A typical Spring southwesterly high wind event occurred April 19, 2023 with several locations observing high wind gusts of 58 mph or higher. A strong section of the jetstream associated with an upper level storm system crossed NM.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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.
A typical Spring southwesterly high wind event occurred April 19, 2023 with several locations observing high wind gusts of 58 mph or higher. A strong section of the jetstream associated with an upper level storm system crossed NM. Peak wind gusts ranging from 58 to 66 mph were observed at sporadic locations across northern and central NM during the afternoon hours. There were even two reports of blown over semi trucks along highways, one south of Shiprock and the other just north of Los Lunas. Thankfully there were no shared reports of injuries or fatalities.
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 Apr 19, 10:44 AM MST, 2 hours 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1144 AM MDT Wed Apr 19 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 312 AM MDT Wed Apr 19 2023 Widespread strong winds and very low humidity will bring critical fire weather conditions areawide today. Conditions will persist for much of the area on Thursday. A cold front entering the state on Thursday night through Friday will bring a stark reduction in temperatures to all locales. Temperatures will quickly rebound through Monday. Chances for precipitation enter the forecast early next week with mountain snow, valley rain, and a few afternoon thunderstorms possible, favoring northern New Mexico. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Thursday) Issued at 312 AM MDT Wed Apr 19 2023 High terrain winds have been increasing overnight as well as at a few select valley locales. Winds to strengthen rapidly this morning and have added a few zones to the Wind Advisory. Patchy to areas of blowing dust with reduced visibilities are possible this afternoon. Winds become northwesterly this evening and gradually decrease as a cold front moves from northwest to southeast over the region. Gusty northwest winds resume Thursday especially along the central mountain chain north of I-40. Highs today will be a few degrees cooler for most locales but remaining above normal central and east. Thursday will be notably cooler with highs areawide about 5-15 degrees below normal. Lows tonight will be cooler in the wake of the front, and below normal along and north of I-40. && .LONG TERM... (Thursday night through Tuesday) Issued at 312 AM MDT Wed Apr 19 2023 The broad longwave trough responsible for the previous days' winds will work to eject into the Great Plains Thursday night into early Friday morning. Overnight temperatures will be a few to several degrees colder for most areas, with many seeing another late season hard freeze. Sky cover clears out behind the system and dry conditions will prevail on Friday. Daytime highs will trend well below normal. Temperatures rebound quickly through the weekend with increasing clouds. A few high elevation showers will be possible across the high terrain, with the best chances favoring the northern mts. Northwest flow aloft begins to flatten out on Sunday but the reasoning differs amongst the models. The GFS hints to a shortwave trough slipping through the Intermountain West, while the ECMWF and CMC suggest weak ridging. Additionally, moisture transport may become more favorable according to the GFS and CMC. Chances for showers would increase Monday through Wednesday if such a solution verified, primarily across northern and eastern NM. With warmer temperatures adding to potential instability, would be possible to see some garden variety thunderstorms in the afternoon. The ECMWF and CMC suggest the possibility of a closed upper low dipping into Four Corners region Tuesday, bringing widespread precipitation and increased winds. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1139 AM MDT Wed Apr 19 2023 Gusty winds will present the primary aviation weather hazard over the next 24 to 36 hours. Wind speeds will continue increasing through the afternoon today with occasional gusts of 35 to 40 kt being fairly widespread across northern and central New Mexico through the early evening. Winds will decrease in speed at the surface after sunset this evening, but some low level wind shear may be present through the overnight, especially near and east of the central mountain chain to include KLVS. Winds will not be quite as strong on Thursday, but will still be quite gusty, especially over and near the northern and central mountains and highlands. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 312 AM MDT Wed Apr 19 2023 Strong winds, poor overnight humidity recovery and single digit minimum humidities as well as high Haines will lead to widespread critical fire weather conditions below significant snowpack today through Thursday. Five to 10 consecutive hours of single digit humidities forecast over the east and in the Middle RGV today. It will be a few degrees cooler today across the region but highs remain near to above normal central and east. Humidity recovery improves over northeast NM tonight but Thursday will be another day of strong winds and very dry conditions with several hours of single digit afternoon humidities mainly along and south of I-40. Therefore have issued a Fire Weather Watch for most of the forecast area although confidence is marginal on the North Central and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. High temperatures Thursday however will be around 5 to 15 degrees cooler than normal. Isolated rain and snow showers are possible over the far northeast Thursday night. Winds finally relax late this week and temperatures will be below normal through Saturday. A back door cold front will impact the east over the weekend, where temperatures will remain cooler than normal. Isolated to scattered rain and snow showers are possible central and east Saturday night into Sunday night. A few thunderstorms are possible over northern NM next Monday in northwest flow. Critical conditions are possible Monday and Tuesday south of I-40. