Alert archive / New Mexico / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 113, NWS Albuquerque, NM

August 19, 2026Los Alamos County, Sandoval County, Santa Fe County, New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this flash flood warning at Aug 19, 2026, 8:25 PM MDT for Los Alamos County, Sandoval County, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. It was in force for 2 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Aug 19, 2026, 8:25 PM MDT (02:25 UTC)
Expired: Aug 19, 2026, 10:30 PM MDT
In force: 2 hr
Issued by: NWS Albuquerque, NM
Area: Storm-based polygon
Damage threat: Considerable
Flood severity: None

Counties Los Alamos County, NM, Sandoval County, NM, Santa Fe County, NM

The radar

The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 90 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:30 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 00:00Z, 2.4 hours before the alert went out and 89 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 361 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 3508 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 6 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 27 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 25 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

951 
WGUS55 KABQ 200225
FFWABQ
NMC028-043-049-200430-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FF.W.0113.260820T0225Z-260820T0430Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
825 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Los Alamos County in north central New Mexico...
  East Central Sandoval County in north central New Mexico...
  Northwestern Santa Fe County in north central New Mexico...

* Until 1030 PM MDT.

* At 825 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of
  rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 0.5 to 1.5 inches
  in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
           flash flooding.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
           urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Los Alamos, White Rock, Pojoaque, Bandelier National Monument,
  Frijoles, Cochiti Lake, Pojoaque Pueblo, Cochiti Pueblo and Nambe
  Lake.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

Arroyos, streams, and normally dry rivers can become raging killer
currents in a matter of minutes. Water in arroyos can travel many
miles and take hours to reach your location from upstream rain areas.

&&

LAT...LON 3563 10625 3560 10635 3573 10649 3580 10652
      3584 10649 3587 10637 3591 10626 3592 10616
      3589 10595 3586 10586 3578 10585 3575 10588
      3573 10599 3565 10615

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...0.5-1.5 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

Overpeck

2 follow-up statements

676 
WGUS75 KABQ 200312
FFSABQ

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
912 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

NMC028-043-049-200430-
/O.CON.KABQ.FF.W.0113.000000T0000Z-260820T0430Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Los Alamos NM-Sandoval NM-Santa Fe NM-
912 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR LOS ALAMOS, EAST CENTRAL SANDOVAL AND NORTHWESTERN SANTA
FE COUNTIES...

At 912 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of rain have
fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 0.5 to 1.5 inches in 1 hour.
Thunderstorm activity continues to move out of the area so the threat
for flash flooding will be decreasing over the next hour.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
         flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban
         areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Los Alamos, White Rock, Pojoaque, Bandelier National Monument,
  Frijoles, Cochiti Lake, Pojoaque Pueblo, Cochiti Pueblo and Nambe
  Lake.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 3563 10625 3560 10635 3573 10649 3580 10652
      3584 10649 3587 10637 3591 10626 3592 10616
      3589 10595 3586 10586 3578 10585 3575 10588
      3573 10599 3565 10615

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...0.5-1.5 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

Overpeck

632 
WGUS75 KABQ 200422
FFSABQ

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1022 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

NMC028-043-049-200432-
/O.EXP.KABQ.FF.W.0113.000000T0000Z-260820T0430Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Los Alamos NM-Sandoval NM-Santa Fe NM-
1022 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1030 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
LOS ALAMOS, EAST CENTRAL SANDOVAL AND NORTHWESTERN SANTA FE
COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Flash flooding is no longer expected to
pose a threat. Please continue to heed any remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3586 10640 3587 10637 3591 10626 3592 10616
      3589 10595 3586 10586 3578 10585 3575 10588
      3573 10599 3565 10615 3563 10625 3560 10635
      3573 10649 3580 10652 3584 10649

$$

23

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 Aug 19, 5:40 PM MDT, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Updated at 532 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026
Some storms may turn severe over northeast and east central New Mexico this afternoon with large hail and damaging winds being the main threats.
Smoke from the Frijoles Fire will continue to impact air quality in the vicinity of the fire this week.
Moderate-to-major heat risk will impact portions of the region on most days through early next week with record-to-near-record high temperatures in some areas.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 19, 5:40 PM MDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
540 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 532 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

- Some storms may turn severe over northeast and east central New
  Mexico this afternoon with large hail and damaging winds being
  the main threats.

