A strong portion of the jetstream associated with a deep upper level low brought damaging winds to portions of northern and central NM February 22, 2023. Peak gusts regularly topped 70 mph, with the Santa Fe Airport recording a peak gust of 85 mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 55 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 portion of the jetstream associated with a deep upper level low brought damaging winds to portions of northern and central NM February 22, 2023. Peak gusts regularly topped 70 mph, with the Santa Fe Airport recording a peak gust of 85 mph. The Magdalena Observatory also measured a peak gust of 93 mph in the San Mateo Mountains of western Socorro County. There were numerous reports of down trees, mostly within the Rio Grande Valley stretching from near Socorro to the Albuquerque metro. The most extreme of these wind damage reports included down transmission or communication towers at the Sandia Crest. This storm system also brought winter storm conditions, mostly to western and northern NM. These include reports of heavy snow, road closures along Interstate 40, and an avalanche at the Taos Ski Valley.
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 Feb 22, 4:28 AM MST, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 428 AM MST Wed Feb 22 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 223 AM MST Wed Feb 22 2023 The season’s strongest and most damaging storm system rolls across New Mexico today. Widespread high to damaging winds with gusts reaching 60 to 80+ mph are expected from this morning through the entire afternoon. Winter storm to localized blizzard conditions will also impact much of western and northern NM, as well as the high terrain of the south-central mountains near Sierra Blanca Peak. Widespread travel impacts will result, either from blowing snow and icy roads through western and northern NM or dangerous crosswinds and blowing dust through eastern NM. Conditions improve tonight into Thursday morning. Breezy to locally windy conditions remain Thursday and Friday, but not nearly as strong. After a break in the weather Saturday, the next winter storm system arrives Sunday bringing more snow to western and northern NM and widespread windy conditions. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Thursday) Issued at 223 AM MST Wed Feb 22 2023 The latest WV loop shows a massive upper level trough over the western CONUS moving slowly southeast toward the desert southwest. This system is pulling out all the stops with numerous variables above the 99th percentile or beyond model climo extremes for late February. The end yield will be very dangerous weather conditions for NM today with hurricane force wind gusts, heavy snow, blowing snow, blowing dust, low visibility, and potential power outages. A band of moist southwest flow is pushing slowly east into western NM this morning ahead of the parent H5 low deepening into the Great Basin. Large scale ascent along this band of moisture has allowed rain and mt snow showers to develop over much of central and western NM. Snow levels will plummet to valley bottoms thru early afternoon as a powerful Pacific cold front marches east. A 700-500mb speed max near 95 kt is approaching from the west and surface wind gusts have already exceeded 60 kt in many areas of southern CA, NV, and western AZ. This speed max will slide east and produce hurricane force wind gusts over the southern high terrain of NM from late morning to mid afternoon. HREF, NBM, and MOS numbers support wind gusts peaking in the 10am to 3pm timeframe with gusts of 75 to 90 mph from the Gila region into the Sacramento Mts. Gusts of 60 to 75 mph are expected farther north toward the I-40 corridor, including the Rio Grande Valley. The combination of snow and extreme winds will result in whiteout conditions in the Gila Wilderness and the higher terrain above Ruidoso. Latest QPF and Snow Amounts trended lower for these areas. While winter impacts are expected in the Ruidoso area the wind will be of greater concern in population areas while blizzard- like conditions occur around Sierra Blanca. Large areas of blowing dust are likely for eastern NM where low visibility, tumbleweeds, and extreme crosswinds will make travel very dangerous. Winds will taper off quickly in most areas tonight as colder air filters in behind the Pacific cold front. West-facing slopes will still squeeze out some additional snowfall with light to moderate amounts possible across the north. Winds will remain elevated over Lincoln County where high winds continue thru midnight. Thursday will be a much better day however orographic snow showers will continue across the north and west with breezy conditions areawide. && .LONG TERM... (Thursday night through Tuesday) Issued at 223 AM MST Wed Feb 22 2023 Southwesterly flow aloft remains entrenched over NM Friday with breezy to locally windy conditions