High Wind in Upper Tularosa Valley, New Mexico

The Pole 616 WSMR mesonet station measured a peak gust of 69 mph.

A very strong segment of the jet stream associated with an upper level system dove down across northern and central NM February 26th and 27th. The leading edge of this system brought sporadic high wind gusts to areas of the northern mountains and eastern plains on the 26th before the main segment brought widespread high wind impacts to nearly all areas of northern and central NM. Only far northwestern NM missed out on any high wind impacts. Peak gusts of 60 to 70 mph were common throughout central and eastern NM on the 27th. Several vehicle crashes coincided with these high gusts, including a semi rollover on I-25 just south of the Albuquerque Sunport, and several crashes from Roswell to Dexter and Hagerman. Near zero visibility from severe blowing dust and brownout conditions was reported at the same time as these accidents in Chaves County between Roswell and Hagerman. One such multi-vehicle crash unfortunately involved a fatality and several injuries. Three Dust Storm Warnings were issued over Chaves County in response to the blowing dust. Winds finally subsided by the late afternoon and early evening of the 27th.

Key Impacts: High winds, dust storm, snow, winter storm.