An upper level trough racing eastward with a sharp Pacific cold front produced strong west winds along and east of the central mountain chain. S.
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.
An upper level trough racing eastward with a sharp Pacific cold front produced strong west winds along and east of the central mountain chain. The strongest winds impacted the area along the U.S. Highway 84 corridor from near Las Vegas to Tecolotito where peak wind gusts up to 68 mph were reported.
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 9, 4:41 AM MST, 4 hours 49 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 541 AM MDT Sun Apr 9 2017 .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE VFR conditions are expected through the next 24 hours at all TAF sites, although brief visibilty reductions to 5 miles in blowing dust are possible at KLVS, KTCC and KROW this afternoon. A Pacific front is sweeping from west to east across the state this morning. Winds will become more persistently strong from the central mountains to the TX border from late morning through the afternoon. Gusts around 40 kt at KLVS and KTCC, 25 kt to 30 kt at the other TAF sites. && .PREV DISCUSSION...407 AM MDT Sun Apr 9 2017... .SYNOPSIS... Breezy to windy conditions are expected with fire weather concerns along and east of the central mountain chain today, as an upper level trough passing north of New Mexico steers the jet stream overhead. Cooler air will also funnel into the state from the west today, but high temperatures will then trend upward during the first half of the work week. Daily rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected along and east of the central mountain chain Tuesday evening through the end of the work week as an upper level low pressure system over the Pacific Northwest draws low level moisture into New Mexico from the south and southeast. Some of this moisture could spark storms as far west as the continental divide around mid week. An upper level trough may interact with this moisture to produce strong to severe storms across portions of eastern New Mexico Wednesday afternoon. && .DISCUSSION... The upper trough passing north of NM will funnel cooler air into the state today. High temperatures will fall around 7 to 17 degrees below Saturday's readings. Will issue a Wind Advisory for the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and east central areas today, where wind gusts should reach 45 to 50 mph. Weaker winds are expected in the wake of the upper level trough on Monday, despite the development of roughly zonal flow aloft. An upper level low pressure system should begin to draw moist low level return flow into the east as early as Monday and Monday night. The moisture should become rich enough for showers and thunderstorms to break out by Tuesday night. Some storms may form as far west as the Continental Divide, though the moisture will be less rich there. An upper level trough will cross the forecast area from the west Wednesday and Wednesday night, then another upper trough should pass north of the state Thursday night and Friday. These systems will interact with the moisture to invigorate thunderstorm activity over eastern New Mexico. The Wednesday system will also increase shear and provide the lift needed for at least a few strong to severe storms. Wetting precipitation is unlikely with the mid week storms that manage to fire from the Continental Divide to the central mountain chain. However, storms along and east of the central mountain chain may accumulate over a half inch of rain, especially near the eastern border of NM. Drier and gustier air will move over the state from the southwest in the wake of Thursday's upper level trough, whisking much of the moisture to the east by Friday and Saturday. 44 && .FIRE WEATHER... ...Critical fire weather conditions across the east today... One more day of combined strong winds, low humidities, an unstable atmosphere and near to above normal temperatures for the east today as an upper level trough and surface cold front sweep across the state. We will continue the Red Flag Warning with no changes. We will issue a wind advisory for some north central, northeast and east central zones from late this morning through the afternoon. Single digit minimum relative humidities will be the rule across the southern tier of zones, with teens in the north, except 20s in the northern mountains. Moderate to high Haines across the south and east. It will be cooler in the west with below normal temperatures and moderate breezes, but not as strong as Saturday. Winds subside quickly tonight with drier and cooler air overtaking the state. A back door cold front will enter the northeast early tonight and spread south and west. It may seep into the RGV around daybreak Monday. A nice start to the week with a decent amount of sunshine and less wind than today. Highs will be near to a little below normal. An east wind into the RGV is likely Monday night. Significant changes are forecast for the rest of the work week. A persistent southeast wind will bring in much higher surface dewpoints starting Monday night and Tuesday, with the best surge Tuesday night and Wednesday across the east. Showers and thunderstorms still expected to erupt Tuesday night and Wednesday from the central mountain peaks to the TX border. Some modest increase in dewpoints from the Continental Divide to the RGV may produce isolated convection Tuesday night and Wednesday, although dry lightning is possible in the RGV Tuesday evening before dewpoints increase too much. A short wave trough will reach NM Wednesday, then it will deepen and slow a little Wednesday night and Thursday, with the most widespread convection likely during this time. A drying trend for Friday and Saturday as drier air moves in behind another short wave zipping by to our north. Isolated convection for the east Friday, then dry weather for Saturday. Return flow moisture Sunday may spark some more showers and storms in the east. CHJ CHJ && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ103-104-107-108. Wind Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 6 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ512>515-523-527>529-531>534. && 40
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 401 AM MDT Sun Apr 9 2017 NMZ501>540-101015- 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 Cristos above 9500 feet/Red River- Southern Sangre de Cristos above 9500 feet- East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Upper Rio Grande Valley- Lower Chama River Valley-Santa Fe Metro Area- Middle Rio Grande Valley/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- 401 AM MDT Sun Apr 9 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight An upper level trough passing north of New Mexico will steer the jet stream overhead with wind gusts up to 50 mph across the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, northeast areas except Union County, and east central areas. West winds should remain strong enough elsewhere for critical fire weather conditions along and east of the central mountain chain. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday The potential exists for some strong to severe thunderstorms across the eastern plains Wednesday afternoon. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required Wednesday afternoon for portions of the east central plains due to the potential for severe thunderstorms. 44
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A public weather station near Tecolotito reported a peak wind gust to 68 mph. The Las Vegas airport reported a peak wind gust to 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, April 2017
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: 679336.