Avoiding High Wind Areas - Alamogordo and Ruidoso Areas (Capitan: transplants, mobile home)
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In following the weather forecasts for the Alamogordo and Ruidoso areas, there seem to be a high number of wind warnings. So I am wondering about tips on avoiding the worst areas for wind.
Right now my main area for possible relocation is in the Sacramento/Capitan mountain areas. From what I have read, living in the pine forests can help with the high winds. I am also wondering if the valley areas would be better than living on a ridge. So common sense would be a determining factor.
ALso i would think that local wind corridors in the mountains would be something to be aware of. So my question is for help in local knowledge of the high wind areas. Also of help would be any Internet sources that could help with selecting areas of lower wind velocity. All help appreciated.
Jim
Last edited by Poncho_NM; 06-23-2011 at 07:56 AM..
Wind in the mountains happens.
Sometimes it's strong and sometimes it's not as strong.
Some days ya might want to play golf or go hiking and ya gotta do something inside instead.
We deal with it. Don't know what else to say.
The subject comes up from time to time. The wind. It seems to be everywhere in New Mexico. I've lived in the ABQ area 10 years. And there have been a lot of windy days.
Unfortunately, high winds of New Mexico are a fact of life. Sometimes we experience more, sometimes less.
The best defense for high winds are, seek shelter immediately, car, home, recreation vehicle, travel trailer, big truck, mobile home, garage, or other man made shelter. If you must be outside, wear goggles and suspenders.
We New Mexicans, even us transplants are very, very lucky though, we only experience mild tornadoes, the greatest are catagory F2, which is powerful enough to tear your underwear off of your body, and shingles from your roof. New Mexico Tornadoes
Wind is just a fact of life in NM, I live in Alamogordo and because White Sands is here we get alot of low visibility when the wind kicks up. It is not everyday and like others have said you just adjust your activities for the day if you can. Sometimes we wake up to wind but alot of times it starts up in the afternoons. It's just life in NM.
I found the winds in Ruidosa pick up around labor day, I think it has to do with the futurity and the impact of large numbers of Texans appearing in loud groups in public places.
Right now my main area for possible relocation is in the Sacramento/Capitan mountain areas. From what I have read, living in the pine forests can help with the high winds. I am also wondering if the valley areas would be better than living on a ridge. So common sense would be a determining factor.
I live in the area you are thinking about, and spend a lot of time outside over the whole area, and this is what I've noticed.
The pine forest certainly does help along with having "trexture" to the land. The strongest winds tend to come from the SW or W, so having higher ground close by in that direction is helpful. Being lower than the surrounding land is good too... provided that you aren't in an open valley that runs in the same direction as the wind. Unfortunately most of them around here do. Ridgetops can be very gusty of course.
We bought land ~50ft above the Bonito, so it is in that valley which runs mostly E-W. There is a large hill to the SW of us though, and I'm amazed at how relatively calm it is there whenever I visit it. Even on the windiest days it is never bad.
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