Flash Flood Warning 16, NWS Albuquerque, NM

464 
WGUS75 KABQ 051853
FFSABQ

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1253 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

NMC031-052000-
/O.CON.KABQ.FF.W.0016.000000T0000Z-180705T2000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
McKinley-
1253 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM MDT FOR
WEST CENTRAL MCKINLEY COUNTY...

At 1251 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms continuing in 
the Gallup area. Brief heavy rainfall remains possible from these 
storms. 

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Gallup, Red Rock State Park and Church Rock. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Do not drive your vehicle into areas where water covers the roadway.
The water depth may be too great to allow your car to cross safely.

&&

LAT...LON 3552 10859 3538 10858 3540 10876 3554 10877
      3554 10866

$$

805 
WGUS75 KABQ 051955
FFSABQ

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
155 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

NMC031-052003-
/O.EXP.KABQ.FF.W.0016.000000T0000Z-180705T2000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
McKinley-
155 PM MDT THU JUL 5 2018

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL MCKINLEY COUNTY WILL
EXPIRE AT 200 PM MDT...

Thunderstorms with heavy rain had diminished in number in the Gallup 
area, although showers with brief heavy rain will continue over the 
area. Flows of water may still exist in arroyos this afternoon, turn 
around don't drown.

LAT...LON 3552 10859 3538 10858 3540 10876 3554 10877
      3554 10866

$$

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1140 AM MDT Thu Jul 5 2018

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF CYCLE
TSRA has already begun developing over a large portion of the region
today. Coverage will continue increasing and TSRA will be heavier
than what has been seen so far this season. Storm motions will be
toward the west around 15 kt. Direct hits from TSRA will be capable
of producing strong outflow winds, frequent lightning strikes, and
MVFR cigs/vsbys with heavy rain. The peak in storm activity is likely
before 02Z followed by SHRA thru much of the night for areas north
of I-40. Moist, low level upslope flow across eastern NM may lead to
a widespread MVFR low cig deck, especially around KLVS.

Guyer

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...231 AM MDT Thu Jul 5 2018...
.SYNOPSIS...
As a dome of high pressure expands from the central U.S. into the
Rockies, easterly flow will usher in a significant increase in
moisture to New Mexico. This will lead to the development of more
shower and thunderstorm activity across the central to western
portions of the state with some localized heavy downpours possible.
The increasing moisture, clouds, and precipitation will knock
temperatures down a few to several degrees today and through the
weekend. Shower and thunderstorm activity will favor north central to
northwestern New Mexico on Friday, expanding over the higher terrain
of the Continental Divide late in the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Winds have been turning more easterly over the past several hours as
the high expands into and west of the Rockies and a moisture laden
easterly wave moves into Old Mexico. This will continue to advect
moisture into NM with dewpoints on the rise and PWATs following. This
will flip the pattern to a more stormy one today and tonight with
easterly upslope flow also expected to assist convective initiation
along the central mountain chain and the Continental Divide. PWATs
are expected to surge to a 1.0 to 1.25 inch range by early evening
across much of the forecast area, a few points either side of the
95th percentile for early July. Steering flow will carry most storms
to the west at about a 10 to 15 mph pace, but storms in the northern
zones could move a bit slower due to a closer proximity to the upper
high. This will continue to leave burn scars within northern NM
under a threat for locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding. Have
opted to expand the Flash Flood Watch to the San Juan/Tusas zone to
account for the Bonita scar from last year.

Easterly surface flow will persist over much of NM into Friday, the
exception being the northern zones where winds will veer a bit more
southerly. The upper high will still be situated north of NM with a
UT/CO centroid boasting 600 decameters at 500mb. Plenty of moisture
will be left for additional storms, but overall PWATs will fall to an
inch or slightly less in most locations. Just about all zones will
have at least an isolated threat for storms, but the north central to
northwestern zones appear to be favored for more coverage along with
the locally heavy rainfall threat. In fact WPC will be hoisting a
marginal threat for excessive QPF in these areas for Friday.
Temperatures will stay at or slightly below normal.

The weekend, much like Friday, will still observe isolated to
scattered storms over much of the forecast area with a higher
concentration generally favoring the northern to northwestern zones,
although some expansion into Sunday is possible. The upper high
continues to be advertised to elongate on a west-east axis through
this time, and an easterly wave/low is always a possibility for NM in
this flow regime.

Through much of next week a potential separation of the high remains
the attention grabber with forecast models depicting one stout center
of the high sliding over the midwest while a weaker centroid hangs
over the Great Basin. This would give a weakness in any subsidence
over the Four Corners and surrounding states and perhaps an opening
for a weak low to arrive with active daily rounds of convection.
Elevated POPs have been built into each day of the extended forecast
with near to slightly below normal temperatures.

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&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Upper-high centered to the north of New Mexico during the next
several days will keep a moist easterly fetch at all levels in place
over NM. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible over all
mountain ranges this afternoon, moving west to northwest out over the
lower elevations during the late afternoon and early evening. As the
upper-high center shifts westward over CO/UT Friday and Saturday,
scattered shower and thunderstorm chances remain over the northern
mountains with isolated activity expected elsewhere.

GFS and ECWMF continue with the idea of bringing a weak upper-low
clockwise around the upper high and over NM Sunday, resulting in an
increase in shower and storm coverage. Models agree that another
such weak upper-low is possible for mid-week and beyond, this one
seemingly with greater potential for widespread heavy rainfall. The
North American Monsoon has finally arrived and as of right now, it's
looking quite promising.

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&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flash Flood Watch through this evening for the following zones...
NMZ510>515.

&&

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
254 AM MDT Thu Jul 5 2018

NMZ501>540-061100-
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 Cristos above 9500 feet/Red River-
Southern Sangre de Cristos above 9500 feet-
East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Upper Rio Grande Valley-
Lower Chama River Valley-Santa Fe Metro Area-
Middle Rio Grande Valley/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-
254 AM MDT Thu Jul 5 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern and
central New Mexico.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected today and this
evening, primarily over central and north central New Mexico. Storm
motions will be slow and rainfall could become locally heavy,
possibly leading to areas of flash flooding. Recent wildfire burn
scars will be especially susceptible to flash flooding. A few storms
may also produce small hail and wind gusts to 50 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to favor north
central to northwestern New Mexico Friday, Saturday, and potentially
into Sunday. Storm motions will be slow and rainfall could become
locally heavy with runoff issues over recent wildfire burn scars.

An active and rather stormy pattern is possible into much of next
week. Localized heavy rainfall will be possible each day, and
occasionally strong storms may also produce small hail and wind
gusts to 50 mph.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to report any measured rainfall amounts or
observed flash flooding through the National Weather Service
Albuquerque web site at weather.gov/abq or by calling 1.888.386.7637.
You can also submit storm reports and photos on our Facebook page or
via Twitter using the hashtag nmwx.

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