Alert archive / New Mexico / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 72, NWS Albuquerque, NM

July 27, 2026Los Alamos County, Santa Fe County, New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this flash flood warning at Jul 27, 2026, 3:10 PM MDT for Los Alamos County, Santa Fe 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, 3:10 PM MDT (21:10 UTC)
Expired
Jul 27, 2026, 6:15 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Albuquerque, NM
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

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

The radar

The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 97 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:11 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.

984 
WGUS55 KABQ 272110
FFWABQ
NMC028-049-280015-
/O.NEW.KABQ.FF.W.0072.260727T2110Z-260728T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

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

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a

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

* Until 615 PM MDT.

* At 310 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated stationary thunderstorms
  producing heavy rain across the warned area. Up to 1.15 inches of
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch 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 and San Ildefonso Pueblo.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3597 10630 3593 10625 3589 10613 3579 10618
      3577 10622 3581 10628 3584 10640 3596 10640
      3596 10639 3595 10639 3595 10632 3596 10632
      3596 10630

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

$$

44
2 follow-up statements
802 
WGUS75 KABQ 272219
FFSABQ

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

NMC028-049-280015-
/O.CON.KABQ.FF.W.0072.000000T0000Z-260728T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Los Alamos NM-Santa Fe NM-
419 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR LOS ALAMOS AND NORTHWESTERN SANTA FE COUNTIES...

At 419 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms ended across the
warned area. Up to 1.3 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is
likely ongoing.

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...
  Los Alamos, White Rock and San Ildefonso Pueblo.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

In 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 or wait for the water level to
recede.


&&

LAT...LON 3597 10630 3593 10625 3589 10613 3579 10618
      3577 10622 3581 10628 3584 10640 3596 10640
      3596 10639 3595 10639 3595 10632 3596 10632
      3596 10630

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

44
721 
WGUS75 KABQ 280007
FFSABQ

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

NMC028-049-280017-
/O.EXP.KABQ.FF.W.0072.000000T0000Z-260728T0015Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Los Alamos NM-Santa Fe NM-
607 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 615 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR LOS
ALAMOS AND NORTHWESTERN SANTA FE COUNTIES...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3597 10630 3593 10625 3589 10613 3579 10618
      3577 10622 3581 10628 3584 10640 3596 10640
      3596 10639 3595 10639 3595 10632 3596 10632
      3596 10630

$$

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, 2:33 PM MDT, 37 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 206 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026
  • Moderate to major heat risk will impact many lower elevations of 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, 2:33 PM MDT, 37 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
233 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 206 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

- Moderate to major heat risk will impact many lower elevations
  of 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...
(This evening through Tuesday night)
Issued at 206 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

The 18Z RAOB is mostly unchanged in the last 24-hrs at KABQ with a
PWAT of 1.15", H5 temps near -3C, and weak steering flow. The H5
high center over northeast NM is keeping a lid on storm development
east of the central mt chain with only isolated activity across the
northern and western high terrain. Any cells that do form thru late
today will still be capable of producing small footprints of heavy
rainfall amounts >1.5". A subtle shortwave trough and weak surface
boundary moving across eastern CO today will spawn a well-defined
areas of storms in that area tonight. This convection is likely to
force a stronger surface boundary southwest into northeast NM late
tonight. The boundary has trended stronger on recent model guidance.
A few showers and storms are also possible overnight as the outflow
boundary surges into the area.

The surface boundary will be draped along the east slopes of the
central mt chain Tuesday morning while rich moisture and weak
steering flow persist beneath the monsoon high. Robust convection
is shown by various CAMs to erupt along the central high terrain
where surface convergence is enhanced from the lingering boundary.
Hi-res ensemble model QPF distributions show heavy rainfall likely
from any storms (>1.5"). Steering flow with the main high centroid
over eastern NM will be slow and erratic toward the north and
west. Convective outflows then force storms into nearby lowlands
to include the Santa Fe metro southward along the RGV. Confidence
was high enough to issue a Flood Watch Tuesday from the Sangre de
Cristo Mts southwest across parts of central NM into the western
high terrain. Heavy rainfall may occur in the ABQ metro as well
depending on how outflows converge. The heat will be a concern
Tuesday with many areas in the upper 90s to low 100s, so Heat
Advisories are also in effect.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Wednesday through Sunday)
Issued at 206 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

Convective outflows and remnant MCVs from the storms Tuesday will
provide additional lift for storms Wednesday. There is no notable
change in the placement of the H5 high center over eastern NM and
little change to mid level temps or steering flow. The NBM90th
percentile QPF envelope trends a little lower Wednesday but many
footprints are still >0.75" in several areas around the higher
terrain. These amounts will likely trend higher as hi-res CAMs
get into the mix. More Heat Advisories are also likely for parts
of the area.

