A potent jet stream moving over New Mexico on December 13, 2019 produced strong northwest winds along the east slopes of the central mountain chain. Areas from near Angel Fire south to Las Vegas, Clines Corners, and Corona reported wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph.
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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 potent jet stream moving over New Mexico on December 13, 2019 produced strong northwest winds along the east slopes of the central mountain chain. Areas from near Angel Fire south to Las Vegas, Clines Corners, and Corona reported wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph. The strongest winds however impacted Lincoln County where gusts near 60 mph occurred during the late morning hours. An observer near Arabela estimated peak wind gusts near 70 mph toppled an old oak tree on his property. No other damage was reported across the area.
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 Dec 13, 9:36 AM MST, 54 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 936 AM MST Fri Dec 13 2019 .UPDATE... Quick 1st period forecast update to increase wind speeds in the south central mountains and add that zone to the wind advisory. KSRR currently hitting gusts up to 40kts and latest guidance came in with slightly higher speeds for today. Otherwise, forecast on track. New suite of products out shortly. 11 && .PREV DISCUSSION...452 AM MST Fri Dec 13 2019... .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE Strong northwest winds will develop along east slopes of the central mt chain thru 22Z today. Gusts up to 40 kt are likely in the area from near Clines Corners to Santa Rosa and Corona. Winds will taper off quickly by sunset. Meanwhile, mid level clouds will continue over northwest NM where moisture begins increasing ahead of the next storm system for Saturday. Guyer && .PREV DISCUSSION...332 AM MST Fri Dec 13 2019... .SYNOPSIS... The recent warming trend will continue today into Saturday most places. Saturday through Sunday evening will feature snow mainly in the mountains north of I-40, where several inches to near a foot are possible. Lighter amounts up to an inch or so will be possible at lower elevations around Taos, Farmington, Cuba and Gallup with the passage of a Pacific cold front late Sunday and Sunday night. Breezy to windy conditions will also develop today through Sunday, especially in the mountains and across eastern areas. The strongest winds may occur Saturday night into Sunday when gusts may reach 60 mph in the mountains and near 55 mph at lower elevations along the east slopes of the central mountain chain. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY)... 10Z surface obs show winds increasing along the lee of the central mt chain as a potent jet stream approaches from the Great Basin. Confidence on the near-term wind forecast was only moderate given trends toward a weaker surface pressure gradient over the eastern plains on latest model guidance. A core of 50kt 700mb winds on the 00Z HREF and 03Z SREF stretched from the southern Sangre de Cristos thru Torrance, Guadalupe, and eastern Lincoln counties. A Wind Adv has been issued for this area however expansion may be needed. A very dry, weak surface high will build south down the Front Range tonight which will allow winds to taper off quickly by sunset. Winds aloft will back more westerly Saturday and decrease with rising pressure heights. Winds will remain breezy areawide and temps will trend a few degrees warmer. 700-500mb layer moisture will begin increasing over northern NM ahead of the next upper wave taking shape over the western U.S. Light snow will develop Saturday along west facing slopes of the northern mts with only very light accums expected before 19Z. Pushed back the start time of the Winter Storm Watch for the Tusas Mts since the main impact window will be later into Saturday. GUYER LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY)... A cooling trend will occur Sunday through Tuesday as deeper upper level trough crosses northern NM from the west. Snow will increase in coverage and intensity across northern and west central areas Saturday night through Sunday, then decrease in coverage and intensity Sunday night as drier air moves in from the west. The snow level will probably drop near 6500 feet by Sunday morning, then lift lift some Sunday afternoon, before dropping to valley bottoms as precipitation decreases Sunday night. The northern mountains should receive storm total snow accumulations (Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening) of several inches, with the greatest amounts near 1 foot in the Tusas mountains. Lower elevations around Taos, Farmington, Cuba and Gallup may accumulate an inch or so. In addition, strong winds will cause the snow to blow and drift across the mountains. The jet stream will linger over the area Saturday night through Sunday evening. The core of the jet streak will cross Saturday night into Sunday morning with 700 mb winds around 60 KT along the central mountain chain. Gusts over 60 mph will be possible on mountain peaks. Lower elevation gusts should peak from 40 to 55 mph Sunday (except across far northeast areas where winds will be weaker on Sunday behind a back door cold front). Precipitation will diminish by Monday, but high temperatures will continue to fall in the wake of Pacific and back door cold fronts that will cross late Sunday and Sunday night. Highs will bottom out Monday around 5 to 15 degrees below normal. A second upper level trough with little or no precipitation will clip northeast NM in northwest flow aloft Monday night, enabling temperatures to cool a bit further in many places on Tuesday. Then, a ridge of high pressure will cross the state from the west Tuesday night through Wednesday with warmer temperatures. Models are in disagreement on whether an upper level trough will cross with a chance of precipitation Thursday and Thursday night. The current forecast grids trend toward the drier ECMWF and Canadian Model runs. 44 && .FIRE WEATHER... Strong northwest winds will impact parts of eastern NM today however humidity will remain above critical thresholds. Temps will trend a couple degrees warmer today with excellent ventilation. Saturday will be similar to today but with slightly lighter winds and higher humidity and warmer temps. The next winter system will move into northern NM Saturday night through Sunday night with moderate snow accums along west facing slopes. Significantly colder temps will arrive in the wake of this system Monday through Wednesday. Vent rates will deteriorate to poor for most areas. Guyer && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Watch from Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening for the following zones... NMZ210. Wind Advisory until 4 PM MST this afternoon for the following zones... NMZ223-233-239. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 434 AM MST Fri Dec 13 2019 NMZ201>241-141200- Northwest Plateau-Chuska Mountains-Far Northwest Highlands- Northwest Highlands-West Central Plateau-West Central Mountains- West Central Highlands-Southwest Mountains- San Francisco River Valley-Tusas Mountains Including Chama- Jemez Mountains-Glorieta Mesa Including Glorieta Pass- Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains- Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains- East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Upper Rio Grande Valley- Espanola Valley-Santa Fe Metro Area- Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area- Lower Rio Grande Valley-Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood- Estancia Valley-Central Highlands-South Central Highlands- Upper Tularosa Valley-South Central Mountains- Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass- 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- San Agustin Plains and Adjacent Lowlands- 434 AM MST Fri Dec 13 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Northwest winds will become breezy to windy. The strongest winds may reach near 50 mph from the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains southward to eastern Lincoln County. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening, accumulating snow will occur in the mountains north of I-40. Several inches to over a foot of new snow will be possible with the heaviest amounts in the Tusas Mountains. The potential exists for lighter snow amounts up to an inch at lower elevations around Taos, Cuba, Farmington and Gallup mainly as a Pacific cold front crosses late Sunday and Sunday night. In addition, west and southwest winds will be breezy to windy through the weekend, causing the snow to blow and drift in the mountains. The high terrain of the central mountain chain may experience gusts over 60 mph Saturday night into Sunday, when wind chill readings will bottom out in the single digits and teens in the northern mountains. Lower elevations should experience their strongest winds on Sunday, when gusts may reach up to 55 mph along the east slopes of the central mountain chain and onto the adjacent high plains. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. 44
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Sierra Blanca regional airport reported peak wind gusts up to 59 mph periodically for a couple hours.
Peak wind gusts estimated at 70 mph toppled an old oak tree six inches from the base.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, December 2019
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: 860199, 860198.