- Smoke from the Frijoles Fire will continue to impact air quality
  in the vicinity of the fire this week.

- Moderate-to-major heat risk will impact portions of the region
  on most days through early next week with record-to-near-record
  high temperatures in some areas.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Thursday night)
Issued at 149 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

Storm coverage is expected to peak today and Thursday in the wake of
a "moist" backdoor "cold" front that entered eastern NM this morning.
Unfortunately, this "uptick" will be brief as yet another dry, hot,
and stable airmass returns by the weekend and thru most of next
week. The 18Z KABQ sounding showed a PWAT of 1.03" but a pesky
subsidence inversion is present near 500mb with heights at 598dm.
Surface dewpoints have risen into the upper 50s over northeast NM
but remain in the 30s and 40s over central and western NM. 12Z
CAMs and probabilistic QPF still shows the next 48-hrs as the
more favorable period for locally heavy rainfall over parts of
the area, except the southeast plains and the Four Corners area.
The focus for strong storms today will be over northeast NM where
the richer moisture and instability is present beneath northwest
flow aloft. Elsewhere, any storms today will be capable of strong
downburst wind gusts with small footprints of heavy rainfall. This
rainfall will act like a top-down moistening effect for the higher
QPF potential Thursday.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Friday through Tuesday)
Issued at 149 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

Friday thru Monday has trended even drier with the main storm focus
over far northern and western NM while a 598dm H5 high centers over
eastern NM. Drier upper level air will slide northwest beneath the
upper high which helps to stabilize the airmass even moreso. PWATs
are also shown falling below 0.75" in many areas. Temps continue to
rise over the weekend and early next week with readings well above
normal for most of next week. This pattern will continue to prove
challenging for firefighting efforts on any fires over the area.
This pattern will also place the 2026 monsoon season in even more
solid territory as one of the driest and hottest ever recorded for
many areas to date.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 532 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

Showers and thunderstorms will continue to move erratically
southward into nearby lowlands through this evening. Strong
outflow wind gusts >40 knots are possible with any stronger cells,
along with hail and heavy rainfall. Brief MVFR VSBYs may occur
from direct hits. The focus for a few severe storms will be over
northeast New Mexico through about 9PM. Showers are expected to
persist until roughly 3AM within central New Mexico. Partial
clearing will then occur through the early morning hours before
showers and storms return to much of the region on Thursday
afternoon and evening. Shear and instability again look sufficient
for a few strong to severe storms to develop along and east of
the central mountain chain.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 149 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

