An upper level storm system over the Great Basin forced strong southwest winds aloft over New Mexico on May 17, 2019. Deepening surface low pressure over eastern New Mexico combined with stronger winds aloft to produce widespread strong southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
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 storm system over the Great Basin forced strong southwest winds aloft over New Mexico on May 17, 2019. Deepening surface low pressure over eastern New Mexico combined with stronger winds aloft to produce widespread strong southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. A localized wind gust up to 58 mph was reported at the Smokey Bears RAWS southwest of Ruidoso.
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 May 17, 10:11 AM MST, 1 hour 44 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1111 AM MDT Fri May 17 2019 .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE Upper trough and associated cold front to sweep over nrn and central NM before 18/03Z. A second fast moving trough will swing from west to east over NM between 18/03Z-18/15Z. Sct showers and isold tstms with occasional mt obscurations and brief MVFR cigs/vsbys will be most likely over the nw and north central mts before 21Z and again between 18/03Z and 18/15Z. Swly wind gusts of 30 to 40 kt will be widespread, especially across ern NM before 18/03Z. Winds to become nwly aft 18/12Z and strengthen with gusts to around 40kt mainly along and south of Interstate 40 and east of Interstate 25. && .PREV DISCUSSION...330 AM MDT Fri May 17 2019... .SYNOPSIS... A more typical spring pattern of breezy to windy conditions will continue for at least the next week as a few storm systems bring showers, thunderstorms and mountain snow showers mainly to western and northern parts of the state. Southwest wind gusts to 50 mph are expected today along and northeast of the central mountain chain. Wind gusts may again reach 50 mph across the south central mountains and portions of the eastern plains on Monday. Monday night, accumulating snow will be possible in the northern mountains above 8500 feet. After a cool start to the coming work week, temperatures will rebound through mid week, but an approaching storm system may keep precipitation in the forecast across the northwest third of the state. && .DISCUSSION... A broad upper level low pressure system passing eastward over the northern and central Rockies will steer one shortwave trough northeastward across NW NM today, then another one eastward along the CO/NM border tonight and Saturday. These will trigger showers, thunderstorms and high terrain snow showers across the northwest third of the forecast area today and tonight, then the focus will shift to the northern mountains and northeast plains near the CO border on Saturday. A moderate speed maximum in the polar jet will also cross NM today, and a ~986 mb surface low will develop in eastern CO, causing surface winds to strengthen. Gusts will reach 50 mph along and just east of the central mountain chain, and also across the northeast and east central plains in the afternoon. A Pacific cold front will cross tonight with northwest winds gusting generally in the 30 to 40 mph range on Saturday (Clines Corners will probably hit 50 mph). Breezy to windy conditions will return each day Sunday through Thursday as a deep longwave trough churns over the western US; however, the location of stronger winds over NM will vary each day with the timing and track of shortwave troughs rotating through the broader longwave pattern. Models are in better agreement now on an upper level low pressure system tracking eastward along the CO/NM border Monday through Monday night. The approaching system may draw a convectively active dryline westward over the far eastern plains Sunday night, then eastward across the same area Monday with the potential for some strong to severe thunderstorms. Meanwhile, the system will spread showers, thunderstorms and high terrain snow showers over much of western and northern NM Monday and Monday night. There could be some snow accumulation in the northern mountains mainly above 8500 feet as 700 mb temps drop to around -2C. Winds aloft will strengthen ahead of the system on Monday with gusts to 50 mph possible across southern areas and potentially parts of the east. After a cool start to the week, temperatures will rebound in the west Tuesday, then farther east as well Wednesday and Thursday. Models suggest another broad upper level low pressure system will approach NM from the west during the middle to latter half of the week, spreading more precipitation across western and northern areas. However, there is strong model disagreement on the timing and track of the upper low. 44 && .FIRE WEATHER... A progressive weather pattern is in store with several upper level troughs to impact the area through the end of next week. The first system will move into the Four Corners region today with windy and dry southwest winds for much of NM. Temperatures will be well above normal over eastern NM with several hours of humidity below 15% and strong winds. However, critical fire weather will likely be limited by only moderate instability and green up over the area. Meanwhile, a strong cold front will be moving into western NM later today with much colder temperatures for Saturday. Strong northwest winds will impact areas along and east of the central mt chain Saturday but temperatures will turn 10 to 15 degrees below normal. Winds will become southwest again Sunday ahead of the next system approaching from the west. Several hours of critical conditions are possible over eastern NM with temperatures rebounding closer to normal. Monday will be cooler and windier with widespread strong south to southwest winds. More critical conditions are possible over eastern NM. Showers and storms are expected over the Four Corners region and northern high terrain Monday and Monday night. Winds will turn westerly Tuesday and remain strong over the area with below normal temperatures continuing. A near repeat is in store Wednesday and Thursday as yet another storm system approaches the Four Corners region. Guyer && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 7 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ523-526>534-539-540. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 430 AM MDT Fri May 17 2019 NMZ501>540-181100- 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- 430 AM MDT Fri May 17 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Southwest winds will gust up to 50 mph across northeast and east central areas, as well the south central mountains and adjacent high plains this afternoon until almost sunset. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Saturday, west and northwest winds may reach 50 mph again from Clines Corners eastward down the I-40 corridor and across the Caprock. An upper level low pressure system will pass eastward over the Colorado and New Mexico border Monday and Monday night with multiple weather hazards. The storm system will draw the dryline into the far eastern plains with a risk of severe thunderstorms there Sunday night and especially Monday. Southwest winds may reach 50 mph on Monday across the south central mountains, the adjacent high plains, and much of east central and northeast New Mexico. A few inches of snow accumulation will be possible in the northern mountains above 8500 feet Monday night. Tuesday, the potential exists for wind gusts to 50 mph along and east of the central mountain chain. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required in counties along New Mexico's eastern border Sunday night and especially Monday. 44
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A peak wind gust up to 58 mph was reported by the Smokey Bear RAWS southwest of Ruidoso.
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, May 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: 813541.