Alert archive / New Mexico / Flash Flood Warnings in 2025

Flash Flood Warning 85, NWS Albuquerque, NM

July 12, 2025Bernalillo County, Santa Fe County, Torrance County, New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this flash flood warning at Jul 12, 2025, 6:21 PM MDT for Bernalillo County, Santa Fe County, Torrance County, New Mexico. It was in force for 3 hr. 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 12, 2025, 6:21 PM MDT (00:21 UTC)
Expired
Jul 12, 2025, 9:15 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Albuquerque, NM
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Bernalillo County, NM, Santa Fe County, NM, Torrance County, NM

The radar

The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:20 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 nearest sounding before it

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 00:00Z, 0.4 hours before the alert went out and 40 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 00:00Z on 2025-07-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1292 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 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 00:00Z on 2025-07-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 12 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1292 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-11 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2877 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
12 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
91 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at Jul 12, 5:26 PM MDT, 55 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 519 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025
  • There is a high risk of burn scar flash flooding this weekend and a low chance of off-scar flash flooding with stronger storms that develop along and east of the Rio Grande Valley.
  • Storms in central and eastern New Mexico have the potential to produce large hail and damaging wind gusts this afternoon and evening.
  • The active monsoon pattern is expected to continue into next week becoming traditional mid and late week, keeping the threat of burn scar flash flooding moderate to high each day through the end of the week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 12, 5:26 PM MDT, 55 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
526 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 519 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

- There is a high risk of burn scar flash flooding this weekend
  and a low chance of off-scar flash flooding with stronger storms
  that develop along and east of the Rio Grande Valley.

- Storms in central and eastern New Mexico have the potential to
  produce large hail and damaging wind gusts this afternoon and
  evening.

- The active monsoon pattern is expected to continue into next
  week becoming traditional mid and late week, keeping the threat
  of burn scar flash flooding moderate to high each day through
  the end of the week.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Sunday night)
Issued at 128 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

Low clouds in the wake of last night's and early morning showers and
storms have burned off across eastern NM as of 12:30 local time. A
backdoor front has pushed higher low level moisture all the way west
to the Continental Divide. Better daytime heating and instability is
allowing showers and storms to erupt across the northern and west
central mountains early this afternoon with slow motion to the
southeast into the nearby highlands and Rio Grande Valley late this
afternoon into the evening. A high probability of flash flooding is
expected on the HPCC burn scar and a Flash Flood Watch is in effect
until 9 PM to cover this risk. When looking at eastern NM and the
south central mountains, including Ruidoso, this morning's low
clouds and higher stability behind the early morning shower and
storm activity will prevent really any shower and thunderstorm
development this afternoon. This is reflected in the latest high
resolution guidance. Looking specifically at Ruidoso for the
evening, showers and storms across the south central highlands and
lower RGV looks to potentially move into Ruidoso around 6 to 7 PM.
Now these storms will be running into the aforementioned stable
environment present across eastern NM helping to weaken the
activity. However, model guidance does show PWATS just under an inch
during the evening, so any storm that does try to get over the
Ruidoso area burn scars will be capable of heavy rainfall. For that
reason, kept the Flash Flood Watch in place for Ruidoso while adding
this reasoning in the text of the "Additional Details" section of
the watch product. Any shower and storm activity across south
central NM dissipates at around 9 to 10 PM local time.

