5 inches of rain fell in 20 minutes southeast of Espanola. Cars were swept away due to the high waters.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.
Over 1.5 inches of rain fell in 20 minutes southeast of Espanola. Cars were swept away due to the high waters.
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 Aug 15, 1:24 PM MST, 1 hour 59 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 224 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 .DISCUSSION... ...FLASH FLOOD POTENTIAL INCREASING OVER THE NEXT 36 HOURS... THIS LATEST FORECAST PACKAGE CONTAINS SOME RATHER BIG CHANGES TO THE POP AND TEMP FORECAST. WAS A LITTLE HESITANT TO MAKE THESE SWEEPING CHANGES...HOWEVER THE 00Z 8/15 AND 12Z 8/15 GUIDANCE HAS SUGGESTED A MAJOR UPTICK IN PRECIP COVERAGE AND INTENSITY THRU MONDAY NIGHT. THE LATEST WATER VAPOR LOOP AND IR IMAGERY SHOW A MID LEVEL DEFORMATION AXIS FROM THE GILA REGION NE INTO THE NORTHERN MTS AND THE NE PLAINS. MEANWHILE THE SURFACE BNDRY THAT PUSHED SOUTH ACROSS THE PLAINS THIS MORNING IS HUNG UP ALONG THE CENTRAL MT CHAIN. THE MET AND MAVMOS POP NUMBERS HAVE TRENDED HIGHER THAN ANY DAY IN THE PAST 10 DAYS... AND ARE ACTUALLY AS HIGH AS THE VERY WET PERIOD FROM JULY 28 TO AUGUST 5. MODELS SIGNIFICANTLY OVERESTIMATED PWAT VALUES ACROSS SE AZ AND WEST TX DURING OUR LAST MONSOONAL SURGE EARLY LAST WEEK...LEAVING US WITH MUCH LESS COVERAGE THAN EXPECTED. PWATS ON THE 12Z RAOB AT KMAF WAS 1.55 INCHES AND KAMA WAS 1.40...NEARLY +2 STD DEVS ABOVE NORMAL. THE LATEST GOES PWAT IMAGERY ALSO SHOWS THESE VALUES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AND EVEN INCREASED SOME AS OF 1732Z. CONFIDENCE IS HIGHER THAT DEEP SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST FLOW WILL KEEP MOISTURE ENTRENCHED OVER THE AREA THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. ADDED HEAVY RAINFALL WORDING TO LOCALES ALONG THE CENTRAL MTN CHAIN AND OVER THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING EXISTS AS MIXED LAYER PWAT VALUES ARE SUGGESTED TO HOVER AROUND 1.20 INCHES INTO 00Z TUESDAY. WILL WAIT TO SEE IF MODELS CAN HOLD ONTO HEAVY QPF VALUES BEFORE ISSUANCE OF FFA FOR MONDAY. BEYOND MONDAY NIGHT MODELS SHOW WITH GOOD CONSENSUS THAT SOME OF THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL SCOUR OUT OF THE REGION FROM NORTH TO SOUTH TUESDAY...THEN SURGE BACK NORTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA WEDNESDAY THRU FRIDAY. THIS WILL CONTINUE AN ACTIVE WEEK WITH COOLER TEMPS ACROSS THE BOARD. GUYER && .AVIATION... SCT MAINLY MVFR CIGS/VSYS IN TSRA G35KT WILL OCCASIONALLY OBSCURE MOUNTAINS ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTHERN NEW MEXICO THROUGH 16/03Z. ISOLD TSRA OVER SOUTHEAST PLAINS. GUSTY EAST TO SOUTHEAST SFC WINDS LIKELY BETWEEN 15/23Z-16/04Z ALONG WEST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN AND INTO RIO GRANDE VALLEY. LCL MAINLY MVFR CIGS AFT 16/06Z ALONG EAST SLOPES CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN MAY OCCASIONALLY OBSCURE MOUNTAINS. NEXT AVIATION DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR 09Z. && .FIRE WEATHER... SURFACE FRONT HAS MORE OR LESS REACHED THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN...WITH THE UPPER CENTER OF CIRCULATION OVER EAST CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE HAD INCREASED OVERNIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL AND WESTERN NEW MEXICO...LEADING TO A NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE REGION. GUSTY EAST WINDS THROUGH CANYONS AND PASSES INTO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY POSSIBLE FOR AT LEAST A SHORT TIME THIS EVENING. DEWPOINTS IN THE NORTHWEST MOUNTAINS MAY INCREASE SOMEWHAT TONIGHT BUT MAY NOT REACH THE FAR NORTHWEST CORNER. THE UPPER RIDGE FLATTENS MORE ON MONDAY...ALLOWING FOR AN UPTICK IN WESTERLY WINDS ALOFT ACROSS THE NORTH...AND THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS OVER THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE STATE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WEAKER WINDS ALOFT WOULD FAVOR SLOW AND ERRATIC MOVEMENT OF STORMS OVER THE SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. MONDAYS HIGHS MOST LOCALES WILL BE SLIGHTLY COOLER THAN TODAYS. A MORE STABLE AND DRIER AIRMASS MAY OVERSPREAD NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO TUESDAY...WHILE DEEPER MOISTURE LINGERS OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE. HOWEVER...ANOTHER WEAK SURFACE BOUNDARY MAY DIP INTO THE NORTHEAST...WHICH COULD SERVE AS A FOCUS FOR CONVECTION. BY WEDNESDAY...THE UPPER HIGH CENTER REBOUNDS OVER NEW MEXICO. THEREAFTER...MODELS REMAIN UNDECIDED ON THE POSITION AND STRENGTH OF THE UPPER RIDGE AS NUMEROUS SHORT WAVES PASS TO THE NORTH OF NEW MEXICO IN THE WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FARMINGTON...................... 