New Mexico was battered by a ferocious onslaught of dust storms, high winds, and brush fires on Tuesday, plunging the state into chaos as transit authorities shuttered major highways and residents grappled with widespread power outages. The National Weather Service issued an urgent cellphone alert, cautioning of zero-visibility conditions and health risks for vulnerable groups like infants and the elderly, as wind gusts reached up to 70 mph (113 kph) in some areas.
The extreme weather, fueled by a low-pressure system over Kansas and months of arid conditions, turned New Mexico into a tinderbox. Meteorologist Marc Chenard of the National Weather Service explained that the dry spell had primed the region for dust storms and heightened fire risks. Along the Albuquerque-Santa Fe corridor and in Torrance County’s high plains, visibility plummeted to near zero amid gusts of 50 mph (80 kph). Interstate 25 briefly closed near Cochiti Pueblo, while a 130-mile stretch of Interstate 10—from the Arizona border to near Las Cruces—was shut down, alongside state highways near Deming. Roads in the oil-rich Roswell and Carlsbad region also faced closures.
Also Read: Johns Hopkins Cuts 2,000 Jobs After Trump Administration Ends $800M in Grants
The transportation department urged drivers to avoid dust storms, echoing the National Weather Service’s stark warning: “Pull aside and stay alive.” Meanwhile, over 39,000 customers lost power by Tuesday evening, according to PowerOutage.us, with utility provider PNM scrambling to address outages caused by the relentless winds. The company urged residents to brace for further disruptions.
Fires compounded the crisis. In Bosque Farms, south of Albuquerque, a brush fire torched structures and briefly closed Highway 47, though the full extent of the damage remains unclear. The volatile conditions come days after a grasslands fire near Wagon Mound triggered evacuations and as neighboring Oklahoma battles deadly wildfires. Last week, a dust storm in western Kansas led to a fatal pileup on Interstate 70, killing eight. With authorities warning of more fire threats, New Mexico remains on edge as nature’s fury shows no signs of abating.
Key Points: Dust Storms and Winds Disrupt New Mexico, Close Highways
- Severe Weather: New Mexico faced intense dust storms, winds up to 70 mph (113 kph), and brush fires on Tuesday, driven by a low-pressure system and dry conditions.
- Highway Closures: A 130-mile stretch of Interstate 10, parts of Interstate 25, and roads near Roswell, Carlsbad, and Deming were closed due to zero-visibility dust storms.
- Power Outages: Over 39,000 customers lost power by Tuesday evening, with utility PNM warning of potential further disruptions.
- Fire Threat: A brush fire in Bosque Farms burned structures and closed Highway 47; authorities warn of heightened wildfire risks after recent blazes near Wagon Mound.
- Health and Safety Alerts: The National Weather Service issued warnings about poor visibility and health risks for infants and the elderly, urging drivers to avoid dust storms.
- Regional Impact: Neighboring Oklahoma battles wildfires, while a recent Kansas dust storm caused a deadly Interstate 70 pileup, killing eight.