Going into Sunday, the 596 dam monsoon upper high, centered just off
the coast of Southern CA, looks to build northeast across the Great
Basin and Arizona with the western extent of it reaching as far east
as the AZ/NM border. A moist airmass will remain in place along and
east of the Continental Divide with PWATs around 0.7 to 0.9 inches
across central NM and 1 to 1.3 inches across the eastern plains. The
PWATS are average across the RGV and slightly above average along
and east of the central mountain chain. Daytime heating and high
instability will help storms develop midday across the higher
terrain along and east of the Continental Divide slowly moving south
and east into the surrounding highlands and lower elevations during
the late afternoon and early evening hours. For the Ruidoso area and
the HPCC burn scars, these slow and erratically moving storms will
be capable of producing heavy rainfall rates of up to 3 inches an
hour resulting in flash flooding and debris flows on and downstream
of the burn scars. There will be upslope southeast flow across these
burn scars helping to provide the extra lift to keep these heavy
rainfall rates, as well as latch the storms over the burn scars for
several hours Sunday afternoon and early Sunday evening. The HREF 6
hr mean QPF has 0.5 to 1 inch over the burn scars Sunday afternoon.
However, max 6 hour amounts show values of up to 2.5 inches over
both HPCC and the Ruidoso area burn scars. This is a very similar
setup and scenario to Tuesday's catastrophic flooding across
Ruidoso, so individuals in the area should stay weather aware and
have multiple ways to receive warnings if they are issued. After
saying all of this, new Flash Flood Watches have been issued for
these areas containing the burn scars. Going to the evening, the
storms across the central mountain chain and nearby eastern
highlands coalesce into a line of storms as it moves into the east
central and southeast plains. HREF guidance is showing locally heavy
rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches across these areas through the
late evening. For that reason, the entire central mountain chain,
northeast, central and south central highlands have been included in
tomorrow's Flash Flood Watch. Could see De Baca and Chaves County
added to this watch late this evening with the new forecast package,
but will let the evening shift take another look and reassess before
making this decision.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Monday through Friday)
Issued at 128 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

Any shower and thunderstorm activity across central and eastern NM
tapers off overnight with just some lingering clouds across
southeast NM Monday morning. The monsoon high remains centered off
the coast of southern CA on Monday with it extending westward to as
far east-northeast as western Kansas. Mid and upper level heights
show a weak disturbance moving over the northern Rockies among the
jet stream. This will result in shower and thunderstorm development
across the CO Rockies with some of this activity extending as far
south as the north central mountains in New Mexico. Additionally,
with this orientation of the monsoon high, shower and storm coverage
will favor the western and central mountains with storm motion to
the west-southwest. Global guidance and the NAM hint at an inverted
trough, possibly from Sunday evening's convection, across south
central NM on the southern edge of the upper high Monday afternoon,
so this could help to enhance shower and thunderstorm coverage.

The monsoon high looks to weaken to 592 dam and be more centered
over northern AZ on Tuesday with guidance favoring diurnal shower
and thunderstorm activity over north central and western NM. The NAM
shows an inverted trough across West Texas with subsidence west of
this inverted trough axis helping to keep a cap on shower and
thunderstorm activity across much of eastern NM during the afternoon
and evening hours. Come Wednesday and Thursday, the upper high over
northern AZ fully breaks down due to a strong upper level trough
moving across the northern Rockies and Great Plains. In it's place
is an upper low over Baja California. Southerly flow north and east
of this low combined with south-southeast flow on the western edge
of the broad Bermuda high over the southern US will result in a
typical monsoon setup with western and central NM favored Wednesday
afternoon and evening and all of the state on Thursday and Friday.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 519 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

VFR conditions prevail and are forecast to persist, but short-
lived MVFR conditions are possible with thunderstorms this evening
and again Sunday afternoon. In addition, patches of low stratus
may bring short-lived MVFR cigs to eastern NM overnight. Current
round of storms moving in on the ABQ Metro will impact air traffic
through 02Z, with strong and erratic wind gusts to between
35-45kts and small hail.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 128 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

