Winds wallop New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Winds raged throughout New Mexico Wednesday.

The Albuquerque area saw gusts as high as 52 mph and winds were much worse in other parts.

Winter winds kept some people inside. In the Northeast Heights flags near the freeway mad for some pretty video but an hard shot to keep still.  The wind also toppled trash cans downtown and scattered Christmas ornaments in the heights.

At the Uptown Shopping Center shoppers were shoved around, but it didn't seem to damper their spirits.

"The weather is cold, but it doesn't keep me from coming out to the mall and getting a bite to eat and from shopping around at the shops," said Daniel Martinez who braved the windy weather.

Roswell was windswept as well. Gusts there topped 58 mph, making it hard to see and even harder to drive, but many people say it could be a lot worse.

"It's warm compared to Taos," said Kyle Henry who is visiting Albuquerque for the holidays. "It's not snowing! It could be a lot worse. It's actually pretty nice weather except for the wind."

The wind chill also made thing more uncomfortable. It dropped temperatures about 10 degrees in most places.

The strongest gusts recorded in the Sate Wednesday was 86 mph in Magadalena which is just West of Socorro.