Dust Storm — Chaves County Plains, New Mexico

2025-03-03 · Chaves County Plains, New Mexico

Event narrative

High winds gusting 60 to 70 mph produced brownout and zero visibility conditions along a large swath of Chaves County, including areas along U.S. Highway 285 from north of Roswell southward into Eddy County. Emergency management reported a 21 car pileup along U.S. Highway 285 at mile marker 98 between Midway and Dexter, involving two semi-trucks and 7 injuries that had to be ambulanced to local hospitals. Local law enforcement closed area highways as a result of the brownout conditions. Visibility under one-quarter statute mile was reported throughout Roswell itself by multiple trained storm spotters. Damage is an estimate.

Wider weather episode

An upper level low crossing the western CONUS brought a strong jetstream and Pacific cold front across New Mexico March 3rd. Strong southwesterly winds mixed down to the surface through much of the southeastern half of the state, producing gusts of 45 to 75 mph. Blowing dust was lofted up producing low to near zero visibility in parts of Chaves and Lincoln Counties. Two multi-vehicles crashes were reported along U.S. Highway 285, one near Lake Arthur and the other involving two semi-trucks just south of Roswell. Thankfully, no loss of life was reported. Strong northerly to northwesterly winds wrapped around the backside of the upper low as it exited east of NM during the night of March 3rd through the 4th. Winter weather in the form of blowing snow impacted areas from Raton Pass to Union County before high winds filled in across eastern NM. Strong west to northwest winds gusting 60 to 80 mph were observed over areas mainly along and east of the central mountain chain. High wind damage and blowing dust produced more impacts to property and closed area highways, including area highways near and south of Roswell, NM.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1231067. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.