Strengthening northwest flow over the area resulted in gusty winds over much of the area on January 2, 2021. The strongest winds were observed across the eastern plains where a lee-side low pressure system over northeastern New Mexico further tightened the surface pressure gradient.
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The episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.
Strengthening northwest flow over the area resulted in gusty winds over much of the area on January 2, 2021. The strongest winds were observed across the eastern plains where a lee-side low pressure system over northeastern New Mexico further tightened the surface pressure gradient. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph impacted the Interstate 40 corridor, and Clines Corners, New Mexico recorded a maximum wind gust of 62 mph.
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 Jan 2, 4:42 AM MST, 5 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 442 AM MST Sat Jan 2 2021 .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE VFR conditions will continue through the next 24 hours. Light winds will be the rule this morning before increasing at all TAF sites this afternoon. Gusts will be between 19kt and 26kt with the higher gusts at KLVS and KTCC. Winds subside tonight. && .PREV DISCUSSION...225 AM MST Sat Jan 2 2021... .SYNOPSIS... A warming trend will continue through Tuesday with above normal temperatures expected area wide for Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures will then cool Wednesday and stay near normal for the remainder of the work week. Unfortunately, precipitation chances are minimal for the next seven days. Winds will ramp up today, particularly along and south of Interstate 40 across eastern NM. These same areas will be breezy to windy on Sunday as well. After a break on Monday, the winds will ramp up once again on Tuesday. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY)... Yesterday's weak disturbance is departing NM while another weak trough is dropping southeast across NM this morning, with no impacts other than some breezy to windy conditions. The strongest winds will be across the east central highlands where a wind advisor will be issued. Highs today will change little from yesterday in the west, which means below normal temperatures. The east though will be milder with highs above normal. Another weak trough aloft will drop southeast into NM tonight again with little impact other than a wind shift from the north across the eastern plains. It will be another breezy to windy day across the east with temperatures a little higher than today. LONG TERM...(SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY)... A broad ridge will translate over NM Sunday night through Monday. Increasing heights should result in above normal temperatures area wide on Monday. On Tuesday, westerly flow aloft will increase as the next shortwave trough approaches and crosses CO and northern NM. GFS has come closer in line with the ECMWF, tracking the trough further north, with the base of the trough sliding over NM. Some of the 40-50kt momentum at 700 mb should be able to mix down to the surface. Bumped up wind speeds a bit for Tuesday, but it's likely they will need to be increased further. Downsloping across eastern NM should really allow temperatures to soar. most areas should be 10 to 15 degrees above normal. Precipitation chances look bleak with this system, especially now that it looks like it will remain north of NM. Perhaps far north or northeast NM may see a few flakes Tuesday night, but it doesn't appear that it will be anything to write home about. The storm system looks to strengthen as it moves into the Great Plains, which will mean continued strong northerly flow into Wednesday. The attendant cold fronts will also drop temps areawide for Wednesday as well, though most areas will remain near normal. Ridging looks to build back in for Thursday, then another storm system may be in the offing for Friday, but models are struggling with the timing and placement of the system. CHJ/34 && .FIRE WEATHER... A couple of weak disturbances aloft will have little impact on our weather this weekend. Winds and temperatures will be on the rise today, with similar conditions Sunday. Very dry air in place will combine with the wind to create brief critical fire weather conditions across the far southern portion of the East Central Plains. Any critical fire weather concerns Sunday would be over the extreme southwest corner of the East Central Plains. No Red Flag Warnings will be issued with only small and brief critical conditions both days. Weak ridging Monday will drop wind speeds and raise temperatures some more. A stronger short wave trough will cross NM Tuesday into Tuesday night with gusty winds, cooler temperatures especially in the east, and a few snow showers over the North Central Mountains. A ridge of high pressure returns Wednesday into Thursday with less wind. A cool Wednesday will give to a milder Thursday with highs mostly above normal. Models vary widely on the potential for a storm system Friday into the weekend. Impacts look to be snow showers over the northern mountains and northeast, cooler temperatures everywhere and breeziness. CHJ &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 233 AM MST Sat Jan 2 2021 NMZ201>241-031200- 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- 233 AM MST Sat Jan 2 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Gusty west to northwest winds to around 45 or 50 mph are expected to develop late this morning along and immediately east of the central mountain chain. Winds will persist through sunset. The strongest winds are expected along I-40 near Clines Corners. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Another round of breezy to windy conditions are expected Sunday and again Tuesday along and east of the central mountain chain. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report strong wind gusts 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. 34
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Clines Corners ASOS observed high wind on January 2, 2021 with the highest wind gust measured at 62 mph.
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, January 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: 927358.