As an active storm track across the western United States continued, yet another upper-level trough tracked eastward across the central Rockies and to the north of New Mexico on May 20, 2022. In response, a lee-side surface low deepened across northeast New Mexico.
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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.
As an active storm track across the western United States continued, yet another upper-level trough tracked eastward across the central Rockies and to the north of New Mexico on May 20, 2022. In response, a lee-side surface low deepened across northeast New Mexico. This resulted in widespread breezy to windy conditions across northern and central New Mexico. Wind speeds were generally below 50 mph, but both Gallup and Santa Fe recorded brief high wind hits during the afternoon.
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 May 20, 10:51 AM MST, 2 hours 21 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1151 AM MDT Fri May 20 2022 DUAL UPDATE FOR AVIATION DISCUSSION AND SHORT TERM PUBLIC FORECAST TO INCLUDE EXPANSION OF THE WIND ADVISORY. .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE Strong west-southwest winds are expected across western and central NM with areas of blowing dust which may briefly reduce visibilities. One of the primary forecast challenges will be timing and how much real estate the backdoor cold front will claim this evening through the overnight hours once the westerlies relax. Gusty winds will be a concern in its wake, and this may also result in gap winds within the RGV to impact KSAF/KABQ. Confidence on its potential strength is low and will need to be monitored. Meanwhile, stratus is progged to develop in its wake, impacting KLVS/KTCC and possibly KROW, with the activity approaching MVFR levels. VFR stratus is also forecast over northwest NM overnight. DPorter && .UPDATE... Updated wind forecast to increase speeds this afternoon across the northwest highlands, Espanola Valley, western slopes of the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains as well as the northeast highlands from generally Raton to Las Vegas. This pushed afternoon winds into Wind Advisory criteria and thus expanded the zones accordingly. That said, gusty winds are expected for the southwest and south central mts but felt the coverage/duration would not support an advisory given the stronger winds aloft are centered in the northern half of the state. Updated products already on the street. DPorter && .PREV DISCUSSION...320 AM MDT Fri May 20 2022... .SYNOPSIS... Dangerous fire weather conditions will continue today with strong west to southwest winds, very low humidity, and warm temperatures. Much of northern, central, and western NM will see wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph while eastern NM peaks between 35 and 45 mph. Blowing dust is likely, especially over the Four Corners. A cold front will move into eastern NM tonight with higher humidity and gusty north winds into Saturday. Central and western NM will remain dry, breezy, and warm Saturday. A second shot of cooler air and higher humidity will arrive Sunday with widespread low clouds and perhaps some drizzle and light rain showers over eastern NM. Temperatures will be cold enough over the higher terrain near the CO border for light snow Saturday night. An active weather pattern will impact eastern NM next week with daily rounds of showers and storms starting Monday. Western NM will remain dry with a strong warming trend through next week. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY)... Surface low pressure centered over north-central and northeast NM today will result in another windy to very day for all areas. This low is in response to a slow moving upper-level short-wave trough sliding southward through UT. The strong west to southwest winds will likely end up generating at least patchy to perhaps areas of blowing dust for many areas this afternoon. Issued a wind advisory for portions of western and central NM as a result. By tonight, the above mentioned surface low pressure sags to over southeast NM. North of the low center, the associated cold front begins sliding southward into far northwest and into much of northeast NM. A few showers will also roam near the CO line tonight with better chances for showers and thunderstorms over the northern mountains Saturday. NAM breaks out some light precipitation over the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fires but the main impact to the fire will be a reduction in fire behavior due to the marked increase in dewpoint temperatures/relative humidity. A reinforcing shot of cooler air is forecast to slide southwestward through northeast and east-central NM late-day Saturday with the front pushing westward toward the central highlands in and near Clines Corners and Vaughn, pushing west into the Estancia Basin and east mountain area of ABQ around sunset Saturday. 33 LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY)... A strong back door cold front will surge west thru the RGV Saturday night and to the Cont Dvd by Sunday morning. This front will bring a refreshing dose of higher humidity and cooler air to much of NM. A period of strong canyon winds is possible along the east side of the ABQ metro while a 1031mb surface high slides south into eastern NM. A Wind Advisory may be needed for parts of the area from near Santa Fe south to ABQ and Carrizozo. Gap winds will taper off in the RGV thru Sunday as deep-layer flow becomes more southerly and a weak lee-side trough develops across southeast CO. South to southwest winds will increase over the entire area by the afternoon with temps struggling to rebound over eastern NM. A very welcome pattern change is on the horizon next week as a broad upper level trough with several reinforcing upper waves impacts the Front Range. Moist, southeast low level return flow will slosh across eastern NM each day while northwest flow aloft persists across the region. The first round of showers and storms is expected over far northeast NM and far southeast NM Monday. Outflow enhanced winds will force moisture farther west Monday night, setting the stage for greater storm coverage closer to the central mt chain Tuesday. These storms and a reinforcing back door front will keep moisture firmly in place across eastern NM thru Wednesday. Model agreement diverges by this point as the GFS and Canadian hold onto a slower upper trough and the ECMWF forces a sprawling upper high eastward from northern Mexico. Guyer && .FIRE WEATHER... ...CRITICAL TO LOCALLY EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY ACROSS MUCH OF NEW MEXICO... ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS POSSIBLE FOR THE MIDDLE AND LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY AS WELL AS THE WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS SATURDAY... Stronger and more widespread strong winds are forecast for today. The strong winds along with dry air and an unstable airmass will result in another round of critical to extreme fire weather conditons for all areas today. Northeast wind shift will impact the Calf Canyon/Hermit's peak fires late tonight and particularly Saturday afternoon and evening when a stronger northeasterly surge is forecast to move in. Critical fire weather conditions are possible for west central highlands and lower and middle Rio Grande Valley Saturday afternoon into the early evening hours. Issued a fire weather watch for these two fire weather zones as a result. A strong backdoor cold front will move through all areas east of the Continental Divide by sunrise Sunday. Relative humidity values will increase markedly behind the front Sunday morning only to get scoured out central and west by afternoon. The more moist air is forecast remain across eastern areas through Sunday night and Monday while western and central areas remain dry. Dryline thunderstorms are possible for the eastern plains Monday afternoon and early evening. Dryline storms chances remain in the forecast for eastern NM through Tuesday before drier air from the west and northwest is forecast to start winning out Wednesday and Thursday. 33 && && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ101>109. Wind Advisory until 8 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ201>207-210>219-221>223-228-229-233. Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through Saturday evening for the following zones... NMZ106-109. && 46
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An ASOS station near Gallup measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.
An ASOS station near Santa Fe measured a peak wind gust of 58 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, May 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: 1015136, 1015137.