One of the photos I took at from the inside of my truck at 11:46 AM MST Tuesday, while sitting on the side of St Hwy 2, just north of Hagerman, NM. #NMwx #NMBlowingDust #BlowingDust #DustStorm #RoswellDustStorm #Roswell #NM
I chased and shot photos and videos of one the worst dust storms I’ve seen recently. I left Artesia, New Mexico and travel north on State Hwy 2 arriving in Hagerman, located in southern Chaves County at 11:13 AM MST.
I could see the clouds of blowing dust to my north from Lake Arthur. As I worked my way north along St Hwy 2 the average prevailing visibility from Hagerman north to Dexter, Midway, and the junction of US Hwy 285 three miles east of the Roswell Airport was 1/4 to 1/2 of a mile in blowing dust.
At times I could not see much further than the front of my truck in wave after wave of blinding dust clouds.
I made two 911 calls to the Chaves County Dispatch Center requesting that Law Enforcement shut down St. Hwy 2 from Hagerman-Dexter-Midway, and north to the junction of US hwy 285 southeast of Roswell.
St. Hwy 2 and U.S. Hwy 285 were closed due to multiple vehicle accidents with injuries and one fatality. KOAT Action 7 News out of Albuquerque carried the story.
No doubt that breaks in the thick cirrostratus overcast (bases estimated at 20,000’ AGL) that allowed the stronger winds aloft to mix down to the surface aided in the westerly winds gusting up to 72 mph at the Roswell Airport. Along with a few virga bombs that you can see in the video.
Virga:
Streaks or wisps of precipitation falling from a cloud but evaporating before reaching the ground. In certain cases, shafts of virga may precede a microburstAt one point the blinding dust storm was so bad that my truck’s computer sounded an alarm on my console which said “forward looking camera fail…clean windshield.”
The Albuquerque National Weather Service Office which has forecast and warning responsibility for Chaves County had already issued a A Dust Storm Warning for Chaves County at 10:43 AM MST. The warning was later extended.
Dust Storms are not unusual for New Mexico especially during droughts such as the one we continue to be in.
I shot my video with my GoPro HERO11 Black camera. Mounted inside my truck on the dashboard. The dust accumulating on my windshield, the sun, and traffic all affected the resolution of my camera so at times the details are a little blurry.
Chaves County Sheriff Mike Herrington issues warning for drives due to the blowing dust and accidents in and around the Roswell, New Mexico area yesterday.
Photo is courtesy of the Dexter, New Mexico Fire Dept Facebook Page.
Justin Powell the Dexter Fire Dept Chief:
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Dexter Fire & Rescue, Midway Fire and EMS, Sierra Volunteer Fire Department, City of Roswell Fire Department, AMR Roswell/Chaves County, Chaves County Sheriff's Office, New Mexico State Police all responded to a multi-vehicle crash this afternoon at Ochard Park and 285.
Approximately 6 or more vehicles were involved, one on fire, resulting in several transported to the hospital. There was one fatality. The road is still closed. Visibility was only 2-3 feet at times.
This accident was shortly after another multi-vehicle on state road 2 between Dexter and Hagerman. There were numerous other accidents today, however no injuries were reported in most of them.
NMSP is handling this accident investigation. Thoughts and prayers go to everyone involved. Please do not travel in dangerous weather conditions. It is not worth your life or anyone else’s. It puts everyone including all first responders in danger. If you must drive then use extreme caution and pay very close attention to cahnging conditions on the roads and in the visibility. We want everyone to make it home in one piece and un-harmed. The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction!
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Chaves County New Mexico Dust Storm - Tuesday, Feb 27, 2024.