High Wind in Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains, New Mexico

A portable RAWS station east-southeast of Cowles measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.

As has been all too common during the month of April, a storm system tracking eastward through the central Rockies remained too far north for any precipitation for New Mexico. Instead, this system increased westerly winds aloft on April 29th which in turn, strengthened surface winds during the afternoon and evening hours. With deep atmospheric mixing and the presence of a lee-side surface low, westerly surface winds were quick to increase by late morning before peaking during the afternoon hours. The strongest winds were measured across the Sangre de Cristo Mountains where gusts in excess of 60 mph were common. Unfortunately, ongoing wildfires only fed off these strong winds. The combined Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Wildfire spread rapidly towards the southeast during the afternoon, prompting mandatory evacuations for portions of western San Miguel County.