An unseasonably strong storm system that developed over the Great Basin moved quickly east through New Mexico on October 12, 2021 with strong winds, rain, snow, much colder temperatures, and areas of blowing dust. South to southwest winds increased during the early morning of the 12th then became widespread across the region by the afternoon.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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.
An unseasonably strong storm system that developed over the Great Basin moved quickly east through New Mexico on October 12, 2021 with strong winds, rain, snow, much colder temperatures, and areas of blowing dust. South to southwest winds increased during the early morning of the 12th then became widespread across the region by the afternoon. Severe wind gusts up to 70 mph around Ruidoso blew down trees and power lines. Peak wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph were common across the remainder of central and eastern NM. Blowing dust reduced visibility to around five miles at Ruidoso. A couple rain and snow bands moved through the area as well with a few inches of snow reported in the high terrain. Portions of the northern mountains picked up two to six inches of snow with even some light amounts around Chama and Taos. The coldest temperatures of the season moved into the area behind this system.
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 Oct 12, 1:55 AM MST, 57 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 255 AM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021 .SYNOPSIS... A strong storm system over northern Arizona will move northeast today into Colorado. This system will bring increased winds to much of New Mexico with high wind warnings and wind advisories in place. This system may also bring a quick burst of snow to the northern mountains with a colder airmass moving into the area. Low temperatures on Wednesday morning will be in the 20s and 30s for most areas and widespread freeze warnings may be needed. Finally another fast moving system will move across the New Mexico and Colorado border with another chance of light rain or snow over northeast New Mexico late Thursday. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(Today and Wednesday)... An anomalously deep and cold upper low crossing northern AZ is still on track to bring a shock to the system for northern and central NM today via both strong W/SW winds, snow to the northern mountains, and freezing overnight lows Tuesday night. Observations across northern AZ thus far have shown temperatures behind the front dropping more than what the most recent model guidance was showing, and have left the prior update on track through the sunrise hours. A brief period of snow and lowered visibility is likely with the fropa as a result from the AZ border to the continental divide along I-40 as a result. Have upped winds as well through this area and expanded the Wind Advisory to match as the stronger winds are expected to last much longer than the brief winter related impacts. Have also upped southerly winds funneling through the Rio Grande Valley as winds are already elevated from Socorro to Albuquerque and will include these areas into the Wind Advisory as well. The core of this upper low is still progged to quickly eject northeastward over CO and into the northern Great Plains, sending chances for precipitation with it. Downsloping and lesser dynamical forcing will result in scattered showers at best reaching into the Rio Grande Valley today, with conditions turning to a majority wind event. The high wind warning and advisories across the eastern plains remain on track. Much colder and drier air will settle in the wake of this system for Tuesday night allowing temperatures to reach their coldest of the season thus far. Freeze highlights will likely be issued with the afternoon forecast package given current high wind warnings. LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday)... Synoptic models and ensembles continue a progressive jet stream pattern for the end of the week and going into early next week. GFS and ECMWF model suites are all on track with a fast moving short wave trough that will drop down into the Great Basin and then move across the central Rockies. Base of this trough with channelized vorticity will move along the CO/NM border Thursday night into Friday. There may be enough lift/moisture to squeeze out some precip from Red River to Clayton. Higher terrain could see some snow out of this trough but it will not be much at all. A cold front will move across NM Thursday into Friday as this trough moves east. Temperatures on Friday will be a few degrees lower than on Thursday with the cold advection pattern. Saturday into Sunday temperatures begin to moderate some with a weak upper level ridge over the Rockies. Models hold onto some type of westerly flow with hints of a trough impacting the desert SW next Monday/Tuesday. Models really deviate from each other during this time so will put more emphasis on ensemble means. We will keep precipitation chances on the low side as moisture will be quite limited early next week. Finally since there are not a lot of weather impacts in the extended forecast, we will take a look at Tropical Storm Pamela in the eastern Pacific. We could really use the moisture from this system, but due to the deep trough to the west of us today, Pamela will continue on a NE track across Mexico and reach central TX Thursday. So if you were wondering if Pamela would do anything for us, hate to burst your bubble but it will not. 24/39 && .FIRE WEATHER... A very potent early season winter storm system will cross NM today bringing mostly high winds gusting 45 to 50 mph across much of the forecast area. The highest wind gusts of 55 to 60 mph will focusing through the south-central mountains and central highlands. Winter precipitation will be limited to the cold frontal passage along and west of the continental divide and accumulations to the northern mountains. Much drier and colder air settles in tonight allowing for widespread freezing overnight lows. Conditions calm Wednesday with a reinforcing cold front arriving Thursday to keep cooler and drier conditions going through the end of the work week. The weekend looks warmer with lighter winds. && .AVIATION... 06Z TAF CYCLE A strong storm system is approaching the Land of Enchantment from the west tonight, bringing with it very strong S/SW winds gusting 35-45kts from sunrise Wednesday onward. Peak gusts of 50-55kts possible over the south-central mts and eastern plains Wednesday as well as erratic shower induced gusts reaching into the Rio Grande Valley from KSAF-KABQ-KAEG during predawn hours 11Z-15Z. Rain showers and mountain snow will focus along and west of the continental divide with the cold front passage around 11Z-15Z with more mountain snow focusing over the west slopes of the Jemez and Tusas Mountains. Low confidence KGUP could see ra turn to sn during the fropa, will amend as necessary. Current guidance holds temperatures too warm there. Meanwhile, shower activity fades off along and east of the central mountain chain where the aforementioned strong winds turn westerly Wednesday afternoon with very dry air moving in allowing for the potential of blowing dust. Much colder air filters in Tuesday night as winds subside. 