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Published: 09 October 2013 09 October 2013

...STRONG WINDS TO IMPACT SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO
AND FAR WEST TEXAS ON THURSDAY...

.A DEEP UPPER-LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DIG SOUTH OVER
CALIFORNIA TODAY AND THEN TURN EAST TO MOVE OVER THE SOUTHWEST
DESERTS TONIGHT. THE SYSTEM WILL THEN TRACK EAST ACROSS THE FOUR
CORNERS REGION THURSDAY WITH ITS EFFECTS REACHING SOUTH OVER THE
BORDERLAND. THE PRIMARY IMPACTS TO SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND FAR
WEST TEXAS WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN WINDS DURING THE
DAYLIGHT HOURS ON THURSDAY. WIND SPEEDS IN THE 35 TO 55 MPH RANGE
ARE EXPECTED. THE SYSTEM WILL BE LACKING FOR MOISTURE
AVAILABILITY THUS ONLY ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED OVER
PORTIONS OF THE GILA REGION AND SURROUNDING LOW COUNTRY. THE STORM
WILL QUICKLY EXIT LATE THURSDAY ALLOWING A PACIFIC FRONT TO PUSH
IN BEHIND IT WITH COOLER AND DRIER AIR.
 


UPPER GILA RIVER VALLEY-SOUTHERN GILA HIGHLANDS/BLACK RANGE-
SOUTHERN GILA FOOTHILLS/MIMBRES VALLEY-
EASTERN BLACK RANGE FOOTHILLS-
WEST SLOPES SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS BELOW 7500 FEET-
SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 7500 FEET-
EAST SLOPES SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS BELOW 7500 FEET-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GILA HOT SPRINGS...BUCKHORN...
MULE CREEK...CLIFF...SILVER CITY...LAKE ROBERTS...KINGSTON...
FORT BAYARD...MIMBRES...FAYWOOD...HURLEY...GRANT COUNTY AIRPORT...
HILLSBORO...WINSTON...MESCALERO...MOUNTAIN PARK...TIMBERON...
CLOUDCROFT...SUNSPOT...APACHE SUMMIT...MAYHILL...SACRAMENTO...
PINON
601 AM MDT WED OCT 9 2013

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA HAS
ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM
MDT THURSDAY.


* LOCATIONS: ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6000 FT OVER THE SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO
  MOUNTAINS AND THE VARIOUS RANGES OF THE GILA REGION OF SOUTHWEST
  NEW MEXICO. ESPECIALLY EXPOSED RIDGES...UPPER SLOPES...AND GAPS
  AND PASSES.

* WINDS: INCREASING SOUTHWEST WINDS SUSTAINED AT 40 MPH OR MORE
  WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 55 MPH. LOCALLY HIGHER WINDS THROUGH GAPS
  AND PASSES.

* TIMING: WIND SPEEDS WILL QUICKLY INCREASE AFTER SUNRISE ON
  THURSDAY MORNING OVER THE HIGHER SLOPES. STRONG WINDS WILL MIX
  DOWN TO LOWER ELEVATIONS BY NOON AND PEAK DURING THE MID TO LATE
  AFTERNOON HOURS BEFORE DECREASING SOON AFTER SUNSET.

* VISIBILITY: MINIMAL VISIBILITY REDUCTIONS OVER THE GILA REGION.
  MODERATE VISIBILITY REDUCTIONS OVER THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS DUE
  TO BLOWING SAND FROM WHITE SANDS AND THE TULAROSA BASIN.
 

* LOCAL IMPACTS: DIFFICULT TRAVEL FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES AND
  MOTORCYCLES. LOOSE OBJECTS MAY BECOME AIRBORNE. DAMAGE TO
  POWERLINES...SIGNS...ROOFS...AWNINGS...TREES. ALSO INCREASED
  WILDFIRE DANGER.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS
OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.