Category: Albuquerque & New Mexico

Time Magazine is profiling New Mexico’s travails. An excerpt:

It began with a mass of arctic air in early February that sent temperatures plummeting to depths never seen in the state before. Pipes froze and many schools and government offices were closed to preserve gas supplies, which became so scarce that the New Mexico Gas Co. suspended service to some northern New Mexico communities, including Taos, in order to prevent the entire system from shutting down. The big freeze destroyed 99% of the state’s peach crop and damaged many other fruit crops.

Spring came late, bringing with it fierce winds that kicked up dust clouds so thick they obscured nearby mountains. Typically, the spring winds are gone by the end of May. But they are still raging. And then there’s the rain problem, or the lack of it. Only 0.19 of an inch of moisture has fallen from the skies since last October, making this the driest period since 1897, when the state began keeping track.

I can only say, it wasn’t like this when Bill Richardson was governor.

“5:42 p.m. 6/29/11 (AP) –The fast-growing Donaldson Complex Fire burned more than 43,000 acres by 5:30 p.m. It has nearly tripled in size over the past day, according to the Associated Press.”

This fire is near Hondo, New Mexico, not far from Smokey Bear’s homeland (he is buried in Capitan, New Mexico).

Meanwhile, the wildfire near Los Alamos has grown to over 90,000 acres. Check out this video taken a couple of hours ago in Los Alamos by KOB-TV news guy Jeremy Jojola. Follow him on Twitter @jeremyjojola.

The Atlantic Wire has a six strikingly beautiful photos from the Las Conchas Wildfire and Los Alamos.

Meanwhile, those still on duty at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have been taking pictures of the disaster. This may seem out of place at first, but in the place where the first nuclear bombs were built and tested, a wildfire [may] just seem like a small scale disaster to Los Alamos. Either way, the photos are kind of stunning.

Meanwhile, the fire is 60,740 acres and zero contained. NM Fire Info

That’s about 95 square miles.

Los Alamos, America’s most unusual community, is being evacuated as the fire threatens. KRSN AM 1490 is covering the fire, interspersed with songs about rain. It is really remarkable listening. KRSN AM 1490

Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and URS for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.

LANL

Fire closer to home this time, in the Jemez Mountains, about 50 miles north of Albuquerque, 30 west of Santa Fe. The fire began at 1PM yesterday, grew to 3,500 acres by evening and 43,000+ acres by now. So far, few if any structures have been lost, but smoke is back in our air and America’s nuclear weapons laboratory is closed — the fire is over the ridge from the lab at Los Alamos.

And this report:

Dixon Apple Orchard, a landmark northern New Mexico business that is a popular travel destination during the fall harvest season, has burned as part of the massive Las Conchas wildfire, according to Annette Narvaiz, town clerk for nearby Cochiti Lake.

Narvaiz also said at about 11:30 a.m. that the Pueblo de Cochiti golf course was on fire. “It’s headed toward the 15th hole,” she said.

Why such large fires in Arizona and New Mexico this year? It comes down to this. Albuquerque, by example, has had rain on January 31st/February 1st, April 7th and May 18th/19th. That’s it! Three incidents of measurable precip in six months for a grand total of 2/10ths of an inch.

Now you may say, but it’s a desert. True enough, but even so this is a tiny fraction of the usual moisture. Some areas have had even less; some have had none. It’s the driest six-eight months ever recorded.

And, of course, the fires are in the mountains with plenty of fuel.

Eleven years ago the Cerro Grande Fire destroyed over 400 homes in the Los Alamos area.

Albuquerque air quality is reportedly the worst it has ever been and the smoke from Arizona is expected to continue for days. We’re being told even healthy individuals should avoid outdoor activity. Swamp coolers that most of us depend on for cooling should not be used (they draw in outside air without any serious filtering).

The smoke particles in the air are much finer than dust — and much more dangerous.

I am running fans and a humidifier. 80 degrees inside.

No, not the Bear. The air. It had been fresh all day but the smoke has moved in during past 30-40 minutes. The wind direction must have changed. Unable to see city lights or the towers on the Sandia Crest three miles away.

The New Mexico Department of Health is advising residents to take special precautions due to smoke and ash from several wildfires burning in New Mexico and Arizona. Sensitive groups such as the elderly, small children or any individuals with respiratory or heart problems should leave the area where the smoke levels are high until the smoke dissipates or stay inside as much as possible. People with chronic respiratory or heart disease are also urged not to use swamp coolers as they will pull the smoke inside.

Point. One. Nine.

That’s how much precipitation Albuquerque has had in 2011. Less than a fifth of an inch.

I can spit that much.

No snow since May 2nd. Having to settle for ash-fall instead — fallout from the Arizona Alpine fire.

Hey, Arizona, don’t be a bad ash!
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I joke but of course the fire is tragic in Arizona and here — nearly 200 miles away — the health issues are considerable. We’re being advised to button up our houses until the wind changes tomorrow. The sky is overcast and the smoke so dense the view of the city lights downhill is obscured.

And ash is actually falling.

And it’s not good. (For those who don’t know, Rio Rancho is New Mexico’s third biggest city (nearing 90,000), “on a dusty mesa here, 20 miles north of downtown Albuquerque.”)

Company’s Arenas Leave Cities With Big Problems

. . . and the temperature has already gone from 32 to 43.

But it is snowing.

First of May: Mostly overcast, 38 degrees, wind 25 mph with gusts to 35, feels like 27º and snow still in the forecast.

UPDATE: Snow flurry at noon, May 1st!

Rain today. Wonderful.

Last measurable precipitation was January 31st-February 1st. Before that it was December 30th.

80 degrees, 7% humidity.

But the front approaches and the s-word is in our Monday forecast.

You know what we call that kind of erratic weather in New Mexico?

Spring.

“A woman once arrested for making her young son blow into her ignition interlock device is in trouble again, Albuquerque police said.

“[Woman’s name] has been charged with her fourth DWI . . .”

KOAT Albuquerque

“Back in 2008, her 11–year-old son called 911 and told the operator that he was being told to blow into her ignition interlock.”