A fast-moving massive wall of dust barreled across central New Mexico on Tuesday afternoon, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a dust advisory for parts of Bernalillo and Sandoval counties. Strong winds threatened to turn highways around Albuquerque into near-blind corridors where drivers could lose visibility in seconds.
Weather forecasters spotted the dust storm around 12:35 p.m. It stretched from approximately 15 miles east of Mesita to near Sandia Park, moving north at about 20 miles per hour. Forecasters expected winds exceeding 40 miles per hour to whip desert soil into the air.
The weather advisory covered much of the Albuquerque metro region, including Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Corrales, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, Paradise Hills, Cabezon, Vista Hills, and the Intel corridor in Rio Rancho. Forecasters advised all drivers along Interstate 40 between mile markers 135 and 168, Interstate 25 between mile markers 220 and 259, and Highway 550 near Bernalillo to prepare for sudden drops in visibility — an instant, life-threatening driving hazard.
The weather system came amid dry ground conditions and gusty afternoon winds, which are common across New Mexico in late spring. During this period, prolonged drought and parched soils can quickly trigger sweeping, low-visibility sandstorms.
Meteorologists urged motorists to slow down immediately if visibility is low and to avoid stopping in travel lanes. Dust storms in the Southwest have a history of triggering multi-vehicle pileups when drivers continue at highway speeds despite near-zero visibility.
The advisory may move through relatively quickly. But forecasters warned that localized wall of dust could continue into the afternoon, while the winds will move across the Rio Grande Valley.