Over 60 mph winds and dust expected to hit the metro area

Parts of New Mexico are expected to receive hurricane-force winds that could result in power shutoffs.

Highs are expected to be in the low to mid-60s in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho with wind gusts of up to 60-65 mph on Tuesday. Other parts of the state — including Roswell — could see gusts reach 75 mph, said Clay Anderson, National Weather Service of Albuquerque meteorologist.

The dust “can be pretty prolific,” he said. Visibility could be less than a half-mile in some areas, according to NWS.

A high wind warning will be in effect for Albuquerque from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday while a red flag warning will be issued from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the NWS.

“This low-pressure system isn’t expected to produce showers in Albuquerque because the humidity will be too low,” city meteorologist Jeff Stonesifer said in a news release. “Furthermore, the paltry rainfall that Albuquerque has received lately won’t be enough to hold down the dust Tuesday.”

“Contractors and businesses that generate dust should be prepared to shut down operations earlier than normal on Tuesday.”

The windy and dusty forecast has prompted PNM to consider a public safety power shutoff in the East Mountains and Las Vegas. In a social media post, PNM said it will notify customers who may be affected if it becomes necessary.

PNM also said it has set system controls to be more sensitive “to better protect public safety from wildfire risks” and “the possibility of more power outages.”

“This measure will immediately stop the flow of energy if an object, such as a tree branch, touches the line,” according to PNM.

To report an outage, PNM said, people can text #REG to 78766 and then #OUT to 7866, visit PNM.com/outage or call 1-888-DIAL-PNM. People can also sign up for alerts by texting #ALERT to 78766.

For tips on how to stay safe during a storm, people can visit https://www.pnm.com/storm-safety.