A fast-moving trough of low pressure passing north of New Mexico on April 8th spread strong west to northwest winds across much of the region. Widespread wind gusts between 45 mph and 55 mph were reported over northern and central New Mexico.
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 trough of low pressure passing north of New Mexico on April 8th spread strong west to northwest winds across much of the region. Widespread wind gusts between 45 mph and 55 mph were reported over northern and central New Mexico. The strongest winds were reported along the east slopes of the central mountain chain where peak wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph occurred. Blowing dust was also reported with this event especially in dust prone locations, including near dry arroyo beds along 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 Apr 8, 4:42 AM MST, 2 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 542 AM MDT Sun Apr 8 2018 .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE Showers with isolated thunder continues between KFMN and KSKX this morning where strong and erratic wind gusts are possible along with mountain obscurations. Otherwise, winds will be the big aviation weather impact today, with frequent gusts to between 35 and 45kts. An airport weather warning for gusts to between 35-40kts at KABQ will likely be required. Some visibility limitations possible in blowing dust at KTCC behind a backdoor cold front this afternoon. 11 && .PREV DISCUSSION...339 AM MDT Sun Apr 8 2018... .SYNOPSIS... A weak storm system crossing Colorado this morning will bring some light rain and elevation snow to the northern mountains through early afternoon and the far northeast plains this afternoon. The main effect of the storm will be to generate strong northwest winds across the entire region. Weak surface high pressure will move across northern and central New Mexico Monday behind the departing storm with cooler temperatures. A backdoor cold front will move across the eastern plains Monday afternoon to near the central mountains by Tuesday morning, bringing a reinforcement of cooler air to the eastern plains and adjacent highlands. High pressure and warmer temperatures are expected Wednesday, as strong high pressure aloft moves across the region. A large Pacific storm will move across the Great Basin Thursday, bringing strong winds to northern and central New Mexico. As the storm tracks north of New Mexico Friday, strong winds behind a strong Pacific cold front will usher much cooler air into the area. && .DISCUSSION... As a weak storm moves across southern and central CO today, light rain and high elevation snow will continue across the northern mountains through early afternoon and some light rain showers will fall across the far northeast plains this afternoon. Deepening surface low pressure in far eastern NM and West TX combined with a Pacific cold front will bring strong northwest winds to most of the area. Wind advisories are in effect for much of northern and central NM today, and low humidity and strong winds will create critical fire weather conditions in all areas, except for north central NM. Skies will clear this evening and winds will diminish after midnight, allowing low temperatures to fall to near to slightly above normal. Northwest flow aloft on Monday will provide dry and cooler weather to the state. A backdoor cold front will move into the northeast plains Monday afternoon and progress southwestward to the central mountains early Tuesday morning. This reinforcing shot of cooler air will keep high temperatures near to slightly below normal across the far eastern plains, while highs will be above normal across central areas and well above normal across western areas. Large high pressure aloft and significant mid level warming of the atmosphere Wednesday will bring highs up to 10 to 15 degrees above normal. A large and potent storm system will cross the Great Basin Thursday and Thursday night. Stronger winds aloft ahead of this system and a very deep surface low in eastern CO will produce windy conditions across most of northern and central NM. Widespread critical fire weather conditions will be likely Thursday afternoon and evening. Strong surface pressure gradients could keep strong winds going overnight Thursday. As the storm lifts northeastward into CO Friday, a strong Pacific cold front will bring well below normal temperatures to western NM and below temperatures to the rest of the state. && .FIRE WEATHER... ...WIDESPREAD CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY... ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER PATTERN DEVELOPING MID TO LATE WEEK WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THURSDAY... Strong winds are developing across the area as a potent shortwave trough moves across the Rockies. Although currently relatively moist, significant drying is forecast later today behind the exiting shortwave trough, with widespread critical fire weather conditions expected. Only the higher elevations of the northern mountains and the far eastern plains will be spared from critical fire weather conditions today. Moderate northwest flow and decent mixing with daytime heating will create elevated fire weather conditions Monday, mainly east of the Central Mountain Chain. A critical fire weather pattern will develop mid to late week thanks to the approach and passage of a potent Pacific trough and cold front. By Wednesday, dry and unstable conditions will prevail with increasing potential for critical fire weather conditions, especially across the eastern plains/highlands. Thursday still looks to be the big event as a lee side trough deepens to near 983mb across eastern Colorado and the jet stream moves directly over the Four Corners. Strong to potentially damaging winds will combine with an extremely dry and unstable atmosphere to produce many hours of critical to extreme fire weather conditions across the area Thursday. The Pacific cold front will move through Thursday night, but strong northwest flow will persist through Friday with more critical fire weather conditions despite some cold air advection. A much more stable atmosphere with lighter winds will prevail in the wake of the system by Saturday. 11 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from noon today to 9 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ101-103>109. Wind Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ506>508-510>515-518-519-521-522-524-526-528-531>537-539. High Wind Warning from 9 AM this morning to 8 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ523-529. && 28
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 524 AM MDT Sun Apr 8 2018 NMZ501>540-091100- 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- 524 AM MDT Sun Apr 8 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Strong west to northwest winds today combined with low afternoon relative humidity will bring critical fire weather conditions to much of northern and central New Mexico. High wind warnings are in effect for the Central and Northeast Highlands and wind advisories are in effect for the Southwest Mountains, the West Central Mountains the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and much of the area to the east. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Above normal temperatures, low humidity and breezy conditions Wednesday afternoon will bring the threat of critical fire weather conditions to the east central plains. Continued warm temperatures, low humidity and strong southwest winds Thursday will likely produce critical fire weather conditions and wind warnings or advisories and across the entire area. At this time, it appears possible that critical fire weather conditions may persist across much of northern and central Friday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. 28
5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A public weather station near Tecolotito reported peak sustained winds periodically between 40 mph and 48 mph for several hours.
The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility Transwestern Pump Station reported peak sustained winds between 40 mph and 51 mph for several hours.
The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility Transwestern Pump Station reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 65 mph.
Clines Corners reported periodic wind gusts between 58 mph and 62 mph for several hours.
Clines Corners reported peak sustained winds up to 40 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, April 2018
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: 739468, 739465, 739466, 739464, 739462.