A powerful upper level low pressure system that intensified over Colorado forced a potent dry slot and associated strong winds over New Mexico.  Many locations across central and eastern New Mexico reported peak wind gusts up to 60 mph, with a few locations across the eastern plains peaking up to 70 mph. Numerous reports of damage were received across the region.  Widespread blowing dust across the region reduced visibilities below 3 miles, with a few areas of Curry and Roosevelt counties down below one quarter mile for several hours.  Intense crosswinds along a section of railroad near Fort Sumner overturned 30 to 40 cars of a BNSF train carrying cases of tuna.

High Wind in CURRY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 12:30:00 to 23-MAR-13 15:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Cannon Air Force Base and Melrose Bombing Range reported peak wind gusts between 59 and 66 mph during this period.

High Wind in QUAY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 12:30:00 to 23-MAR-13 15:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 43.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Tucumcari ASOS reported sustained winds to 40 to 49 mph on and off through the period.

High Wind in QUAY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 12:50:00 to 23-MAR-13 16:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Tucumcari ASOS, trained spotters, and a mesonet site at Logan reported peak winds between 59 and 63 mph on and off through the period.

High Wind in SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 12:55:00 to 23-MAR-13 13:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 71.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Magdalena Ridge Observatory reported a peak wind of 82 mph near 10,000 feet.

High Wind in SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 10:00:00 to 23-MAR-13 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Strong winds reported all day at top of Sandia Peak tramway with peak gust to 71 mph.  Strong winds also reported for much of the day at bottom of Sandia Peak tramway with peak gust to 60 mph.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 13:25:00 to 23-MAR-13 13:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Clines Corners reported a peak wind gust to 60 mph.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 12:15:00 to 23-MAR-13 13:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 38.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Union Pacific Railroad site reported sustained winds between 40 and 44 mph during the period.

High Wind in LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 13:50:00 to 23-MAR-13 15:50:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 40.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Harry mesonet site at WSMR reported sustained winds of 40 to 46 mph with a peak of 46mph at 1330.

High Wind in LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 13:10:00 to 23-MAR-13 13:50:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Harry and Stallion mesonet sites on WSMR reported peak wind gusts between 61 and 68 mph through the period.

High Wind in ESTANCIA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 13:45:00 to 23-MAR-13 13:50:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Stanley reported peak wind gust at 247pm MDT.

High Wind in UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 13:35:00 to 23-MAR-13 14:05:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Chupadera reported a peak wind gust of 68mph at 239pm MDT and the Phillips Hill WSMR mesonet reported a peak wind gust of 67mph at 300pm MDT.

High Wind in ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 13:20:00 to 23-MAR-13 13:25:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

One mile east southeast of Placitas reported peak wind of 59 mph at 222pm MDT.

High Wind in ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 14:00:00 to 23-MAR-13 15:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 41.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High sustained winds between 40 and 47 mph reported on and off through the period from Mesonet, RAWS, and other Federal sites across Roosevelt county.

High Wind in FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 16:10:00 to 23-MAR-13 16:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Raton airport reported a peak wind gust to 63mph at 515pm MDT.

High Wind in ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 15:00:00 to 23-MAR-13 15:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Peak wind gusts between 62 and 64 mph reported on and off through the period from Mesonet and other Federal sites across Roosevelt county.

High Wind in RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 13:45:00 to 23-MAR-13 13:55:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Peak wind gust of 60mph in Capulin at 449pm MDT.

Dust Storm in ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 13:00:00 to 23-MAR-13 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Cannon Air Force Base meteorologist reported visibility less than one quarter mile with sky obscured in blowing dust for 5 hours between roughly noon and 5 pm.  Says this is worst dust storm since 2006.

High Wind in CURRY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 14:00:00 to 23-MAR-13 14:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Half of sheet metal roof blown off business at 4th Street and Main Street in downtown Clovis.

High Wind in DE BACA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 16:00:00 to 23-MAR-13 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Approximately 30 to 40 cars of BNSF intermodal cargo train Z-SBDCH17-22 blown off tracks at Pecos River bridge.  Entire section of train and dozens of cartons of tuna destroyed.

High Wind in ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 14:00:00 to 23-MAR-13 14:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Two large trees blown over near the Albuquerque Menonite Church at 1300 block of Girard Boulevard NE.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 12:25:00 to 23-MAR-13 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Sierra Blanca Airport reported a peak wind gust to 60 mph and the Nogal Mesonet reported a peak wind to 69 mph during this period.

High Wind in GUADALUPE COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 11:45:00 to 23-MAR-13 12:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Estimated sustained winds of 40 mph between 1145 and 1245.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 23-MAR-13 11:50:00 to 23-MAR-13 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 40.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Sierra Blanca Airport and the Nogal Mesonet reported sustained winds between 40 and 49 mph during this period.