As a storm system tracked to the north of New Mexico on April 11-12, 2022, it steered a potent polar jet over the state. With a continued deep surface low pressure system over northeastern New Mexico and ample deep mixing across all of northern and central New Mexico, windy conditions persisted. Winds peaked on April 12th as the core of the jet crossed the state, and many areas measured wind gusts in excess of 58 mph. The strongest winds during this event were recorded along and east of the central mountain chain which was in closer proximity to the deep surface low. Ruidoso and areas nearby were hardest hit with several hours of wind gusts of 70 to 80 mph. With exceptionally dry conditions also present, this fueled the start for the McBride Fire which prompted evacuation orders and was responsible for the deaths of two citizens. These conditions also helped to start the Big Hole Fire near Belen as well as the Nogal Canyon Fire near Capitan, which threatened multiple homes and structures.

High Wind in GUADALUPE COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 12:35:00 to 12-APR-22 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

An AWOS station near Santa Rosa measured a peak wind gust of 69 mph.

High Wind in QUAY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 11:00:00 to 12-APR-22 14:55:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

An ASOS station near Tucumcari measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.

High Wind in WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 03:53:00 to 12-APR-22 10:25:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

An ASOS station near Gallup measured a peak wind gust of 62 mph.

High Wind in QUAY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 09:55:00 to 12-APR-22 14:53:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 40.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

An ASOS station near Tucumcari measured a peak sustained wind speed of 46 mph.

High Wind in SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 13:36:00 to 12-APR-22 14:36:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

A RAWS station near Dunken measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.

High Wind in WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 12:39:00 to 12-APR-22 13:09:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station north of Pie Town measured a peak wind gust of 65 mph.

High Wind in SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 13:07:00 to 12-APR-22 14:07:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

A RAWS station near Luna measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.

High Wind in MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 15:27:00 to 12-APR-22 15:52:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

An ASOS station near Albuquerque measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph.

Wildfire in MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA, NEW MEXICO
From 11-APR-22 12:30:00 to 25-APR-22 14:43:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 2.00M
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

With a dangerous fire weather pattern in place across all of northern and central New Mexico due to exceptionally dry conditions and very strong winds, the stage was set for fires to spread quickly. On April 11, 2022, a human-caused wildfire was started northeast of Belen. The Big Hole Fire spread quickly to 890 acres by April 15th with 60 percent containment, and the wildfire was finally 100 percent contained on April 25th. One home was destroyed while eighteen outbuildings were also destroyed, but over one hundred other residences were threatened due to its close proximity to Belen. One firefighter was injured while responding. Damages are estimated.

High Wind in TUSAS MOUNTAINS INCLUDING CHAMA, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 08:19:00 to 12-APR-22 11:44:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 36.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station near Vallecitos measured a peak sustained wind speed of 41 mph.

High Wind in GLORIETA MESA INCLUDING GLORIETA PASS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 09:15:00 to 12-APR-22 10:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 43.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station near Seton Village measured a peak sustained wind speed of 50 mph.

Wildfire in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 12:30:00 to 30-APR-22 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 5.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

A downed power line about 4.3 miles southwest of Nogal sparked the Nogal Canyon Fire on April 12, 2022. This fire spread to 400 acres by April 13th and destroyed 6 homes and 8 outbuildings while threatening 50 others. Residences in Nogal Canyon up to New Mexico State Highway 37 were given evacuation orders. By April 17th, the fire had spread to 433 acres with 4 percent containment. By the end of the month on April 30th, the Nogal Canyon Fire was 84 percent contained with full containment anticipated in May. Damages are estimated.

High Wind in EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 08:35:00 to 12-APR-22 08:55:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

An AWOS station near Angel Fire measured a peak wind gust of 58 mph.

High Wind in LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 13:15:00 to 12-APR-22 16:15:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A White Sands Missile Range mesonet station southeast of Socorro measured a peak wind gust of 71 mph.

High Wind in ESTANCIA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 13:29:00 to 12-APR-22 16:26:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station near Estancia measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.

High Wind in CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 08:53:00 to 12-APR-22 15:53:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

An ASOS station near Clines Corners measured a peak wind gust of 69 mph.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 12:18:00 to 12-APR-22 12:43:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet station near Corona measured a peak wind gust of 60 mph.

High Wind in UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 12:09:00 to 12-APR-22 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet station near Carrizozo measured a peak wind gust of 59 mph.

High Wind in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 03:55:00 to 12-APR-22 16:35:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

Several weather stations across the South Central Mountains measured wind gusts in excess of 70 mph with the highest wind gust of 80 mph measured at a RAWS station near Ruidoso.

High Wind in JOHNSON AND BARTLETT MESAS INCLUDING RATON PASS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 09:00:00 to 12-APR-22 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station south of Capulin measured a peak wind gust of 64 mph.

High Wind in JOHNSON AND BARTLETT MESAS INCLUDING RATON PASS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 08:45:00 to 12-APR-22 11:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 45.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station south of Capulin measured a peak sustained wind speed of 52 mph.

High Wind in FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 08:00:00 to 12-APR-22 11:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 39.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A weather station near Cimarron measured a peak sustained wind speed of 45 mph.

High Wind in NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 07:45:00 to 12-APR-22 12:10:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

An ASOS station near Las Vegas measured a peak wind gust of 69 mph.

High Wind in NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 07:30:00 to 12-APR-22 12:45:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 44.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

An ASOS station near Las Vegas measured a peak sustained wind speed of 51 mph.

High Wind in UNION COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 08:55:00 to 12-APR-22 13:55:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

An ASOS station near Clayton measured a peak wind gust of 70 mph.

High Wind in UNION COUNTY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 08:50:00 to 12-APR-22 13:55:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 43.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

An ASOS station near Clayton measured a peak sustained wind speed of 49 mph.

Wildfire in SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO
From 12-APR-22 12:37:00 to 30-APR-22 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 10.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The McBride Fire started on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in Gavilan Canyon within the Village of Ruidoso and spread quickly due to 70 to 80 mph winds in the area. By Thursday, April 14th, the fire had burned more than 5,700 acres and burned 207 homes and structures while threatening 1,000 more. The wildfire prompted mandatory evacuations for an estimated 5,000 people. By Sunday, April 17th, the wildfire grew to 6,185 acres, but was 52 percent contained which allowed for evacuation orders to be lifted. At the end of the month on April 30th, the McBride Fire was 95 percent contained. The wildfire is estimated to be fully contained in early May. The cause of the wildfire is unknown. Unfortunately, this wildfire was responsible for the deaths of an elderly couple in Ruidoso. The couple tried to evacuate according to family members, but were unaccounted for. While their vehicle was still at their destroyed home, their remains were found near their home on Wednesday, April 13th. No other information has been made available. Damages are estimated.