High Wind in Union County, New Mexico

The NMCC SW Clayton mesonet station measured a 67 mph wind gust. Several other mesonet stations and the KCAO ASOS measured wind gusts of 58 to 67 mph while high sustained winds reached 48 mph during this timeframe.

A strong portion of the jetstream overshot northern and eastern NM through Sunday, March 15th. Pre-frontal vertical mixing allowed for these stronger winds aloft to mix down to the surface across much of the northern mountains of NM as early as just prior to midnight March 14th into the predawn and early morning hours of March 15th. Further high winds followed the backdoor and Pacific portions of a surface cold front during the late morning and early afternoon across central and eastern NM. Wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph were common with a peak gust of 81 mph being recorded at the Raton Airport. While there was some blowing dust, visibility only fell to 5 to 7 miles in a few areas to include the Albuquerque metro area. Winds began to taper off in the mid-to-late afternoon as the strong portion of the jetstream exited into TX and the surface cold fronts advanced to southern NM.