Thunderstorm Wind in Taos County, New Mexico

A 70 mph wind gust was measured near El Prado from strong downburst winds associated with nearby shower activity.

As an area of high pressure centered itself to the east of New Mexico, this aided in the development of a monsoon moisture plume across Arizona and western New Mexico on June 16, 2022. The 2022 monsoon season was officially underway, and with the moisture plume focused across the western half of the state, this was generally where thunderstorms developed throughout the afternoon and evening hours. While even the low-levels moistened up, dewpoint depressions were still large enough where the threat for strong downburst winds was a big concern. Shower and thunderstorm activity near Taos produced 60 to 75 mph wind gusts late in the evening. Meanwhile, fire weather season was not done with New Mexico yet as another wildfire was stated in eastern Bernalillo County along Interstate 40 and Carnuel Canyon that forced several evacuation as well as the closure of the Interstate.