The coverage of showers and storms with locally heavy rainfall will
peak today thru Friday then chances decrease for much of the region
thru the weekend. New fire starts are still possible from lightning
strikes in dry fuels. Burn scar flooding may occur in areas with
repeated rounds of heavy rainfall the next few days. Temperatures
will be hot thru all of next week with record highs possible in some
areas. Storm chances will be low in most areas for most of next week
as well. Min humidity will fall to near 15% over localized areas of
central and western NM thru the weekend before lowering further next
week over a larger area. Overnight humidity recoveries will be fair
to good with the higher values over eastern NM.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Farmington......................  65  99  65  97 /   5  10  30   0
Dulce...........................  51  94  50  93 /  10  30  20  50
Cuba............................  59  92  58  90 /  20  30  30  10
Gallup..........................  58  92  58  91 /  30  10  10  50
El Morro........................  57  88  56  86 /  30  40  30  60
Grants..........................  59  93  59  91 /  30  20  30  40
Quemado.........................  60  88  59  88 /  30  40  30  60
Magdalena.......................  64  90  64  89 /  30  20  30  30
Datil...........................  59  86  59  85 /  20  50  30  50
Reserve.........................  58  94  57  93 /  20  50  20  40
Glenwood........................  62  97  62  98 /  20  50  20  20
Chama...........................  52  86  52  86 /  30  70  20  50
Los Alamos......................  62  89  63  90 /  40  20  30  20
Pecos...........................  58  88  57  88 /  50  50  30  40
Cerro/Questa....................  57  87  57  87 /  60  30  40  50
Red River.......................  46  80  47  83 /  60  60  40  70
Angel Fire......................  41  82  41  82 /  60  70  30  70
Taos............................  55  90  55  91 /  60  30  30  40
Mora............................  54  85  54  85 /  60  60  30  50
Espanola........................  62  96  62  97 /  40  20  30  20
Santa Fe........................  63  90  63  90 /  40  30  30  30
Santa Fe Airport................  61  93  60  93 /  40  20  30  10
Albuquerque Foothills...........  69  95  68  96 /  40  30  30  10
Albuquerque Heights.............  67  96  66  97 /  40  20  30  10
Albuquerque Valley..............  66  99  65  99 /  30  10  30   5
Albuquerque West Mesa...........  69  98  68  98 /  30  10  30   5
Belen...........................  66  99  65  98 /  30  10  30   5
Bernalillo......................  67  98  67  99 /  30  10  30  10
Bosque Farms....................  64  98  63  98 /  30  20  30   5
Corrales........................  68  99  68  99 /  30  10  30   5
Los Lunas.......................  66  98  65  98 /  30  10  30   5
Placitas........................  66  93  66  94 /  40  20  30  10
Rio Rancho......................  68  97  67  98 /  30  10  30   5
Socorro.........................  70 100  69 100 /  20  10  20   5
Sandia Park/Cedar Crest.........  61  89  61  90 /  50  40  30  30
Tijeras.........................  63  92  62  93 /  50  40  30  30
Edgewood........................  59  92  58  93 /  50  50  30  30
Moriarty/Estancia...............  57  93  55  93 /  40  40  30  20
Clines Corners..................  59  88  59  88 /  40  50  30  20
Mountainair.....................  59  91  58  92 /  30  40  40  20
Gran Quivira....................  60  90  59  90 /  30  40  40  20
Carrizozo.......................  67  94  65  93 /  30  40  30  20
Ruidoso.........................  61  85  60  85 /  20  40  20  40
Capulin.........................  56  85  57  87 /  70  30  20  10
Raton...........................  55  89  56  91 /  70  40  30  10
Springer........................  56  90  55  93 /  60  30  30  10
Las Vegas.......................  56  88  56  89 /  50  50  30  20
Clayton.........................  63  91  64  96 /  30   5  10   5
Roy.............................  60  89  60  91 /  40  20  20   0
Conchas.........................  66  96  65  99 /  30  10  20   0
Santa Rosa......................  64  92  63  94 /  40  10  30   0
Tucumcari.......................  66  96  64  99 /  20   5  20   0
Clovis..........................  67  98  67  99 /  30  10  30   5
Portales........................  67  98  67  99 /  30  10  30   5
Fort Sumner.....................  67  97  66  99 /  30  10  20   0
Roswell.........................  70 101  70 102 /  10   5  10   0
Picacho.........................  66  95  65  95 /  10  10  10   5
Elk.............................  62  93  61  93 /  10  20   5   5

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

SHORT TERM...42
LONG TERM....42
AVIATION...23

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 19, 4:00 PM MDT, 4 hours 25 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
400 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

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

0303 PM     Hail             Mora                    35.97N 105.33W
08/19/2026  E1.75 Inch       Mora               NM   Broadcast Media

            Social media photo of estimated golf ball
            size hail in Mora relayed by local Broadcast
            Media.

