My Current Weather

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Widespread Damaging Wind/Blowing Dust Event - Near Blizzard Conditions In The Mountains!

February 12, 2023.
Sierra Blanca Peak.
West Of Ruidoso, New Mexico.


Valid At 5 AM MST Wednesday.

Valid At 11 AM MST Wednesday.

Valid At 5 PM MST Wednesday.

Widespread Damaging Wind/Blowing Dust Event
 Near Blizzard Conditions In The Mountains! 

Blog Updated At 5:40 AM MST Wednesday Morning.

Concerns are high that most of New New Mexico will endure a potential historical winter storm late tonight into Thursday. A dangerous widespread damaging high wind event with widespread blowing dust looks highly likely for much of the lower elevations of the state on Wednesday. Heavy snow and blowing snow combined with the high winds will create whiteout to near whiteout conditions in the mountains. Travel across all of New Mexico and nearby areas will be difficult at best, to dangerous and life threatening at worst Wednesday into Thursday.

Scattered rain showers changing over to or mixing with snow tonight is expected across the southern deserts, Tularosa Basin and the Sacramento mountains along with a few thunderstorms. 

Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for the western and northern mountains of the state. 1' - 3" of snow below 7,500' morning west of the central mountain chain. The exception to this is the northeastern/eastern/southeastern plains, and the southern desert's. The southwestern mountains and the northern mountains may see 3"- 6" above 7,500', with higher peaks getting 6" - 12" above 9,000'. Some locations in the southwestern, western, and northern mountains may see near blizzard conditions tonight into Wednesday night at times.

Across the southern Sacramento mountains: A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 8 PM MST tonight through 5 AM MST Thursday morning. Above 7,000' snowfall storm totals of 6" - 10" are forecast with 12" at the highest peaks. A High Wind Warning is in effect from midnight tonight through 6 AM MST Thursday. Southwest winds will become sustained at 40-50 mph with gusts near 80 mph! Blowing and drifting snow will create whiteout to near whiteout conditions. Travel will become dangerous and life threatening if not impossible in some areas. Widespread power outages are possible due. Wind chill temperatures will drop down into the 5 to -5 range tonight and Wednesday.

For the northern Sacramento mountains: Including the Ruidoso area they may see 2" - 5" of snow today into tonight. Ski Apache may see 24". 
A High Wind Warning is in effect from 7 PM MST tonight through 5 AM MST Thursday. Southwest winds will become sustained at 40-60 mph with gusts near 75-85 mph! Blowing and drifting snow will create whiteout to near whiteout conditions. Travel will become dangerous and life threatening if not impossible in some areas. Widespread power outages are possible. Wind chill temperatures will drop down into the 5 to -5 range tonight and Wednesday.

Across the Southeastern Plains a High Wind Warning will be in effect for the Chaves County Plains from 8 AM Wednesday through 2 AM MST Thursday. Southwest winds will become sustained at 30-50 mph with gusts near 60-75 mph! Winds may gust up to 85 mph across the eastern plains. Across southwestern Chaves County which includes the Dunken and Elk areas, a High Wind Warning goes into effect from 7 PM MST tonight through 2 AM MST Thursday. Southwesterly winds will become sustained at 40-60 mph with gusts to 75-90mph!

Across Eddy and Lea Counties: High Wind Warning goes into effect at 8 PM MST tonight through 11 PM MST Wednesday. Southwesterly winds will become sustained at 40-50 mph with gusts to 80 mph

For the Guadalupe mountains of Eddy County and Culberson County in West Texas: High Wind Warning remains in effect until 11 AM MST Thursday. West winds sustained at 60-80 mph with gusts to near 90 mph are expected!. 

High winds across the state and locally may down trees, power lines, and power poles which may cause widespread power outages in some locations. Other utility and cable lines may also be downed. Wind damage to homes, roofs, shingles, fences, sheds, barns, and other outbuildings are possible in many areas. Some west facing windows could blow out in gusts above 70 mph. Vehicles on north/south oriented highways may be blown over or blown off roads and highways. Especially high profile vehicles such as school buses, semi trucks, and camper trailers. 

Widespread blowing dust is expected over much of the lower elevations of the state on Wednesday. Many areas could see the visibility drop down to 1/2 of a mile. Dust prone locations such as freshly plowed, cultivated, exposed or open farmlands and fields, lots, and highway construction sites (oil field areas) will experience sudden drops in the visibility down to zero with little to no advanced warning. Travel upon the states highways and roadways in these areas will be dangerous if not impossible in some locations at times. Life threatening conditions may exist due to the brownout conditions. Remember that southeastern New Mexico has a long history of multivehicle accidents with fatalities and injuries during these blinding dust storms.

Any wildfire (pray they don't) that could possibly develop (from downed power lines and other sources) could potentially add to the dangerous travel conditions especially if they break out near highways or roadways. Dense smoke could combine with the blowing dust to add to the hazardous conditions. Road closures are a possibility across the state Wednesday in some areas. 

Note: Since this is an incredibly dynamic and power winter storm their could possibly be some adjustments to our local National Weather Service forecasts, watches, and warnings tonight into Thursday. Conditions could possibly be worse in some areas while not as bad in some. So please keep abreast of all of your weather needs via your favorite media outlet or my weather web page. Stay safe everyone.






Valid Tonight Though 6 PM MST Thursday.

NWS Albuquerque Storm Total Snowfall Forecast.



Valid Tonight Though 6 PM MST Thursday.


Valid At 11 AM MST This Morning (Tuesday).

ECMWF 500 MB (18,000') Forecast.

Valid At 11 AM MST Wednesday.

ECMWF 500 MB Jet Stream Winds (18,000') Forecast.

Valid At 5 PM MST Wednesday.

ECMWF 300 MB Jet Stream Winds (30,000') Forecast.

Valid At 5 PM MST Wednesday.

There Are None So Blind As Those Who "Will - Not" To See...107.

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