over much of the forecast area through the afternoon. Orographically driven snow will remain persistent over the CO San Juans stretching into the Tusas Mountains in Rio Arriba County during the morning hours. Snow then looks to end as a weak perturbation embedded within the northwesterly flow shoots northeastward through the Four Corners region by the afternoon. Friday night into Saturday morning sees an increase in mid to high level cloud cover over NM, while an influx of boundary layer moisture from the Gulf of Mexico advances into southeastern NM. Model soundings in this area are favoring a bank of low clouds and potentially fog and light drizzle over De Baca, Curry, Roosevelt, and Chaves Counties early Saturday morning thanks to the 40-45F dewpoints that fill into this area of the state. By Saturday evening, global model solutions are closing off an H5 upper low over southern CA. This 545dm H5 upper low advances eastward over AZ through Sunday morning, with precipitation reaching the NM border by mid-day Sunday. A round of strong southwesterly winds will reach much of the forecast area with gusts of 35 to 50 mph common. The center of the upper low quickly tracks across northern NM moving over the TX Panhandle by Sunday evening. Any rainfall along and ahead of the Pacific cold front will quickly transition to snow as H7 temperatures quickly fall from -4C to -12C behind the front. The timing of the cold front is such that high temperatures Sunday will likely be mid to late morning for western and central areas, falling through the afternoon. This means valley rain along and west of the Rio Grande Valley will transition to snow or a rain/snow mix through the afternoon period. Downsloping will cutoff any precipitation chances east of the central mountain chain. Conditions clear out with winds decreasing Sunday night, with the exception of the highlands immediately east of the central mountain chain where strong westerly winds look to last well overnight. Zonal flow fills in Monday and Tuesday with breezy to locally windy conditions each afternoon. Weak upper level perturbations will bring snow to the northwestern high terrain by Tuesday and into Wednesday. The active upper level jet pattern persists to start March producing another storm system rolling through the Desert Southwest by late next week. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 413 AM MST Wed Feb 22 2023 A high impact weather event is moving into NM early this morning with widespread strong to possibly damaging winds thru late this afternoon. Southwest winds are already increasing over the area and will strengthen rapidly aft 15Z. Peak gusts of 50 to 65 kt are likely at all terminals along and south of I-40 and east of I-25. Areas around KSRR may see gusts in excess of 75 kt between 17Z and 21Z. A band of snow and blowing snow will also march east with a west wind shift from western NM into the central mt chain by 20Z. Whiteout conditions are possible for a couple hours in the northern and western mts with the Pacific cold front. Winds will taper off quickly this evening but remain breezy all areas thru sunrise Thursday. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 223 AM MST Wed Feb 22 2023 Damaging winds, rain, snow, blowing snow, blowing dust, and colder temperatures are in store the next 24 hours. Marginal critical fire weather conditions are likely along the TX border due to the extreme winds. Meanwhile, the northern and western high terrain will see light to moderate snowfall accums. Thursday will remain breezy and cool with orographic snow showers continuing across the north and west. Friday and Saturday will be a bit more tranquil with southwest breezes and warming temps. The next system will move in from the west on Sunday with greater snow chances for the north and potential high winds and critical fire weather across the east. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 36 20 40 25 / 80 20 20 20 Dulce........................... 36 8 35 16 / 100 60 50 30 Cuba............................ 36 13 37 18 / 80 20 10 0 Gallup.......................... 33 16 35 20 / 90 30 10 5 El Morro........................ 33 17 36 19 / 80 30 10 0 Grants.......................... 37 13 41 17 / 70 20 0 0 Quemado......................... 37 19 41 24 / 60 10 0 0 Magdalena....................... 43 24 46 30 / 20 5 0 0 Datil........................... 36 20 40 25 / 40 10 0 0 Reserve......................... 37 17 40 19 / 100 30 20 0 Glenwood........................ 40 26 47 28 / 90 40 20 0 Chama........................... 30 5 28 14 / 100 70 60 30 Los Alamos...................... 34 20 38 26 / 80 20 5 0 Pecos........................... 40 16 38 24 / 80 10 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 36 14 34 22 / 90 30 20 5 Red River....................... 