Alert archive / New Mexico / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2023
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 397, NWS Albuquerque, NM
NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 15, 2023, 8:44 PM MDT for Harding County, San Miguel County, New Mexico. It was in force for 61 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
- Jul 15, 2023, 8:44 PM MDT (02:44 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 15, 2023, 9:45 PM MDT
- In force
- 61 min
- Issued by
- NWS Albuquerque, NM
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Possible
- Damage threat
- Destructive
- Hail
- 2.75 in
- Wind
- 70.0 mph
Counties Harding County, NM, San Miguel County, NM
The radar
The Cannon AFB radar (KFDX), 131 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:45 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 2:09 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 9 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 00:00Z, 2.7 hours before the alert went out and 218 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 300 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -8 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 3937 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 18 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 5 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 69 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
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.
NWS Albuquerque, NM wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 15, 5:55 PM MDT, 2 hours 49 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 15, 5:55 PM MDT, 2 hours 49 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 555 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 213 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023 It's hot. Although temperatures will wobble a few degrees here or there the next few days, the simple fact is, it will remain hot. Monday and Tuesday look to be the hottest days of the next week for most locations, with triple digit heat common. Some relief may be in store late week across eastern New Mexico. Storm chances will be high for the rest of this afternoon and evening across eastern New Mexico where strong to severe storms are likely. Heavy rain will also be possible. Storm chances dwindle for the Sunday through Tuesday time period, but moisture intrusions across eastern New Mexico mid to late week will increase shower and thunderstorm chances there once again. Additionally, storms should become slightly more common across western New Mexico by mid to late week as modest mid level moisture oozes in beneath the stout upper level high pressure system. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Sunday night) Issued at 213 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023 A rather vigorous push westward of low level moisture occurred last night, and some of the higher dewpoints in the Rio Grande Valley have yet to mix out this afternoon. Can't rule out an isolated dry and gusty shower or storm but any activity would likely diminish by sunset. That said, storms have been forming along the Sangre de Cristo mountains and moving southeast to slightly south as well, and will likely increase in number as the afternoon progresses. Models continue the idea of another vigorous surge of low level moisture on a gusty east wind into the Rio Grande Valley toward the Continental Divide tonight with convection persisting over portions of the east after midnight. Similar to last night, suspect the east wind into the ABQ metro will occur sooner than models indicate and be similar in strength, especially if storms track closer to the central mountain chain. In fact the NAM12 suggests this, with a burst of wind early evening then another later in the evening/overnight with storms tracking farther east and closer to the TX border. If this scenario pans out, hopefully it won't trigger more convection in the RGV later into the evening. On Sunday the upper high center is forecast to drift back over NM. Despite the moist westerly push tonight, models generate very little precipitation, likely due to strong subsidence. Can't rule out a few cells over the central and southwest high terrain though, given the uptick in high temperatures. Quite a few areas may see near record highs Sunday afternoon, and have issued a Heat Advisory for the Middle RGV, West Central and Northwest Plateau. Any storms on Sunday afternoon should fade away by sunset. && .LONG TERM... (Monday through Friday) Issued at 213 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023 On Monday, the 599-600dam H5 high will shift back eastward and will be centered in the vicinity of KGUP. This will mean high temperatures will crank up even higher than what they have been, records will be in jeopardy for the date, and widespread Heat Advisories will be likely. Meanwhile, as the high shifts back eastward, drier air will filter farther eastward across NM, not just across the northwest. The high dewpoints across eastern NM this weekend will mix out into the 40s. Hence, the chances for showers and thunderstorms will be limited. What storms do develop will favor the southwest mountains and areas just east of the Central Mountain Chain along the remnant boundary. By Tuesday, the upper high will be centered over central NM and the strength of the high is not expected to change. Drier air will still be present beneath the high, which will allow temps to soar once again. High temperatures across much of eastern NM should be a few degrees warmer overall, and an Excessive Heat Warning may be needed for the Chaves County Plains. Temps across western NM may be 1 to 3 degrees cooler, but they may still be warm enough for a few Heat Advisories. Showers and thunderstorms will remain scarce, favoring portions of western NM. For the rest of the work week, the upper high will move very little, but may weaken slightly to near 597-598 dam by Friday and by Friday night, should shift westward slightly. There also looks to be daily rounds of thunderstorm activity starting Wednesday afternoon across southeast CO and northeast NM that will help push a moist outflow boundary south and westward each night. This will help to cool temperatures off across the east each day, but will also provide more fuel, in terms of low level moisture, for storms along and east of the Central Mountain Chain each afternoon and evening. Some of these storms may be strong or severe. Meanwhile across western NM, scattered storms will remain possible, but will be limited by the strength of the high. There does appear to be some mid level moisture that squeaks beneath the high, but it will not be as robust as the low level moisture intrusions across eastern NM. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 547 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023 Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are currently along and east of the central mountain chain of New Mexico early this evening. Forecast models indicate a cluster of storms will develop over the northeastern plains later this evening and eventually drop southward into the east central plains with activity persisting into the early morning hours. The usual aviation hazards of lightning, downburst winds and brief heavy downpours will be found with this activity, along with large hail. An easterly wind is expected to push against the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristos early Sunday morning, leading to low stratus and MVFR to IFR ceilings near KAXX and likely just west of KLVS. These east winds will accelerate through central canyons again with gusts of 35 kt possible at KABQ which will likely require another Airport Weather Warning. Minimal storm activity is expected on Sunday, mainly staying isolated and confined to the Sangre de Cristo and Sacramentos. Hot temperatures will continue to lead to high density altitude readings, suggesting poor aircraft performance for many. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 213 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023 Elevated to near critical fire weather conditions will persist through early next week over portions of northwest and west central NM due to near record heat, occasional afternoon breezes and a very dry and unstable airmass. Wetting showers and storms will be focused from the east slopes of the central mountain chain over the eastern plains for the rest of this afternoon and tonight. While low level moisture will push back westward into the Rio Grande Valley tonight, the upper high will move back over NM on Sunday, with strong subsidence likely limiting the number and areal coverage of any storms to the highest terrain of the central mountain chain and southwest. The upper high will strengthen it's grip on the southern Rockies through the upcoming work week, with abnormally warm to hot temperatures. Moisture may eventually seep under the ridge, allowing for greater areal coverage of showers and storms over western and northern NM next Thursday through Saturday and offering not quite as hot high temperatures. Localized fair to poor ventilation rates are possible across the Central Highlands into the Northeast Plains Sunday and again Wednesday through Thursday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 56 101 58 104 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 46 93 46 98 / 0 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 54 93 56 97 / 0 0 0 5 Gallup.......................... 48 100 52 101 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 51 94 54 96 / 0 0 0 10 Grants.......................... 51 98 54 101 / 0 0 0 5 Quemado......................... 57 96 59 96 / 5 5 10 20 Magdalena....................... 64 94 66 97 / 10 10 5 20 Datil........................... 59 93 61 94 / 10 10 5 20 Reserve......................... 56 100 58 100 / 10 10 10 30 Glenwood........................ 66 103 70 103 / 20 20 20 30 Chama........................... 46 89 47 91 / 5 0 0 5 Los Alamos...................... 62 91 63 95 / 10 5 5 5 Pecos........................... 58 91 61 96 / 20 10 5 20 Cerro/Questa.................... 49 89 49 95 / 20 10 5 10 Red River....................... 48 85 46 88 / 30 10 0 10 Angel Fire...................... 46 84 44 86 / 30 20 0 10 Taos............................ 57 92 53 97 / 20 10 0 5 Mora............................ 52 87 54 93 / 30 20 5 20 Espanola........................ 59 98 56 103 / 10 5 5 5 Santa Fe........................ 62 92 64 96 / 20 10 5 10 Santa Fe Airport................ 65 96 63 99 / 10 5 0 5 Albuquerque Foothills........... 68 97 68 101 / 10 5 0 5 Albuquerque Heights............. 72 99 70 103 / 10 0 0 5 Albuquerque Valley.............. 65 100 70 105 / 10 0 0 5 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 68 99 68 104 / 10 0 0 0 Belen........................... 69 101 67 105 / 10 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 65 100 67 105 / 10 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 66 100 67 104 / 10 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 66 100 68 105 / 10 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 68 100 68 105 / 10 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 66 97 65 102 / 10 5 0 5 Rio Rancho...................... 67 99 67 104 / 10 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 70 102 71 106 / 10 5 5 5 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 60 91 63 95 / 10 10 0 10 Tijeras......................... 62 94 64 98 / 10 10 0 10 Edgewood........................ 59 94 60 99 / 10 10 0 10 Moriarty/Estancia............... 58 95 58 100 / 20 10 0 10 Clines Corners.................. 57 90 61 95 / 20 10 0 20 Mountainair..................... 60 93 64 97 / 10 10 0 10 Gran Quivira.................... 62 93 65 97 / 20 10 5 10 Carrizozo....................... 67 96 69 100 / 20 10 5 10 Ruidoso......................... 59 89 63 91 / 30 20 5 20 Capulin......................... 55 84 59 91 / 60 10 0 10 Raton........................... 55 91 56 95 / 50 10 0 5 Springer........................ 55 90 57 97 / 50 10 0 10 Las Vegas....................... 54 89 58 95 / 30 10 0 20 Clayton......................... 60 91 64 96 / 60 20 0 0 Roy............................. 58 88 61 95 / 70 10 0 5 Conchas......................... 64 95 65 102 / 50 10 0 5 Santa Rosa...................... 65 94 66 99 / 30 10 0 5 Tucumcari....................... 65 99 67 102 / 60 10 0 0 Clovis.......................... 65 98 67 102 / 50 20 0 0 Portales........................ 67 99 68 103 / 40 20 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 68 98 69 102 / 30 10 0 0 Roswell......................... 73 102 73 108 / 10 10 0 0 Picacho......................... 66 95 67 100 / 20 10 5 5 Elk............................. 62 92 64 97 / 20 20 5 5 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 8 PM MDT this evening for NMZ201-219. Heat Advisory from noon to 8 PM MDT Sunday for NMZ201-205-219. && SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM....34 AVIATION...52
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 5:45 PM MDT, 2 hours 59 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
545 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023
NMZ223-233-160015-
Central Highlands-Guadalupe County-
545 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL
GUADALUPE AND EAST CENTRAL TORRANCE COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM MDT...
