High Wind — Union County, New Mexico

2024-12-30 · Union County, New Mexico

Event narrative

A brief 59 mph wind gust was observed at the Clayton Municipal Airpark. This was likely caused from a crashing mountain wave coming off the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Wider weather episode

A shallow shortwave and jet streak within the northwest to southeast oriented polar jet moved over New Mexico late December 29th into December 30th. These stronger winds aloft resulted in mountain wave activity overnight across the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. One of these mountain waves crashed over the Clayton Municipal Airpark resulting in a brief 59 mph wind gust. A similar story was observed at the Hartley Ranch Wunderground station in southwest Harding County with a brief 59 mph gust before sunrise. Daytime mixing during the morning allowed the stronger winds aloft to mix down to the surface resulting in another high wind gust of 58 mph at a mesonet station east of Fort Sumner. Winds gradually tapered off during the afternoon and evening hours as the jet streak exited into the southern Great Plains.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1221832. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.