Severe Thunderstorm Warning 125, NWS Albuquerque, NM

753 
WWUS55 KABQ 170016
SVSABQ

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
616 PM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

NMC001-043-049-170100-
/O.CON.KABQ.SV.W.0125.000000T0000Z-120817T0100Z/
SANDOVAL-SANTA FE-BERNALILLO-
616 PM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN
BERNALILLO...CENTRAL SANTA FE AND EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN SANDOVAL
COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM MDT...

AT 612 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR GOLDEN...OR ABOUT 17 MILES NORTHWEST OF MORIARTY...
MOVING SOUTH AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CEDAR CREST...
  SEDILLO...

THIS WILL IMPACT INTERSTATE 40 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 176 AND 182...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HAIL UP TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER HAS BEEN REPORTED
IN GOLDEN WITH THIS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF
THE STORM...TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

&&

LAT...LON 3530 10631 3534 10622 3535 10610 3518 10594
      3517 10594 3509 10614 3509 10638
TIME...MOT...LOC 0015Z 344DEG 21KT 3520 10618

$$

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
547 PM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF CYCLE
WHILE VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL IN MOST LOCALES OF NORTHERN AND
CENTRAL NEW MEXICO...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE BRIEF AND
LOCALIZED DOWNPOURS REDUCING VISIBILITIES AND CEILINGS TEMPORARILY
TO MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS. FAVORED AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT THROUGH
MIDNIGHT WILL BE ALONG AND NEAR THE WEST CENTRAL TO SOUTHWESTERN
MOUNTAINS...THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY...THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN...AND
THE EASTERN PLAINS. GUSTY AND ERRATIC WINDS AND SMALL HAIL WILL ALSO
ACCOMPANY THE DOWNPOURS. SOME ACTIVITY MAY LINGER BEYOND
MIDNIGHT...BUT ACTIVITY WILL BE NOTABLY REDUCING IN COVERAGE.
ANOTHER ACTIVE DAY IS ANTICIPATED ON FRIDAY WITH FAIRLY SIMILAR
COVERAGE AND PLACEMENT.

52

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...323 PM MDT THU AUG 16 2012...
DEFINITE INCREASE IN STORM STRENGTH AND COVERAGE TODAY AS EXPECTED
WITH SEVERAL FORCING MECHANISMS IN PLACE OVER THE STATE. CIRA BLENDED
PWAT IMAGERY SHOWING VALUES OF 100-125 PCT OF NORMAL. THE AXIS OF THE
H5 RIDGE IS POSITIONED FROM NORTHERN AZ SOUTHEAST ACROSS WEST CENTRAL
NM. H5 TEMPS OF -6 TO -7C ARE HELPING NOT TO CAP ANY CONVECTION AS
HAS BEEN THE CASE. WINDS ARE ALSO VERY WEAK ABOVE 700MB SO COMBINATION
OF HIGHER MOISTURE...COOLER TEMPS ALOFT...AND GOOD SURFACE HEATING WILL
ALLOW FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL THRU THIS EVENING. THE HRRR AND RUC
MODELS INDICATE CONVECTION WILL ORGANIZE INTO THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE
VALLEY SOUTHEASTWARD SO HAVE RAISED POPS TO HIGH CHANCE AND LIKELY.
DID NOT HAVE HIGH ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO PLACE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
WORDING IN FORECAST FOR TONIGHT...AND FOR THAT MATTER THE NEXT FEW
DAYS...AS IT WILL BE HARD TO PINPOINT ANY SPECIFIC AREA FOR ENHANCED
THREAT.

THE H5 RIDGE AXIS WILL CHANGE LITTLE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS...SETTING
UP WEAK STEERING FLOW FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN NM WHILE THE EAST ENJOYS
THE BENEFITS OF NW FLOW ALOFT. LIGHT UPSLOPE FLOW ACROSS THE PLAINS
ONTO THE EAST SLOPES BENEATH NW FLOW WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR POTENTIALLY
SOME OF BEST PRECIP SEEN IN QUITE SOME TIME. ANOTHER BACK DOOR FRONT
SUNDAY WILL JUST ENHANCE MOISTURE AND PRECIP CHANCES AGAIN. RAISED
POPS EVEN MORE TO THE HIGH CHANCE/LIKELY CATEGORY THRU THE WEEKEND.
TEMPS WILL BE MUCH CLOSER TO NORMAL AND EVEN A FEW DEGREES BELOW. GAP
WINDS ARE EXPECTED AGAIN IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY SATURDAY EVENING
INTO SUNDAY MORNING.

