIALLY EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. SEE NO REASON TO ADJUST ONGOING HEADLINES AT THIS TIME. OBVIOUSLY VENTILATION RATES WILL BE EXCELLENT WITH A MODERATE TO HIGH HAINES ACROSS MUCH OF THE STATE. THERE COULD BE A CASE FOR SUPERHAINES CONDITIONS IN THE ERN PLAINS BY LATE AFTERNOON. CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY BLEED INTO THE EVENING PERIOD AS A COLD FRONT STARTS TO MIGRATE INTO THE NRN TIER OF THE STATE AROUND MIDNIGHT. THIS SFC FEATURE WILL BRING A WIND SHIFT IN ITS WAKE WITH MUCH NEEDED HUMIDITY RELIEF...THOUGH MORE PRONOUNCED WITH THE BACK DOOR ASPECT IN THE ERN PLAINS. MUCH COLDER AIR WILL INFILTRATE THE STATE TOMORROW WITH READINGS TEN TO AS MUCH AS 30 DEGREES COLDER... GENERALLY FROM SOUTH-NORTH RESPECTIVELY. THE BACK DOOR CONNECTION WILL REMAIN AT BAY SAT AFTERNOON AS ELEVATED WESTERLY WINDS LINGER ACROSS WRN/CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. SPEEDS WILL BE NOTABLY LOWER ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. A BRIEF PERIOD OF CRITICAL CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP NEAR CLINES CORNERS...THOUGH COOLER READINGS MAY CURTAIL THE THREAT. THE SURFACE BOUNDARY WILL ACCELERATE SOUTH/WEST SATURDAY EVENING... PUSHING THROUGH THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN. A STOUT CANYON BREEZE WILL DEVELOP WITH MUCH IMPROVED HUMIDITY RECOVERIES IN ITS WAKE. IT APPEARS MAX VALUES TONIGHT OF 25-40 PCT WILL BECOME 60-90 PCT NEAR DAYBREAK ON SUNDAY. SURFACE BOUNDARY WILL CONTINUE TO USHER IN COOLER/MORE MOIST AIR TO THE REGION ON SUNDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE 10-30 DEGREES BELOW EARLY MAY NORMALS. MEANWHILE...AN UPR LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL TRACK THROUGH THE GREAT BASIN AND TAKE AIM ON NEW MEXICO FOR SUNDAY. EXPECT ISOLD TO SCT PRECIP TO DEVELOP ACROSS MANY LOCALES WITH A MORE WIDESPREAD THREAT IN THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS...WHERE WETTING ACTIVITY IS A POSSIBILITY. SLIGHTLY WARMER FOR SUNDAY...BUT IT WILL STILL REMAIN WELL BELOW SEASONAL NORMALS. THIS PATTERN CHANGE WILL RESULT IN MIN HUMIDITIES RANGING FROM 15 PCT IN THE UPPER GILA REGION TO THE UPPER 50S IN THE NRN MOUNTAINS. VENTILATION RATES WILL TAKE A HIT SUNDAY... WITH THE LOWEST VALUES EXPECTED EITHER MONDAY OR TUESDAY. WEAK NORTHWEST TO ZONAL FLOW WILL DEVELOP BY MID-WEEK...LEADING TO A FAIRLY BENIGN FIRE WEATHER PATTERN ACROSS NEW MEXICO. MIN HUMIDITIES WILL RANGE FROM 10 TO 25 PERCENT HOWEVER SURFACE WINDS SHOULD REMAIN IN CHECK. DPORTER && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FARMINGTON...................... 78 29 52 21 / 0 0 5 5 DULCE........................... 70 22 49 18 / 0 0 5 20 CUBA............................ 74 24 53 18 / 0 0 5 10 GALLUP.......................... 74 25 52 13 / 0 0 5 0 EL MORRO........................ 70 26 52 16 / 0 0 5 0 GRANTS.......................... 75 27 58 22 / 0 0 5 5 QUEMADO......................... 77 34 61 24 / 0 0 0 0 GLENWOOD........................ 89 45 74 35 / 0 0 0 0 CHAMA........................... 67 22 45 16 / 0 5 5 20 LOS ALAMOS...................... 74 32 60 19 / 0 0 5 20 PECOS........................... 75 33 56 25 / 0 0 5 20 CERRO/QUESTA.................... 70 28 52 21 / 0 0 10 30 RED RIVER....................... 61 29 43 15 / 0 5 10 40 ANGEL FIRE...................... 66 28 48 18 / 0 0 20 40 TAOS............................ 74 29 56 23 / 0 0 10 30 MORA............................ 74 31 54 23 / 0 0 10 30 ESPANOLA........................ 80 35 65 28 / 0 0 5 20 SANTA FE........................ 76 33 59 28 / 0 0 5 20 SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 79 34 62 28 / 0 0 5 20 ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 83 39 67 35 / 0 0 5 10 ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 84 43 67 37 / 0 0 5 10 ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 87 44 70 35 / 0 0 5 10 ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 86 42 68 35 / 0 0 5 10 LOS LUNAS....................... 88 42 72 34 / 0 0 5 10 RIO RANCHO...................... 85 40 68 36 / 0 0 5 10 SOCORRO......................... 91 48 79 40 / 0 0 5 5 SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 81 36 65 29 / 0 0 5 10 TIJERAS......................... 83 36 67 30 / 0 0 5 10 MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 81 38 65 35 / 0 0 5 10 CLINES CORNERS.................. 78 40 61 24 / 0 0 5 20 GRAN QUIVIRA.................... 83 43 70 37 / 0 0 5 10 CARRIZOZO....................... 86 48 76 43 / 0 0 5 5 RUIDOSO......................... 80 51 65 35 / 0 0 5 10 CAPULIN......................... 78 34 50 22 / 0 5 20 50 RATON........................... 81 36 58 26 / 0 5 20 50 SPRINGER........................ 84 37 62 29 / 0 0 10 40 LAS VEGAS....................... 80 40 59 25 / 0 0 5 30 CLAYTON......................... 85 40 56 29 / 0 5 20 50 ROY............................. 85 42 60 31 / 0 0 10 40 CONCHAS......................... 