A fast-moving cold frontal boundary shifting south and west across eastern New Mexico slammed through gaps in the central mountains around 8pm on October 15th. The combination of a strong pressure gradient at the surface and deep easterly flow from the surface to mountain top level allowed for a partial spill over event on the east side of the Albuquerque metro area.
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 fast-moving cold frontal boundary shifting south and west across eastern New Mexico slammed through gaps in the central mountains around 8pm on October 15th. The combination of a strong pressure gradient at the surface and deep easterly flow from the surface to mountain top level allowed for a partial spill over event on the east side of the Albuquerque metro area. Peak winds topped out near 65 mph from the foothills to the Sunport. Several trees, power lines, business signs, and fences were downed across the area. Blowing dust and sand reduced visibilities to near 5 miles. Dangerous crosswinds impacted Interstate 25.
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 Oct 15, 4:51 PM MST, 4 hours 24 minutes earlier.
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</html>2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Peak wind gust to 66 mph at 1149pm MDT. Sustained winds peaked at 52 mph. Numerous trees and powerlines down across the east side. Unofficial site within Embudo Canyon peaked at 68 mph.
Mesonet sites across White Sands Missile Range peaked between 60 mph and 71 mph. No damage was observed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, October 2015
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 599258, 599259.