Flash Flood Warning 21, NWS Albuquerque, NM

328 
WGUS75 KABQ 170123
FFSABQ

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
723 PM MDT Thu Jul 16 2026

NMC031-170230-
/O.CON.KABQ.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260717T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
McKinley NM-
723 PM MDT Thu Jul 16 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN MCKINLEY COUNTY...

At 723 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1.75 inches of rain have
fallen. Thunderstorm activity has moved out of the area with only
light rainfall expected for the next hour. Additional rainfall
amounts up to 0.25 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash
flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. Areas most likely
to experience flash flooding are along highway 53 between Ramah and
Zuni Pueblo.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
         drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Zuni Pueblo, Black Rock, Ramah, Pescado and Chi Chil Tah.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

In hilly or mountainous terrain there are numerous low water
crossings which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not
attempt to cross flooded roads. Find an alternate route.

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 3522 10851 3515 10847 3498 10848 3497 10879
      3504 10904 3519 10905 3529 10905 3521 10868

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...0.25-0.5 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

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814 
WGUS75 KABQ 170228
FFSABQ

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
828 PM MDT Thu Jul 16 2026

NMC031-170238-
/O.EXP.KABQ.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-260717T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
McKinley NM-
828 PM MDT Thu Jul 16 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 830 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR
SOUTHWESTERN MCKINLEY COUNTY...

The flash flood warning will be replaced with an areal flood warning
due to ongoing flooded roads and water out of the banks of Oak Wash.
Law enforcement advises residents to stay away from flooded areas.

&&

LAT...LON 3522 10851 3515 10847 3498 10848 3497 10879
      3504 10904 3519 10905 3529 10905 3521 10868

$$

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Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
542 PM MDT Thu Jul 16 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 537 PM MDT Thu Jul 16 2026

- Mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms will
  favor the central mountain chain westward each day with a risk
  of lightning, small hail, gusty outflow winds, and localized
  flash flooding.

- There will be a low risk of flash flooding below the Ruidoso
  area burn scars today, then at least a moderate risk Friday and
  Saturday.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Saturday)
Issued at 134 PM MDT Thu Jul 16 2026

The latest water vapor loop shows a large and well-defined H5 low
centered near Midland, TX with several bands of vorticity rotating
counterclockwise around the feature. Some of the dry air that was
embedded along the Front Range yesterday has wrapped itself into
the low. A weaker inverted trough over central AZ is embedded
within the larger monsoon moisture plume stretching from northern
MX into the Great Basin. Forecasting will remain very challenging
thru early next week as these complex airmass features merge into
the monsoon plume reorganizing over the southern Rockies.

For the rest of today, showers and storms with locally heavy
rainfall will continue forming over the high terrain then move
south and west into nearby valleys and highlands thru the evening
(18Z KABQ PWAT is 0.91"). Steering flow is beginning to slow and
veer more northeast to southwest as easterly flow on the northern
edge of the H5 low enters southeast NM. Overall hi-res models and
ensemble CAMs remain consistent with showing additional showers
forming on the central mt chain tonight then drifting west into
the RGV thru the predawn hours. QPF is roughly 0.10-0.20" from
this activity overnight.

Friday and Saturday are still advertised as the most active days
across the region with PWATs increasing >1.1" in all areas while
the H5 low drifts northwest into far southeast NM. Deformation on
the northwest side of the H5 low along with abundant moisture on
southeast low level winds will allow storms to develop along the
central mt chain Friday. The 12Z HREF and REFS LPMM QPF shows the
heavier cells developing from around Ruidoso to Corona, Clines
Corners, and the southern Sangre de Cristo Mts, including the high
terrain of western NM (locally >1"). A Flood Watch is in effect
for the Ruidoso area burn scars Friday. Showers and storms are
shown lingering over eastern NM Friday night with better forcing
from the H5 low. Saturday looks similar to Friday but with the
higher NBM 90th percentile QPF mainly along and south of I-40
(locally >0.75"). Steering flow becomes more east-west as well.
Forecast confidence is low to moderate Saturday given how complex
the pattern is and the convection Friday will affect Saturday.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Sunday through Wednesday)
Issued at 134 PM MDT Thu Jul 16 2026

By Sunday and Monday, a 594dm H5 high developing near northern CO is
likely to become the more dominant influence on the monsoon pattern
over the desert southwest. However, there are noteworthy differences
into early next week with how guidance handles the evolution of the
H5 low currently drifting into southeast NM. The location of the H5
low circulation and placement of the deeper moisture will impact the
coverage, intensity, and steering flow of showers and storms Sunday
and Monday. The remnants of Tropical Storm Elida in the eastern
Pacific are also shown moving northward toward the CA coast during
this period. The broader circulation across the region will become
more southeast to northwest by Tuesday and Wednesday while the H5
high drifts southeast toward TX. For now, the NBM median 48-hr
QPF Sunday and Monday favors the heavier rainfall along and west
of the central mt chain then even farther north and west Tuesday
and Wednesday. Temps are shown trending much warmer for eastern NM
with the H5 high strengthening to near 597dm over TX.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 537 PM MDT Thu Jul 16 2026

Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms continue at this time
over New Mexico along and west of the central mountain chain. KSAF
and KROW are least likely to be impacted over the next couple of
hours. Retained mention of light showers at KABQ and KSAF re-
developing this evening, though confidence has decreased. Higher
confidence in showers near KROW early Friday morning as moisture
levels increase. RAP forecast soundings showing MVFR ceilings
during this time, but NBM probabilities are rather low, so will
not mention yet. Highest storm chances Friday afternoon for KGUP,
KFMN, and KSAF.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 134 PM MDT Thu Jul 16 2026

