Alert archive / New Mexico / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 33, NWS Albuquerque, NM

May 8, 1997San Miguel County, New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 8, 1997, 3:31 PM MDT for San Miguel County, New Mexico. It was in force for 59 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 8, 1997, 3:31 PM MDT (21:31 UTC)
Expired
May 8, 1997, 4:30 PM MDT
In force
59 min
Issued by
NWS Albuquerque, NM
Area
Whole counties

County San Miguel County, NM

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 8, 2:30 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 169 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 12:00Z on 1997-05-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 12:00Z on 1997-05-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 115 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2529 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
115 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
119 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KABQ 082129 RRA
SVRABQ
NMC047-082230-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
331 PM MDT THU MAY 8 1997

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 430 PM MDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...

IN NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO

   ...CENTRAL SAN MIGUEL COUNTY
 
AT 330 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LARGE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
10 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF THE LAS VEGAS AIRPORT MOVING EAST
SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER OR
LARGER AND WILL AFFECT THE COMMUNITY OF TRUJILLO BY 430 PM.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD PREPARE
FOR DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY...PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 8, 9:43 AM MDT, 5 hours 48 minutes before
NMZ001>021-026- 081545-
SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHERN TWO THIRDS OF NEW MEXICO
945 AM MDT THU MAY 8 1997

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN NEW MEXICO:

BERNALILLO     GUADALUPE        RIO ARRIBA        SOCORRO
CATRON         HARDING          ROOSEVELT         TAOS
CHAVES         LINCOLN          SANDOVAL          TORRANCE
CIBOLA         LOS ALAMOS       SAN JUAN          QUAY
COLFAX         MCKINLEY         SAN MIGUEL        UNION
CURRY          MORA             SANTA FE          VALENCIA
DE BACA

SYNOPSIS:  VERY MOIST AIRMASS IN PLACE OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF NEW
MEXICO WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE AS STRONG SPRING SUNSHINE WARMS
THE AIR NEAR THE SURFACE. IN ADDITION A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WILL BE
SAGGING SOUTHWARD DOWN THE PLAINS TODAY. THESE FACTORS ARE LIKELY TO
LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF WIDELY SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS
AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING FROM THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS EASTWARD OVER THE PLAINS. LARGE HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND
LOCALLY VERY HEAVY RAINS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF NEW
MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY TONIGHT. WEST OF THE CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS...WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON
AND INCREASE TONIGHT AS STRONG EAST WINDS DEVELOP INTO THE RIO GRANDE
VALLEY THIS EVENING.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY TONIGHT
FROM THE EAST SLOPES OF NEW MEXICO/S CENTRAL MOUNTAIN RANGES EASTWARD
OVER >THE PLAINS.

MJF
Special weather statement, May 8, 9:45 AM MDT, 5 hours 46 minutes before
NMZ001>021-026- 081545-
SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTHERN TWO THIRDS OF NEW MEXICO
945 AM MDT THU MAY 8 1997

THIS OUTLOOK PERTAINS TO THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN NEW MEXICO:

BERNALILLO     GUADALUPE        RIO ARRIBA        SOCORRO
CATRON         HARDING          ROOSEVELT         TAOS
CHAVES         LINCOLN          SANDOVAL          TORRANCE
CIBOLA         LOS ALAMOS       SAN JUAN          QUAY
COLFAX         MCKINLEY         SAN MIGUEL        UNION
CURRY          MORA             SANTA FE          VALENCIA
DE BACA

SYNOPSIS:  VERY MOIST AIRMASS IN PLACE OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF NEW
MEXICO WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE AS STRONG SPRING SUNSHINE WARMS
THE AIR NEAR THE SURFACE. IN ADDITION A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WILL BE
SAGGING SOUTHWARD DOWN THE PLAINS TODAY. THESE FACTORS ARE LIKELY TO
LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF WIDELY SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS
AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING FROM THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS EASTWARD OVER THE PLAINS. LARGE HAIL...STRONG WINDS AND
LOCALLY VERY HEAVY RAINS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF NEW
MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY TONIGHT. WEST OF THE CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS...WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON
AND INCREASE TONIGHT AS STRONG EAST WINDS DEVELOP INTO THE RIO GRANDE
VALLEY THIS EVENING.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY TONIGHT
FROM THE EAST SLOPES OF NEW MEXICO/S CENTRAL MOUNTAIN RANGES EASTWARD
OVER THE PLAINS.

