A strong segment of the jetstream associated with a larger upper level storm system passed over NM April 3, 2023. Strong southwesterly winds were associated with this storm system and reached the portions of west-central, northwestern, the northern mountains and adjacent highlands during the 3rd.
Every event with a place to put it; 28 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 strong segment of the jetstream associated with a larger upper level storm system passed over NM April 3, 2023. Strong southwesterly winds were associated with this storm system and reached the portions of west-central, northwestern, the northern mountains and adjacent highlands during the 3rd. A cold front passed west to east across NM that night into the morning of April 4, 2023 bringing a westerly and northwesterly wind shift. More widespread high winds resulted behind this system as it exited into the Great Plains on the 4th. High wind reports were observed across much of southwestern, central, and eastern sections of the state. Despite there being many reports of 60 to 70 mph wind gusts, there were no shared reports of damage. A couple of small fires started in the high winds, but no damage was reported from these.
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 3, 4:30 AM MST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 530 AM MDT Mon Apr 3 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 252 AM MDT Mon Apr 3 2023 Widespread strong to damaging winds are expected late this morning through Tuesday evening. Wind gusts up to 75 mph will create hazardous crosswinds, areas of blowing dust, and may knock down trees and power lines. Widespread critical fire weather conditions are expected below snowpack on Monday and again in central and eastern areas on Tuesday. Scattered rain and snow showers are possible across north and northwest areas Monday night through Tuesday afternoon. A cold front will cross the state on Tuesday, bringing temperatures down to as much as 30 degrees below seasonal averages. Dry weather and warming temperatures prevail the rest of the week. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Tuesday) Issued at 252 AM MDT Mon Apr 3 2023 ...WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WIND EVENT TODAY INTO TONIGHT AND TUESDAY... The polar jet will dive down the Pacific Northwestern states today, sending a deep and anomalously cold upper low into the Great Basin. This will initiate a long stretch of very windy conditions over NM today and carrying on into tonight and Tuesday. Temperatures of -36 C at 500 mb will spill into the Great Basin by this afternoon, establishing a very strong baroclinic zone upstream of NM while a broad surface low sets up over the southern Rockies. The increasing upper level gradient and flow aloft will mix down effectively through the afternoon with northwestern and west central NM zones observing the strongest winds aloft and at the surface through the afternoon. Mostly cloudless skies are expected today, but blowing dust will develop in vulnerable areas. Temperatures will remain near (west) to slightly above average (central and east). Into this evening, the upper low will split into two distinct lows, approaching closer to the Rockies with very low heights (near 531 decameters at 500 mb). The baroclinic zone will drag into western NM tonight, bringing a nocturnal surge of winds to these areas, and as the gradient aloft strengthens and the surface low becomes more favorably oriented, the central mountain chain will also observe stronger winds overnight. Enough mid level moisture will be present for some light rain and snow in northwestern and north central NM overnight and into Tuesday. Any precipitation in northwestern to north central NM will pose much less impact than the winds farther south and east that will buffet remaining zones of the forecast area Tuesday. Damaging gusts still look plausible for much of southwestern, central and eastern NM through Tuesday afternoon, and the High Wind Warning still looks on track for most of these zones with additional Wind Advisories sure to be appended on the perimeter by subsequent shifts. In addition to the widespread very strong winds and consequent blowing dust, temperatures will take a sharp dive of 15 to almost 30 degrees (24 hour trend) on Tuesday with all areas falling well below normal for early April. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday night through Sunday) Issued at 252 AM MDT Mon Apr 3 2023 Strong westerly winds will begin to weaken after sunset Tuesday, but gusts up to 50 mph will still be possible along and east of the central mountain chain through midnight. In the wake of the cold front, Tuesday night's lows will be 10-15 degrees below average. The entire CWA may fall below freezing, with most locations experiencing a hard freeze. While the main surface low associated with this storm system will have exited off into the Midwest, another lee-side low may develop once again Wednesday afternoon in northeast NM. This will allow breezy to locally windy conditions to persist until Wednesday evening along and immediately east of the central mountains. A warming trend is expected mid to late week, but temperatures will still remain below average through at least Thursday. GEFS ensemble guidance is in good agreement that the negative phase of the PNA that has persisted for the last couple of weeks is going to come to an end by the weekend as a ridge builds over the West Coast. This makes the likelihood of widespread precipitation and/or strong winds unlikely for at least the next week. However, there is still a chance that the closed low off the coast of the Baja Peninsula moves northeastward and advects deeper moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into the area over the weekend. Despite the low PoPs through Sunday, PWATs will increase late this week and over the weekend, particularly in the central and eastern portions of the state. