Artesia, New Mexico.
Sky Totally Obscured In Blowing Dust.
Many New Mexicans are in for a shock tonight into Friday as a historic damaging high wind event unleashes itself upon the Land of Enchantment. This fast-moving spring storm will produce a multi-hazardous event across the state and region tonight into Saturday.
Widespread Damaging Wind Event.
Current forecasts call for peak wind gusts in the 65 to 80 range across most of the state and nearby West Texas. Guadalupe Pass, San Augustin Pass, Salinas Peak, Sirrea Blanca Peak, and a few other locations may see peak gusts in the 80 to 100 mph range! In fact, the official NWS forecast for Guadalupe Pass is for west winds becoming sustained at 55 to 75 mph with gusts to 105 mph tonight into Friday!
I am concerned that if this storm slows down a little more as it speeds overhead, then it is not out of the question that we could see even higher wind gusts than are forecast in some areas. Especially across the southern and eastern sections of the state. This isn't hype, folks. This storm is going to be dangerous, so please take the warnings seriously.
High winds will develop this afternoon over western and southern New Mexico and then rapidly spread eastward across the state tonight into Friday. A strong Pacific cold front in conjunction with a near-historic strong (for the date) upper-level storm and surface low will rapidly strengthen/deepen tonight into Friday as it races overhead across the area.
Damaging winds are forecast to develop tonight across many areas of the state except for parts of northernwestern New Mexico. The highest and most damaging wind gusts will occur tonight into Friday afternoon.
Power poles, power lines, and utility lines may be blown down. Trees and fences, along with outbuildings and barns, may be damaged or blown down. Farmland irrigation systems may be damaged or blown away, especially if they are not staked down and have water running in them. Some west-facing windows may be blown out. High profile vehicles such as Semi's, Campers, Rv;s, and others may be blown off north-south facing roads. Road closures are possible in some areas due to the high winds and brownout conditions.
Widespread Blowing Dust Thursday Into Friday!
Brownouts Possible Friday!
Areas of blowing dust will develop later this afternoon across parts of southern, south-central, and southeastern New Mexico. Localized drops in the visibility due to blinding dust storms with little to no advanced warning will occur, especially in and near our more dust-prone areas. Widespread blowing dust is expected to impact the area from tonight into Friday.
Widespread brownout conditions due to blinding dust storms born upon 60 to 80+ mph westerly wind gusts tonight into Friday will make travel over much of the area extremely dangerous and even life-threatening! Widespread areas of near zero to zero visibilities will occur and may last for hours in some cases. Road closures are a strong possibility in these conditions. Travel on our roads and highways will become dangerous and life-threatening in these blinding brownouts/dust storms.
Not only southeastern New Mexico but other nearby areas have a long history of multiple vehicle pileups in these blinding dust storms. Many times with injuries and, sadly, sometimes fatalities. Unless you absolutely must drive in the area from tonight into Friday, please consider not doing so unless it's an emergency.
Critically To Extremely Critically Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions!
Critically Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions will exist across the local area today and Friday. Red Flag Warnings are already flying, and these will continue and increase in number, especially on Friday.
Extremely Critically Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions will occur on Friday! Large, rapidly moving, and life-threatening wildfires will be possible during this extreme high-wind event. Especially if power poles and power lines are blown down. Any wildfire or forest fire that starts will have the potential to rapidly spread and grow in the high winds. And they will be very hard to contain, if at all. Should any wildfire develop smoke from them, it could add to the visibility hazards upon our roads and highways, especially if it mixes in with the blowing dust.
Please refrain from any outdoor activity that involves the use of sparks or flame. Do not toss cirgrattes out of your vehicle or pull over onto the side of the road in tall grass. The hot exhaust pipes and catalytic converters on your vehicles may start a fire. Do not let chains drag on the payment behind your vehicle either, as they may cause sparks that can cause a fire. Similar weather conditions were in place that produced the 92,000 McDondald rangeland fire on March 12, 2006.
Near Blizzard Conditions Western & Northern Moutnains!
Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect for the northern and western mountains through Friday.
As the Pacific cold from races from west to east across the state tonight a combination of the high winds, moderate to heavy snowfall, blowing snow, and snow squalls will cause dangerous travel conditions in the states' western and northern mountains. Near blizzard conditions may develop in some of these areas with near zero visibility in whiteout conditions. Another round of light snow and blowing snow is forecasted on Saturday.
Rain and snow showers are forecast for the Sacramento mountains tonight and again on Saturday. An inch or two is possible over the higher elevations of the Sac's. Snow falling in the 65 to 75 mph westerly wind gusts later tonight will cause blowing snow and near-whiteout conditions in the heavier snow squalls. Visibilities may drop down to near zero in the heavier snow squalls.
A few light rain showers are possible across southeastern New Mexico late tonight and again on Saturday.
Stay Informed & Safe Tonight Into Friday.
Numerous High Wind Warnings, High Wind Watches, Wind Advisories, Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Winter Storm Warnings, and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for the state and nearby areas. Additional warnings, advisories, and changes to some of our forecasts will likely be issued today through Friday.
So, please click on this link to view the latest updates. Or, visit my weather web page often for all of the latest updates. Or your favorite media outlet.
There Are None So Blind As Those Who "Will - Not" To See...107.
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