Southwest and west winds across the northern and central mountains and the adjacent highlands and plains in northeast New Mexico increased late Saturday March 2nd, 2024 into the morning of Sunday March 3rd, 2024, due to a portion of the jet stream at the base of an upper level disturbance moving over the region. A majority of the strong wind gusts between 60 to 70 mph occurred during the morning…
Every event with a place to put it; 9 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.
Southwest and west winds across the northern and central mountains and the adjacent highlands and plains in northeast New Mexico increased late Saturday March 2nd, 2024 into the morning of Sunday March 3rd, 2024, due to a portion of the jet stream at the base of an upper level disturbance moving over the region. A majority of the strong wind gusts between 60 to 70 mph occurred during the morning to early afternoon hours of the 3rd. Winds gradually subsided during the evening and overnight hours of March 3rd as the stronger upper level winds exited east.
Key Impacts: High Winds.
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 Mar 2, 4:25 PM MST, 4 hours 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 425 PM MST Sat Mar 2 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 306 PM MST Sat Mar 2 2024 West winds further ramp up tonight across the northern mountains with high wind gusts expected. These damaging high wind gusts spread across northeast and east central New Mexico Sunday morning. Critical fire conditions are expected once again across eastern New Mexico thanks to these west winds combining with low relative humidity values. Winds taper off Sunday night into Monday morning. Winds will remain breezy across the highlands through mid week with dry conditions prevailing areawide. Cooler and wetter weather returns to the state Thursday and Friday, but there is high uncertainty in regards to the overall pattern evolution these days. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Sunday night) Issued at 306 PM MST Sat Mar 2 2024 Windy conditions have developed across much of the area this afternoon, though the winds have been slow to mix down in the Rio Grande Valley. Nonetheless, the Wind Advisories look to be on track and winds will only increase going into tonight and Sunday for most areas. Areas of blowing dust have been slow to develop, but satellite imagery is starting to hint at a weak dust plume originating near Hwy 491 north of KGUP, and KRQE (Window Rock) is down to 4 miles in visibility. A rather flat trough will cross the southern Rockies tonight through Sunday. The jet will cross squarely over Colorado, but still, very strong winds on the southern side of the jet will cross NM. H7 winds will increase to 60-70kt by sunrise, though models have been consistently showing 80kt over the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Very strong mountain wave activity is expected overnight with very high rogue gusts up to 75 mph possible to the lee of the Sangre de Cristo peaks. This may impact the I-25 corridor between KRTN and KLVS overnight which would be especially dangerous to high profile vehicles. High Wind Warnings are already in place for this concern and have not been altered. Winds will likely not slow down too much over the high terrain elsewhere overnight either, so have extended the Wind Advisory for the West Central and South Central Mountains. Winds at lower elevations will rapidly increase by late Sunday morning and continue through the early evening, though mixing heights are not expected to be as high as today and H7 winds will be decreasing through the afternoon. Even so, it will remain windy in the afternoon. The I-40 corridor between KCQC and the Texas border will certainly reach Wind Advisory criteria, but these areas will be very close to High Wind criteria. As such, issued a High Wind Watch for this area, but it may just turn into a high end Wind Advisory. Other than the wind, it will remain above normal Sunday afternoon across the eastern plains thanks to strong downsloping. Western and northern NM will be near normal. With winds staying elevated tonight, low temperatures will be quite warm, but will trend downward Sunday night. && .LONG TERM... (Monday through Friday) Issued at 306 PM MST Sat Mar 2 2024 Lighter winds are expected across the region on Monday as the speed max at the base of Sunday's shortwave exits to the upper Great Lakes. However, winds will still remain breezy across the highlands due to 700 mb winds of 25 to 35 kts. Temperatures will be cooler by a few degrees due to slightly lower 500 mb heights, but still right around average across most of the region and slight above average across the east central and southeast plains. The most noticeable cooling of 10 to 15 degrees will be across far northeast NM due to a backdoor cold front entering that part of the state. The backdoor cold front makes progress south and west through most of eastern NM Monday night into Tuesday morning as a shortwave embedded within a large scale trough across the northern and central Rockies moves northeast into the northern Great Plains This will result in temperatures a degree to two cooler across the eastern plains on Tuesday. Breezy conditions will develop Tuesday afternoon across the northeast highlands due to a surface lee trough, and across the west central highlands as another shortwave moves through the central Rockies. Temperatures warm back up across eastern NM a couple of degrees on Wednesday as upper level flow backs southwest ahead of a Pacific low moving into the California coast. Breezy southwest winds will favor the highlands. It's at this point where forecast confidence really decreases due to timing differences in how the northern stream trough phases with the weakening southern stream low and eventual open trough. This weakening southern trough moves trough the desert SW Thursday into Friday morning bringing lower elevation rain showers and mountain snow showers to the state. At the same time as a shortwave across the northern Rockies exits northeast into the northern Great Plains, this will help send a backdoor cold front into northeast NM Thursday afternoon with higher moisture behind it. This backdoor front will result in upslope flow and resultant rain and snow showers along the east slopes of the central mountain chain Thursday night into Friday. An additional shortwave could dive south from the Pacific NW keeping the unsettled weather around Friday into Friday night. Upper level ridging and clearer skies look to move in next Saturday. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 329 PM MST Sat Mar 2 2024 VFR conditions prevail and are forecast to persist with a couple possible exceptions. Patchy MVFR cigs may develop late tonight into Sunday morning near KGUP and KFMN. At KROW, a late day westerly wind direction may activate dust sources west of the terminal and limit vsby, but low forecast confidence at this time. Otherwise, high forecast confidence in strong westerly flow and the potential for mountain wave development to the lee of the Sangre De Cristos overnight into Sunday morning. Dangerous gusts to at least 50kts should be expected at KLVS on Sunday. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 306 PM MST Sat Mar 2 2024 ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUE THROUGH 7PM TONIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN NM AND RETURN SUNDAY ACROSS EASTERN NM... Very, very dry conditions have been noted this afternoon with dewpoints in the single digits, both above and below zero, in many locations. Several hours of single digit RH is expected through the evening across northeast NM. While both winds and RH are reaching criteria across portions of western NM this afternoon, ERC values remain low so will not expand the Red Flag Warning westward, but those in the area should be careful with open flames. Above normal temperatures, even stronger winds, moderate to high Haines and continued low humidity is expected for eastern NM on Sunday where a Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions is already in effect. Elevated winds overnight will result in poor to marginally fair RH recovery in these areas as well. Less wind is expected for Monday, though breezy conditions will persist across east central NM. RH values across eastern NM will be between 15 and 20%. A backdoor cold front will nose into NE NM Monday night and Tuesday. Much less wind is expected for Tuesday overall across the east, but a few breezes are possible across the north and west. A storm system is on track to impact the state late in the week, which may bring some increased chances for precipitation and perhaps more winds. Thursday will bring the best chances for additional critical fire weather concerns, then cooler conditions are expected behind a cold front. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 39 59 33 55 / 20 20 10 0 Dulce........................... 31 51 26 49 / 30 60 20 5 Cuba............................ 32 55 28 50 / 5 10 5 0 Gallup.......................... 36 57 27 54 / 0 5 0 0 El Morro........................ 33 53 28 52 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 32 59 27 55 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 32 58 27 56 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 37 62 32 59 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 32 57 28 55 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 29 60 27 60 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 37 63 37 61 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 26 45 24 42 / 40 60 30 5 Los Alamos...................... 37 55 33 51 / 5 5 0 0 Pecos........................... 33 57 32 53 / 0 5 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 34 47 33 46 / 5 20 5 0 Red River....................... 27 44 24 40 / 5 20 5 0 Angel Fire...................... 26 42 22 42 / 0 10 5 0 Taos............................ 29 54 26 51 / 5 10 5 0 Mora............................ 34 55 29 53 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 35 63 30 58 / 5 5 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 34 58 32 53 / 0 5 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 33 62 31 56 / 0 5 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 41 64 37 59 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 39 67 36 61 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 38 69 34 63 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 38 67 35 61 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 36 71 32 65 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 39 67 35 61 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 37 70 32 64 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 38 68 35 62 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 37 70 33 64 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 39 63 35 58 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 38 66 35 61 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 39 73 37 67 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 38 58 33 53 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 38 61 34 56 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 36 61 31 56 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 34 64 31 58 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 33 59 31 54 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 37 63 33 56 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 34 63 32 58 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 43 66 39 61 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 40 59 37 55 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 36 60 26 54 / 0 0 0 0 Raton........................... 34 64 27 57 / 0 0 0 0 Springer........................ 37 63 28 59 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 36 61 32 57 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 42 71 33 58 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 39 65 33 59 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 42 73 40 67 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 39 69 38 64 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 41 73 39 70 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 40 76 40 69 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 39 77 40 71 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 38 75 38 68 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 41 80 43 75 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 44 71 41 67 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 45 69 40 64 / 0 0 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 8 PM MST this evening for NMZ201-202-205- 212>215-223-227>229-231>233. Red Flag Warning until 7 PM MST this evening for NMZ104-106- 123>126. Red Flag Warning from 10 AM to 7 PM MST Sunday for NMZ104-123- 125-126. High Wind Warning from 5 AM to 7 PM MST Sunday for NMZ228-229- 231-232. Wind Advisory until 7 PM MST Sunday for NMZ206-226. High Wind Warning from 8 PM this evening to 11 PM MST Sunday for NMZ202-213>215-227. High Wind Watch from late tonight through Sunday evening for NMZ223-233-234. && SHORT TERM...34 LONG TERM....71 AVIATION...11
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A public weather station at Kachina Peak in Taos Ski Valley observed a peak wind gust of 69 mph at 21:00 MST on March 2nd.
A trained spotter just south of Roy estimated wind gusts as high as 60 mph during most of the overnight and daytime hours of March 3rd.
The Raton Municipal Airport observed a peak wind gust of 66 mph at 00:46 MST. Additionally, a wunderground station at Maxwell observed a peak wind gust of 64 mph at 8:49 MST.
The Vaughn ZiaMet station observed a peak wind gust of 60 mph at 2:30 MST.
A COOP observer at Sugarite Canyon estimated wind gusts as high as 60 mph during the hours around sunrise on March 3rd.
The Nogal ZiaMet station observed a peak wind gust of 64 mph at 9:00 MST.
The Clayton Municipal Airport observed a few sustained winds above 40 mph peaking at 45 mph at 9:45 MST. It also observed several high wind gusts above 58 mph with the peak wind gust of 68 mph at 9:07 MST.
The Las Vegas Municipal airport observed a peak wind gust of 61 mph at 11:39 MST. Additionally, a wunderground station south of Las Vegas observed a peak wind gust of 60 mph at 10:44 MST.
The Gallup Municipal airport observed a wind gust of 58 mph at 13:21 MST.
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, March 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: 1154768, 1155150, 1154770, 1154773, 1155148, 1154767, 1154772, 1154771, 1154766.