29 5 27 15 / 100 50 30 10 Angel Fire...................... 30 3 29 12 / 90 40 40 10 Taos............................ 34 10 34 18 / 80 20 10 0 Mora............................ 39 14 38 23 / 70 20 0 0 Espanola........................ 42 21 44 25 / 70 10 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 38 18 39 26 / 80 10 5 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 41 19 41 25 / 70 10 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 46 26 49 33 / 50 5 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 48 25 51 31 / 40 5 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 50 23 53 30 / 40 5 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 48 24 51 29 / 50 5 0 0 Belen........................... 51 22 55 29 / 30 5 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 48 24 51 29 / 60 5 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 50 21 54 28 / 40 5 0 0 Corrales........................ 49 24 52 29 / 50 5 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 50 21 54 28 / 40 5 0 0 Placitas........................ 44 24 46 30 / 60 5 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 47 24 51 29 / 50 5 0 0 Socorro......................... 53 26 55 32 / 20 5 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 40 20 42 29 / 70 10 5 0 Tijeras......................... 43 22 45 30 / 60 10 5 0 Edgewood........................ 45 19 45 27 / 60 10 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 48 18 47 25 / 50 5 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 43 17 42 26 / 60 10 0 0 Mountainair..................... 45 21 46 30 / 50 5 5 0 Gran Quivira.................... 45 22 46 30 / 40 5 5 0 Carrizozo....................... 45 30 48 35 / 40 10 10 0 Ruidoso......................... 39 25 42 32 / 70 40 20 0 Capulin......................... 46 14 41 23 / 20 5 0 0 Raton........................... 49 13 43 21 / 30 5 0 0 Springer........................ 51 15 47 25 / 20 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 44 17 42 25 / 40 5 0 0 Clayton......................... 56 20 48 22 / 5 0 0 0 Roy............................. 51 20 46 29 / 10 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 59 25 55 32 / 5 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 55 24 52 31 / 10 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 60 24 56 30 / 5 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 62 28 59 31 / 5 0 0 0 Portales........................ 63 29 61 31 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 59 28 57 31 / 5 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 65 35 65 35 / 5 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 53 32 55 34 / 5 5 0 0 Elk............................. 50 31 53 35 / 10 10 5 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM MST Thursday for NMZ201-204- 216. High Wind Warning from 8 AM this morning to 2 AM MST Thursday for NMZ207-212-218>225-227>241. Winter Storm Warning until 5 AM MST Thursday for NMZ202-203-205- 206-208>211-213>215. Wind Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 2 AM MST Thursday for NMZ217. High Wind Warning until 5 AM MST Thursday for NMZ226. && SHORT TERM...42 LONG TERM....24 AVIATION...42
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
438 AM MST WED FEB 22 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0404 AM HIGH SUST WINDS 1 WNW GASCON 35.89N 105.46W
02/22/2023 M62 MPH MORA NM MESONET
MESONET STATION GSCN5 BARTLEY.
&&
TRMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
443 AM MST WED FEB 22 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 10 SSE MAGDALENA 33.98N 107.19W
02/22/2023 E68 MPH SOCORRO NM MESONET
&&
42PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
447 AM MST WED FEB 22 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0404 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WNW GASCON 35.89N 105.46W
02/22/2023 M62 MPH MORA NM MESONET
MESONET STATION GSCN5 BARTLEY.
&&
TRMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
454 AM MST WED FEB 22 2023...CORRECTED EVENT TYPE...
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0404 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WNW GASCON 35.89N 105.46W
02/22/2023 M62 MPH MORA NM MESONET
MESONET STATION GSCN5 BARTLEY.
&&
TRMThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
51 high wind, 2 winter storm, 1 avalanche, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
The Sierra Blanca Airport AWOS measured a peak gust of 74 mph.
The Smokey Bear RAWS measured a peak gust of 70 mph.
Road and school closures reported in Taos from winter storm.
Deputy County Manager Jason Silva relayed an avalanche report within the Taos Ski Valley on Upper Twining Road. The avalanche crossed Rubezahl Trail and Lake Fork River bringing a reported 10 to 12 feet of snow. Taos Ski Valley reported houses and people were safe.
The Santa Rosa Airport AWOS measured a peak wind gust of 69 mph.
The SE Vaughn mesonet station measured a peak wind gust of 67 mph.
The Farmington Airport ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.
