Alert archive / New Mexico / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 71, NWS Albuquerque, NM

July 27, 2026Mora County, San Miguel County, New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this flash flood warning at Jul 27, 2026, 1:44 PM MDT for Mora County, San Miguel 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 outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Jul 27, 2026, 1:44 PM MDT (19:44 UTC)
Expired
Jul 27, 2026, 5:00 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Albuquerque, NM
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

Counties Mora County, NM, San Miguel County, NM

The radar

The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 150 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:45 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.

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 text

As transmitted.

960 
WGUS55 KABQ 271944
FFWABQ
NMC033-047-272300-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FF.W.0071.260727T1944Z-260727T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
144 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  The Hermits Peak Calf Canyon burn scar in...
  Southwestern Mora County in northeastern New Mexico...
  Northwestern San Miguel County in northeastern New Mexico...

* Until 500 PM MDT.

* At 144 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain over the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar. Up to 1.5
  inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1.5
  inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is likely
  ongoing with a significant flood crest heading down area streams.

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will impact Beaver Creek,
Sapello River, Manuelitas Creek, Rito San Jose, and Rito Cebolla. The
debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose
materials.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
           flash flooding in and around the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon
           Burn Scar.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around the
           Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Tierra Monte, Sapello, El Porvenir, Ledoux, Montezuma, Morphy Lake
  State Park, Manuelitas, South Carmen and Gallinas.

This includes State Road 518 between Mile Markers 10 and 14...and
between Mile Markers 17 and 20.

This also includes Sebastian Canyon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This is a life threatening situation. Heavy rainfall will cause
extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks, streams and ditches in
the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar. Severe debris flows can also
be anticipated across roads. Roads and driveways may be washed away
in places. If you encounter flood waters, climb to safety.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3587 10539 3591 10541 3593 10544 3595 10535
      3589 10524 3573 10524 3566 10526 3564 10528
      3564 10533 3570 10542 3576 10548 3576 10543
      3581 10545 3583 10540 3586 10541

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

44
2 follow-up statements
502 
WGUS75 KABQ 272040
FFSABQ

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
240 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

NMC033-272050-
/O.CAN.KABQ.FF.W.0071.000000T0000Z-260727T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Mora NM-
240 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE HERMITS PEAK CALF CANYON BURN SCAR IS
CANCELLED FOR THE RITO CEBOLLA IN SOUTHWESTERN MORA COUNTY...

Flash flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat in the Rito
Cebolla. Please continue to heed any remaining road closures there.
A Flash Flood Warning remains in effect for Rito del Oso and Rito San
Jose in Mora County.

&&

LAT...LON 3587 10539 3581 10524 3576 10524 3576 10535
      3579 10539 3580 10544 3581 10545 3583 10540
      3586 10541

$$

NMC047-272300-
/O.CON.KABQ.FF.W.0071.000000T0000Z-260727T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
San Miguel NM-
240 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE HERMITS PEAK CALF CANYON BURN SCAR
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR NORTHERN SAN
MIGUEL COUNTY...

At 240 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms ending over the
warned portion of the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar. From 1 to 2
inches of rain has fallen near the headwaters of area streams. Flash
flooding is likely ongoing.

Dangerous runoff is expected to impact Rito San Jose, Sapello River,
and especially Manuelitas Creek. The debris flow can consist of rock,
mud, vegetation and other loose materials.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms in and around the
         Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Flooding of areas in and around the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon
         Burn Scar.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Sapello, San Ignacio, Rociada, and Manuelitas.

This includes State Road 518 between Mile Markers 12 and 14.



PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This is a life threatening situation. Heavy rainfall will cause
extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks, streams and ditches in
the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Burn Scar. Severe debris flows can also
be anticipated across roads. Roads and driveways may be washed away
in places. If you encounter flood waters, climb to safety.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3587 10539 3581 10524 3576 10524 3576 10535
      3579 10539 3580 10544 3581 10545 3583 10540
      3586 10541

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

44
093 
WGUS75 KABQ 272255
FFSABQ

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
455 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

NMC047-272305-
/O.EXP.KABQ.FF.W.0071.000000T0000Z-260727T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
San Miguel NM-
455 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE HERMITS PEAK CALF CANYON BURN SCAR
WILL EXPIRE AT 5 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR NORTHERN SAN MIGUEL
COUNTY...

