Alert archive / New Mexico / Special Weather Statements in 2026

Special Weather Statement, NWS Albuquerque, NM

August 2, 2026Catron County, New Mexico

NWS Albuquerque, NM issued this special weather statement at Aug 2, 2026, 6:21 PM MDT for Catron County, New Mexico. It was in force for 39 min. 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 2, 2026, 6:21 PM MDT (00:21 UTC)
Expired
Aug 2, 2026, 7:00 PM MDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Albuquerque, NM
Hail
0.50 in

County Catron County, NM

The radar

The Holloman AFB radar (KHDX), 215 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:22 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 222 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 2026-08-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 607 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 2026-08-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -15 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
607 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-20 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3235 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-15 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
14 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

574 
WWUS85 KABQ 030021
SPSABQ

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
621 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

NMZ208-030100-
Southwest Mountains NM-
621 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL CATRON
COUNTY UNTIL 7 PM MDT...

At 621 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from 14 miles north of Beaverhead to 13 miles
southeast of Apache Creek, moving south at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 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...
  Beaverhead.

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 3376 10856 3372 10833 3372 10831 3371 10830
      3370 10831 3371 10829 3371 10826 3372 10825
      3372 10806 3341 10802 3342 10837 3347 10869
TIME...MOT...LOC 0020Z 5DEG 20KT 3363 10812 3362 10834 3367 10853

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

$$

44

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement 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 special weather statement went out at Aug 2, 5:19 PM MDT, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 509 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026
  • Moderate to major heat risk will impact many lower elevations of New Mexico through at least Tuesday. Record heat likely on Monday in much of western and central New Mexico.
  • Isolated showers and storms today and Monday will become scattered Tuesday through the end of the week. Stronger storms will produce gusty outflow winds, heavy rainfall, and frequent lightning strikes.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 2, 5:19 PM MDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
519 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 509 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

- Moderate to major heat risk will impact many lower elevations of
  New Mexico through at least Tuesday. Record heat likely on
  Monday in much of western and central New Mexico.

- Isolated showers and storms today and Monday will become
  scattered Tuesday through the end of the week. Stronger storms
  will produce gusty outflow winds, heavy rainfall, and frequent
  lightning strikes.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Monday night)
Issued at 1242 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

Yesterday's convection aided by a northerly jet streak has pushed
moisture southward into Mexico and dry air is working its way in
behind it. This will result in sparse convective activity today,
especially for early August. Showers and a few storms will favor the
southwest mountains, with lesser coverage over the northern
mountains. This will make it a hot, sunny day in most areas, with
high temperatures approaching daily records.

The center of the monsoon high will shift eastward on Monday,
centering itself over western NM. It will also bring some dry air
with it so shower and storm coverage will only be isolated once
again. 500 mb heights are forecast to be around 595 dam at the most,
but the drier air (dewpoints in the 30s and 40s) will allow
temperatures to warm quite a bit during the afternoon hours. High
temperatures are currently forecast to break daily records in
Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and Farmington among others on
Monday. Remarkably, August record highs will be challenged in
Farmington and Albuquerque as well. Much of western and northern NM
will have Major HeatRisk and so Heat Advisories were issued for much
of these areas. Despite high temps in the low 100s, Heat Advisories
were not issued for eastern NM, where the criteria is a tad higher.
The dry air will allow for a large diurnal temperature fluctuation,
so most areas should be able to cool off nicely Monday night, with
lows generally in the 60s and low 70s.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tuesday through Saturday)
Issued at 1242 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

The monsoon high remains in place over western NM on Tuesday where
temps will once again threaten records. It will be a tad cooler
across the northeast thanks to the passage of a weak backdoor front.
Moist, upslope flow in the wake of the front will increase the
coverage of convection along the central mountain chain and
eventually central NM during the evening hours. The monsoon high
will slowly shift off to the northwest mid to late week, allowing
for modest moisture increases across central and southern New
Mexico. Storm coverage will trend up slightly, with scattered
coverage each afternoon and evening, favoring the high terrain of
western and northern NM. PWATs at KABQ will hold steady right around
the seasonal average (~0.9"), with slightly less moisture across the
northwest where storm coverage will be less. From Wednesday onward,
temperatures will drop below record levels, but it will still remain
hot with temperatures generally 5 to 10 degrees above average.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 509 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

