An upper level low pressure system passing through the central Rockies set up a strong surface pressure gradient across New Mexico on May 23, 2019. Southerly winds increased during the early morning hours within the Rio Grande Valley and nearby higher terrain with gusts near 50 mph shortly after sunrise.
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 low pressure system passing through the central Rockies set up a strong surface pressure gradient across New Mexico on May 23, 2019. Southerly winds increased during the early morning hours within the Rio Grande Valley and nearby higher terrain with gusts near 50 mph shortly after sunrise. Strong winds spread into the eastern plains through the late morning. The strongest winds impacted the area from near Clines Corners to Santa Fe and Taos where peak wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph were reported. Blowing dust was observed within the Rio Grande Valley.
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 23, 2:25 AM MST, 1 hour 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 325 AM MDT Thu May 23 2019 .SYNOPSIS... Another windy day is in store today with strong to very strong southwest winds developing by mid to late morning and continuing until around sunset. Cooler air will move into the northwest third of the state behind a dry cold front with high temperatures 5 to 10 degrees cooler than yesterday. Meanwhile across eastern New Mexico, a slight chance of thunderstorms exists over far eastern New Mexico tonight ahead of the cold front. Chances for thunderstorms will continue across far eastern areas Friday through the weekend. High temperatures will warm to near average for late May during the weekend, cooling slightly early next week across western and central areas of the state. && .DISCUSSION... Closed upper-level low over Lake Havasu has bottomed out and is starting to lift back northward early this morning. The associated cold front is near the NM/AZ line moving slowly eastward. Meanwhile across eastern NM, a backdoor cold front is dropping south and southwestward through northeast NM. All models are now picking up on this strong convergence, developing showers and thunderstorms near the TX line this morning. Increased precipitation chances for far eastern NM this morning as a result with scattered coverage anticipated. A few showers move into far northwest NM along the Pacific front but since the upper- level forcing remains to the west, not expecting more than a few brief showers or possibly a thunderstorm. And if that's not enough weather for one day, strong to high winds are likely across portions of the forecast area today. The strongest winds will be from the east slopes of the Tusas and Jemez mountains east to the northeast highlands including the I-25 corridor from near Glorieta Pass north to Raton Pass. Winds should subside rather rapidly around sunset. Above mentioned upper low over AZ races off to the northeast tonight and Friday but the long-wave trough over the western U.S. remains. Dryline convection near the TX line then becomes the focus Friday night through the weekend. ECWMF is more excited for Saturday afternoon than the GFS and NAM which hold off convection until Saturday night over the southeast plains. As another closed low drops into the long- wave trough over northern CA Sunday, the GFS and ECMWF are in very good agreement, developing strong to severe convection in far eastern NM during the afternoon and evening. Severe weather parameters from the GFS and ECWMF for Sunday afternoon are text book for severe weather. The closed low then moves east through southern UT on Monday, veering the flow aloft enough to force the dryline and the associated convection east of NM. Showers and storms associated with the upper low remain confined to far northwest NM Monday and over far north- central NM Tuesday. 33 && .FIRE WEATHER... Gulf moisture advection across the far eastern plains will interact with a backdoor cold front early this morning to produce a few wetting showers and storms as a Pacific low wobbles east toward the Four Corners, steering the jet stream directly overhead. Strong winds are forecast today and humidity is forecast to hit critical threshold across much of the highlands, plains and middle RGV. However, low to moderate Haines and below normal temperatures will prohibit large fire growth. The Pacific low will pull out to the northeast over the central Rockies tonight, but the longwave trough will remained parked to our west and will steer a Pacific dry slot over the area Friday through the weekend. This setup will bring continued warming/drying with increasing Haines. By Saturday afternoon across the highlands and eastern plains, Haines values of 5 to 6 will combine with above normal temperatures, breezy conditions and low humidity to produce a few hours of critical fire weather conditions. A Red Flag Warning may be needed pending fuels status. Gulf moisture will come back to the eastern plains Friday night and bring a round of wetting storms near the Texas border Saturday, then initiating further west across the eastern plains on Sunday as another Pacific low dives southeast along the California coast. Windy conditions will persist areawide on Sunday as the upper low approaches. More wind forecast on Monday as a Pacific front pushes through, followed by less wind and well below normal temperatures going into the middle of next week. 11 && .AVIATION... 