High Wind — Albuquerque Metro Area, New Mexico

2019-03-08 · Albuquerque Metro Area, New Mexico

Event narrative

The Albuquerque Sunport reported a peak wind gust up to 69 mph. Hundreds of customers were left without power for several hours in the metro area due to the high winds. This was the strongest wind gust at the Sunport since the damaging thunderstorm wind gust of 89 mph from July 26, 2013. Sustained winds reached as high as 52 mph on the west side of Albuquerque. Fortunately there were no reports of significant damage across the city.

Wider weather episode

A storm system approaching New Mexico from the west on March 7, 2019 passed through the area on March 8, 2019. Widespread strong southwest winds developed during the morning and continued through the afternoon. Winds then shifted to the west as a potent cold front moved through the state during the evening. Winds peaked along the frontal boundary with many areas within the Rio Grande Valley into the eastern plains reporting wind gusts between 55 and 70 mph. The Albuquerque Sunport reported a peak wind gust to 69 mph. Hundreds of people lost power in the Albuquerque metro area as winds screamed through the city. Enough moisture was in place over the higher terrain for a few more inches of snow along with blowing snow and travel impacts. A sharp line of showers and thunderstorms formed over eastern New Mexico as the front progressed through the plains. Severe wind gusts reached 70 mph along the line of thunderstorms from Tucumcari to Clovis. Winds continued to howl along the east slopes of the central mountain chain through the night before slowly tapering off through the morning of the 9th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 800450. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.