Flash flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please
continue to heed any remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3587 10539 3581 10524 3576 10524 3576 10535
      3579 10539 3580 10544 3581 10545 3583 10540
      3586 10541

$$

44

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 27, 11:52 AM MDT, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 1143 AM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026
  • Moderate to major heat risk will impact lower elevations of central and eastern New Mexico over the next seven days with high temperatures in the upper 90s to low 100s.
  • Daily rounds of afternoon thunderstorms with frequent lightning, gusty winds, small hail, and localized heavy rainfall continues at varying coverages over the next seven days. Flash flooding will be possible in areas that receive multiple days of heavy rainfall or repeated rounds of thunderstorms.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 27, 11:52 AM MDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1152 AM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1143 AM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

- Moderate to major heat risk will impact lower elevations of
  central and eastern New Mexico over the next seven days with
  high temperatures in the upper 90s to low 100s.

- Daily rounds of afternoon thunderstorms with frequent lightning,
  gusty winds, small hail, and localized heavy rainfall continues
  at varying coverages over the next seven days. Flash flooding
  will be possible in areas that receive multiple days of heavy
  rainfall or repeated rounds of thunderstorms.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Today through Tuesday)
Issued at 114 AM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

The upper high center will shift over north central NM today and
weaken to around 597dam. PWATs have come down slightly (down to
1.1 inches on the 00Z ABQ sounding) and the MCV that has been a
focus for thunderstorms over the last few days has finally moved
away from NM. Models suggest thunderstorm coverage will trend
down a bit from Sunday, but with PWATs remaining above an inch,
and continued slow and erratic storm motion, there remains
potential for heavy rainfall in the storms that do develop. Storms
should favor the high terrain, particularly the northern and
western high terrain, this afternoon. There is not enough
confidence for a Flood Watch for any given area, but small
footprints of heavy rainfall are likely.

The other story for today will be the heat. Heat Advisories have
been issued for much of central and eastern NM where triple digit
heat is forecast. The only change with this forecast package was
that Union County was added to the Heat Advisory. The forecast
high of 104 degrees at Clayton is technically a degree below
criteria, but the ALL-TIME high temperature at Clayton is only
105 degrees which has only been hit twice and both times were more
than 90 years ago. 104 degrees would certainly be a record for
the date. Record breaking high temps are also forecast for several
other locations.

An outflow boundary is poised to push into northeast NM late
tonight into Tuesday morning. This may spark a few storms
overnight across NE NM, but the boundary is expected to push
through much of the eastern plains and nudge up to the Central
Mountain Chain prior to the noon hour on Tuesday. Moist upslope
flow onto the Central Mountain Chain should help set the stage for
a more active Tuesday. Storms should develop along the Central
Mountain Chain and shift slowly southeastward over the eastern
highlands and plains. The boundary itself may also be a focus for
storm development somewhere across the plains pending where it
stalls. Moreover, convection over Mexico late Monday will send a
vort max northwestward around the high. While this looks to
mainly impact AZ, it should have some minor influence to increase
convection and PWATs across the Southwest Mountains of NM Tuesday
afternoon. Outflows from the convection across eastern NM should
push through the gaps of the Central Mountain Chain, which may
meet with outflows from the convection across the southwest
increasing chances for precipitation across central NM in the
evening, including around ABQ. Typical monsoon hazards are
expected, including heavy rainfall and gusty outflow winds.

Despite the convection, it will still be quite hot as temps will
warm up early. Another set of Heat Advisories are expected to be
issued with later shifts across portions of central and eastern
NM. At least a few locations are expected to break their daily
high temperature record once again.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tuesday night through Sunday)
Issued at 114 AM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Storms will be slow to wind down Tuesday night but should taper
off by sunrise Wednesday. The upper high will still be meandering
over NM but looks to weaken to around 596dam by Wednesday. Plenty
of moisture beneath this high will allow for scattered to numerous
storms over the high terrain. Storm motions will still be slow and
PWATs will remain at or above 1 inch, so heavy rainfall will
remain in play. More of the same in store for Thursday, but the
upper high will begin to shift westward, centering over western NM
by the afternoon. A boundary over northeast NM will be an
additional focus for storm activity and this boundary should push
southward across the eastern plains Thursday night. Triple digit
heat will continue across portions of central and eastern NM both
Wed and Thu.

