A fast-moving upper level storm system approaching from the Great Basin with deepening surface low pressure over eastern New Mexico produced very strong west winds across New Mexico on November 14, 2020. Winds increased quickly after sunset then ramped up with gusts of 45 to 55 mph across much of the state.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 upper level storm system approaching from the Great Basin with deepening surface low pressure over eastern New Mexico produced very strong west winds across New Mexico on November 14, 2020. Winds increased quickly after sunset then ramped up with gusts of 45 to 55 mph across much of the state. The strongest winds impacted areas along and east of the central mountain chain with sustained winds of 40 to 50 mph and gusts of 60 to 70 mph. Blowing dust was reported with these strong winds as drought conditions continued to deteriorate across eastern New Mexico.
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 Nov 14, 4:31 AM MST, 39 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 431 AM MST Sat Nov 14 2020 .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE Very strong upper jet moving over NM. Increasing potential for west to northwest wind gusts to around 50kt, especially along and east of the central mt chain. Surface cold front is forecast to move from northwest to southeast across the state this morning, reaching the RGV and KABQ around 18Z. Isold-wdly sct -shsn prior to 18Z over the San Juan/Tusas and Sangre de Cristo mts along with locally reduced vsbys in blsn may briefly obscure terrain. Strong winds to diminish for most areas by 01Z. && .PREV DISCUSSION...310 AM MST Sat Nov 14 2020... .SYNOPSIS... Widespread windy conditions are in store today. Damaging winds with gusts up to 70 mph are expected this morning through this evening for areas along and east of the central mountain chain. Travel will become hazardous, especially on north-to-south oriented roads, such as Interstate 25. In addition, high fire danger is expected across much of central and eastern New Mexico. Outdoor burning is highly discouraged. Winds will diminish this evening with another round of strong winds with gusts up to 40 mph expected across east central New Mexico on Sunday. Dry and quiet conditions are expected for much of next week as temperatures warm to well above normal values. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY)... While strong winds have been spotty early this morning over north central and northeast New Mexico, west to northwest winds from the central mountain chain to the Texas border are still expected to intensify and become widespread later this morning and persist through the afternoon. The wind won't be quite as strong from the Rio Grande Valley westward, but strong enough for most zones to be under a Wind Advisory. The slight chance for snow showers over the peaks of the San Juan/Tusas mountains as well as the peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountains this morning is not expected to result in more than a localized couple of inches of snow before much drier air overtakes the region. Cooler and drier tonight, then slightly warmer over the west on Sunday. Breezy to windy conditions will be found along the I-40 corridor from near Clines Corners to the Texas border Sunday afternoon. LONG TERM...(SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY)... Very quiet weather conditions are expected through at least mid-week as an upper-level ridge builds over the state. With 500mb heights nearing 590dm, temperatures will soar to well above normal for mid- November. Temperatures will peak on Wednesday and Thursday with high temperatures generally 15 to 20 degrees above normal. Near to record breaking temperatures are likely for much of next week. The ridge does shift eastward by Wednesday as a storm system approaches the west coast. From there, significant model discrepancies exist with that system and forecast confidence is low for next weekend. The GFS and its ensemble continues to be the most optimistic by tapping into subtropical moisture which develops a lot of precipitation across western and northern NM next weekend. The ECMWF and Canadian, on the other hand, redevelop the area of high pressure to our south across northern Mexico which helps to prevent the system from digging into the desert SW. This solution keeps conditions mostly dry next weekend. For now, introduced slight PoPs for rain and mountain snow into northern NM. Regardless of how this system progresses, models are in good agreement with an increasing pressure gradient and increasing flow which means another round of at least breezy conditions are potentially in store next weekend. Stay tuned. 15 && .FIRE WEATHER... ...RED FLAG WARNING FOR MUCH OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO TODAY... While strong winds have been spotty early this morning over north central and northeast New Mexico, west to northwest winds from the central mountain chain to the Texas border are still expected to intensify and become widespread later this morning and persist through the afternoon. The wind won't be quite as strong from the Rio Grande Valley westward, but strong enough, despite marginal minimum humidities of around 15 percent, to go ahead and add the West Central Highlands to the Red Flag Warning for today. The Middle Rio Grande Valley was added to the Red Flag Warning Friday evening, especially for Bernardo northward. A slight chance for snow showers over the high terrain of the San Juan/Tusas and Sangre de Cristo mountains this morning is not expected to result in more than a localized couple of inches of snow. Excellent ventilation forecast for today. Winds diminish somewhat on Sunday, and mixing heights decrease, leading to widespread poor ventilation central and west. There will be potential for a broad swath of critical conditions Sunday afternoon from the Clines Corners area along I-40 to the Texas border. Dry northwest flow aloft will relax further on Monday as a ridge aloft builds to our west, then passes over the state Tuesday. Consequently widespread poor ventilation will persist, while temperatures rebound to well above normal values. Zonal flow strengthens mid to late next week with improving ventilation. A stronger short wave may bring potential for showers over central and western New Mexico next Friday. && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 7 PM MST this evening for the following zones... NMZ201-203-204-206>208-210-211-216>219-224>226-238>241. High Wind Warning until 7 PM MST this evening for the following zones... NMZ212>215-227>229. Red Flag Warning from noon today to 7 PM MST this evening for the following zones... NMZ103-104-106>109. High Wind Warning from 7 AM this morning to 7 PM MST this evening for the following zones... NMZ221>223-230>237. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 318 AM MST Sat Nov 14 2020 NMZ201>241-151200- 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- 318 AM MST Sat Nov 14 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight West to northwest winds will continue to strengthen this morning and through the afternoon with widespread windy conditions expected across the area. The strongest winds will occur along and east of the central mountain chain where damaging wind gusts up to 65 to 70 mph are expected. Travel will become dangerous, particularly along north- to- south oriented roads, such as I-25 and U.S. Highway 285. In addition, high fire danger is in store for much of central and eastern NM. The wind and fire threat will diminish by this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Another round of breezy to windy conditions is in store on Sunday across east central NM where gusts up to 40 mph are expected. With continued dry conditions, this may result in another round of critical fire weather conditions in this area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report wind gusts or wind damage through the National Weather Service Albuquerque web site at weather.gov/abq or by calling 1.888.386.7637. You can also submit storm reports and photos on our Facebook page or via Twitter using the hashtag nmwx. 15
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Angel Fire airport reported peak wind gusts up to 58 mph.
The Las Vegas airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 44 mph periodically for several hours.
Peak wind gusts up to 62 mph were reported at the Las Vegas Wildlife Refuge.
The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility site at Transwestern Pump reported peak wind gusts up to 67 mph. Winds resulted in a power outage at the site shortly after the strongest wind gusts.
Peak wind gusts up to 58 mph were reported around Capitan.
Clines Corners reported sustained winds of 40 mph.
Tucumcari reported peak wind gusts up to 58 mph. Visibility was reduced to near five miles in areas of blowing dust.
Tucumcari reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 45 mph periodically for several hours.
Clayton reported peak wind gusts up to 60 mph.
Clines Corners reported a peak wind gust up to 60 mph.
A CWOP site two miles southwest of Estancia reported sustained winds of 40 mph. Areas of blowing dust were also observed.
Stations from Fort Sumner to Sumner Lake reported peak wind gusts up to 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, November 2020
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: 921392, 921409, 921407, 921434, 921401, 921397, 921418, 921417, 921412, 921399, 921396, 921426.