A lightning strike from a thunderstorm over northwest New Mexico damaged the radio transmitter on Rabbit Peak southwest of Chama.
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The episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.
A lightning strike from a thunderstorm over northwest New Mexico damaged the radio transmitter on Rabbit Peak southwest of Chama.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Sep 14, 1:52 PM MST, 10 hours 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 252 PM MDT MON SEP 14 2009 .DISCUSSION... INHERITED FORECAST GOING WELL FOR TODAY AND VERY LITTLE CHANGES NEEDED TO BE MADE FOR THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD TONIGHT. IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE MORE SIGNIFICANT THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE WILL TRANSITION TOWARDS THE EAST ON TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT AND VERY LITTLE CHANGES NEEDED TO BE MADE TO THE GRIDS FOR THAT EXPECTED RESULT. WENT AHEAD AND RAISED POPS EVEN FURTHER FOR WEDNESDAY...WED NIGHT AND THURSDAY PER LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE TRENDS. MODELS...BASED ON THE SYNOPTIC VIEW...APPEAR TO BE CONSISTENT WITH EACH OTHER FOR THAT TIME PERIOD SO CONFIDENCE HAS CERTAINLY INCREASED. UPPER TROUGH CURRENTLY AFFECTING THE SIERRA NEVADA WILL GRADUALLY MOVE INTO THE FOUR CORNERS AREA ON TUESDAY AND EVENTUALLY OVER THE STATE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. LOW AND MID LEVEL FLOW IN RESPONSE TO THIS LOW TRANSLATION WILL BECOME EASTERLY. WITH DEWPOINTS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 40S AND 50S...THIS MAKES FOR A WET COMBINATION. ESPECIALLY FAVORING THE UPSLOPE AREAS OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...JEMEZ MTS AND AREAS ALONG AND JUST TO THE EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION WILL TRANSITION FROM EASTERN AND CTRL AREAS WEDNESDAY AND WED NIGHT TOWARDS THE WEST ON THURSDAY. HAVE SOME PRETTY HEFTY POPS FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY WED NIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING BUT EXPECT THE NORMAL DOWNSLOPING AFFECTS AS WELL FOR SOME OF THE VALLEY AREA. THE BIG QUESTION FOR THE WEEK WILL BE HOW QUICKLY THE UPPER LOW MOVES OUT OF THE STATE. AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW...BASED ON MODEL PROJECTIONS...HAVE DECREASING POPS ON FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND. TEMPERATURES SHOULD GRADUALLY WARM BACK TO ABOVE NORMAL DURING THE WEEKEND IF THE EXPECTED PATTERN STAYS PUT. && .AVIATION... ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST INTO THE EVENING HOURS THROUGH ABOUT 03Z TO 06Z. COVERAGE IS FOCUSED ALONG CENTRAL AND WESTERN NEW MEXICO...BUT MOVEMENT IS TO THE EAST AND A FEW WILL MAKE IT INTO THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND EASTERN PLAINS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL RESULT IN LOCAL AREAS OF MVFR CIGS AND VISIBILITIES AND OCCASIONAL MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS. THE USE OF CB IN TAF WITH NO MENTION OF TS INDICATES UNCERTAINTY IN THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE AT THE AIRPORT SITE. WIDESPREAD AREAS OF LOW CLOUDS AND FOG ARE NOT EXPECTED TUESDAY MORNING...THOUGH SOME AREAS OF PATCHY FOG ARE POSSIBLE. FOR NOW...WILL NOT FORECASTS ANY MVFR OR IFR CONDITIONS...HOWEVER TAF FOR KTCC HINTS AT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME LOW CLOUDS AROUND 12Z. NEXT AVIATION DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR 09Z. 05 && .FIRE WEATHER... ISOLATED TO AT TIMES SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH WETTING RAIN WILL PERSIST OVER THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND WEST ZONES INTO THE EVENING HOURS. A FEW STORMS WILL DRIFT INTO THE EASTERN PLAINS. GOOD TO EXCELLENT RH RECOVERIES ARE EXPECTED OVER NIGHT. CHANCES OF WETTING RAIN SHIFT TO THE EAST BY TUESDAY AS MOIST LOW LEVEL EASTERLY FLOW WORKS INTO THE EASTERN PLAINS. SUFFICIENT MOISTURE REMAINS ACROSS THE WEST TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THUNDERSTORMS WITH WETTING RAIN...MOST NUMEROUS OVER THE HIGH TERRAIN. MINIMUM RH VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN ABOVE 25 PERCENT...HAINES VALUES SHOULD TOP OUT AT 3 AND VENTILATION WILL BE POOR TO FAIR ACROSS THE NORTHEAST AND PORTIONS OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW MOVES NEAR THE FOUR CORNERS BY MID WEEK...AND CHANCES OF WETTING RAIN INCREASE STATEWIDE ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WITH SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS FORECAST FOR MOST AREAS. THE LOW LEVEL MOIST EASTERLY FLOW WILL REACH THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE ON WEDNESDAY AND PERSISTS ON THURSDAY. EARLY MORNING LOW CLOUDS AND PATCHY FOG IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS EACH MORNING AS WELL. HAINES VALUES REMAIN AT OR BELOW 3 AND THE AREA OF POOR TO FAIR VENTILATION EXPANDS BOTH ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. EXTENDED MODELS HINT AT A DRYING TREND FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... THOUGH THE RECYCLING OF MOISTURE WILL LIKELY SUPPORT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS AT LEAST THROUGH SATURDAY. 05 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FARMINGTON...................... 