By Thursday, the H5 high is shown drifting west into central NM
while strengthening to near 598dm. This will most likely result in a
slight downtick in storm coverage with a return to greater coverage
of Heat Advisories. A repeat in convection over eastern CO Thursday
may force another boundary southwest into eastern NM Thursday night.
This would spark another uptick in storm coverage Friday and perhaps
Saturday as the H5 high center drifts west into northeast AZ.

&&

.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 206 PM MDT Mon Jul 27 2026

There is no critical fire weather forecast. Temperatures will be
very hot areawide. The main concern is for new lightning starts in
patchy dry fuels. A strong monsoon high across northern NM will
meander west into northern AZ by late week. The greatest risk for
locally heavy rainfall will be over the northern and western high
terrain where localized amounts of 1 to 2" are possible. Flash
flooding may occur, especially around burn scars.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Farmington......................  69 100  69  98 /   0   0   5   5
Dulce...........................  57  97  56  95 /   5  10  30  30
Cuba............................  63  94  62  92 /   0  10  40  30
Gallup..........................  62  92  60  91 /  10  50  30  40
El Morro........................  60  89  59  87 /  20  70  50  60
Grants..........................  64  93  62  91 /  10  50  50  50
Quemado.........................  62  89  61  88 /  20  70  30  60
Magdalena.......................  69  92  67  90 /  20  30  40  30
Datil...........................  65  87  62  86 /  20  70  40  50
Reserve.........................  61  95  60  94 /  20  70  30  50
Glenwood........................  65 100  63  99 /  20  60  30  40
Chama...........................  56  88  55  87 /   5  30  40  50
Los Alamos......................  69  93  67  89 /  20  50  50  40
Pecos...........................  64  92  61  90 /  10  70  30  40
Cerro/Questa....................  61  89  59  87 /  40  50  60  50
Red River.......................  51  84  50  83 /  40  70  60  60
Angel Fire......................  53  84  49  83 /  20  80  30  60
Taos............................  61  92  59  90 /  20  40  40  30
Mora............................  61  88  58  87 /  20  80  30  60
Espanola........................  69 100  67  96 /  20  40  40  20
Santa Fe........................  69  93  66  91 /  10  50  30  30
Santa Fe Airport................  67  97  64  94 /  10  40  30  30
Albuquerque Foothills...........  73 101  71  99 /   5  40  50  20
Albuquerque Heights.............  72 101  70  99 /   5  40  50  10
Albuquerque Valley..............  71 103  69 100 /   5  30  50   0
Albuquerque West Mesa...........  73 102  71  99 /   5  30  50   5
Belen...........................  71 103  69 100 /   5  20  50   0
Bernalillo......................  72 103  70 100 /   5  40  50  10
Bosque Farms....................  70 102  67  99 /   5  30  50   0
Corrales........................  72 104  71 100 /   5  40  50  10
Los Lunas.......................  72 102  69 100 /   5  20  50   0
Placitas........................  72  99  69  96 /   5  40  50  20
Rio Rancho......................  72 102  70  99 /   5  30  50   5
Socorro.........................  76 104  74 103 /  20  20  50   0
Sandia Park/Cedar Crest.........  68  93  65  92 /  10  50  50  40
Tijeras.........................  66  97  63  93 /   5  50  50  30
Edgewood........................  64  97  61  94 /  10  60  50  40
Moriarty/Estancia...............  61  97  59  95 /  10  60  50  30
Clines Corners..................  63  91  60  90 /  20  60  40  20
Mountainair.....................  64  96  61  94 /  20  50  60  20
Gran Quivira....................  66  94  63  92 /  20  50  60   5
Carrizozo.......................  72  98  69  97 /   5  20  30   5
Ruidoso.........................  67  91  64  89 /   5  20  10  10
Capulin.........................  61  89  58  88 /  30  80  70  50
Raton...........................  61  94  58  92 /  30  80  40  50
Springer........................  63  96  60  94 /  20  80  40  50
Las Vegas.......................  63  92  60  90 /  30  70  40  40
Clayton.........................  69  98  67  97 /  20  20  50  20
Roy.............................  68  95  64  93 /  20  50  50  10
Conchas.........................  71 103  67 102 /  10  30  50   0
Santa Rosa......................  69 100  66  98 /  10  10  30   0
Tucumcari.......................  72 104  70 102 /   5   5  40   0
Clovis..........................  70 104  69 102 /   0   0   5   0
Portales........................  72 105  71 103 /   0   0   0   0
Fort Sumner.....................  72 104  70 102 /   0   0  20   0
Roswell.........................  75 106  74 103 /   0   0   0   0
Picacho.........................  70 101  69  98 /   5   5   0   0
Elk.............................  68  98  66  95 /   0   5   0   5

&&

.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 from 1 PM to 7 PM MDT Tuesday for NMZ201-217-219-
220-234>238.

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

&&

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 27, 12:40 PM MDT, 2 hours 30 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, 1:44 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatABQMora, 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, 3:30 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.