MJF
Special weather statement, May 8, 3:29 PM MDT, 2 minutes before
NMZ001>032-090500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
330 PM MDT THU MAY 8 1997

A MIX OF STRONG STORMS...WINDS...AND COOLER WEATHER FOR NEW MEXICO.

AN INCREASINGLY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF
NEW MEXICO WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDER
STORMS AS AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVES IN FROM THE WEST AND PROVIDES
A FOCUS FOR SUSTAINING THE STORMS INTO THE EVENING HOURS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR MOST
OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO FROM THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
TO THE TEXAS BORDER.  ONLY UNION AND COLFAX COUNTIES IN THE EAST
ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.  LARGE HAIL...
DAMAGING WINDS AND INTENSE RAIN ALONG WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE
POSSIBLE FROM STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.

THE COLD FRONT THAT MOVED SOUTH THROUGH EASTERN NEW MEXICO TODAY AND
DESTABILIZED THE AIRMASS WILL PUSH WESTWARD INTO THE RIO GRANDE
VALLEY BEFORE SUNSET.  THE COMBINATION OF OUTFLOW FROM STORMS IN THE
EAST AND RISING PRESSURES BEHIND THE COLDFRONT WILL RESULT IN STRONG
EAST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH INTO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY THIS
EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.  A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MIDDLE
AND LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND FOR THE SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS.
GUSTS ABOVE 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY ALONG THE FOOTHILLS OF
THE WEST SLOPES OF THE SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS...INCLUDING THE
ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS.

WEST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE COLD FRONT
MOVES FURTHER TO THE WEST.

LATER TONIGHT AS COOLER AIR FILTERS SOUTH AND THUNDERSTORMS WEAKEN...
SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST ACROSS EASTERN AND NORTHERN NEW
MEXICO.  THE SNOW LEVEL IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS WILL DROP TO ABOUT
8000 FEET.  HIGH COUNTRY HIKERS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD BE
AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY WET SNOW AT ELEVATIONS ABOVE 9000
FEET LATER TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED LATER
THIS EVENING.

MJF/EAP
Special weather statement, May 8, 3:30 PM MDT, 1 minute before
NMZ001>032-090500-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
330 PM MDT THU MAY 8 1997

A MIX OF STRONG STORMS...WINDS...AND COOLER WEATHER FOR NEW MEXICO.

AN INCREASINGLY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF
NEW MEXICO WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDER
STORMS AS AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVES IN FROM THE WEST AND PROVIDES
A FOCUS FOR SUSTAINING THE STORMS INTO THE EVENING HOURS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM MDT FOR MOST
OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO FROM THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
TO THE TEXAS BORDER.  ONLY UNION AND COLFAX COUNTIES IN THE EAST
ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.  LARGE HAIL...
DAMAGING WINDS AND INTENSE RAIN ALONG WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE
POSSIBLE FROM STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.

THE COLD FRONT THAT MOVED SOUTH THROUGH EASTERN NEW MEXICO TODAY AND
DESTABILIZED THE AIRMASS WILL PUSH WESTWARD INTO THE RIO GRANDE
VALLEY BEFORE SUNSET.  THE COMBINATION OF OUTFLOW FROM STORMS IN THE
EAST AND RISING PRESSURES BEHIND THE COLDFRONT WILL RESULT IN STRONG
EAST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH INTO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY THIS
EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.  A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MIDDLE
AND LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND FOR THE SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS.
GUSTS ABOVE 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY ALONG THE FOOTHILLS OF
THE WEST SLOPES OF THE SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS...INCLUDING THE
ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS.

WEST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE COLD FRONT
MOVES FURTHER TO THE WEST.

LATER TONIGHT AS COOLER AIR FILTERS SOUTH AND THUNDERSTORMS WEAKEN...
SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST ACROSS EASTERN AND NORTHERN NEW
MEXICO.  THE SNOW LEVEL IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS WILL DROP TO ABOUT
8000 FEET.  HIGH COUNTRY HIKERS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD BE
AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY WET SNOW AT ELEVATIONS ABOVE 9000
FEET LATER TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED LATER
THIS EVENING.

MJF/EAP

The office that day

Everything else NWS Albuquerque, NM issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 8, 1:32 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQMora48 min
May 8, 2:20 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQMora, San Miguel65 min
May 8, 3:45 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQTorrance40 min
May 8, 4:05 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQDe Baca45 min
May 8, 4:15 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQLincoln50 min
May 8, 4:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQChaves55 min
May 8, 5:38 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQChaves47 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in New Mexico, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.