Severe windstorms sweeps across Arizona, New Mexico, intensifying drought conditions
By Donovan Quintero
Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK — A fierce windstorm swept across Arizona and New Mexico on Tuesday, creating hazardous travel conditions and prompting multiple advisories from the National Weather Service. With gusts exceeding 60 mph in some areas, the storm significantly impacted both states, leading to dangerous driving conditions, power outages, and widespread blowing dust.
The storm’s effects were particularly severe along major highways.
In New Mexico, Interstate 40 between mile markers 172 and 239 and Highways 285 and 60 were plagued by near-zero visibility because of thick dust clouds. Communities such as Moriarty, Estancia, Edgewood, and Mountainair faced extreme conditions, with officials warning that travel in these areas was life threatening.
Arizona also bores the brunt of the storm, with powerful winds battering regions such as the Little Colorado River Valley, Mogollon Rim, and White Mountains. In Window Rock, a peak gust of 53 mph is strong enough to cause minor damage to trees and unsecured objects. Winds intensified further along Interstate 40 near Lupton, Arizona, where gusts hit 61 mph at 10:33 a.m., creating hazardous conditions for high-profile vehicles like trucks and RVs.
At Springerville Airport, the strongest gust of the day was recorded at 66 mph, making it the windiest location in the region. Extreme winds led to downed tree limbs, power outages, and significant travel disruptions. Other notable wind reports included Winslow Airport, where gusts reached 58 mph, and Flagstaff Airport, which saw gusts of 46 mph, enough to cause turbulence for flights and blowing dust across the surrounding areas, according to the National Weather Service.
Kykotsmovi, Arizona, in the Hopi reservation, also experienced strong winds, with gusts up to 43 mph. While not the highest recorded, these winds still posed visibility and travel difficulties.
Drought conditions persist
According to the latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought conditions in the western U.S. have intensified. While regions such as the Sierra Nevada, southwestern California, western Washington, and parts of Arizona, Utah, eastern Nevada, and southern Idaho received moderate to heavy precipitation, much of the west recorded minimal rainfall, with several areas receiving only a few-tenths of an inch or less.
New Mexico has experienced a rapid deterioration in conditions with a significant portion of the state declining by one drought category in the past week. This includes expanding areas under extreme drought along the southern tier and the introduction of exceptional drought in the southwestern interior.
Similarly, southern California, southern Nevada, and much of Arizona continue to face severe drought. Since mid-December, these areas have received less than half of their normal precipitation, with some locations in the southern Four Corners area recording just 2 to 25 percent of average rainfall.
In contrast, conditions are more favorable north of Utah and central Nevada, with extreme drought restricted to a small part of western Montana and over half of the area free from dryness and drought.
Warm temperatures underway
According to the National Weather Service, as spring takes hold, Navajo Nation residents can expect mostly sunny skies and warming temperatures over the next five days. A mix of mild and warm conditions is on the horizon, creating pleasant outdoor weather across the region.
Thursday will kick off with mostly sunny skies and west-southwest winds blowing at 10 to 20 mph. Daytime highs will be moderate, with Flagstaff reaching 55 degrees, Prescott at 61, and Winslow at 68. Further south, Camp Verde will see a warmer 71, while Tuba City and Payson will peak at 63 and 64 degrees, respectively. Window Rock, slightly cooler, is expected to reach 57.
Friday brings a gradual warming trend, with temperatures climbing by a few degrees across all locations. The skies will remain mostly sunny, with Flagstaff warming to 59 and Prescott reaching 66. Camp Verde and Payson will see highs of 74 and 66, while Tuba City maintains a steady 65 degrees.
The weekend will be ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, with Saturday seeing continued warming. Partly cloudy skies will mix with sunshine, with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 60s and 70s. Tuba City is expected to reach 72 degrees.
Sunday will bring mostly sunny skies, with highs increasing slightly with Flagstaff expected to reach 64, while Prescott and Payson will warm to 69. Winslow is forecasted to see 73 degrees.
The warmest temperatures of the forecast period will arrive by Monday. Under clear skies, Flagstaff could hit 68, and Tuba City could warm to 74 degrees.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow