Nasty winds down tree, close highways

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Highways across a broad swath of southwestern New Mexico are closed as fierce winds kicking up blinding dust clouds have cut visibility to near zero.

Metro Albuquerque is enduring brownout conditions and a health alert with a tree felled in downtown among the damage.

By 4 p.m. the peak gust recorded by the National Weather Service at the Albuquerque Sunport was 60 mph.  Raton and Fort Stanton reported gusts of 74 and 70 mph respectively with numbers locations statewide logging peak winds of 50-69 mph.

The city of Albuquerque is warning residents with relevant health issues about air pollution from today's high winds and blowing dust.

The Fugitive Dust/High Wind notice issued early this afternoon says the current conditions may continue until 8 p.m.

It recommends anyone sensitive to the effects of particulate pollution should limit outdoor activities or stay indoors.

Additionally all of Bernalillo County was placed under a Red Flag warning until 8 p.m. by the county Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.  Red Flag warnings are issued when a combination of temperature, high winds and low humidity increase the fire danger.

The emergency office also warned of high winds with gusts of 60 mph and above reducing visibility on roads and creating the potential for damage.  Open burning is banned in the county.

Just before 3 p.m. the New Mexico Department of Transportation reported these closures:

• Interstate 10 Deming-Lordsburg
• U.S. 180 Deming-Hurley
• NM 9 Arizona state line-Doña Ana County
• NM 26 Deming-Hatch.

Update:  I-10 reopen before 5 p.m., but NMDOT reported reduced visibility and difficult driving conditions from the Texas state line through Las Cruces, Deming and Lordsburg to the Arizona line.

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