A series of fast-moving upper level troughs crossed the southern Rockies and delivered the strongest round of winds to New Mexico on the 23rd. A deep surface low pressure center over the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles and a potent upper level jet stream over New Mexico focused strong west winds over much of the central high terrain and eastern plains.
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 series of fast-moving upper level troughs crossed the southern Rockies and delivered the strongest round of winds to New Mexico on the 23rd. A deep surface low pressure center over the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles and a potent upper level jet stream over New Mexico focused strong west winds over much of the central high terrain and eastern plains. Sustained winds in many areas of eastern New Mexico averaged 40 to 45 mph while wind gusts peaked around 60 mph. A mobile home was blown off a flat bed truck while being transported along U.S. Highway 60 near Magdalena. Blowing dust from White Sands National Monument was captured for the first time by the new GOES-16 satellite.
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 23, 4:52 AM MST, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 452 AM MST Thu Feb 23 2017 .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE Strong winds will be the main hazard today. West winds will increase rapidly aft 14Z and peak from 17Z to 22Z as a cold front races thru NM. An aviation weather warning for gusts to 35kt is likely at KABQ, with potential for gusts near 40kt around 20Z. Strongest wind gusts up to 55kt will focus from KLVS to KTCC. Winds will shift toward the northwest around sunset then taper off thru 07Z. Guyer && .PREV DISCUSSION...301 AM MST Thu Feb 23 2017... ...VERY STRONG WINDS AND CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE... .SYNOPSIS... An upper level low pressure system will pass just north of New Mexico today, steering the jet stream overhead with very strong southwest winds. Gusts will reach over 60 mph at times from the central mountain chain eastward, and up to 50 mph as far west as the continental divide. There will be widespread fire weather concerns across the east this afternoon, and as far west as the middle Rio Grande Valley. A Pacific cold front will also cross triggering some showers over the northern mountains and causing high temperatures to plummet 7 to 17 degrees below Wednesday's readings. In the wake of the exiting system temperatures will drop another 3 to 21 degrees on Friday, and wind gusts in the 40 to 50 mph range will linger across the east with more fire weather concern. After warmer and less windy weather Saturday, an upper level trough will cross New Mexico from the west during the latter half of the weekend, and another one will do the same early next week. This will keep a chance for showers in the forecast mainly along and west of the central mountain chain, with periods of breezy to windy conditions and more fire weather hazards across the east. && .DISCUSSION... The 700 mb flow is forecast to bring a broad swath of 45-70 kt winds across the southeastern 2/3 of the forecast area today, where surface winds are expected to be the strongest. Surface winds at the lowest elevations will decouple from the stronger flow aloft around sunset, but breezy to windy conditions will return to much of the east on Friday as the tail end of the jet stream lingers overhead. Another couple of upper level troughs will cross from the west late this weekend and early next week keeping brisk flow aloft over New Mexico. Daily rounds of breezy to windy conditions are expected. Since periods of accumulating precipitation are also expected along and west of the central mountain chain, the main area for critical fire weather potential will be across the east each day. The heaviest and most widespread precipitation will probably occur Monday night and Tuesday, when 700 mb temperatures in the -6 to -10 may result in a few to several inches of snow in the northern and western mountains. 44 && .FIRE WEATHER... An active pattern will continue the next couple days with widespread critical fire wx conditions expected today for central and eastern NM. An upper wave moving quickly east through the central Rockies will force a potent dry slot and associated jet streak over NM. A deepening surface low over southeastern CO will develop a strong pressure gradient beneath the dry slot and generate widespread gusts of 50 to 60 mph. An area of extreme critical conditions is expected over eastern NM with moderate instability and above normal temps. Critical conditions will also develop within the Rio Grande Valley. Flow aloft will become northwest tonight behind the departing wave and usher in much cooler air compared to the past several days. The airmass will remain very dry however due to cold advection and less instability the main area of critical conditions will focus over the east central plains Friday. Hoisted a fire weather watch for Friday over parts of eastern NM. Windy conditions and low humidities will occur across much of the remainder of central and eastern NM however temps will be below normal and instability too limited. Nonetheless, these areas should still be considered for a fire weather watch from later forecast shifts. A weak northeast to easterly wind shift will move into the eastern plains Saturday morning but quickly mix out Saturday afternoon. Very dry conditions will persist and marginal critical conditions are possible again by late day across eastern NM. High temps will trend several degrees warmer but still remain slightly below normal while haines generally remain low. The next upper wave is shown to cross northern NM Sunday with more wind for central and southern areas and perhaps increasing precip chances across the north. This overall progressive pattern is likely to continue through early next week with daily rounds of wind and potential for critical conditions across eastern NM. High temps in this pattern will remain near to below normal across central and western NM. Guyer && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 5 PM MST this afternoon for the following zones... NMZ507-508-512>514-516-518>520-525. High Wind Warning from 9 AM this morning to 5 PM MST this afternoon for the following zones... NMZ515-521>524-526>540. Red Flag Warning from noon today to 7 PM MST this evening for the following zones... NMZ103-104-106>108. Fire Weather Watch from Friday morning through Friday afternoon for the following zones... NMZ108. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 448 AM MST Thu Feb 23 2017 NMZ501>540-241200- 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- 448 AM MST Thu Feb 23 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Hazardous winds will strengthen and become more widespread today, and directions will shift out of the west with a Pacific cold front. Gusts from 40 to 50 are expected east of the continental divide, except around 60 mph along and east of the central mountain chain. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from the central mountain chain eastward, and also for the middle Rio Grande Valley, due to strong winds, low humidities, above normal temperatures and an unstable atmosphere. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Hazardous northwest winds should return Friday, when gusts may again reach 50 mph along the central mountain chain and across the east central plains. Critical fire weather conditions may also redevelop across the east central plains due to strong wind and low humidity. Breezy to windy conditions will redevelop in some areas each day Sunday through Tuesday. The east central plains has the potential for daily rounds of critical fire weather conditions. The strongest winds could reach 50 mph along and just east of the south central mountains on Sunday, then along and east of the central mountain chain Tuesday. An upper level trough crossing from the west could produce a few to several inches of snow accumulation in the San Juan Mountains Saturday night and Sunday. A stronger upper level trough will cross New Mexico from the west on Monday night and Tuesday with the potential for a few to several inches of snow accumulation in the northern and western mountains. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. 44
14 high wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Kachina Peak at Taos Ski Valley reported a peak wind gust to 69 mph at 7am MST.
The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility Transwestern Pump station reported a peak wind gust to 62 mph with sustained winds of 46 mph.
A public weather station near Miami reported sustained winds of 42 mph for just over two hours.
Clines Corners reported a peak wind gust to 59 mph with sustained winds of 41 mph.
Sierra Blanca Regional Airport reported a peak wind gust to 61 mph.
A public weather station six miles north of Tecolotito topped out at 68 mph. The Las Vegas Municipal Airport reported a peak wind gust to 63 mph.
A public weather station near Stanley reported sustained winds of 43 mph for two hours.
A public weather station on the Deer Canyon Preserve west of Gran Quivira reported sustained winds to 41 mph for an hour.
The Dora mesonet station reported sustained winds to 43 mph.
The Clovis Landfill weather station reported sustained winds to 42 mph for over an hour.
The Roswell Industrial Airpark reported a peak wind gust to 58 mph. A public weather station south of Mesa reported a peak wind gust to 61 mph.
NMDOT reported that a mobile home was blown off a trailer from strong cross winds while in transport along U.S. Highway 60 between Socorro and Magdalena.
Peak wind gust to 64 mph at the top of Sandia Peak Tram.
Peak sustained winds to 44 mph at Sedan.
Tucumcari Municipal Airport reported sustained winds between 40 and 46 mph for several hours. A peak wind gust to 59 mph was also reported.
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, February 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: 671539, 671541, 671540, 671544, 671542, 671545, 671543, 671546, 671549, 671547, 671548, 672679, 672682, 672681, 672680.