The weather pattern turned active once again across New Mexico on March 29, 2022, as a storm system approached from the west. This storm system steered a very strong upper-level jet across New Mexico which helped to strengthen surface winds as they mixed down to the surface.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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.
The weather pattern turned active once again across New Mexico on March 29, 2022, as a storm system approached from the west. This storm system steered a very strong upper-level jet across New Mexico which helped to strengthen surface winds as they mixed down to the surface. The strongest winds were focused across south central New Mexico as well as much of the eastern plains where wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph were common which caused for areas of blowing dust to form. The strong winds combined with very dry conditions across the plains also resulted in critical fire weather conditions which resulted in a grass fire in Roosevelt County between Portales and Clovis. This system also brought light to moderate snow to the higher terrain of western and northern New Mexico where 3 to 6 inches was generally received. Impacts: high winds, blowing dust, fire weather.
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 Mar 29, 4:23 AM MST, 5 hours 32 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 523 AM MDT Tue Mar 29 2022 .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE Strengthening southwest flow is entering NM ahead of an upper low over southern CA. As it does so, strong southwest winds at mountain top reaching 40-50kts are expected to mix down to the surface across much of central and eastern NM this afternoon. Areas of bldu reducing visibility will be possible. An AWW may become necessary at KABQ during the early to mid-afternoon when the Pacific fropa occurs. Meanwhile, -shra and mtn snow associated with the upper low will spread through western NM with widespread MVFR expected b/w KGUP-KFMN. IFR and mtn obscurations look to be limited to the higher terrain of western and northern NM. A few isolated cloud-to-ground lightning strikes are also possible through western NM today, but will likely require amds if approaching near any TAF sites. Shower activity will be more sparse further east and non- existent through the eastern plains with only vcsh thus far confidently included in central TAF sites. A backdoor front will bring a nly wind shift and snow b/w KRTN-KCAO past the 06Z hour to end the TAF period. Cigs fall most areas through northern NM with MVFR and alt- mins being reached tonight. 24 && .PREV DISCUSSION...252 AM MDT Tue Mar 29 2022... .SYNOPSIS... Cooler, windier and wetter conditions will unfold over northern and central New Mexico today into Wednesday as a pair of low pressure systems cross the area. Today, the strongest winds will be found over central and eastern areas of New Mexico where gusts will reach 45 to 60 mph with areas of blowing dust expected. On Wednesday, the strongest winds will be found over western and central areas of the state where gusts of 30 to 45 mph will be common. As for precipitation, rain and mountain snow will spread over western and central New Mexico today before spreading into eastern areas tonight and Wednesday. A few thunderstorms will even be possible today, and a few to several inches of fresh snow accumulation are also expected in the northern mountains. Yet another weather disturbance will cross northern New Mexico late Thursday into Friday, bringing additional chances for light rain and mountain snow. Warmer and drier conditions are then forecast for the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)... ...HIGH WINDS IMPACT EASTERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO TODAY... The 550dm H5 upper low is traversing west to east across southern CA early this morning with a dry slot pushing through southern AZ and through central NM. This system is still progged to bring widespread high wind impacts and critical fire weather impacts to eastern NM, and northern mountain snow today through Wednesday. The upper low opens to a trough over AZ with showers spreading over western and central NM during the day. The shower activity tapers off this evening except through northeastern NM where a sharp backdoor cold front pushes through keeping increased precipitation chances going there through Wednesday. Meanwhile, a trailing trough moving in from UT will bring another round of valley rain and mountain snow to northern NM Wednesday. High winds remain the main impact from this storm event today. The 00Z H5 analysis showed 70kt winds over Tucson, and this stout jetmax shifts over south-central and eastern NM during the day today. Efficient mixing to and above 700mb coupled with a deepening lee- side surface low over eastern CO continues to bring high confidence to the High Wind Warning through eastern NM today, and have left it as is. Lower confidence existed further west with whether or not the Pacific front would boost winds into the Middle Rio Grande Valley and Estancia Valleys, but went ahead and nudged winds higher here given the potential for some precipitation enhanced winds with the fropa. So the Wind Advisories have been expanded into these two zones. Blowing dust also remains a likelihood, especially through the eastern plains where 