High Wind — South Central Mountains, New Mexico

2025-02-11 · South Central Mountains, New Mexico

Event narrative

High winds gusts of up to 61 mph were observed at Sierra Blanca Regional Airport.

Wider weather episode

West winds increased across central and western NM during the day on February 11th ahead and south of a shortwave trough moving southeast across the northern and central Rockies. Daytime mixing tapped into stronger southwest to west winds aloft resulting a period of high wind gusts at Sierra Blanca Regional Airport and Gallup Municipal Airport during the early afternoon. Winds remained gusty during the evening with some light snow across the northern mountains as the Pacific cold front swept through the region before tapering off late overnight. West winds ramped up again across western and central NM during the day February 12th due to daytime mixing tapping into stronger mid and upper level westerly flow at the base of a larger scale trough over the Intermountain West. A brief high wind gust was observed at Las Vegas Municipal Airport during the mid afternoon. This round of gusty west winds across western and central NM tapered off just after sunset.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1226976. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.