24 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 48 28 54 31 / 60 10 0 0 Dulce........................... 41 19 49 18 / 100 30 0 0 Cuba............................ 44 24 51 28 / 60 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 43 21 55 26 / 60 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 41 21 53 25 / 70 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 46 23 57 24 / 60 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 47 23 57 27 / 50 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 55 27 60 31 / 10 0 0 0 Datil........................... 48 23 57 28 / 10 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 48 21 59 26 / 20 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 52 28 61 37 / 20 0 0 0 Chama........................... 36 17 42 18 / 90 30 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 50 31 53 33 / 60 5 0 0 Pecos........................... 51 28 52 33 / 40 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 43 15 50 19 / 70 10 0 0 Red River....................... 37 15 41 19 / 60 10 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 44 15 47 16 / 60 5 0 0 Taos............................ 49 20 53 23 / 60 10 0 0 Mora............................ 50 22 55 24 / 50 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 56 27 58 32 / 50 5 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 51 30 53 34 / 50 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 55 28 57 31 / 50 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 57 34 57 38 / 20 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 60 37 60 36 / 20 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 62 29 61 34 / 20 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 59 35 59 36 / 30 0 0 0 Belen........................... 64 32 63 32 / 10 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 59 32 60 34 / 30 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 63 29 61 31 / 20 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 59 33 60 35 / 30 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 63 31 62 33 / 20 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 58 33 58 36 / 30 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 59 34 59 36 / 30 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 65 32 64 34 / 10 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 52 31 53 34 / 30 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 55 31 55 32 / 30 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 56 26 56 27 / 20 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 59 24 58 24 / 20 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 55 28 55 30 / 30 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 58 27 56 30 / 20 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 59 29 57 32 / 20 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 65 35 60 39 / 10 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 60 28 56 38 / 20 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 57 23 61 26 / 20 0 0 0 Raton........................... 58 25 62 27 / 20 0 0 0 Springer........................ 61 27 65 27 / 30 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 55 28 60 29 / 30 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 69 36 66 37 / 10 5 0 0 Roy............................. 62 31 64 32 / 20 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 72 36 70 35 / 10 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 70 37 67 35 / 10 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 76 41 72 40 / 10 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 78 40 69 40 / 5 0 0 0 Portales........................ 80 40 70 40 / 5 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 78 39 71 38 / 5 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 82 42 75 42 / 5 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 73 36 69 39 / 5 0 0 0 Elk............................. 68 35 66 40 / 5 0 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning from 6 AM this morning to 6 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ215-221-223>230-240. High Wind Warning until noon MDT today for the following zones... NMZ208. Wind Advisory from 6 AM this morning to 6 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ212>214-220-222-231>239-241. Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM this morning to 6 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ210. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 304 AM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021 NMZ201>241-130915- 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- 304 AM MDT Tue Oct 12 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight High winds warnings and wind advisories are in effect for much of New Mexico today as southwest winds increase in response to a passing storm system. Light snow will be possible over the Tusas Mountains and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Widespread freezing temperatures are expected Wednesday morning. Look for freeze warnings to be posted for much of the region. Be prepared to protect sensitive vegetation, people, pets and pipes. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report wind speeds and 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. 39
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 133 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:00 UTC.
10 high wind, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An approaching line of rain and snow showers along a strong cold front produced a brief wind gust up to 59 mph at Gallup.
The Magdalena Ridge Observatory reported peak wind gusts up to 67 mph. Areas around Red Hill peaked at 57 mph. Patchy blowing dust was also reported across the area.
The Sierra Blanca Regional Airport reported peak wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph for several hours. Power lines were downed in Ruidoso Downs and several trees were blown over in Ruidoso. No other property damage was reported and damages are estimated for loss of power lines.
The Sandia Airpark north of Edgewood reported peak wind gusts up to 60 mph.
Clines Corners reported peak wind gusts up to 63 mph.
The Raton airport reported peak wind gusts up to 59 mph.
A couple public weather stations around Los Montoyas and Tecolotito reported sustained winds between 43 and 46 mph for several hours.
The Dunken RAWS site reported sustained winds of 40 mph.
A White Sands Missile Range site reported a peak wind gust up to 58 mph.
Several White Sands Missile Range mesonet sites reported peak wind gusts between 55 and 60 mph.
An area of thunderstorms moving over Tucumcari produced a brief wind gust up to 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, October 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: 979172, 979178, 979185, 979180, 979181, 979186, 979187, 979189, 979184, 979183, 979188.