Higher moisture has moved west to the Continental Divide today.
Shower and thunderstorm coverage will favor central NM this
afternoon, central, southern and eastern NM Sunday, northern and
western and southern NM Monday, and northern and western NM Tuesday.
This is due to the monsoon high just off the southern CA coast
expanding west-northwest to as far east as the central Rockies early
this upcoming week. The monsoon high breaks down Wednesday with a
more traditional monsoon pattern expected for the state through the
end of this upcoming week. Any showers and storms will be capable of
producing locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding with urban areas
and burn scars being the most favored.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Farmington......................  62  97  65  96 /   0  10  10  20
Dulce...........................  46  91  46  89 /  10  60  40  70
Cuba............................  54  88  55  87 /  10  50  40  50
Gallup..........................  50  95  55  92 /   0  10  20  50
El Morro........................  53  91  55  87 /  10  30  50  70
Grants..........................  53  93  55  89 /  10  30  40  60
Quemado.........................  57  92  58  89 /  20  40  70  80
Magdalena.......................  60  89  60  85 /  30  50  60  60
Datil...........................  55  88  55  84 /  20  60  60  70
Reserve.........................  53  97  53  92 /  30  60  60  90
Glenwood........................  59 100  58  94 /  30  60  60  90
Chama...........................  47  83  46  82 /  20  70  40  70
Los Alamos......................  58  83  58  83 /  20  70  30  60
Pecos...........................  55  80  54  81 /  30  70  40  50
Cerro/Questa....................  51  82  51  84 /  30  70  30  60
Red River.......................  43  72  43  75 /  40  70  30  60
Angel Fire......................  39  75  38  76 /  30  70  30  50
Taos............................  49  85  50  86 /  30  60  30  50
Mora............................  49  78  49  79 /  30  80  30  50
Espanola........................  58  91  58  91 /  20  60  30  40
Santa Fe........................  59  83  58  84 /  30  70  40  50
Santa Fe Airport................  57  86  56  87 /  20  60  40  40
Albuquerque Foothills...........  66  92  65  89 /  30  50  50  40
Albuquerque Heights.............  65  94  63  91 /  30  40  40  30
Albuquerque Valley..............  63  96  63  94 /  30  40  40  20
Albuquerque West Mesa...........  65  93  64  92 /  30  40  40  20
Belen...........................  61  96  61  92 /  30  30  50  20
Bernalillo......................  63  94  63  93 /  30  50  40  30
Bosque Farms....................  61  95  60  92 /  30  30  40  20
Corrales........................  64  96  63  94 /  30  40  40  30
Los Lunas.......................  62  95  62  92 /  30  30  50  20
Placitas........................  62  91  62  89 /  30  50  40  30
Rio Rancho......................  64  94  63  92 /  30  40  40  30
Socorro.........................  66  97  65  94 /  30  40  50  30
Sandia Park/Cedar Crest.........  56  86  56  84 /  30  60  40  40
Tijeras.........................  59  88  58  85 /  30  50  40  40
Edgewood........................  54  87  53  85 /  30  60  40  30
Moriarty/Estancia...............  53  87  52  85 /  30  60  40  30
Clines Corners..................  54  79  53  79 /  20  60  40  30
Mountainair.....................  55  86  54  83 /  40  60  50  40
Gran Quivira....................  57  85  55  81 /  30  60  50  40
Carrizozo.......................  62  88  60  84 /  20  60  50  50
Ruidoso.........................  56  79  55  76 /  20  70  40  70
Capulin.........................  51  78  51  80 /  30  40  20  10
Raton...........................  52  83  53  84 /  40  50  20  20
Springer........................  53  84  54  86 /  30  50  20  20
Las Vegas.......................  52  80  52  81 /  30  70  30  30
Clayton.........................  59  84  59  86 /   5  20  20   5
Roy.............................  56  80  57  82 /  20  40  30  10
Conchas.........................  62  87  63  88 /  10  40  30  10
Santa Rosa......................  61  84  60  84 /  10  50  40  20
Tucumcari.......................  59  85  60  86 /   5  20  30  10
Clovis..........................  63  87  63  87 /   5  30  50  20
Portales........................  63  88  63  88 /   5  30  50  20
Fort Sumner.....................  64  88  63  87 /   5  40  40  10
Roswell.........................  68  90  67  88 /  10  30  40  20
Picacho.........................  62  85  61  83 /  10  50  40  40
Elk.............................  59  83  58  81 /  20  60  40  60

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch until 9 PM MDT this evening for NMZ214-215-226-229.

Flood Watch from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening for
NMZ212-214-215-221>224-226-229-233-239.