SHRA/TS over southwest NM will move southwest around 10KT thru
sunset. The stronger cells will be capable of heavy rain, hail,
strong outflow winds, and frequent lightning strikes. Skies will
clear all areas overnight with light winds. Another sparse crop of
storms will develop around the high terrain Monday but with a
focus more over northeast NM.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1242 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

Critical fire weather conditions are not expected through next
weekend. Near record to record heat is expected the next couple of
days as the monsoon high shifts into western New Mexico. This will
also bring unusually dry air into the western half of the state,
with afternoon humidities generally between 10 and 15 percent.
Temperatures drop slightly and humidities increase slightly from
Tuesday onward, but it will still be hotter and drier than normal
for the middle of monsoon season.

Isolated storms today and Monday become scattered Tuesday onward.
The southwest high terrain will have the best chances for rain most
days, with much spottier wetting rainfall in the lower elevations of
central and western NM.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Farmington......................  65 101  64 101 /   0   0   0   0
Dulce...........................  56  96  56  97 /  10   5   0   0
Cuba............................  61  95  61  94 /  10   0   0   5
Gallup..........................  60  97  60  96 /   0   0   5   5
El Morro........................  58  92  58  92 /   5   5  10  20
Grants..........................  61  96  61  95 /   5   5   5  20
Quemado.........................  62  93  61  92 /   5   5  20  20
Magdalena.......................  66  93  65  93 /   5  10  10  20
Datil...........................  59  90  60  90 /  20  20  20  40
Reserve.........................  60  97  60  96 /  10  30  20  50
Glenwood........................  63 100  64  99 /  30  40  20  70
Chama...........................  55  90  55  90 /  10  10   0  10
Los Alamos......................  66  92  66  91 /  10  20   0  30
Pecos...........................  59  95  60  90 /  10  10   5  40
Cerro/Questa....................  57  92  56  89 /  10  10   5  40
Red River.......................  50  83  50  81 /  10   5   5  70
Angel Fire......................  43  87  42  82 /  10  10  10  70
Taos............................  60  95  60  93 /  10  10   5  30
Mora............................  56  93  56  86 /  10  20  10  60
Espanola........................  67 100  67  98 /  10  10   0  20
Santa Fe........................  62  95  62  92 /  10  10   0  30
Santa Fe Airport................  63  97  63  95 /  10  10   0  20
Albuquerque Foothills...........  69 101  69  98 /  10   0   0  20
Albuquerque Heights.............  72 101  72  99 /  10   0   5  10
Albuquerque Valley..............  70 104  70 101 /   5   0   5   5
Albuquerque West Mesa...........  70 103  71 100 /   5   0   0   5
Belen...........................  69 103  69 101 /   0   0   5   0
Bernalillo......................  69 104  69 101 /  10   0   0  10
Bosque Farms....................  67 103  67 100 /   0   0   5   5
Corrales........................  69 104  70 101 /  10   0   0  10
Los Lunas.......................  66 103  66 100 /   0   0   5   0
Placitas........................  68 100  69  97 /  10   5   0  20
Rio Rancho......................  70 103  71 100 /  10   0   0  10
Socorro.........................  73 104  73 103 /   0   0   5   5
Sandia Park/Cedar Crest.........  64  96  65  91 /  10   5   0  30
Tijeras.........................  65  97  65  94 /  10   0   0  30
Edgewood........................  63  98  63  94 /  10   5   5  30
Moriarty/Estancia...............  57  99  58  95 /  10   5  10  20
Clines Corners..................  62  95  63  89 /  20  10  10  10
Mountainair.....................  64  97  64  94 /   5  10  10  20
Gran Quivira....................  63  94  63  93 /   5   5  20  20
Carrizozo.......................  69  94  70  96 /   0  10   0  20
Ruidoso.........................  62  87  63  88 /   0  20   0  30
Capulin.........................  60  93  59  82 /  10  30  20  40
Raton...........................  56  97  57  88 /  10  30  20  50
Springer........................  57  99  58  90 /  10  20  20  50
Las Vegas.......................  58  95  58  88 /  10  20  10  30
Clayton.........................  66 100  67  90 /   0  10  20   5
Roy.............................  64  98  65  89 /  10  20  20  10
Conchas.........................  70 103  71  98 /  10   5  20   5
Santa Rosa......................  68 102  68  96 /  10  10  20   0
Tucumcari.......................  69 104  71 100 /   5   0  10   0
Clovis..........................  67 100  69 100 /   0   0   0   0
Portales........................  68 101  70 101 /   0   0   0   0
Fort Sumner.....................  70 102  72 100 /   5   0  10   0
Roswell.........................  71 104  72 103 /   0   0   0   0
Picacho.........................  67  98  68  97 /   0  20   5   0
Elk.............................  63  93  63  94 /   0  20   0  10