45-55kt wind gusts are possible. These winds come down a notch tonight, except through northeastern NM behind the backdoor front. The Wind Advisory for Union County may need to be extended to account for this. Winter weather is already reaching parts of the CO San Juan Mountains, and this will expand southward into the northern mountains of NM today. Snow levels look to remain above 7,500' to 8,000' limiting winter weather impacts to the higher elevations. Snow looks to take a quick break there this evening, before ramping up along the Raton Pass and adjacent mesas when the backdoor front moves through. Blowing snow and 4 to 8 inches are possible there by the end of the day Wednesday. This combined with a trailing through returning snow accumulations to the rest of the northern mountains has warranted an expansion and extension of the Winter Weather Advisories to Raton Pass and through midnight Wednesday night. LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)... As the upper low moves into the Missouri river valley, a positively tilted trough will extend and pivot across northeastern NM Wednesday night. Precipitation will be most likely across northeastern to east central zones Wednesday evening, before tapering off and exiting by Thursday morning. Breezy north or northwest winds will prevail through the night, but fortunately speeds will reduce dramatically from earlier on Wednesday. As the trough pivots farther away during the day Thursday, a shortwave ridge will cross the Rockies with dry conditions and light to moderate breezes over NM. Temperatures will remain near or just slightly below seasonal averages. The respite will be short-lived, as the next fast-moving perturbation will cross near the NM-CO border Thursday night into Friday morning, dragging sufficient moisture and dynamics for another round of light rain and mountain snow showers. Showers will be most likely near the CO border, tapering off farther south, and this will put the northern NM mountains in position for accumulating a couple to a few more inches of snow. By mid to late day Friday the shortwave trough will be on its way out of NM with minimal precipitation chances going into Friday night. This will set the stage for zonal flow this weekend which will bring a drier and warmer trend to NM. Temperatures should exceed normal on Saturday, gaining a few degrees more (reaching 5 to 10 degrees above average) by Sunday. There is potential for a backdoor cold front to push into the northeastern corner of NM Sunday, but this should not offer any dramatic cooling effects there, only suppressing what would otherwise be a more pronounced warming trend. The zonal flow does show signs of buckling into Monday of next week when cooler and windier conditions could follow with a chance for more light rain and mountain snow showers. 24/52 && .FIRE WEATHER... ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER EASTERN NEW MEXICO TODAY... Critical fire weather conditions develop through the eastern plains today due to strong southwest winds ahead of an approaching upper level low. Peak gusts of 45 to 55 knots will be possible, blowing dust about and allowing for rapid fire spreads. The Red Flag Warning remains in effect for today. Winds will be a notch lower elsewhere, but still windy. Cooler temperatures and increasing shower activity will keep minimum humidities from reaching critical levels there. Valley rain and mountain snow will focus through western and northern NM. As critical fire weather subsides tonight, a potent backdoor cold front brings winter weather to far northeastern NM tonight through Wednesday. Winter weather is also expected to return to the northern mountains Wednesday after a brief break this evening. Zonal flow takes hold to end the work week with a warming trend accompanying and lighter winds through the weekend. 24 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 7 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ208-219>223-225-229>233-239. Red Flag Warning from noon today to 7 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ104-108. Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to midnight MDT Wednesday night for the following zones... NMZ227. High Wind Warning until 6 AM MDT Wednesday for the following zones... NMZ226. High Wind Warning from 11 AM this morning to 7 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ224-234>238-240. Winter Weather Advisory until midnight MDT Wednesday night for the following zones... NMZ210-213-214. &&
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An ASOS station in Roswell measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.
A White Sands Missile Range mesonet site near Bosque del Apache measured a brief wind gust of 63 mph.
An ASOS station at Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
An ASOS station near Clayton measured a brief wind gust of 58 mph.
A White Sands Missile Range mesonet station at North Oscura Peak measured a brief wind gust of 60 mph.
A mesonet station near Dora measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
An AWOS station in Ruidoso measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.
An ASOS station in Tucumcari measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, March 2022
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: 1004972, 1006866, 1004979, 1006868, 1006867, 1004984, 1004973, 1004976.