&&

SHORT TERM...71
LONG TERM....71
AVIATION...11

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 12, 3:51 PM MDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
351 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

NMZ207-122230-
West Central Highlands NM-
351 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL CIBOLA COUNTY
UNTIL 430 PM MDT...

At 351 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5
miles south of New Laguna, or 7 miles southwest of Laguna Pueblo,
moving east at 5 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 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...
  Laguna Pueblo, New Laguna, Mesita, Paraje, Seama and North Acomita
  Village.

This includes Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 102 and 116.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

Motorists can expect brief but sudden changes in visibility and
ponding of water on roadways as storms move through the area.

&&

LAT...LON 3487 10758 3508 10756 3506 10733 3484 10735
TIME...MOT...LOC 2150Z 275DEG 5KT 3497 10745

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 TO 55 MPH

25/11
Special weather statement, Jul 12, 4:43 PM MDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
443 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

NMZ211-122330-
Jemez Mountains NM-
443 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL SANDOVAL COUNTY
UNTIL 530 PM MDT...

At 443 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles east of Jemez State Monument, or 17 miles southwest of Los
Alamos, moving south at 5 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 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...
  Mainly rural areas of East Central Sandoval County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

Heavy rains from severe thunderstorms can produce sudden and
dangerous flows in arroyos, ditches and over low water crossings. Do
not attempt to drive through areas where water covers the roadway.

&&

LAT...LON 3575 10664 3581 10646 3567 10634 3561 10660
TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 348DEG 5KT 3573 10652

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 TO 55 MPH

25/11
Special weather statement, Jul 12, 5:15 PM MDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
515 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

NMZ211-219-130000-
Jemez Mountains NM-Middle Rio Grande Valley including the
Albuquerque Metro Area NM-
515 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL SANDOVAL COUNTY
UNTIL 6 PM MDT...

At 515 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Jemez Pueblo, or 25 miles north of Bernalillo, moving south at 15
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 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...
  San Ysidro, Jemez Pueblo, Zia Pueblo, Canon and Ponderosa.

This includes Highway 550 between Mile Markers 17 and 28.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

Heavy rains from severe thunderstorms can produce sudden and
dangerous flows in arroyos, ditches and over low water crossings. Do
not attempt to drive through areas where water covers the roadway.

&&

LAT...LON 3559 10686 3561 10686 3575 10679 3573 10661
      3548 10649 3549 10692 3555 10689 3555 10686
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 355DEG 11KT 3566 10668

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 TO 55 MPH

25/11
Special weather statement, Jul 12, 5:28 PM MDT, 53 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
528 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

NMZ204-211-130015-
Jemez Mountains NM-Northwest Highlands NM-
528 PM MDT Sat Jul 12 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL SANDOVAL COUNTY UNTIL
615 PM MDT...

At 528 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14
miles northwest of San Ysidro, or 21 miles south of Cuba, moving
south at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 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...
  Mainly rural areas of Central Sandoval County.

This includes Highway 550 between Mile Markers 31 and 45.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.

Motorists can expect brief but sudden changes in visibility and
ponding of water on roadways as storms move through the area.

&&

LAT...LON 3576 10700 3577 10678 3562 10686 3555 10687
      3555 10697 3556 10697 3556 10699 3558 10699
      3560 10701 3561 10701 3562 10703
TIME...MOT...LOC 2328Z 349DEG 9KT 3572 10693

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 TO 55 MPH

25
Special weather statement, Jul 12, 5:55 PM MDT, 26 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 12, 6:00 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQBernalillo45 min
Jul 12, 6:28 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQSanta Fe, Torrance20 min
Jul 12, 6:36 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQTorrance23 min
Jul 12, 7:22 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQTorrance38 min
Jul 12, 7:48 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQTorrance42 min
Jul 12, 9:38 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQLincoln37 min
Jul 13, 11:02 AM MDTFlood WatchABQLincoln28 hr
Jul 13, 4:07 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatABQSan Miguel3 hr
Jul 13, 5:00 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQLincoln30 min
Jul 13, 5:10 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQTorrance35 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in New Mexico, 2025Every flash flood warning in 2025

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.