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 64 28 56 27 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 58 22 50 18 / 5 0 5 0 Cuba............................ 62 25 52 25 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 64 24 58 23 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 61 25 56 25 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 66 24 60 23 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 65 28 60 27 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 69 34 65 33 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 65 30 61 29 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 69 31 70 29 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 73 39 74 39 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 53 19 45 15 / 5 0 5 5 Los Alamos...................... 63 30 53 28 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 65 30 55 27 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 60 21 50 22 / 0 0 5 10 Red River....................... 57 24 45 16 / 0 0 5 20 Angel Fire...................... 54 21 44 15 / 0 0 5 10 Taos............................ 63 24 53 19 / 0 0 0 5 Mora............................ 62 29 52 23 / 0 0 0 5 Espanola........................ 69 25 59 27 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 65 30 55 28 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 68 29 58 26 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 70 38 61 35 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 73 39 64 36 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 74 33 65 35 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 72 37 64 35 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 77 38 69 33 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 73 35 63 33 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 76 35 67 33 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 73 36 64 34 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 76 36 67 33 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 70 35 59 33 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 72 36 63 34 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 80 40 73 37 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 65 32 56 29 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 68 34 59 31 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 68 32 58 28 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 70 31 60 26 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 66 31 56 27 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 69 33 61 30 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 71 35 64 31 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 75 44 69 38 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 66 40 62 35 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 67 25 54 21 / 0 0 10 30 Raton........................... 70 26 58 22 / 0 0 5 20 Springer........................ 69 28 57 24 / 0 0 0 10 Las Vegas....................... 67 30 57 25 / 0 0 0 5 Clayton......................... 77 33 61 29 / 0 0 10 20 Roy............................. 72 32 61 27 / 0 0 0 10 Conchas......................... 76 38 66 33 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 78 39 67 32 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 82 40 70 34 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 82 41 71 35 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 84 43 74 35 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 84 42 72 35 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 89 47 80 43 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 78 45 74 38 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 73 44 72 37 / 0 0 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 10 PM MDT this evening for NMZ101-104>106- 109-120>126. Wind Advisory until 8 PM MDT this evening for NMZ203>205-207-208- 210>212-216>219-221-222-224-225-227-228-230>234-239>241. Fire Weather Watch from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening for NMZ101-104-106-120>126. Wind Advisory until 8 PM MDT this evening for NMZ202-206-213>215- 223-226-229. && SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM....12 AVIATION...52
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Navajo Nation PD reported to KOAT, a semi truck was blown over due to high winds along State Road 491 south of Shiprock. Damages and injuries are unknown.
The Tucumcari Airport ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
The Gallup Airport ASOS measured a peak gust of 58 mph.
The Las Vegas Airport ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph.
The Clines Corners ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.
A semi truck was blown over due to high wind gusts, measured to reach 60 mph at the ABQ Sunport, along I-25 two miles north-northwest of Los Lunas. Injuries and damages are unknown.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, April 2023
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: 1082159, 1082170, 1082166, 1082169, 1082168, 1082160.