&&

.ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory until 8 PM MDT this evening for NMZ201-205.

Heat Advisory from noon to 8 PM MDT Monday for NMZ201-205-207-
211-212-217>221.

&&

SHORT TERM...16
LONG TERM....16
AVIATION...42

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 2, 4:13 PM MDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
413 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

NMZ208-022245-
Southwest Mountains NM-
413 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL CATRON COUNTY
UNTIL 445 PM MDT...

At 413 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles east of Mogollon, or 26 miles south of Reserve, moving
southwest at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
  Mainly rural areas of South Central Catron County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3348 10858 3332 10845 3321 10863 3321 10872
      3337 10884
TIME...MOT...LOC 2213Z 56DEG 8KT 3335 10861

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

44
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 5:04 PM MDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
504 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

NMZ208-209-022330-
Southwest Mountains NM-San Francisco River Valley NM-
504 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN CATRON COUNTY UNTIL
530 PM MDT...

At 504 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Mogollon, or 19 miles south of Reserve, moving southwest 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...
  Alma, Mogollon, Glenwood and Pleasanton.

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 3353 10886 3354 10884 3343 10866 3323 10885
      3339 10905
TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 43DEG 12KT 3343 10881

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

44
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 5:09 PM MDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
509 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

NMZ208-022345-
Southwest Mountains NM-
509 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL CATRON COUNTY UNTIL 545
PM MDT...

At 509 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles northwest of Old Horse Springs, or 29 miles west of Datil,
moving southwest 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 Catron 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 3404 10821 3388 10828 3388 10829 3391 10829
      3391 10831 3392 10832 3391 10835 3389 10833
      3389 10832 3388 10831 3387 10832 3385 10831
      3383 10831 3393 10855 3412 10841
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 26DEG 10KT 3404 10833

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

44
Local storm report, Aug 2, 5:59 PM MDT, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
559 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

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

0515 PM     Flash Flood      12 E Mogollon           33.40N 108.58W
08/02/2026                   Catron             NM   Law Enforcement

            Catron County Sheriff responding to reports
            of people stranded due to ongoing flash
            flooding in the Willow Creek subdivision.

&&

44
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 6:21 PM MDT, 0 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
621 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

NMZ208-030100-
Southwest Mountains NM-
621 PM MDT Sun Aug 2 2026

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL CATRON
COUNTY UNTIL 7 PM MDT...

At 621 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from 14 miles north of Beaverhead to 13 miles
southeast of Apache Creek, moving south at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 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...
  Beaverhead.

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 3376 10856 3372 10833 3372 10831 3371 10830
      3370 10831 3371 10829 3371 10826 3372 10825
      3372 10806 3341 10802 3342 10837 3347 10869
TIME...MOT...LOC 0020Z 5DEG 20KT 3363 10812 3362 10834 3367 10853

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

44

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 2, 6:40 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQCatron33 min
Aug 3, 11:10 AM MDTHeat AdvisoryABQBernalillo, Catron, Cibola, McKinley, Sandoval, San Juan and 3 more33 hr
Aug 3, 3:23 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQCatron3 hr
Aug 3, 3:30 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQCatron2 hr
Aug 3, 3:31 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQCatron14 min
Aug 3, 3:59 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningABQLincoln31 min
Aug 3, 4:12 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryABQLincoln2 hr

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in New Mexico, 2026Every special weather statement 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.