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 525 AM MDT Mon Apr 3 2023 Winds and low level wind shear will be the primary aviation weather concern over the next 24 (and even 48) hours. Gusty conditions will strengthen at ridge top and mountain peak level through dawn this morning with the stronger winds expanding and mixing down to lower elevations through the late morning and early afternoon hours. Widespread gusts of 25 to 40 kt will be common this afternoon with stronger gusts of 50 kt in the western high terrain. Higher gusts of 45 to 65 kt will then develop over more central high terrain areas tonight into Tuesday with mountain wave activity persisting and low level wind shear intensifying during the overnight hours. Mostly clear skies will prevail until late this evening when lower based clouds and even some light showers will work into northwestern to north central parts of New Mexico. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 252 AM MDT Mon Apr 3 2023 ...DANGEROUS WIDESPREAD CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER PATTERN TODAY AND IN EASTERN ZONES ON TUESDAY... A widespread and long duration critical fire weather pattern will take hold of much of NM today through Tuesday, especially over the eastern tier of the state where fine fuels have been depleted of moisture. As an unseasonably strong low pressure system moves across the Great Basin and toward the Rockies, very strong winds aloft will move over NM and mix down to the surface today. A potent cold front will then sweep into western NM tonight and through the remainder of the state on Tuesday with very strong and possibly damaging winds accompanying. All areas of northern and central NM (below snow pack) are highlighted in a Red Flag Warning for today, as very low surface dewpoints and critically low minimum humidity of 5 to 10 percent will combine with gusty winds in many areas. While colder temperatures and rising humidity are expected in western and some central zones tonight, the eastern plains will be plagued by poor overnight humidity recovery that will keep the critical threat going there tonight and right on into Tuesday. Colder temperatures are expected to make it into eastern NM Tuesday, reducing Haines indices and offering some stabilizing effects, but the harsh nature of the damaging winds will keep a threat for critical fire weather conditions going in the eastern plains and also the middle Rio Grande valley Tuesday where a Red Flag Warning is already in effect. As the low pressure system exits into the northern Great Plains on Wednesday, winds will reduce significantly in speed over NM, but still breezy to locally windy conditions will be possible. The strongest winds Wednesday would be found near the central to northeast highlands (between Clines Corners and Las Vegas near the borders of Zones 123 and 125) where spotty and briefly critical winds and low RH would be juxtaposed, but the colder than normal temperatures would likely offset the threat for rapid fire growth. Thereafter, a drier and warmer pattern is expected through the end of the week, but winds should be considerably more tranquil with no critical conditions expected. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 67 31 41 21 / 5 30 20 0 Dulce........................... 62 24 32 14 / 5 50 40 0 Cuba............................ 64 27 33 18 / 0 20 30 0 Gallup.......................... 63 27 36 15 / 0 30 20 0 El Morro........................ 60 24 33 14 / 0 20 20 0 Grants.......................... 66 27 37 13 / 0 10 10 0 Quemado......................... 63 26 38 16 / 0 10 10 0 Magdalena....................... 68 34 44 21 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 62 27 39 18 / 0 0 5 0 Reserve......................... 66 27 45 16 / 0 5 0 0 Glenwood........................ 71 29 47 25 / 0 5 0 0 Chama........................... 54 19 27 10 / 5 50 50 5 Los Alamos...................... 64 30 37 20 / 0 20 20 0 Pecos........................... 64 30 37 17 / 0 10 10 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 57 29 33 19 / 0 20 20 5 Red River....................... 51 23 25 9 / 0 30 40 10 Angel Fire...................... 53 28 30 5 / 0 20 20 10 Taos............................ 64 27 36 14 / 0 20 20 5 Mora............................ 62 30 37 16 / 0 10 10 0 Espanola........................ 71 35 43 21 / 0 10 10 0 Santa Fe........................ 66 34 39 18 / 0 10 20 5 Santa Fe Airport................ 70 33 43 19 / 0 10 10 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 71 34 44 26 / 0 10 10 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 73 36 46 24 / 0 10 5 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 75 31 48 23 / 0 10 5 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 73 34 46 24 / 0 10 5 0 Belen........................... 77 36 50 21 / 0 5 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 74 35 45 24 / 0 10 10 0 Bosque Farms.................... 76 33 49 21 / 0 5 0 0 Corrales........................ 74 34 46 24 / 0 10 5 0 Los Lunas....................... 76 34 49 22 / 0 5 0 0 Placitas........................ 71 34 43 25 / 0 10 10 0 Rio Rancho...................... 