New Mexico winds on I-25 and I-40???

[Monty-Rob]

Would I have a problem with winds going from I-10 and up I-25 to Alburque and then west on I-40 to Flagstaff,AZ?
Would be making this trip March/April.
It seems I read somewhere that wind/sandstorms were bad in the spring?
Appreciate feedback.

[tatest]

You will have a problem with the winds on the high plains, particularly just east of the Front Range, only if you try to drive in them.

High winds are not continuous, they come up as weather systems move across the continent. When it is too windy, you sit it out, when it is not too windy, you go. There is not a good or bad time of the year, except that in the southern part of the plains, Summer tends to be calmer more often.

Where I encounter the winds: Kansas, Oklahoma, west Texas, eastern New Mexico and eastern Colorado, they are more often from either north or south, thus crosswind for east-west travel.

If winds are forecast much over 30 mph steady, I may or may not go in a car, definitely won't go in the RV. 15-25 mph crosswind is close to my limit for maintaining control of my C at highway speeds, so they slow me down. One of my friends lost a trailer (flipped) to a 30 mph gust.

Winds over 45 mph (often meaning 60+ gusts) I won't even go out on foot. Trees shed limbs, sometimes uproot, at those wind speeds, in this part of the country.

[Dadio24]

Wind almost always blows in that part of the country. Unless you have to stay on I-10 to I25, the roads across West Texas are not bad and the wind doesn’t seem to affect my travels as much. Tailwinds are nice on 87 to Amarillo or 83 to Albuquerque. “It seems when I travel the wind direction changes to always be at my nose”

[Thunder_Mountai]

Over the last 40 years I've driven those roads more than I like to think in everything from a BMW to a moving truck to a motor home. The wind can blow 50-60 mph at any time of the year. The prevailing winds is from west to east. So, I25 is likely a crosswind and I40 a headwind. Just watch NOAA or state DOT sites for information.

[DesertHawk]

Mont-Rob, I assume you will be coming from the East (Texas) on I-10. If so, you will not be in New Mexico very long on the 10. Just from the NM/TX border (which is just North of El Paso) to Las Cruces.

At times this can be closed because of high winds. We do get windy in the Spring, but this normally happens in waves, usually about a week or so apart (sometimes less, at times more). May last a day or two. All caused by Pacific Front coming in from California, etc.

I'm sure this applies for much of West Texas as well. One must keep informed from weather/news reports & be prepared to overstay a night or so if the wind gets too much. The wind isn't kind to high profile rigs & when the wind brings dust, it can be deadly for any vehicle.

I-25 can also be closed, but not as often as I-10 I believe (could be wrong). There a several large canyons which one crosses on the 25 (mainly from just South of T or C to just south of San Antonio/Socorro area). One must descend down into the Canyon the climb back out & it can be extremely windy at these crossings.

After Socorro, not too hard with the down & up climbs on the 25.

From ABQ west on I-40, there will be more down & up areas & it can be windy as well. Haven't traveled on it all that much however.

If do not need to see ABQ, there is a nice By Pass Short Cut at Los Lunas (Exit 203) NM 6 W to I-40 at Exit 126. A 32.5 mi, 34 mins drive.

NM 6 was a section of Route 66 at one time early in the life of the famous road.

[PenMan]

Winds can be bad in the spring but the weather forecasts are usually pretty accurate. One thing about New Mexico weather, blink and it will change. I don't worry pulling my 37 ft. TT but I always try to be aware of the weather and don't hesitate to stop if needed (but we are retired and no longer driven by a clock).

[pbitschura]

We were on both last May. Mid afternoon high winds and dust devils. Just be careful on bridges and wind tends to channel into cuts. Be aware but no need to fear.

[NCWriter]

They can be bad in the fall, too. During the Balloon Fiesta last October, we drove through scary sandstorms to get there and winds actually blew train cars off the rail. So just pay attention to forecasts. Good idea anytime everywhere, I guess.

[smarty]

Winds are generally bad in New Mexico in the spring. Like always just use your discretion and pull over when necessary.