High Wind in Eddy County Plains, New Mexico

A strong upper level storm system moving across the area produced strong gradient winds across southeast New Mexico during the afternoon of April 6. Wind gusts in excess of 70 mph at times resulted in a six vehicle accident on Highway 2 north of the city of Artesia and a four vehicle accident on Highway 285 north of the city of Artesia minutes later. The wind snapped large tree branches and electric power lines. The wind was also responsible for disrupting cable television transmitters and also for blowing a parking canopy support through the windshield of a pickup truck. In Carlsbad, winds as high as 67 mph blew down a 60 foot Arizona Cypress tree and caused major roof damage to a greenhouse.