Damaging High Winds & Blowing Dust Today!

March 16, 2021.
Widespread High Winds & Blowing Dust.
US Hwy 285 In Otis...Southeast Of Carlsbad, New Mexico

Eddy County Blowing Dust 3-16-2021 from Wendell Malone on Vimeo.

Surface Map Forecast.

Critically Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions Today!



Valid Tuesday Through Wednesday Evening.


Damaging Winds Today!

Another high wind, blowing dust, and critically dangerous fire weather event is on tap for the area today into this evening. Travel upon local roadways will become difficult if not dangerous in many areas...especially across north/south facing roads. Travel through Guadalupe Pass will be especially difficult and dangerous due to the high winds. It's possible that the pass may become closed due to the winds.

A Pacific cold front will race eastward across the state this morning and catch up to the dryline draped across eastern New Mexico and West Texas. A backdoor cold front will drop southward into Southeastern New Mexico this evening. Dropping our high temperatures today into Tuesday into the 60's to near 70. And the 50's on Wednesday. 

Scattered rain showers are possible for the plains Tuesday night into Wednesday with a rain and snow mix possible for areas Wednesday night. Snow is forecast across the Sacramento and Capitan mountains Tuesday into Wednesday with 3" to 6" totals possible.

High Wind Warnings are in effect for today into this evening for parts of the Southeastern New Mexico Plains and nearby Guadalupe, Sacramento, and Capitan mountains. Across Eddy, Lea, and Culberson Counties west winds will increase this morning across the plains and become sustained at around 35 to 45 mph with gusts near 70 mph. Some locations may experience higher gusts especially those locals near the foothills and mountains.

High Wind Warnings are also in effect for the Guadalupe mountains where west winds will become sustained at 40 to 60 mph with gusts near 80 mph. A few higher gusts are possible. 

Elsewhere Wind Advisories are in effect for southern New Mexico and parts of West Texas for west winds becoming sustained at around 25 to 35 mph with gusts near 45 to 55 mph.

Damages from the high winds are possible today and this evening. Roof and shingle damage as well small outbuildings and barns may be damaged by the highest gusts. Tree and limb damages may also occur. Some power lines and other utility lines may be blown down. High-profile vehicles may be blown off roadways. Some agriculture sprinkler irrigation systems may be damaged or destroyed. 

Widespread blowing dust is anticipated this afternoon and evening.  Expect the visibility to drop down to below 3 miles across the local area also. Sudden drops in the visibility down to zero will occur over and near the following areas: Road construction sites, freshly plowed or exposed farmlands, fields, and lots. Remember that we have a history of multiple vehicle accidents in blowing dust events locally. 

Critically Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions will also exist areawide today. The exceptionally dry conditions combined with single-digit relative humidity values and high winds will all combine to make this a potentially dangerous day for fire weather activity. Any wildfire, forest fire, grass, or rangeland fire will have the ability to rapidly spread and grow in the high winds.

The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction!

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