93 47 71 37 / 0 0 5 30 SANTA ROSA...................... 91 49 73 39 / 0 0 5 20 TUCUMCARI....................... 94 48 72 35 / 0 0 5 30 CLOVIS.......................... 91 47 74 37 / 0 0 5 20 PORTALES........................ 92 47 77 40 / 0 0 5 20 FORT SUMNER..................... 93 49 79 38 / 0 0 5 20 ROSWELL......................... 98 55 87 48 / 0 0 5 10 PICACHO......................... 92 52 79 43 / 0 0 5 10 ELK............................. 86 54 73 42 / 0 0 5 10 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... NMZ502-505-506-512>515-521>524-526>529-531>533-539. RED FLAG WARNING FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ103-104-107-108. RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ101-102-106. WIND ADVISORY FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... NMZ501-503-504-507>511-516>520-525-530-534>538-540. RED FLAG WARNING FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ105-109. && 44/46
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 557 AM MDT FRI APR 29 2011 NMZ501>540-301200- NORTHWEST PLATEAU-CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS- NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS- WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS- SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS- WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET- EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY- LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-SANTA FE METRO AREA-ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA- LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-ESTANCIA VALLEY- CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY- SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA- FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-UNION COUNTY- HARDING COUNTY-EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY-GUADALUPE COUNTY- QUAY COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY- CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY-SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY- 557 AM MDT FRI APR 29 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WEST AND SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST FROM 45 TO 65 MPH WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS EXPECTED IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN. WIDESPREAD CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS CENTRAL AND WESTERN AREAS...WITH EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED ALONG AND EAST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN. PLEASE REVIEW THE LATEST HIGH WARNINGS...WIND ADVISORIES AND RED FLAG WARNING FOR MORE DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AN UNSEASONABLY COLD WEATHER SYSTEM WILL CROSS NEW MEXICO SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES WILL IMPACT THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND NORTHEAST PLAINS SUNDAY AND MONDAY...WHEN THESE LOCATIONS MAY ONLY FEEL HIGHS VARYING FROM THE 20S TO THE 40S. SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...LOW TEMPERATURES WILL DROP TO FREEZING IN MANY LOWER ELEVATION LOCATIONS. A BRISK EAST CANYON WIND WILL DEVELOP IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY SATURDAY NIGHT...WITH GUSTS POTENTIALLY REACHING 45 MPH IN ALBUQUERQUE. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL ALSO SPREAD OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO WITH THE SYSTEM AS UPSLOPE FLOW DEVELOPS ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS. PARTS OF THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS MAY ACCUMULATE AROUND A FOOT OF SNOW BY MONDAY...WITH A FEW TO SEVERAL INCHES POSSIBLE IN THE UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS...AND LIGHTER AMOUNTS ELSEWHERE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ACROSS THE NORTHEAST PLAINS. WEATHER CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST FORECASTS... WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. 44
10 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A peak wind gust of 64 was also recorded at the Las Vegas ASOS at 1243 pm MST.
The Sierra Blanca Airport reported a sustained wind of at least 44 mph for one solid hour. A peak wind gust of 67 mph was also recorded at 135 pm MST. Sustained winds |of 40 mph or greater and peak wind gusts of 58 mph or greater occurred nearly continuously between 1055 am and 255 pm MST.
A wind gust of 60 mph was estimated by a trained spotter near Conchas Dam.
Wind damage and power outages occurred on the Zuni Pueblo when a trampoline was blown into power lines.
The 74 mph peak wind gust was recorded at a schoolnet site.
The location of the high sustained winds was 6 miles WNW of Sandia Park.
The CSBF Transwestern Pump mesonet station reported a peak wind gust of 62 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, April 2011
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: 287731, 287738, 287732, 287733, 287734, 287735, 287736, 287737, 287740, 287739.