Another storm system moving inland off the coast of California steered a strong upper-level jet across New Mexico on December 26, 2021. Meanwhile, a lee-side surface low developed across northeastern New Mexico.
Every event with a place to put it; 17 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.
Another storm system moving inland off the coast of California steered a strong upper-level jet across New Mexico on December 26, 2021. Meanwhile, a lee-side surface low developed across northeastern New Mexico. This set-up provided the necessary ingredients for surface winds to strengthen across much of northern and central New Mexico. Wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were common, especially along the central mountain chain and across the eastern plains. The highest wind gusts with this event were measured near Ruidoso where an AWOS station measured a peak sustained wind speed of 62 mph and a peak wind gust of 83 mph. Despite the very strong winds, very few damage reports were received. A few tree limbs were broken near South San Ysidro, and winds were also responsible for a power outage in communities near Corona. Key Impacts: downed tree limbs, power outages.
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 25, 10:45 PM MST, 4 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1045 PM MST Sat Dec 25 2021 .AVIATION... 06Z TAF CYCLE Mainly mid and high level clouds are crossing the state late this evening. However, cigs will lower across north central and northwest NM early Sunday morning, with brief MVFR cigs possible. Snow will develop across the northern mts Sunday morning, resulting in mt obscurations. Winds will ramp up tonight across the high terrain before expanding onto lower elevations late Sunday morning, with the greatest impacts across the eastern plains. Gusts between 45 ad 55kt will be likely across the high terrain and eastern plains, with gusts up to 35-40kt possible elsewhere across central and western NM. Areas of blowing dust will be possible across eastern NM, including at KTCC. Blowing snow will be possible across the northern mts. Winds will rapidly decrease after sunset Sunday. 34 && .PREV DISCUSSION...757 PM MST Sat Dec 25 2021... .UPDATE... Added the Chuska Mountains and Southwest Mountains into the High Wind Warning starting at midnight. Latest NAM has increased 700mb wind speeds, particularly across the SW Mtns to between 70 and 80kts. Though cloud cover may inhibit some momentum, satellite imagery already showing plenty of wave clouds suggesting the potential for high winds and Magdalena Ridge Observatory has already observed some high winds this evening. Additionally have opted to include the Chaves County Plains (Roswell) and the South Central Highlands into the Wind Advisory for Sunday. Adjust wind grids for latest trends. NPW update already out. 34 && .PREV DISCUSSION...320 PM MST Sat Dec 25 2021... .SYNOPSIS... Another day of high winds is expected tomorrow across northern and central New Mexico, as well as valley rain and mountain snow for northern and western zones. After a brief intermission Monday, a series of disturbances will bring additional rounds of strong winds and precipitation through midweek. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT)... A Pacific moisture tap remains over the region with strong winds aloft as a potent longwave upper level trough progresses slowly eastward along the west coast. A jetmax rounding the base of the trough over southern CA will move over the southern Rockies and Four Corners area Sunday, reaching up to near 180kts at 250mb and brining another round of strong to potentially damaging winds to areas along/east of the central mountain chain. A stronger surface gradient component to the winds will reside across northeast NM Sunday as a lee side trough deepens with a lee side low dropping to near 991mb across east central CO. Will upgrade the existing high wind watch and add a few zones to an advisory. The northern mountains will be in line to pick up more snow Sunday through Sunday evening, with the big winner forecast to be the Tusas Mountains and nearby Chama once again. Amounts won't be as prolific as yesterday's event, in part due to relatively lower PWATs, so will issue a Winter Weather Advisory for the Tusas Mountain zone only. Wouldn't be surprised to see some blowing dust showing up in the surface obs across eastern NM Sunday afternoon, especially at KTCC. A little cold air advection, combined with lighter winds and partial clearing of clouds will lead to a colder night Sunday although lows are still forecast to be 5-10 degrees above normal. LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)... An active weather pattern is set to continue as a salad bar of disturbances persists across Desert