Strong westerly winds mixed down across much northern and central NM on February 28, 2023. A surface low over eastern CO help enhance these wind speeds over far northeastern NM where a high wind gust report was observed at the Clayton Municipal Airport.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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.
Strong westerly winds mixed down across much northern and central NM on February 28, 2023. A surface low over eastern CO help enhance these wind speeds over far northeastern NM where a high wind gust report was observed at the Clayton Municipal Airport. High sustained wind speeds reaching above 40 mph and peak gusts above 60 mph were observed for an hour or so around noon.
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 28, 10:59 AM MST, 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1059 AM MST Tue Feb 28 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 303 AM MST Tue Feb 28 2023 A windy pattern will persist through the work week, with the strongest winds forecast east of the central mountain chain. A potent storm system will begin impacting the mountains of western New Mexico on Wednesday, with chances for snow ramping up Wednesday night into Thursday as the system races east across the area. In addition to accumulating snow, this system will also bring strong winds and colder conditions to much of the area. Colder conditions will prevail Friday and Saturday in the wake of the departing storm system, followed by warmer conditions Sunday into early next week. Windy conditions will return to eastern New Mexico by Sunday. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Wednesday) Issued at 303 AM MST Tue Feb 28 2023 As an upper level trough blitzes through the Great Basin, a 300 mb speed max carves a path through the Desert Southwest. This will bring another day of windy conditions to the central mts, their adjacent highlands, and a majority of the eastern plains. As such, did not make any changes to and will continue the already hoisted Wind Advisory. Brisk winds will persist again on Wednesday as southwest flow aloft strengthens in response to an incoming upper low, especially at ridgetops. Another handful of wind advisories may be in order via the future update to accommodate Wednesday's conditions. As moisture increases, orographically driven snow showers are expected to form across the Tusas and Chuskas during the day. Only a few inches of snow is expected with this forcing ahead of the main system but did hoist a Winter Storm Warning for these areas in anticipation of the dynamics to come. Daytime highs will be well below normal across the west, with eastern plains coming in above normal. && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 303 AM MST Tue Feb 28 2023 Moisture advection will continue into Wednesday night in advance of the approaching upper low and associated cold front, which is forecast to be over central AZ at an impressive 532dam at 500mb. Orographic forcing will favor the mountains of western NM for accumulating snow Wednesday evening, but then precipitation will expand overnight as a strong baroclinic zone begins to push into the state. The upper low is forecast to race east across the state in about 12hrs and be over the TX Panhandle by 00Z Friday. The short residence time will no doubt limit snow accumulation, but we still have warning amounts forecast in the Tusas, Chuska, Jemez and southwest mountains. Will issue a Winter Storm Watch for those zones. A round of Winter Weather Advisories will likely be required for a number of other areas. Not to be outdone by the snow, but the winds will be on the uptrend once again as well. The strongest winds are forecast along our southern border due to the more southerly track of the upper low compared to the last event. Will likely hit warning threshold in the south central mountains, southwest Chaves County and eastern Lincoln County beginning Wedesday night. Will issue a High Wind Watch that will continue through Thursday evening given strong winds forecast on the backside of the departing upper low as well. The 00Z model solutions aren't as favorable for Albuquerque to accumulate snow as the previous night's runs, but 1/2-1" is still possible across the metro area. Much colder conditions will prevail behind the cold front Thursday, with well below normal temperatures. Well below normal temperatures will persist Friday as a trailing short wave trough races east across the region. Expect a break on Saturday with a little warming, but with highs remaining below normal. Warming will continue Sunday and Monday, with temperatures returning to within a few degrees of normal. Winds will be back on the uptrend Sunday, mainly across eastern NM, due to strengthening west-southwest flow aloft and a deepening lee side trough. The 00Z model solutions are at odds with the timing of a Pacific moisture tap developing early next week, which could bring more precipitation to northwest NM. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1046 AM MST Tue Feb 28 2023 Winds will be on the uptrend today as another storm system takes aim on NM. VFR ceilings and visibilities will continue to be the rule at all TAF locations through tonight with the exception of KFMN where MVFR ceilings with local light snow is possible tonight. Winds increase relatively early once again Wednesday morning at most TAF locations as the above system moves into AZ. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 303 AM MST Tue Feb 28 2023 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11AM THIS MORNING THROUGH 6PM THIS EVENING FOR THE NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS, MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, AND SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS BELOW SNOWPACK DUE TO VERY WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY LATE MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EARLY EVENING FOR THE EAST CENTRAL PLAINS DUE TO VERY WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS... Windy and dry conditions continue to plague northern and central New Mexico today, making their return on Wednesday. Low minimum RH will combine with moderate to strong west and west-southwest winds across the northeast and east central plains, middle Rio Grande Valley, and the Sandia and Manzano Mountains this afternoon, creating critical fire weather conditions. The most unfavorable conditions in the Rio Grande Valley and Sandias/Manzanos will favor the southern-most portions of the zone, below snowpack. Conditions return to the east central plains Wednesday as a storm system barrels down on the state. Accumulating snowfall will favor the high terrain west of the central mountains from Wednesday night through Thursday morning. Conditions will clear Friday into the weekend, with rebounding temperatures and decreasing humidity. Unsettled weather looks to make its return early to mid next week. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 45 26 45 28 / 10 30 50 70 Dulce........................... 39 20 41 21 / 40 60 90 70 Cuba............................ 42 22 43 22 / 5 5 30 70 Gallup.......................... 42 26 41 23 / 0 10 30 80 El Morro........................ 42 22 41 22 / 0 0 20 90 Grants.......................... 47 20 45 20 / 0 0 10 80 Quemado......................... 48 24 45 22 / 0 0 10 80 Magdalena....................... 55 28 52 26 / 0 0 0 60 Datil........................... 48 24 45 22 / 0 0 0 90 Reserve......................... 52 24 47 18 / 0 0 20 90 Glenwood........................ 54 30 51 25 / 0 0 20 90 Chama........................... 31 15 33 19 / 50 70 90 80 Los Alamos...................... 43 24 43 28 / 0 5 30 70 Pecos........................... 45 23 45 25 / 0 0 20 50 Cerro/Questa.................... 39 22 37 28 / 5 10 60 70 Red River....................... 31 16 32 19 / 20 20 70 70 Angel Fire...................... 31 13 35 16 / 10 10 50 60 Taos............................ 39 22 41 23 / 5 5 40 60 Mora............................ 43 21 43 24 / 0 0 20 50 Espanola........................ 50 25 50 28 / 0 5 20 50 Santa Fe........................ 45 24 45 27 / 0 0 20 60 Santa Fe Airport................ 48 24 49 26 / 0 0 10 50 Albuquerque Foothills........... 55 30 53 33 / 0 0 5 40 Albuquerque Heights............. 57 30 55 30 / 0 0 0 40 Albuquerque Valley.............. 60 28 57 30 / 0 0 0 40 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 56 28 55 30 / 0 0 0 50 Belen........................... 62 28 60 30 / 0 0 0 40 Bernalillo...................... 57 28 55 30 / 0 0 5 50 Bosque Farms.................... 61 28 59 28 / 0 0 0 40 Corrales........................ 57 28 56 29 / 0 0 0 50 Los Lunas....................... 60 28 59 27 / 0 0 0 40 Placitas........................ 52 28 52 31 / 0 0 10 50 Rio Rancho...................... 56 28 54 30 / 0 0 0 50 Socorro......................... 65 31 63 32 / 0 0 0 40 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 48 25 47 27 / 0 0 10 50 Tijeras......................... 51 25 50 29 / 0 0 10 40 Edgewood........................ 51 23 50 27 / 0 0 5 40 Moriarty/Estancia............... 53 22 53 23 / 0 0 0 40 Clines Corners.................. 49 24 49 23 / 0 0 0 40 Mountainair..................... 55 26 53 27 / 0 0 0 40 Gran Quivira.................... 56 28 54 26 / 0 0 0 30 Carrizozo....................... 61 37 58 32 / 0 0 0 30 Ruidoso......................... 52 34 51 24 / 0 0 0 30 Capulin......................... 47 21 49 24 / 0 0 0 30 Raton........................... 49 19 51 24 / 0 0 5 40 Springer........................ 52 21 53 25 / 0 0 0 30 Las Vegas....................... 49 23 50 25 / 0 0 5 30 Clayton......................... 58 26 57 28 / 0 0 0 5 Roy............................. 54 25 53 30 / 0 0 0 10 Conchas......................... 62 29 62 32 / 0 0 0 5 Santa Rosa...................... 60 28 60 31 / 0 0 0 5 Tucumcari....................... 63 31 66 30 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 68 31 66 33 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 70 32 68 34 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 66 32 65 31 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 75 36 73 38 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 65 38 62 34 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 63 38 60 31 / 0 0 0 5 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 7 PM MST this evening for NMZ215-223-227>234- 239-240. Red Flag Warning until 6 PM MST this evening for NMZ104-106-124- 126. Winter Storm Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon for NMZ208-211. Winter Storm Watch from late tonight through Thursday afternoon for NMZ202-210. Fire Weather Watch from Wednesday morning through Wednesday afternoon for NMZ126. High Wind Watch from Wednesday evening through Thursday evening for NMZ226-239-240. && SHORT TERM...12 LONG TERM....11 AVIATION...33
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Clayton Airport measured a high sustained wind speed of 41 mph.
The Clayton Airport measured a peak wind gust of 63 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: 1073657, 1073658.