The Farmington Airport ASOS measured a high sustained wind speed of 41 mph.
A trained spotter reported 9 inches of snow accumulation at Dulce, NM.
I-40 closed from the Arizona border to Gallup due to winter storm and snow squall causing near zero visibility with snow packed and icy roads.
The Stallion WIT WSMR station measured a peak wind gust of 70 mph.
The Sulf WSMR station measured a peak wind gust of 68 mph.
The Harry WSMR station measured a peak wind gust of 68 mph.
The Las Vegas Airport ASOS measured a peak gust of 75 mph.
The Las Vegas Airport ASOS measured a high sustained wind of 55 mph.
The North Oscura Peak WSMR station measured a peak gust of 72 mph.
The CWOP station FW3653 in Estancia measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.
A private citizen weather station near Des Moines measured a peak gust of 64 mph.
The Phillips Hill WSMR station measured a peak gust of 77 mph.
The Oscura Range Cam WSMR station measured a peak gust of 66 mph.
The Chupadera RAWS station measured a peak gust of 64 mph.
The Roswell Industrial Airport ASOS measured a high sustained wind speed of 49 mph.
The Roswell Industrial Airport ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.
The CWOP DW5430 station in Placitas measured a peak wind gust of 77 mph.
The Albuquerque Sunport ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 73 mph.
A trained storm spotter reported wind damage of uprooted and downed trees taking down a metal fence in front of St. Joseph's High School at Coors and St. Josephs Drive.
The Albuquerque Sunport ASOS measured a high sustained wind of 52 mph.
The Tucumcari Airport ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 75 mph.
The Tucumcari Airport ASOS measured a high sustained wind of 53 mph.
The CWOP station KF5VUD in Magdalena measured a peak wind gust of 75 mph.
A tree was uprooted and knocked down in backyard of property at Hop Canyon 1 mile south-southeast of Magdalena, NM.
The Raton Airport ASOS measured a peak gust of 75 mph.
The Raton Airport ASOS measured a high sustained wind of 47 mph.
The Thompson Cattle mesonet station measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph.
The Hagerman NMCC mesonet station measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.
The Laguna RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph.
A trained storm spotter reported an uprooted and downed tree at San Acacia in north-central Socorro County.
The Santa Fe ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 85 mph.
The Public Service Company of NM (PNM) reported an uprooted and downed tree in Santa Fe.
The Santa Fe ASOS measured a high sustained wind of 49 mph.
The Clines Corners ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 78 mph.
The Clines Corners ASOS measured a high sustained wind of 49 mph.
The Clovis Municipal Airport AWOS measured a high sustained wind of 46 mph.
An amateur radio spotter reported down transmission and communication towers at the Sandia Crest.
The NMCC Edgewood SWCD station measured a peak wind gust of 67 mph.
The Glorieta CWOP measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.
A private weather station in Fort Sumner measured a high sustained wind speed of 50 mph.
A member of the public reported an uprooted and downed tree in their backyard at Western Hills and Southern Boulevard in Rio Rancho.
There was a public report of high winds knocking down a brick wall in Corrales.
The Dunken RAWS measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.
The Dunken RAWS measured a high sustained wind speed of 43 mph.
The West Texas Mesonet station 2 miles southwest of Dora measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph.
A private weather station near Newkirk and Conchas Lake measured a high sustained wind speed of 45 mph.
The CWOP station GW0819 measured a high sustained wind of 47 mph.
The CWOP station GW0819 measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.
The NMCC Clayton LRC station measured a peak gust of 64 mph.
The Clayton Airport ASOS measured a peak gust of 61 mph.
The Mills Canyon RAWS 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, February 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: 1072931, 1072932, 1073014, 1073032, 1072952, 1072955, 1073066, 1073067, 1073008, 1073012, 1072910, 1072911, 1072912, 1072937, 1072939, 1072925, 1072916, 1072934, 1072928, 1072929, 1072930, 1072967, 1072969, 1072906, 1072907, 1072908, 1072958, 1072959, 1072975, 1072935, 1072936, 1072956, 1072971, 1072899, 1073000, 1072903, 1072904, 1072917, 1072919, 1072960, and more.