Southwest in the long term. After Sunday's return of the New Mexico Wind Machine, a slight reprieve will be in store on Monday. Winds will be by no means calm, with breezy conditions expected across the central mts and adjacent highlands/plains as well as far western zones, but they will pale in comparison to the previous day. The Winter of Wind returns on Tuesday as embedded disturbances ahead of a longwave trough descend on the Land of Enchantment. Southwest winds will increase as early as Monday night ahead of this system, peaking by early afternoon on Tuesday. Precip will once again favor the northern and western areas, starting Monday night. Given the cooling trend, snow levels are expected to continue lowering, leading to snow as opposed to rain across the lower elevations. The disturbance moves out late Tuesday night with another right on its heels, bringing additional rounds of snow showers Wednesday to western and northern areas. An interlude arrives on Thursday with clearing conditions favored and temperatures a degree or two warmer than the previous day. The intermission is short-lived however, as models slowly come into better agreement on a robust system in the Pacific. The storm, set to close out the year in true 2021 fashion, moves in off the coast of the northern Baja Friday afternoon. A generous tap of subtropical moisture accompanies this trough as it migrates east, setting the stage for an active and potentially hazardous New Year's Eve. While timing has improved, deterministic models still are at odds on on how this system comes ashore, with some suggesting that it may split, sending the southern portion for a direct hit to the Desert Southwest. A wealth of opportunity remains for numerical adjustments in regard to the system's timing and evolution, so time will tell. 11/12 && .FIRE WEATHER... A persistent troughing pattern will continue through at least the next seven days across the western US, bringing bouts of strong winds and chances for wetting precipitation that will favor areas along/west of the central mountain chain. Accumulating snow is likely in the mountains, but chances for wetting precipitation will expand across much of the area Friday into Saturday as an upper level low moves across the region. The only period with potential for critical fire weather conditions will be Sunday afternoon across the eastern plains, but humidity is forecast to remain around 20 percent or higher at this time. Temperatures will trend down next week, but will remain at or above normal across the eastern plains due in part to downslope winds. 11 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning from 9 AM to 8 PM MST Sunday for the following zones... NMZ228>234. High Wind Warning until 8 PM MST Sunday for the following zones... NMZ202-208-212>215-221-223-226-227-239-240. Wind Advisory from 9 AM to 8 PM MST Sunday for the following zones... NMZ216-222-224-235>238. Winter Weather Advisory from 5 AM to 8 PM MST Sunday for the following zones... NMZ210. &&
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
17 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An AWOS station near Ruidoso measured a peak wind gust of 83 mph.
An AWOS station near Ruidoso measured a peak sustained wind speed of 62 mph.
An ASOS station near Clayton measured a peak wind gust of 68 mph.
A RAWS station near Dunken measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph.
An ASOS station near Clines Corners measured a peak wind gust of 67 mph.
An ASOS station near Clines Corners measured a peak sustained wind speed of 45 mph.
An ASOS station near Raton measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
A trained spotter near Ojo Feliz estimated 60 mph wind gusts.
A trained spotter near Mosquero estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
A trained spotter near Corona estimated 60 mph wind gusts. The high winds caused a power outage in the community.
An ASOS station near Tucumcari measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph.
An ASOS station near Tucumcari measured a peak sustained wind speed of 45 mph.
An ASOS station near Las Vegas measured a peak wind gust of 71 mph.
A mesonet station at Magdalena Ridge Observatory measured a peak wind gust of 77 mph.
A trained spotter near South San Ysidro estimated 60 mph wind gusts that broke tree limbs that were four inches in diameter. Damages are a rough estimate.
An NWS Employee estimated 60 mph wind gusts near Sandia Park.
A trained spotter near Capulin estimated 70 mph wind gusts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, December 2021
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: 991120, 991121, 991125, 991129, 991117, 991118, 991123, 991115, 991126, 991119, 991127, 991128, 991124, 991113, 991114, 991116, 991122.