At 545 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles north of Encino, or 19 miles northwest of Vaughn, moving south
at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Vaughn and Encino.
This includes the following highways...
Highway 285 between Mile Markers 223 and 234.
Highway 60 between Mile Markers 248 and 264.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor your preferred
media outlets and NOAA Weather Radio for additional information and
possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM MDT for
east central New Mexico.
&&
LAT...LON 3486 10557 3490 10535 3460 10523 3455 10555
TIME...MOT...LOC 2345Z 349DEG 17KT 3481 10545
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
44Local storm report, Jul 15, 6:28 PM MDT, 2 hours 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
628 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0622 PM Hail 1 NNW Raton Crews Airpo 36.75N 104.51W
07/15/2023 E1.75 inch Colfax NM Fire Dept/Rescue
Golf Ball sized hail reported on U.S.
Highway 64 about 10 miles southwest of
Raton.
&&
BTSLocal storm report, Jul 15, 7:56 PM MDT, 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
756 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0742 PM Hail 20 NE Des Moines 36.94N 103.56W
07/15/2023 E1.00 inch Union NM Trained Spotter
&&
TRMSpecial weather statement, Jul 15, 8:03 PM MDT, 41 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
803 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023
NMZ206-207-211-218-219-221-160230-
West Central Highlands-Santa Fe Metro Area-Sandia/Manzano Mountains
Including Edgewood-Jemez Mountains-Middle Rio Grande
Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area-West Central Mountains-
803 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023
...OUTFLOW FROM DECAYING THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF
NORTHEASTERN CIBOLA, EASTERN MCKINLEY, NORTHERN VALENCIA, SOUTHERN
SANDOVAL, WEST CENTRAL SANTA FE AND BERNALILLO COUNTIES THROUGH 830
PM MDT...
At 802 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong winds and
areas of blowing dust near Albuquerque, moving north at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales, Bernalillo, Los Ranchos De
Albuquerque, Tijeras, Mariposa, San Felipe Pueblo, Coronado State
Monument and Vista Hills.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 125 and 179.
Interstate 25 between Mile Markers 209 and 255.
Highway 550 between Mile Markers 1 and 14.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Blowing dust associated with strong thunderstorm winds can reduce
visibilities below one quarter mile at times.
&&
LAT...LON 3490 10643 3488 10717 3552 10742 3543 10612
TIME...MOT...LOC 0202Z 191DEG 28KT 3509 10674
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
ShoemakeLocal storm report, Jul 15, 8:10 PM MDT, 34 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
810 PM MDT Sat Jul 15 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0759 PM Flash Flood 4 WSW Newkirk 35.05N 104.33W
07/15/2023 Guadalupe NM Storm Chaser
Flooding along secondary roads near
Interstate 40.
&&
BTSLocal storm report, Jul 15, 8:24 PM MDT, 20 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Albuquerque, NM issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 6:01 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ABQ | Colfax | 119 min |
| Jul 15, 6:29 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ABQ | Guadalupe, Quay, San Miguel | 61 min |
| Jul 15, 6:50 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ABQ | Colfax | 3 hr |
| Jul 15, 6:56 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ABQ | Colfax, Harding, Union | 64 min |
| Jul 15, 7:17 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ABQ | Union | 43 min |
| Jul 15, 7:20 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ABQ | De Baca, Guadalupe, Quay, Roosevelt, San Miguel | 55 min |
| Jul 15, 7:28 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ABQ | Guadalupe, Lincoln, Torrance | 62 min |
| Jul 15, 7:55 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ABQ | Union | 48 min |
| Jul 15, 7:58 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ABQ | Colfax, Harding, Union | 62 min |
| Jul 15, 8:03 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | ABQ | Bernalillo | 27 min |
| Jul 15, 8:06 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | ABQ | Guadalupe, Quay, San Miguel | 114 min |
| Jul 15, 8:11 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ABQ | Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe, Quay, Roosevelt | 50 min |
| Jul 15, 8:18 PM MDT | Tornado Warning | ABQ | Harding | 42 min |
| Jul 15, 8:25 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ABQ | Union | 17 min |
| Jul 15, 8:33 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | ABQ | Colfax, Harding, Union | 3 hr |
| Jul 15, 9:42 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ABQ | Harding, Quay, San Miguel | 30 min |
| Jul 15, 11:18 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ABQ | Chaves, De Baca | 33 min |
| Jul 16, 2:34 AM MDT | Heat Advisory | ABQ | Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, De Baca, Lincoln and 12 more | 41 hr |
| Jul 16, 1:50 PM MDT | Excessive Heat Watch | ABQ | Chaves | 13 hr |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in New Mexico, 2023Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2023
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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.