Walter's sand storm
Walter's sand storm was a big deal---BBB
URL:
http://www.abqjournal.com/news/metro/458827metro05-10-06.htm
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Wind Gusts Reach 60 mph; Flights Grounded, Power Knocked Out
By Miguel Navrot
Albuquerque Journal Staff Writer
High winds Tuesday whipping the area delayed flights, interrupted power service, uprooted trees and flattened a horse barn. At 7 p.m., gusts reached 60 mph at Albuquerque International Sunport, where as many as 18 flights were delayed, diverted or canceled due to winds and blowing sand. By 8:15 p.m., the weather calmed, and airlines at the Sunport played catch-up with their schedules, said Daniel Jiron, an airport spokesman.
In the Duke City, several neighborhoods reported power outages, keeping fire crews and utility workers busy throughout the evening.
Public Service Company of New Mexico reported 10 areas of Albuquerque without power Tuesday night, leaving about 13,000 customers in dark homes. By 11 p.m., less than 300 customers throughout Albuquerque were without power. A PNM spokeswoman blamed the outages on the high winds. Several utility lines dropped and poles snapped under the gusts.
Near San Mateo NE and Comanche, the 60-year-old cottonwood at Carol Leverich's home fell under the windy pressure?- narrowly missing her car. "It was the reason I bought the house," Leverich said of the cottonwood, which fell partially into the street and into a neighbor's yard.
More than 100 calls came into the Albuquerque police dispatcher center, with residents reporting traffic tie-ups, arching electric lines, damaged property and related problems. A few callers said their roofs had been damaged, spokeswoman Trish Hoffman said.
In Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, a horse barn under construction near the village center fell. In Rio Rancho, the high winds blew the roof off of a Zip Lube business. It was the worst of the damage in Rio Rancho, police spokesman John Francis said. The winds caused a tree to fall on top of a home on Apache Loop on the far west side of the Rio Rancho, he said. There were also reports of a light pole toppling over on Riverside Drive and trampolines being blown around in the wind.
In Corrales and Bernalillo, authorities also received calls of property damage. In Corrales, a large street light reportedly fell on some vehicles. Downed trees also blocked some roadways.
In Bernalillo, police also received calls of thrown construction barrels.
Near West Central and Coors, Albuquerque fire fighters had a report of a roof being blown off a home and into utility lines.
A few drops of rain hit Northeast Albuquerque after winds and dusk blurred the horizon with a tan cloud. The weather is expected to clear today. A cold front from the north is sweeping across the state, bringing in the winds, according to the National Weather Service.