MODELS REMAIN AT ODDS BEYOND THE WEEKEND WITH HOW MUCH CONDITIONS WILL
DRY OUT. THE GFS HAS THE RIDGE SLIDING EAST AND CENTERING OVER CENTRAL
NM MONDAY THRU MOST OF NEXT WEEK...WHILE THE ECMWF KEEPS THE RIDGE TO
THE WEST AND FORCING MORE BACK DOOR FRONTS INTO THE AREA. GIVEN THE
PATTERN THIS SUMMER WILL BE FAVORING THE ECMWF AT THIS TIME...WHICH
WILL KEEP TEMPS NEAR NORMAL AND PRECIP CHANCES PERHAPS AT CLIMO FOR
LATE AUGUST. GUYER

.FIRE WEATHER...
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER...NOT EXPECTED THROUGH AT LEAST MIDWEEK NEXT
WEEK.

FCST MODELS REMAIN IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT ON GENERAL FCST PATTERN
THROUGH THE START TO MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. UPPER HIGH CENTER TO
CONTINUE TO MEANDER BACK AND FORTH GENERALLY BETWEEN NV AND AZ. THIS
WILL ALLOW FOR SOME WEAK TO MODERATE LOW LVL MOISTURE REPLENISHMENT
FROM THE E THROUGH S FROM TIME TO TIME WITH COMBINATION OF WESTBOUND
THROUGH NORTHBOUND OUTFLOWS FROM STORM COMPLEXES IN S AND E HALVES
OF THE STATE AS WELL AS CURRENT WEAKENING BACK DOOR FRONT VCNTY OF
RIO GRANDE VALLEY AS OF THIS WRITING AND ANOTHER ONE DUE INTO E AND
PERHAPS CENTRAL NM OVER THE WEEKEND.

SHOWERS AND STORMS THIS EVE AND OVERNIGHT TO BE MOST NUMEROUS...AND
WITH GOOD WETTING FOOTPRINTS...TO E OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WITH
MOST LIGHTNING OVER WITH BY OR NOT TOO LONGER AFTER MIDNIGHT...
ESPECIALLY HIGHER TERRAIN. GOOD TO EXCELLENT HUMIDITY RECOVERIES
OVERNIGHT.

FOR FRIDAY...ACTIVE CONVECTION EXPECTED ACROSS THE STATE...WITH
WETTING RAINS THE BEST BET AGAIN E OF DIVIDE. MINIMUM HUMIDITIES
INCREASING TO THE HIGH 20S TO THE MID 40S PCT RANGE OVER MUCH OF THE
STATE...WITH SOME HIGH TEENS AND 20S PCT REMAINING OVER THE DRYER
NORTHWEST QUADRANT. AGAIN GOOD TO EXCELLENT HUMIDITY RECOVERY
OVERNIGHT.

SATURDAY WILL BRING WEAK COLD FRONT INTO THE NORTHEAST PLAINS...
PROGRESSING TO THE S AND W LATER IN THE DAY THROUGH SUN AM. WETTING
RAINS MOST LIKELY ALONG AND E THROUGH N OF FRONTAL BOUNDARY. NW
PLATEAU STILL GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK WITH REGARDS TO
CONVECTION AND WETTING RAIN. VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT RECOVERIES
OVERNIGHT FOR ALL BUT THE NORTHWEST...WHERE RECOVERY WILL DROP BACK
INTO THE GOOD CATEGORY. FOR SUN THROUGH TUE THE UPPER HIGH AND RIDGE
STILL GENERALLY TO W OF NM. PRETTY GOOD CHANCES FOR WETTING RAINS
SUNDAY BUT BEGINNING A BIT OF A DOWNTURN MON AND TUE. AFTN TEMPS
SHOULD WARM A FEW DEGREES MOST AREAS BY MON OR TUE AND THIS WILL
LOWER MIN HUMIDITIES AND LESSEN OVERNIGHT RECOVERIES. 43

