High Winds
Strong Winds Can Develop Quickly. Prepare Before They Arrive.
High winds are common in Ruidoso and across New Mexico. Strong gusts can damage property, create dangerous travel conditions, spread wildfire rapidly, and cause power outages with little warning.
Preparing ahead of time helps keep your household safer when conditions change quickly.
High winds can become dangerous quickly.
Strong winds can damage property, bring down trees and power lines, create dangerous travel conditions, and rapidly increase wildfire danger.
High winds are common across New Mexico. In Ruidoso and Lincoln County, wind events can develop with little warning and may lead to power outages, blowing dust, falling debris, and fast-changing fire conditions.
Before strong winds arrive
Secure loose outdoor items, prepare for power outages, monitor official weather alerts, and postpone unnecessary travel when conditions are unsafe.
Know what wind alerts mean.
The National Weather Service may issue several types of wind-related alerts. Understanding the difference can help you act quickly when conditions change.
Use Caution
Winds are strong enough to make driving difficult and may cause minor property damage.
- Secure loose outdoor items.
- Use caution while driving.
- Watch for blowing debris.
Take Action
Dangerous winds capable of causing significant damage, downed trees, and power outages are expected or occurring.
- Move indoors.
- Avoid unnecessary travel.
- Stay away from trees and power lines.
Act Quickly
Blowing dust is creating dangerous visibility conditions that can quickly become life-threatening for drivers.
- Pull off the road if possible.
- Turn off headlights.
- Keep your foot off the brake pedal.
Prepare your home and property.
A few simple steps before high winds arrive can reduce property damage, prevent airborne debris, and help your household stay safer during power outages.
Secure Outdoor Items
- Secure patio furniture, umbrellas, grills, trash cans, and decorations.
- Anchor trampolines and large outdoor equipment.
- Bring lightweight items indoors whenever possible.
- Close and secure gates, sheds, and storage areas.
Reduce Tree Hazards
- Trim branches away from your home, vehicles, and power lines.
- Remove dead or weakened limbs before wind season.
- Avoid parking beneath large trees during wind advisories.
Prepare for Outages
- Charge cell phones, backup batteries, and medical devices.
- Keep flashlights and extra batteries accessible.
- Store drinking water and basic emergency supplies.
- Make sure emergency alerts are enabled and up to date.
Move indoors and stay away from hazards.
The safest place during high winds is inside a sturdy building, away from windows and falling or blowing debris.
Shelter inside a sturdy building.
Stay indoors and away from windows. Move to an interior room if conditions worsen.
Avoid unsafe structures.
Avoid garages, carports, temporary structures, and rooms with large glass windows during strong wind events.
If you are outside, seek protection.
Move away from trees, utility poles, and power lines. Find cover behind a sturdy structure or terrain feature and protect your head from flying debris.
Postpone unnecessary travel.
High winds can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles such as trucks, RVs, trailers, and buses.
Stay away from downed power lines.
High winds can bring down utility lines without warning. Always assume every downed line is energized and dangerous.
- Stay far away from downed power lines.
- Do not touch nearby trees, fences, vehicles, or standing water.
- Report the hazard immediately to 911 and your utility provider.
- If a power line falls on your vehicle, remain inside unless fire creates an immediate danger.
Report outages
Report power outages directly to your electric utility provider. In the Ruidoso and Alto area, service may be provided by PNM or Otero County Electric Cooperative, depending on your location.
High winds can change fire conditions fast.
In Ruidoso, high wind events can rapidly increase wildfire danger and accelerate changing fire conditions.
Strong winds can spread flames, carry embers ahead of a fire, and shorten evacuation timelines. If wildfire smoke or fire activity is nearby, go indoors, close windows and doors, and monitor official emergency alerts closely.
If fire activity is nearby
- Go indoors immediately.
- Close all windows and doors.
- Turn off air conditioning systems drawing outside air.
- Monitor official emergency alerts closely.
Blowing dust can make roads dangerous quickly.
High winds can create sudden dust storms with near-zero visibility. If conditions become unsafe, reduce speed and get off the road as soon as you can do so safely.
If you can pull off the road
- Pull completely off the roadway if possible.
- Turn off your headlights.
- Set the emergency brake.
- Keep your foot off the brake pedal so other drivers do not follow your brake lights.
If you cannot safely leave the road
- Slow down carefully.
- Hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands.
- Use painted lane markings as a guide.
- Honk your horn occasionally to alert nearby vehicles.
- Pull off the roadway as soon as it is safe.
High wind safety resources.
Use these resources to monitor weather conditions, check road status, report outages, and receive local emergency information.
Prepare before the next high wind event.
High winds can develop quickly. Secure your property, make a household plan, build a go bag, sign up for alerts, and know how you will respond if conditions become unsafe.