High Wind Warning Issued for East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Central New Mexico

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque, NM has issued a High Wind Warning (NWS Alert Code: HWW). The alert is effective from Wednesday morning through early Thursday morning.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad region of New Mexico, including:

• East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains and adjacent highlands
• Central Highlands
• South Central Mountains
• Northeast Highlands
• Guadalupe County
• Eastern Lincoln County
• Southwest Chaves County

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas should take immediate action to secure trash cans, lawn furniture, and any other loose or lightweight outdoor objects that could be moved by high winds. Dangerous driving conditions are expected; motorists, particularly those operating high-profile vehicles, should use extreme caution or avoid travel if possible.

Expected Conditions

West winds between 30 and 40 mph are forecast, with powerful gusts reaching up to 60 mph. These damaging winds have the potential to blow down trees and power lines, making power outages a significant possibility. Additionally, a brief period of snow is expected Wednesday evening, which may create areas of blowing snow specifically along the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM MST on Wednesday, February 18. The alert is currently set to expire at 5:00 AM MST on Thursday, February 19.