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF CYCLE
BACK DOOR COLD FRONT AS OF MIDDAY LOCATED APPROX FROM WESTERN RIO
ARRIBA COUNTY THEN SOUTHWARD JUST TO THE WEST OF THE MIDDLE RIO
GRANDE VALLEY THEN INTO EASTERN SOCORRO COUNTY. THIS FRONT WILL NOT
LIKELY MOVE TOO MUCH FARTHER WEST THROUGH LATE AFTN...BUT SHOULD
MAKE IT TO OR A LITTLE WAYS EITHER SIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
TONIGHT. THIS PATTERN WILL SET UP SCT TO AT TIMES NUMEROUS SHRA AND
TSRA COVERAGE LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. IN TAFS...VCTS SHOWS
MOST LIKELY EXPECTED TIME OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN VCNTY OF SAID
AIRPORT. THE LATER VCSH GROUPS INDICATE REDUCED BUT NOT ZERO
LIGHTNING POTENTIAL AND SOME RAINFALL REMAINING IN VCNTY FOR ALL
POINTS. HEAVIER RAINFALL TODAY MAY DROP CIGS AND VSBY TO MVFR IN
HEAVIER TSTMS FOR RELATIVELY BRIEF PERIODS. TSRA DIMINISHING AFTER 4
OR 5Z OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS AT ALL POINTS OVER THE NEXT 24
HOURS. 43

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
534 AM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

NMZ501>540-171200-
NORTHWEST PLATEAU-CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-
NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-
SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-
WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-
SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET-
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-
LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-SANTA FE METRO AREA-ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-
LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-ESTANCIA VALLEY-
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY-
SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA-
FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-UNION COUNTY-
HARDING COUNTY-EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY-GUADALUPE COUNTY-
QUAY COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY-
CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY-SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY-
534 AM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL
NEW MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. HOWEVER...AS
ANOTHER BACK DOOR COLD FRONT HEADS FROM NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST
ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO TODAY AND TONIGHT...SHOWER
AND THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. HEAVY
DOWNPOURS...GUSTY WIND...SMALL HAIL...AND THE THREAT FOR LOCALIZED
FLASH FLOODING IS A CONCERN...ESPECIALLY WITHIN AND BELOW RECENTLY
BURNED FORESTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. HOWEVER...
AN EASTERLY SURFACE FLOW WILL CONTINUE TO BRING IN GULF MOISTURE
AND SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EACH
AFTERNOON AND EVENING THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE THREAT FOR
LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING WILL REMAIN A CONCERN...ESPECIALLY FROM
THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN EASTWARD. DRIER AIR WILL BEGIN TO MOVE INTO THE
STATE FROM THE GREAT BASIN ON MONDAY...LIMITING SHOWER AND
THUNDERSTORM CHANCES SOMEWHAT MONDAY...AND TO MAINLY MOUNTAINS
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

WEATHER CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST FORECASTS...
WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

33

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
204 PM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

NMZ512-513-515-162015-
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS
ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER-WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-
204 PM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN TAOS AND WESTERN COLFAX
COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM MDT...

AT 200 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR CIMARRON CANYON STATE PARK...OR ABOUT 22
MILES EAST OF TAOS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.

AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...ANGEL FIRE.

&&

LAT...LON 3644 10497 3633 10514 3633 10531 3652 10539
      3660 10526 3660 10510
TIME...MOT...LOC 2005Z 337DEG 9KT 3646 10519

GUYER

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
231 PM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

NMZ512-515-162100-
EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO
MOUNTAINS-
231 PM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN TAOS AND EXTREME
SOUTHWESTERN COLFAX COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM MDT...

AT 230 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM JUST NORTH OF BLACK LAKE...OR ABOUT 17 MILES
EAST OF TAOS...MOVING SOUTH AT 5-10 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.

AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...BLACK LAKE.

&&

LAT...LON 3628 10513 3627 10533 3637 10535 3639 10523
TIME...MOT...LOC 2030Z 345DEG 7KT 3633 10529

44

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
524 PM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

NMZ518-170000-
SANTA FE METRO AREA-
524 PM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN SANTA FE AND EXTREME
EASTERN SANDOVAL COUNTIES THROUGH 600 PM MDT...

AT 524 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LA BAJADA...OR ABOUT 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF
BERNALILLO...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...CERRILLOS HILLS STATE PARK AND
MADRID.

THIS WILL IMPACT INTERSTATE 25 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 255 AND 268...

&&

LAT...LON 3550 10608 3541 10615 3539 10632 3548 10641
      3556 10635 3556 10627
TIME...MOT...LOC 2324Z 304DEG 6KT 3549 10627

44

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
547 PM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0535 PM     TSTM WND GST     SAN FELIPE PUEBLO       35.43N 106.45W
08/16/2012  E60 MPH          SANDOVAL           NM   PUBLIC

&&

EVENT NUMBER ABQ1201280

44

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
558 PM MDT THU AUG 16 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0535 PM     TSTM WND GST     MADRID                  35.41N 106.15W
08/16/2012  E60 MPH          SANTA FE           NM   PUBLIC

&&

EVENT NUMBER ABQ1201281

JF