High Wind — Lower Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico

2022-03-29 · Lower Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico

Event narrative

A White Sands Missile Range mesonet site near Bosque del Apache measured a brief wind gust of 63 mph.

Wider weather episode

The weather pattern turned active once again across New Mexico on March 29, 2022, as a storm system approached from the west. This storm system steered a very strong upper-level jet across New Mexico which helped to strengthen surface winds as they mixed down to the surface. The strongest winds were focused across south central New Mexico as well as much of the eastern plains where wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph were common which caused for areas of blowing dust to form. The strong winds combined with very dry conditions across the plains also resulted in critical fire weather conditions which resulted in a grass fire in Roosevelt County between Portales and Clovis. This system also brought light to moderate snow to the higher terrain of western and northern New Mexico where 3 to 6 inches was generally received. Impacts: high winds, blowing dust, fire weather.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1006866. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.