06Z TAF CYCLE VFR conditions prevail and are forecast to persist, except at KTCC and possibly KLVS Thursday morning when a low stratus deck will develop behind a weak backdoor cold front. MVFR conditions are forecast are probable at KTCC between 13-17Z and short-lived IFR conditions are possible at KLVS during that same time. Otherwise, strong southwest winds will be the main aviation weather related hazard Thursday as the jet stream pivots over NM ahead of a Pacific low. An airport weather warning for gusts to between 35-40kts will likely be required for KABQ. KLVS will see the strongest gusts of our TAF sites and will range from 45-50kts during the afternoon. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 58 34 68 40 / 30 5 0 0 Dulce........................... 58 29 64 32 / 30 5 0 0 Cuba............................ 59 34 66 39 / 5 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 55 28 68 33 / 30 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 54 27 67 31 / 10 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 60 28 71 33 / 5 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 59 31 70 36 / 5 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 65 40 76 45 / 5 0 0 0 Chama........................... 54 28 59 32 / 30 5 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 62 38 68 44 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 63 38 68 42 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 59 32 62 35 / 5 0 0 0 Red River....................... 53 28 57 30 / 10 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 58 22 61 22 / 5 0 0 0 Taos............................ 63 31 67 34 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 62 34 68 38 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 68 38 72 43 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 63 39 68 44 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 66 37 71 42 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 70 43 75 48 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 71 45 76 50 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 73 40 78 46 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 72 42 77 48 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 72 37 78 43 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 72 42 77 48 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 75 42 82 50 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 63 39 69 45 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 66 36 72 42 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 68 33 74 39 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 64 37 71 44 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 67 40 74 48 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 71 47 79 53 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 67 43 73 46 / 0 0 0 5 Capulin......................... 66 37 72 41 / 10 5 5 5 Raton........................... 69 37 75 40 / 10 5 5 5 Springer........................ 71 37 76 40 / 5 5 0 5 Las Vegas....................... 67 37 71 42 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 67 43 78 48 / 20 10 5 10 Roy............................. 73 41 75 46 / 5 5 5 5 Conchas......................... 83 48 84 53 / 5 5 5 5 Santa Rosa...................... 82 46 83 52 / 0 0 0 5 Tucumcari....................... 87 50 86 57 / 10 5 5 10 Clovis.......................... 88 53 84 59 / 20 10 10 20 Portales........................ 89 53 86 60 / 20 20 10 20 Fort Sumner..................... 86 49 85 58 / 0 5 5 10 Roswell......................... 92 54 91 61 / 0 10 5 20 Picacho......................... 80 50 84 53 / 0 0 0 5 Elk............................. 75 47 80 49 / 0 0 0 5 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Watch from noon MDT today through this evening for the following zones... NMZ527>529. && 33
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 332 AM MDT Thu May 23 2019 NMZ501>540-241130- 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- 332 AM MDT Thu May 23 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight As another storm system approaches New Mexico from the west today, strong to very strong winds will develop across portions of central and northern New Mexico. Additionally, there is a chance for strong thunderstorms near the Texas border this morning and again overnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Chances for strong to severe thunderstorms near the Texas border continue late Friday through the weekend. Sunday is the most likely day for afternoon and evening strong to severe storms near the Texas line with large hail, strong outflow winds, and an isolated tornado the main hazards. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. 33
9 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Kachina Peak mesonet site reported peak wind gusts between 60 and 75 mph for several hours.
Peak wind gusts up to 58 mph were reported around Chama.
The Taos airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 47 mph for a couple hours.
A weather station in Estancia reported peak wind gusts up to 61 mph.
Clines Corners reported peak wind gusts up to 67 mph.
The Taos airport reported a peak wind gust up to 58 mph.
The Las Vegas airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 47 mph.
The Las Vegas airport reported peak wind gusts up to 62 mph.
The Raton airport reported sustained winds up to 45 mph.
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: 814952, 814946, 814955, 814956, 814957, 814954, 814962, 814960, 814959.