&&

RJH

Local storm report, Aug 19, 4:34 PM MDT, 3 hours 51 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
434 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

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

0215 PM     Hail             1 SSW Chacon            36.13N 105.37W
08/19/2026  E1.00 Inch       Mora               NM   Trained Spotter

            Just a few hail stones and very brief light
            rainfall.

&&

BTS

Special weather statement, Aug 19, 4:46 PM MDT, 3 hours 39 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
446 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

NMZ222>224-192315-
Estancia Valley NM-Central Highlands NM-South Central Highlands
NM-
446 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN TORRANCE AND NORTH
CENTRAL LINCOLN COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM MDT...

At 446 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Cedarvale, or 11 miles northwest of Corona, and is stationary.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny 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...
  Corona and Cedarvale.

This includes Highway 60 between Mile Markers 235 and 249.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3459 10578 3469 10579 3471 10553 3424 10551
      3424 10576
TIME...MOT...LOC 2246Z 0DEG 0KT 3434 10577

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Shoemake

Local storm report, Aug 19, 4:52 PM MDT, 3 hours 33 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
452 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

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

0451 PM     Hail             Storrie Lake State Park 35.66N 105.24W
08/19/2026  E1.00 Inch       San Miguel         NM   Park/Forest Srvc

&&

RJH

Special weather statement, Aug 19, 5:33 PM MDT, 2 hours 52 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
533 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

NMZ227-228-200000-
Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass NM-Far Northeast
Highlands NM-
533 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

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

At 533 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles west of Raton Crews Airport, or 15 miles southwest of Raton,
moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph and half inch 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...
  Raton Crews Airport.

This includes the following highways...
Highway 64 between Mile Markers 324 and 344...and near Mile Marker
357. Interstate 25 between Mile Markers 428 and 447.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3664 10477 3683 10469 3682 10432 3652 10443
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 284DEG 19KT 3672 10462

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 TO 55 MPH

Shoemake

Special weather statement, Aug 19, 7:54 PM MDT, 31 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
754 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

NMZ211-214-217-218-200230-
Santa Fe Metro Area NM-Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains NM-
Jemez Mountains NM-Espanola Valley NM-
754 PM MDT Wed Aug 19 2026

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT LOS ALAMOS...
SOUTHEASTERN RIO ARRIBA...EAST CENTRAL SANDOVAL...NORTHERN SANTA FE
AND WESTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTIES UNTIL 830 PM MDT...

At 754 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from near Rio En Medio in Santa Fe County to
9 miles northwest of Cochiti Lake, moving south at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea 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...
  Santa Fe, Los Alamos, White Rock, Pojoaque, Bandelier National
  Monument, Frijoles, La Cienega, Pojoaque Pueblo and Nambe Lake.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3592 10621 3598 10592 3574 10568 3573 10568
      3572 10566 3572 10568 3571 10569 3560 10610
      3552 10651 3585 10650
TIME...MOT...LOC 0154Z 343DEG 13KT 3588 10587 3580 10617 3575 10644

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

23

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 19, 7:16 PM MDT	Flash Flood Warning	ABQ	Torrance, Valencia	91 min
Aug 19, 7:54 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	ABQ	Los Alamos	36 min
Aug 19, 7:58 PM MDT	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	ABQ	Mora, San Miguel	2 hr
Aug 20, 3:10 PM MDT	Areal Flood Advisory	ABQ	Mora, San Miguel, Santa Fe	2 hr
Aug 20, 3:37 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	ABQ	Santa Fe	23 min
Aug 20, 4:00 PM MDT	Areal Flood Advisory	ABQ	Santa Fe	101 min
Aug 20, 4:03 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	ABQ	Santa Fe	27 min
Aug 20, 4:41 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	ABQ	Los Alamos	34 min
Aug 20, 5:11 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	ABQ	Bernalillo	34 min
Aug 20, 5:37 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	ABQ	Chaves	23 min
Aug 20, 5:56 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	ABQ	Curry	34 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in New Mexico, 2026 Every flash flood warning in 2026

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.