Transcript High wind dust episode in West TX/NM/OK

April 22, 2001 Dust Episode
Just after the Asian dust episode
WIMO
SACR
GUMO
20% worst for
three sites in
West Texas and
Mid South
Region
Worst day for
Bext at GUMO
20% best day
for several sites
in UT, CO, NM
and AZ
Synoptic Conditions
NWS: “Intense
upper low and
associated surface
cyclone pulling
away from the area
the evening of
April 22nd in this
map. Expect winds
to decouple fairly
quickly this
evening across all
but the ECNTL/NE
where a wind
advisory will be in
effect until 03Z.”
Surface Conditions: AM
cold
front
Dryline
Surface Conditions: PM
cold
front
Surface Conditions: El Paso
Low dewpoints-dry air
The El Paso
airport reported
blowing dust
afternoon and
evening of
April 21st.
Winds gusting
between 24 and
36 knots on
April 22nd.
Surface Conditions: El Paso
NEXRAD reports
no rain at the West
Texas sites by the
morning of April
22nd.
Probably snow
Flagstaff,
Farmington and
Front Range
stations report
light snow in the
morning.
Forecasted snow at
Northern NM
upper elevations.
5 day West Texas backtrajectories
Imply Southern NM and West Texas “local” sources and potential
transport from Northern Mexico
12z
12z
Large regional dust sources
There are more sources to the east in NM and west Texas not shown
on this map
GICL
SACR
GUMO
5 day Oklahoma backtrajectories
12z
Site in Moist Gulf air east of dryline
23z
18z
Dryline moving eastward
03z
Dryline at lower levels only: red is 10m trajectory,
warm dry air is aloft to transport air from the west
Causes of haze during the event
CM transported
from West Texas
wind aloft; Sulfates
at WIMO from Ohio
Valley and sea salt;
organics may be
from Ohio Valley
WIMO
and low level
transport from
central Texas
Dust
Source
CM and FS at GUMP and SACR from sources in
NM, TX and Mexico