High Wind — Far Northeast Highlands, New Mexico

2024-01-13 · Far Northeast Highlands, New Mexico

Event narrative

NM State Police relayed a report of high winds blowing snow and causing snow drifts across portions of I-25 from the mile markers 366 to 412, or from Fort Union to Springer. Due to the isolated ground blizzard conditions, this section of I-25 was closed near 10am MST. Snow drifts were reported to be 2 to 3 feet deep, however one photo shared clearly shows a snow drift higher than the vehicle on the side of the road. A storm spotter just west of Wagon Mound estimated gusts of 65 mph during this time.

Wider weather episode

A strong section of the jetstream screamed over the central mountain chain of NM on January 12th and 13th with mountain wave activity developing along and immediately east of the mountains. This acted to bring high winds aloft crashing to erratic locations along the adjacent highlands from Wagon Mound southward through the Vaughn and parts of remote eastern Lincoln County. In one instance, the high winds blew fresh snow that had fallen a few days earlier through Mora and Colfax Counties causing blowing snow drifts and an isolated ground blizzard. Snow drifts as high as vehicles developed along I-25 from the Fort Union exit to Springer, especially near Wagon Mound. NMDOT was forced to close this section of I-25 due to the ground blizzard conditions and snow drifts during the morning of January 13th. Thankfully there were no reports of accidents or damages. Otherwise, peak gusts of 58 to 77 mph were observed by spotters and automated weather stations.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1147550. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.