There is no critical fire weather expected for the next two weeks.
Showers and storms with locally heavy rainfall will develop over the
higher terrain each afternoon then move into nearby highlands and
valleys thru the evening. The highest storm chances are Friday thru
Sunday, especially over southern and western NM. Steering flow is
expected to be northeast to southwest thru Friday, east to west
Saturday thru Monday, then southeast to northwest Tuesday and
Wednesday. Minimum humidity will remain above 20% areawide with
good to excellent overnight recoveries and light winds.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Farmington......................  62  89  61  90 /  10  40  40  10
Dulce...........................  49  85  47  88 /  40  60  40  30
Cuba............................  56  82  55  83 /  20  30  40  50
Gallup..........................  53  82  53  82 /  40  50  50  60
El Morro........................  54  79  54  78 /  50  40  40  70
Grants..........................  55  83  55  83 /  20  50  40  70
Quemado.........................  55  80  55  79 /  40  70  40  70
Magdalena.......................  62  83  62  82 /  30  50  50  70
Datil...........................  57  79  57  78 /  30  60  40  80
Reserve.........................  52  86  53  85 /  30  50  40  70
Glenwood........................  55  89  55  89 /  30  50  40  60
Chama...........................  48  78  47  81 /  60  80  50  40
Los Alamos......................  62  82  61  83 /  30  60  40  40
Pecos...........................  54  82  54  84 /  20  80  20  50
Cerro/Questa....................  54  79  54  82 /  30  70  30  30
Red River.......................  42  77  42  78 /  30  70  30  30
Angel Fire......................  41  75  41  78 /  30  70  40  30
Taos............................  52  82  51  85 /  30  60  30  30
Mora............................  51  79  52  81 /  20  70  30  40
Espanola........................  61  89  60  90 /  20  30  20  30
Santa Fe........................  61  83  60  84 /  20  50  20  60
Santa Fe Airport................  59  86  57  87 /  10  30  30  40
Albuquerque Foothills...........  67  90  66  90 /  30  40  40  40
Albuquerque Heights.............  64  91  63  91 /  20  20  30  30
Albuquerque Valley..............  63  93  63  93 /  20  20  30  30
Albuquerque West Mesa...........  67  91  66  91 /  20  20  30  20
Belen...........................  63  93  62  92 /   5  20  30  30
Bernalillo......................  65  92  64  93 /  20  30  30  20
Bosque Farms....................  61  92  60  91 /  20  20  30  30
Corrales........................  66  93  65  93 /  30  20  30  20
Los Lunas.......................  63  92  62  91 /  10  20  30  30
Placitas........................  65  88  64  89 /  20  40  30  30
Rio Rancho......................  66  91  65  92 /  30  20  30  20
Socorro.........................  68  94  67  93 /  10  30  40  50
Sandia Park/Cedar Crest.........  60  83  59  84 /  30  60  40  50
Tijeras.........................  58  86  57  88 /  20  60  50  50
Edgewood........................  55  86  54  88 /  20  60  40  50
Moriarty/Estancia...............  53  87  52  88 /  10  60  30  50
Clines Corners..................  55  81  55  83 /  10  70  40  50
Mountainair.....................  57  85  55  86 /  20  60  50  60
Gran Quivira....................  58  83  57  84 /  20  70  50  60
Carrizozo.......................  63  86  63  86 /  20  50  30  50
Ruidoso.........................  55  78  56  79 /  20  80  30  80
Capulin.........................  52  81  53  83 /   5  20  20  10
Raton...........................  53  86  52  88 /  10  20  10  10
Springer........................  55  87  54  89 /  10  30  20  10
Las Vegas.......................  54  82  54  84 /  10  60  30  30
Clayton.........................  60  89  62  91 /   0  10  20   5
Roy.............................  58  84  58  86 /   5  40  30   5
Conchas.........................  63  92  63  94 /   5  10  30   5
Santa Rosa......................  62  87  61  89 /   5  30  30  10
Tucumcari.......................  64  92  64  94 /   5  20  20   0
Clovis..........................  62  89  63  91 /   5  10  30  10
Portales........................  63  90  63  92 /   5  10  30  10
Fort Sumner.....................  64  90  64  92 /   5  10  20   5
Roswell.........................  66  92  67  93 /   5  10  30  10
Picacho.........................  60  86  61  88 /  10  30  20  50
Elk.............................  56  84  57  85 /  10  40  30  70

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch from Friday morning through Friday afternoon for
NMZ226.

&&

SHORT TERM...42
LONG TERM....42
AVIATION...53

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
422 PM MDT Thu Jul 16 2026

NMZ201-203-204-162300-
Northwest Highlands NM-Far Northwest Highlands NM-Northwest
Plateau NM-
422 PM MDT Thu Jul 16 2026

...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL RIO
ARRIBA AND NORTHEASTERN SAN JUAN COUNTIES UNTIL 5 PM MDT...

At 422 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking an area of strong
thunderstorms over Turley, or 9 miles west of Navajo Dam, moving west
at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
  Farmington, Bloomfield, Aztec, Navajo Dam, Turley, Archuleta, Cedar
  Hill, Flora Vista, Navajo Lake State Park and NAPI Headquarters.

This includes the following highways...
Highway 550 between Mile Markers 130 and 171. Highway 64 between Mile
Markers 49 and 96.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

Blowing dust associated with strong thunderstorm winds can reduce
visibility below one quarter mile at times.

&&

LAT...LON 3642 10793 3636 10814 3692 10830 3699 10751
      3654 10744
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 68DEG 21KT 3676 10777

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

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