High Wind — Albuquerque Metro Area, New Mexico

2017-02-12 · Albuquerque Metro Area, New Mexico

Event narrative

Albuquerque Sunport reported periodic sustained winds up to 41 mph for several hours on the morning of the 12th.

Wider weather episode

An upper level low that slowly moved east across southern Arizona, combined with a strong area of surface high pressure that built down the Front Range of the Rockies, produced the perfect pattern for strong gap winds across central New Mexico. Record warm temperatures from the 10th and the 11th came to an abrupt end as a cold front surged southwest across the plains and through gaps of the central mountain chain early on the 12th. Peak wind gusts around 60 mph were common below Tijeras Canyon and within the Tularosa Valley. The strongest winds occurred in the area below Abo Pass where a peak gust to 88 mph was reported near U.S. Highway 60.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 670045. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.