73 36 44 24 / 0 10 5 0 Socorro......................... 78 41 54 25 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 66 31 37 21 / 0 10 10 0 Tijeras......................... 68 33 40 22 / 0 10 5 0 Edgewood........................ 68 32 40 19 / 0 5 5 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 71 34 42 16 / 0 5 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 67 31 39 18 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 69 34 43 18 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 69 36 47 19 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 72 44 53 26 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 66 37 47 23 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 68 34 45 12 / 0 0 0 20 Raton........................... 71 33 47 14 / 0 0 0 20 Springer........................ 73 37 49 17 / 0 0 0 10 Las Vegas....................... 68 33 42 18 / 0 0 5 0 Clayton......................... 76 43 54 20 / 0 0 0 10 Roy............................. 72 39 48 20 / 0 0 0 5 Conchas......................... 80 44 57 24 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 77 42 54 24 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 81 45 61 25 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 80 45 64 27 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 83 47 67 27 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 81 44 62 26 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 87 49 71 30 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 77 47 59 26 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 73 44 56 23 / 0 0 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from 9 AM this morning to 9 PM MDT this evening for NMZ101-105-106-109-120>122-124. High Wind Warning from 11 AM this morning to midnight MDT tonight for NMZ201-202-205-206. Wind Advisory from noon today to 9 PM MDT this evening for NMZ203-204-207-209-216>220-230>232-234>238-241. Red Flag Warning from 9 AM this morning to 9 PM MDT Tuesday for NMZ104-123-125-126. High Wind Warning from 6 AM to 9 PM MDT Tuesday for NMZ207-212- 218>220-222-224-225-228>238-241. Red Flag Warning from 10 AM to 9 PM MDT Tuesday for NMZ106-124. High Wind Warning from 6 PM this evening to 9 PM MDT Tuesday for NMZ208-210-211-213>215-221-223-226-227-239-240. Wind Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 6 PM MDT this evening for NMZ208-210-211-213>215-221-223-226-227-239-240. Wind Advisory from noon today to 6 AM MDT Tuesday for NMZ212-222- 224-225-228-229-233. && SHORT TERM...52 LONG TERM....16 AVIATION...52
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
28 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Taos Ski Valley measured a peak wind gust of 81 mph at Kachina Peak. This station regularly saw wind gusts over 60 mph during April 3rd and 4th.
The Angel Fire Airport measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
The Smokey Bear RAWS measured a peak gust of 65 mph.
The Magdalena Ridge Observatory mesonet station measured a peak wind gust of 80 mph. The station regularly saw gusts greater than 60 mph for April 3rd and April 4th.
The Sandia Airpark measured a peak gust of 75 mph.
The Las Vegas Airport measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
The Gallup Airport measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph.
The Farmington Airport measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.
The El Malpais Lava Flow RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.
A Los Alamos National Laboratory mesonet station measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.
The Las Vegas Airport measured a peak gust of 63 mph.
The mesonet station southeast of Vaughn measured a high sustained wind of 50 mph.
The mesonet station southeast of Vaughn measured a peak wind gust of 67 mph. Several other stations saw peak wind gusts of 59 to 61 mph.
The Sandia Airpark measured a peak gust of 66 mph.
A public weather station in the Tusas Mountains measured a high sustained wind speed of 40 mph.
The Tucumcari Airport measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph. Another mesonet station measured a peak wind gust of 60 mph in the southeastern section of the county.
A public weather station at Sumner Lake measured a peak wind gust of 60 mph.
The KVFUD5 mesonet station in Magdalena measured a high sustained wind speed of 44 mph.
The Dunken RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.
The Roswell Industrial Airport measured a peak wind gust of 70 mph. Two other stations reported wind gusts of 60 and 61 mph.
The GW0819 mesonet station in Clovis measured a peak wind gust of 68 mph. Several other stations reported wind gusts of 58 to 63 mph.
The NMC51 mesonet site measured a peak gust of 58 mph.
The Raton Airport measured a peak gust of 61 mph.
The Sulf White Sands Missile Range mesonet station measured a high sustained wind speed of 41 mph.
The Dora 2SW Texas mesonet station measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph. Several other stations reported wind gusts of 64 mph.
The Clines Corners ASOS measured a peak gust of 66 mph.
The Little Burro White Sands Missile Range mesonet station measured a peak gust of 58 mph.
The Albuquerque Sunport measured a peak gust of 60 mph.
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: 1080152, 1080143, 1080161, 1080148, 1080157, 1080146, 1080141, 1080139, 1080142, 1080151, 1080163, 1080165, 1080166, 1080158, 1080150, 1080168, 1080172, 1080176, 1080174, 1080173, 1080170, 1080164, 1080162, 1080155, 1080171, 1080159, 1080160, 1080154.