55 83 55 78 / 30 30 30 40 DULCE........................... 43 78 43 72 / 30 30 40 50 CUBA............................ 46 79 46 74 / 30 20 50 60 GALLUP.......................... 50 79 48 76 / 30 20 10 30 EL MORRO........................ 45 77 45 74 / 30 20 20 30 GRANTS.......................... 46 78 46 75 / 20 30 20 40 QUEMADO......................... 48 77 48 74 / 30 20 20 30 GLENWOOD........................ 48 84 50 81 / 20 10 10 20 CHAMA........................... 38 75 38 69 / 30 30 40 70 LOS ALAMOS...................... 54 76 54 69 / 20 20 40 60 PECOS........................... 48 79 48 69 / 20 30 40 60 CERRO/QUESTA.................... 41 76 41 68 / 30 30 50 70 RED RIVER....................... 39 70 39 63 / 30 30 60 70 ANGEL FIRE...................... 40 72 40 63 / 30 40 60 70 TAOS............................ 46 77 46 70 / 30 30 40 60 ESPANOLA........................ 51 83 51 75 / 20 20 40 50 SANTA FE........................ 49 78 49 69 / 20 20 40 50 SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 51 81 51 72 / 20 20 40 50 ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 59 80 59 74 / 20 10 30 50 ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 59 83 59 77 / 20 10 30 50 ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 60 84 60 78 / 20 10 30 40 ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 59 84 59 78 / 20 20 30 50 LOS LUNAS....................... 58 85 58 80 / 10 10 30 40 RIO RANCHO...................... 58 82 58 76 / 20 20 30 50 SOCORRO......................... 59 87 59 82 / 10 10 20 30 SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 48 73 48 65 / 20 20 30 60 MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 50 80 50 69 / 20 20 40 60 CLINES CORNERS.................. 48 78 48 66 / 20 20 40 70 GRAN QUIVIRA.................... 50 79 50 70 / 20 20 30 60 CARRIZOZO....................... 53 83 53 74 / 20 20 30 50 RUIDOSO......................... 48 76 48 65 / 20 20 30 60 CAPULIN......................... 53 77 53 70 / 10 50 50 30 RATON........................... 51 80 51 70 / 20 50 60 40 LAS VEGAS....................... 50 78 50 67 / 20 50 60 70 CLAYTON......................... 56 79 56 72 / 10 30 20 20 ROY............................. 50 80 50 73 / 10 40 60 40 CONCHAS......................... 57 83 57 78 / 10 30 40 50 SANTA ROSA...................... 54 84 54 79 / 10 20 30 50 TUCUMCARI....................... 57 85 57 78 / 10 20 30 40 CLOVIS.......................... 57 83 58 76 / 10 5 30 40 PORTALES........................ 57 83 59 77 / 10 5 30 40 FORT SUMNER..................... 55 84 56 78 / 10 10 30 50 ROSWELL......................... 59 87 62 82 / 10 10 20 40 PICACHO......................... 50 83 50 76 / 20 20 30 50 ELK............................. 45 79 45 71 / 20 20 30 50 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && 50/05
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 600 AM MDT MON SEP 14 2009 NMZ501>540-151200- ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS- CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-CURRY COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY- EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY- EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY-ESTANCIA VALLEY-FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS- FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-GUADALUPE COUNTY-HARDING COUNTY- JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY- NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER- NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-NORTHWEST PLATEAU-QUAY COUNTY- RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY- SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-SANTA FE METRO AREA- SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET-SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY- SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-UNION COUNTY-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY- UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY-WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS- WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU-WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS- 600 AM MDT MON SEP 14 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. HOWEVER...PATCHY FOG ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO...AND SANDIA AND MANZANO MOUNTAINS COULD OCCASIONALLY REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO ONE MILE OR LESS BEFORE 9 AM. IN ADDITION...SLOW MOVING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN OVER NORTHERN AND WESTERN NEW MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WHICH COULD LEAD TO ISOLATED AREAS OF FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...WEATHER CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST FORECASTS...WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 196 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:17 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorms over northwest New Mexico during the early morning hours produced a cloud to ground lightning strike that hit the 96.1 FM KZRM Radio transmitter on Rabbit Peak, just west northwest of Chama. The station was off the air for at least three weeks.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, September 2009
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 193072.