The first day of a two-day strong wind event began on April 12th as an unseasonably deep upper level storm system moved slowly east through the southern Rockies. Widespread, strong southwest winds increased over the region during the early morning hours of the 12th then peaked during the late afternoon and early evening hours as a potent cold front surged southeastward across the state. Widespread blowing dust was reported ahead of the cold front over the Four Corners region where hazardous visibilities were reported. A semi trailer was blown over along U.S. Highway 491 near Shiprock from high winds with blowing dust. The strongest winds were reported over central and western New Mexico where gusts of 60 to 70 mph were common. High temperatures in the 80s and 90s combined with very low humidity and strong winds set the stage for wildfires across the region. A prescribed burn between Bluewater Lake and Grants quickly spread out of control on the 12th while another wildfire developed from an abandoned camp fire. A grass fire that developed over extreme northern Lea County crossed into southeastern Roosevelt County near Milnesand and rapidly consumed nearly 40,000 acres. The 246 Fire near Capitan consumed nearly 4,000 acres as well as two homes and four outbuildings.

High Wind in FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 17:30:00 to 12-APR-18 18:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A New Mexico air quality station at Navajo Lake reported a peak wind gust up to 58 mph.

High Wind in WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 11:45:00 to 12-APR-18 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 59.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Gallup Municipal Airport reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 68 mph periodically for several hours.

High Wind in SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 13:30:00 to 12-APR-18 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

An observer near Sandia Park reported a peak wind gust up to 65 mph. A weather station near Tajique reported peak wind gusts up to 61 mph.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 16:42:00 to 12-APR-18 16:48:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A White Sands Missile Range site reported a peak wind gust up to 58 mph.

High Wind in NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 12:51:00 to 12-APR-18 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Las Vegas Municipal Airport reported a peak wind gust up to 63 mph.

High Wind in UNION COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 14:01:00 to 12-APR-18 14:04:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Clayton reported a brief wind gust up to 60 mph.

High Wind in NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 07:00:00 to 12-APR-18 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Several weather stations atop Taos Ski Valley reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 73 mph periodically for several hours.

High Wind in EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 13:00:00 to 12-APR-18 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Angel Fire airport reported a peak wind gust up to 58 mph.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 15:00:00 to 12-APR-18 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Smokey Bear RAWS reported peak wind gusts up to 65 mph.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 14:30:00 to 12-APR-18 15:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station near Nogal reported a peak wind gust up to 58 mph.

High Wind in WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 11:15:00 to 12-APR-18 17:28:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 41.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Gallup Municipal Airport reported peak sustained winds between 40 mph and 47 mph periodically for several hours.

High Wind in WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 14:30:00 to 12-APR-18 16:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

El Malpais RAWS site reported a peak wind gust up to 58 mph.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 16:15:00 to 13-APR-18 01:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Sierra Blanca Regional Airport reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 66 mph periodically for several hours.

High Wind in UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 21:42:00 to 12-APR-18 21:48:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A White Sands Missile Range site reported a peak wind gust up to 58 mph.

High Wind in NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 10:05:00 to 12-APR-18 14:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 44.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Las Vegas Municipal Airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 51 mph periodically for a couple hours.

High Wind in DE BACA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 15:00:00 to 12-APR-18 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility Fort Sumner site reported peak wind gusts up to 66 mph.

High Wind in EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 15:15:00 to 12-APR-18 22:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility Transwestern Pump station reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 64 mph periodically for several hours.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 16:00:00 to 12-APR-18 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 42.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Sierra Blanca Regional Airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 48 mph periodically for several hours.

High Wind in UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 10:45:00 to 12-APR-18 16:30:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 38.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Taos Regional Airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 44 mph periodically for several hours.

High Wind in SANTA FE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 13:00:00 to 12-APR-18 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station near Madrid reported a peak wind gust up to 60 mph.

High Wind in WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 15:15:00 to 12-APR-18 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Two weather stations between Grants and Mesita both reported peak wind gusts up to 65 mph.

High Wind in JEMEZ MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 10:45:00 to 12-APR-18 11:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station in Los Alamos reported a peak wind gust up to 63 mph.

High Wind in NORTHWEST PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 13:45:00 to 12-APR-18 15:55:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Farmington Four Corners Regional Airport reported a peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 62 mph. A New Mexico air quality station near Fruitland reported a peak wind gust up to 71 mph during this period.

High Wind in EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 13:00:00 to 12-APR-18 23:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 41.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility Transwestern Pump station reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 47 mph periodically for several hours.

Wildfire in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 16:00:00 to 14-APR-18 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

The 246 Fire started around 5pm MDT on April 12, 2018 near Capitan, NM. The fire consumed nearly 4,000 acres as well as two primary homes and sixteen secondary structures. Damage amounts are estimated. No updates were provided from NM Fire Info after April 14, 2018.

High Wind in NORTHWEST PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 14:00:00 to 12-APR-18 16:43:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 41.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Farmington Four Corners Regional Airport reported peak sustained winds between 40 mph and 47 mph.

High Wind in ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 13:00:00 to 12-APR-18 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Strong wind gusts around the metro area downed several power lines. Nearly 5,000 customers were reported without power between Albuquerque, Isleta, and Los Lunas. The location of the downed power lines was not specified by local utility authorities.

High Wind in LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 14:15:00 to 12-APR-18 16:50:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station near Las Nutrias reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 43 mph periodically for a couple hours.

High Wind in WEST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 10:45:00 to 12-APR-18 18:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 41.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station northwest of Glorieta reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 47 mph periodically for several hours.

High Wind in WEST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 17:30:00 to 12-APR-18 17:50:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station northwest of Glorieta reported a peak wind gust up to 61 mph.

High Wind in CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 10:45:00 to 13-APR-18 11:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Clines Corners reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 70 mph periodically for over 25 hours.

High Wind in CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-18 13:45:00 to 13-APR-18 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 40.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Clines Corners reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 46 mph periodically for nearly 24 hours.