Stronger mid-level winds moved across the state south of an upper level disturbance across the northern and central Rockies. Some of these winds mixed down to the surface |at the mesonet station southeast of Vaughn resulting in several hours of sustained high winds and high wind gusts during the late morning and afternoon.
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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.
Stronger mid-level winds moved across the state south of an upper level disturbance across the northern and central Rockies. Some of these winds mixed down to the surface |at the mesonet station southeast of Vaughn resulting in several hours of sustained high winds and high wind gusts during the late morning and afternoon. Winds tapered off around sunset.
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 Dec 8, 4:06 AM MST, 6 hours 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 406 AM MST Sun Dec 8 2024 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 400 AM MST Sun Dec 8 2024 - Patchy dense fog in eastern NM will dissipate shortly after sunrise. - Gusty westerly wind gusts up to 60 mph will create hazardous crosswinds in east-central NM this afternoon. - A quick hitting winter storm looks to bring colder temps and light snow early next week. Very cold temps will increase the risk of frostbite and hypothermia Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 209 AM MST Sun Dec 8 2024 Patchy fog in eastern NM will dissipate by late morning. Gusty west winds will develop just east of the central mountain chain this afternoon, remaining breezy through the night. A quick-hitting winter storm brings light snow to the northern mountains and adjacent highlands Monday night. Temperatures drop Tuesday and Wednesday, resulting in an elevated risk of hypothermia and frostbite in the chilly mornings. Dry weather prevails late week through next weekend as temperatures climb back above seasonal averages. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Monday) Issued at 209 AM MST Sun Dec 8 2024 A surface lee trough developing over eastern NM this morning is relegating only patchy low clouds and fog to the Caprock and Pecos River Valley. This activity is likely to clear quickly this morning as surface winds strengthen out of the west with lowering dewpoints. The focus will shift to strong west/northwest winds this afternoon along the central highlands. Model guidance hasn't changed much the past 24 hrs with peak wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph expected in the area from near Clines Corners to Vaughn and eastern Lincoln County. Confidence was high enough to upgrade the High Wind Watch to a Warning. Winds will taper off this evening in many areas but remain elevated in the high terrain tonight ahead of the next storm system. Widespread cirrus will spread over the region from west to east with the approach of a 100-110 kt speed max aloft. A powerful cold front will then surge south into northern NM Monday with a very cold upper level trough approaching from the northern Rockies. High clouds will clear from west to east Monday ahead of the trough. Max temps are likely to occur by the late morning north of I-40 followed by brisk northerly wind gusts of 25-35 mph. Areas south of I-40 will see one more day of above normal max temps with relatively light winds. An area of snow will be developing southward along the Front Range of CO in the wake of the backdoor portion of the cold front Monday afternoon. Minor impacts may occur along I-25 at Raton Pass prior to sunset Monday. && .LONG TERM... (Monday night through Saturday) Issued at 209 AM MST Sun Dec 8 2024 Light snow showers will continue in the northeast Monday night as the aformentioned fast moving trough skirts the Land of Enchantment. Snow accumulations will generally be less than 1", but would not be surprised to see localized totals of 2-4" where sfc convergence sets up. Cold temps will allow any snow that falls to stick so there could be some slick travel in the northern mountains and northeast highlands on Tuesday morning. A cold airmass will continue funneling into the area on Tuesday, making it a chilly day for most. While highs will only be 5 to 15 degrees below average, the brisk northerly wind will make it feel colder and this will be the first cold snap we've experienced in a while. Wednesday morning will be the coldest morning of the forecast period for most with lows in the single digits and teens in many lower elevation areas. With light west winds holding on along and east of the central mountain chain, there is a question about whether strong temperature inversions will develop in mountain and river valleys. The very dry and dense airmass should promote inversion development so did tweak temps with that in mind. Temperatures will rebound quite quickly on Wednesday afternoon as heights rapidly rise out ahead of a very strong ridge centered over the west coast of the US. The ridge will slide overhead late week, albeit breaking down somewhat as it propagates across the Intermountain West. The overall synoptic pattern should remain somewhat progressive next weekend into the early part of the following week, but the jet stream looks to remain too far north to bring substantial moisture into the desert southwest. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 400 AM MST Sun Dec 8 2024 A couple small patches of IFR fog on the Caprock and along the Pecos River between Roswell and Ft Sumner will clear quickly after sunrise. Drier west/northwest flow will slide over the area today with strong winds and mt wave action near the central mt chain. Gusts of 40 to 50KT will impact the region around Clines Corners from noon to 5pm. Winds will taper off after sunset in most areas except the high terrain. A veil of cirrus will spread over the region tonight ahead of the next storm system. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 209 AM MST Sun Dec 8 2024 Strong west to northwest winds will impact the central highlands today with gusts of 50 to 60 mph expected. Min humidity is likely to remain above 20%. However, given the strength of the winds there is potential for fire spread in fine fuels. A potent cold front will then surge southward over NM Monday with much colder temps Tuesday and Wednesday. There will be a small area of light snow along the Sangre de Cristo Mts and parts of northeast NM Monday night and Tuesday morning. Very low humidity will return in the wake of this system with a slow warming trend Thursday and Friday. A weak storm system will attempt to cross the area Saturday with more clouds and perhaps a couple showers in the high terrain. Poor ventilation is likely for the entire region Wednesday thru Friday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 50 22 42 16 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 49 15 41 7 / 0 0 10 10 Cuba............................ 50 22 43 13 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 55 19 46 11 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 51 25 44 15 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 55 22 48 13 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 54 24 49 12 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 58 33 53 21 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 54 29 49 16 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 63 19 58 14 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 64 29 60 25 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 46 17 37 7 / 0 0 20 20 Los Alamos...................... 49 29 45 19 / 0 0 0 20 Pecos........................... 53 29 46 17 / 0 0 0 30 Cerro/Questa.................... 48 21 39 12 / 0 0 10 40 Red River....................... 45 19 33 6 / 0 0 30 50 Angel Fire...................... 46 16 37 5 / 0 0 10 50 Taos............................ 50 19 44 10 / 0 0 0 30 Mora............................ 56 26 46 12 / 0 0 0 30 Espanola........................ 57 24 51 16 / 0 0 0 20 Santa Fe........................ 51 28 46 18 / 0 0 0 30 Santa Fe Airport................ 54 29 49 17 / 0 0 0 20 Albuquerque Foothills........... 56 32 52 23 / 0 0 0 10 Albuquerque Heights............. 56 32 54 22 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 59 30 56 22 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 58 31 55 23 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 61 28 58 20 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 59 31 54 20 / 0 0 0 5 Bosque Farms.................... 59 27 57 19 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 59 30 55 21 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 59 28 57 20 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 55 32 50 21 / 0 0 0 10 Rio Rancho...................... 59 32 52 22 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 65 34 62 24 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 51 29 46 18 / 0 0 0 10 Tijeras......................... 54 29 49 20 / 0 0 0 10 Edgewood........................ 54 27 49 17 / 0 0 0 10 Moriarty/Estancia............... 54 23 51 14 / 0 0 0 10 Clines Corners.................. 50 28 47 16 / 0 0 0 10 Mountainair..................... 54 30 51 18 / 0 0 0 5 Gran Quivira.................... 55 30 53 18 / 0 0 0 5 Carrizozo....................... 57 34 56 22 / 0 0 0 5 Ruidoso......................... 53 35 52 20 / 0 0 0 5 Capulin......................... 57 26 36 13 / 0 0 20 30 Raton........................... 62 23 43 14 / 0 0 20 40 Springer........................ 60 23 46 15 / 0 0 0 20 Las Vegas....................... 59 28 47 16 / 0 0 0 20 Clayton......................... 66 30 43 23 / 0 0 0 10 Roy............................. 61 30 44 21 / 0 0 0 20 Conchas......................... 67 33 53 26 / 0 0 0 20 Santa Rosa...................... 61 37 56 25 / 0 0 0 10 Tucumcari....................... 67 31 51 25 / 0 0 0 10 Clovis.......................... 66 35 57 28 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 67 35 60 28 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 67 38 62 27 / 0 0 0 5 Roswell......................... 72 40 68 33 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 64 42 63 26 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 63 39 62 23 / 0 0 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning from 10 AM this morning to 5 PM MST this afternoon for NMZ223-233-239. Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 5 PM MST this afternoon for NMZ237. && SHORT TERM...42 LONG TERM....16 AVIATION...42
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 749 AM MST Sun Dec 8 2024 NMZ213-215-227-228-082330- Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains- East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains- Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass- Far Northeast Highlands- 749 AM MST Sun Dec 8 2024 ...LIGHT SNOW WITH POTENTIAL SLICK TRAVEL LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY MORNING ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHEAST NM... Up to 3 inches of snow is expected for the Sangre de Cristo Mountains eastward along the Colorado border, to include Raton Pass, late Monday afternoon and Monday night. Slick travel is possible, including I-25 through Raton Pass and portions of U.S. Highway 64/87. Folks planning travel in these areas late Monday and Monday night should be prepared for winter travel conditions and allow extra time to reach your destination. 24
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The ZiaMet station a few miles southeast of Vaughn observed several hours of high wind gusts peaking at 65 mph. High sustained winds peaking at 50 mph were also observed during this time.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, December 2024
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: 1219855.