The upper high will strengthen as it shifts northwestward on
Friday to near 600dam. Temps will get a bump across western NM as
a result. Meanwhile, the boundary nudging up to the Central
Mountain Chain will be a focus for more thunderstorm activity once
again. Outflows will result in a gap wind in the Rio Grande
Valley, which will push low level moisture westward. As a result
Saturday looks to be quite active areawide as well, though finally
with a little more storm motion. Drier air may filter in from the
northeast on Sunday, reducing thunderstorm coverage.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1143 AM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

A meager crop of SHRA/TS is expected today with a sharper focus
on the high terrain thru sunset. Storm motion will be slow and
erratic with gusty outflow winds and heavy rain still possible
from a direct hit. A convective outflow boundary will move south
into northeast NM this evening then settle along the central mt
chain by sunrise Tuesday. Isolated SHRA/TS may redevelop after
midnight along the boundary as it moves southwest thru northern
and eastern NM.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 114 AM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Critical fire weather conditions are not expected for the next
week. An upper level high meandering over and near NM will keep
temperatures at or above normal through the week. Moisture beneath
the high will fuel daily rounds of showers and thunderstorms. The
most active days look to be Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Slow
storm motions can be expected through Thursday, then storms will
start moving toward the south and southwest starting Friday.
Locally heavy rainfall and gusty outflow winds will be the rule.
Lightning may still cause new fires in pockets of dry fuel.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Farmington......................  97  69 100  69 /   0   0   0   5
Dulce...........................  95  57  97  56 /   0   5  10  30
Cuba............................  93  63  94  62 /   0   0  10  40
Gallup..........................  91  62  92  60 /   5  10  50  30
El Morro........................  87  60  89  59 /  20  20  70  50
Grants..........................  92  64  93  62 /  20  10  50  50
Quemado.........................  88  62  89  61 /  10  20  70  30
Magdalena.......................  91  69  92  67 /  20  20  30  40
Datil...........................  87  65  87  62 /  10  20  70  40
Reserve.........................  94  61  95  60 /  30  20  70  30
Glenwood........................  99  65 100  63 /  20  20  60  30
Chama...........................  88  56  88  55 /  10   5  30  40
Los Alamos......................  93  69  93  67 /  30  20  50  50
Pecos...........................  96  64  92  61 /   5  10  70  30
Cerro/Questa....................  91  61  89  59 /  10  40  50  60
Red River.......................  87  51  84  50 /  30  40  70  60
Angel Fire......................  86  53  84  49 /  20  20  80  30
Taos............................  95  61  92  59 /   5  20  40  40
Mora............................  91  61  88  58 /  20  20  80  30
Espanola........................ 100  69 100  67 /  10  20  40  40
Santa Fe........................  94  69  93  66 /   0  10  50  30
Santa Fe Airport................  97  67  97  64 /   0  10  40  30
Albuquerque Foothills........... 101  73 101  71 /   0   5  40  50
Albuquerque Heights............. 101  72 101  70 /   0   5  40  50
Albuquerque Valley.............. 104  71 103  69 /   0   5  30  50
Albuquerque West Mesa........... 101  73 102  71 /   0   5  30  50
Belen........................... 102  71 103  69 /   0   5  20  50
Bernalillo...................... 103  72 103  70 /   0   5  40  50
Bosque Farms.................... 103  70 102  67 /   0   5  30  50
Corrales........................ 104  72 104  71 /   0   5  40  50
Los Lunas....................... 103  72 102  69 /   0   5  20  50
Placitas........................  99  72  99  69 /   0   5  40  50
Rio Rancho...................... 102  72 102  70 /   0   5  30  50
Socorro......................... 103  76 104  74 /  10  20  20  50
Sandia Park/Cedar Crest.........  94  68  93  65 /   0  10  50  50
Tijeras.........................  97  66  97  63 /   0   5  50  50
Edgewood........................  98  64  97  61 /  10  10  60  50
Moriarty/Estancia...............  98  61  97  59 /   5  10  60  50
Clines Corners..................  92  63  91  60 /   5  20  60  40
Mountainair.....................  96  64  96  61 /   0  20  50  60
Gran Quivira....................  94  66  94  63 /   0  20  50  60
Carrizozo.......................  98  72  98  69 /   0   5  20  30
Ruidoso.........................  91  67  91  64 /  20   5  20  10
Capulin.........................  95  61  89  58 /  20  30  80  70
Raton........................... 100  61  94  58 /  20  30  80  40
Springer........................ 101  63  96  60 /  10  20  80  40
Las Vegas.......................  96  63  92  60 /  10  30  70  40
Clayton......................... 104  69  98  67 /   5  20  20  50
Roy.............................  98  68  95  64 /   0  20  50  50
Conchas......................... 106  71 103  67 /   0  10  30  50
Santa Rosa...................... 103  69 100  66 /   0  10  10  30
Tucumcari....................... 107  72 104  70 /   0   5   5  40
Clovis.......................... 105  70 104  69 /   0   0   0   5
Portales........................ 106  72 105  71 /   0   0   0   0
Fort Sumner..................... 105  72 104  70 /   0   0   0  20
Roswell......................... 107  75 106  74 /   0   0   0   0
Picacho......................... 101  70 101  69 /   5   5   5   0
Elk.............................  98  68  98  66 /  10   0   5   0

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday evening for
NMZ204>209-211-212-214-215-218-221-228-229-241.

Heat Advisory until 7 PM MDT this evening for NMZ212-217-219-221-
227-228-230>238.

Heat Advisory from 1 PM to 7 PM MDT Tuesday for NMZ217-219-220-
234>238.

&&

SHORT TERM...34
LONG TERM....34
AVIATION...42

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 27, 12:40 PM MDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1240 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

NMZ214-215-271915-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains NM-East Slopes Sangre de
Cristo Mountains NM-
1240 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN TAOS...SOUTHWESTERN
MORA...SOUTHEASTERN RIO ARRIBA AND NORTHWESTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTIES
UNTIL 115 PM MDT...

At 1240 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Gascon, or 13 miles southwest of Mora, moving north at 10 mph.

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...
  Gascon, Morphy Lake State Park, Cleveland, Rociada and Monte
  Aplanado.

This includes State Road 518 between Mile Markers 31 and 34.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3577 10543 3575 10544 3577 10559 3603 10566
      3603 10533
TIME...MOT...LOC 1839Z 186DEG 9KT 3586 10551

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

MA

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 26, 6:21 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQSan Miguel3 hr
Jul 26, 7:55 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQMcKinley3 hr
Jul 26, 7:59 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQSan Juan3 hr
Jul 26, 8:03 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQSan Miguel3 hr
Jul 27, 11:34 AM MDTFlood WatchABQBernalillo, Catron, Cibola, Colfax, Los Alamos, McKinley and 11 more33 hr
Jul 27, 11:43 AM MDTHeat AdvisoryABQBernalillo, Chaves, Cibola, Curry, De Baca, McKinley and 10 more31 hr
Jul 27, 12:40 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQMora35 min
Jul 27, 1:03 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningABQMora, San Miguel3 hr
Jul 27, 2:59 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQLos Alamos, Sandoval, Santa Fe2 hr
Jul 27, 3:04 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQLos Alamos, Sandoval, Santa Fe41 min
Jul 27, 3:10 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatABQLos Alamos, Santa Fe3 hr
Jul 27, 3:30 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQColfax2 hr
Jul 27, 3:53 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQColfax, Union2 hr
Jul 27, 4:06 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningABQSandoval3 hr
Jul 27, 4:48 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQLincoln3 hr
Jul 27, 5:03 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQMora27 min
Jul 27, 5:15 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQMora, San Miguel26 min
Jul 27, 5:37 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQMora113 min
Jul 27, 5:40 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementABQSan Miguel35 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in New Mexico, 2026Every 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.