64 90 63 92 / 40 50 40 20 DULCE........................... 51 81 52 82 / 40 50 20 20 CUBA............................ 55 84 54 85 / 60 60 30 20 GALLUP.......................... 60 85 57 87 / 40 50 40 20 EL MORRO........................ 55 83 54 84 / 60 50 50 30 GRANTS.......................... 58 85 56 88 / 60 50 50 20 QUEMADO......................... 59 84 58 85 / 50 50 50 30 GLENWOOD........................ 64 91 62 89 / 30 40 40 20 CHAMA........................... 50 76 48 79 / 50 60 20 30 LOS ALAMOS...................... 61 78 58 82 / 70 60 40 20 PECOS........................... 55 81 55 84 / 60 60 40 20 CERRO/QUESTA.................... 52 73 50 78 / 40 60 20 20 RED RIVER....................... 49 68 47 73 / 60 70 30 20 ANGEL FIRE...................... 47 70 45 75 / 60 70 30 20 TAOS............................ 56 77 52 86 / 50 60 30 20 ESPANOLA........................ 60 85 59 91 / 50 50 30 20 SANTA FE........................ 60 81 57 86 / 70 60 40 20 SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 62 83 59 89 / 70 60 40 20 ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 68 85 65 89 / 60 60 50 20 ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 71 87 67 91 / 60 60 50 20 ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 70 88 68 92 / 60 60 50 20 ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 69 88 68 92 / 60 60 50 20 LOS LUNAS....................... 65 91 67 94 / 50 60 50 20 RIO RANCHO...................... 68 87 66 90 / 60 60 50 20 SOCORRO......................... 67 92 68 92 / 40 50 50 20 SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 61 78 57 83 / 60 60 50 20 MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 63 84 58 86 / 50 50 50 20 CLINES CORNERS.................. 61 81 57 84 / 50 60 50 20 GRAN QUIVIRA.................... 62 85 59 86 / 30 50 50 20 CARRIZOZO....................... 64 89 64 90 / 30 30 40 20 RUIDOSO......................... 60 77 58 79 / 40 50 50 20 CAPULIN......................... 60 78 57 82 / 50 50 30 20 RATON........................... 59 80 55 87 / 50 40 30 20 LAS VEGAS....................... 57 79 57 85 / 70 50 30 20 CLAYTON......................... 64 87 63 88 / 60 30 30 20 ROY............................. 64 84 62 86 / 60 40 30 20 CONCHAS......................... 67 92 66 94 / 50 40 30 20 SANTA ROSA...................... 65 89 65 93 / 40 40 30 20 TUCUMCARI....................... 68 90 67 94 / 40 40 30 20 CLOVIS.......................... 65 88 65 91 / 50 30 30 20 PORTALES........................ 66 89 66 92 / 40 30 30 20 FORT SUMNER..................... 68 91 69 94 / 40 40 30 20 ROSWELL......................... 70 93 70 94 / 40 20 30 20 PICACHO......................... 64 85 64 88 / 40 30 40 20 ELK............................. 61 80 61 83 / 40 50 50 20 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && GUYER/99
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 232 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 NMZ501>540-161200- NORTHWEST PLATEAU-CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS- NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS- WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS- SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY-SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-JEMEZ MOUNTAINS- WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 9500 FEET- EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY- LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-SANTA FE METRO AREA-ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA- LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-ESTANCIA VALLEY- CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY- SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA- FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-UNION COUNTY- HARDING COUNTY-EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY-GUADALUPE COUNTY- QUAY COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY- CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS-EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY-SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY- 232 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SLOW MOVING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL RAINFALL LEADING TO LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING THROUGH TONIGHT. A FEW STORMS OVER THE NORTHEAST PLAINS MAY PRODUCE DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 50 MPH THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SLOW MOVING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE TORRENTIAL RAINFALL LEADING TO LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING MAINLY ALONG AND WEST OF THE CENTRAL MOUNTAIN CHAIN MONDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS MONDAY. QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. WEATHER CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST FORECASTS...WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. GUYER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 109 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 NMZ514-515-528-529-151945- EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET- 109 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN MORA AND NORTHWESTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTIES THROUGH 145 PM MDT... AT 106 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SAN IGNACIO...OR ABOUT 13 MILES SOUTH OF MORA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...SAN IGNACIO...TIERRA MONTE... SAPELLO...ROCIADA...SOUTH CARMEN AND MANUELITAS. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. HEAVY RAINS WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND IN LOW SPOTS. FAST RUNNING WATER WILL QUICKLY FILL ARROYOS AND DITCHES. && LAT...LON 3596 10532 3586 10516 3562 10542 3573 10554 TIME...MOT...LOC 1909Z 229DEG 4KT 3580 10540 KW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 325 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 NMZ527-530-152200- RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA-UNION COUNTY- 325 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN COLFAX AND NORTHWESTERN UNION COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM MDT... AT 324 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR FOLSOM...OR ABOUT 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF DES MOINES...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. OTHER AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...DES MOINES. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. && LAT...LON 3686 10359 3661 10382 3682 10407 3698 10394 TIME...MOT...LOC 2125Z 297DEG 9KT 3686 10389
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 336 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 NMZ512-517-518-152215- LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-SANTA FE METRO AREA-WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS- 336 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN SANTA FE AND SOUTHEASTERN RIO ARRIBA COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM MDT... AT 335 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SANTA CLARA PUEBLO...OR ABOUT NEAR ESPANOLA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...CHIMAYO...POJOAQUE...POJOAQUE PUEBLO...NAMBE...CUNDIYO...NAMBE PUEBLO...EL RANCHO...JACONITA AND CUYAMUNGUE. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. MOTORISTS CAN EXPECT BRIEF...BUT SUDDEN CHANGES IN VISIBILITY AND PONDING OF WATER ON THE HIGHWAYS AS THIS STORM MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. HEAVY RAINS WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND IN LOW SPOTS. FAST RUNNING WATER WILL QUICKLY FILL ARROYOS AND DITCHES. && LAT...LON 3595 10624 3607 10602 3594 10583 3579 10614 TIME...MOT...LOC 2136Z 310DEG 10KT 3595 10605 KW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 342 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 NMZ527-528-152230- FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA- 342 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN COLFAX COUNTY THROUGH 430 PM MDT... AT 339 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12 MILES EAST OF MAXWELL...OR ABOUT 16 MILES NORTHEAST OF SPRINGER...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF EASTERN COLFAX COUNTY. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. && LAT...LON 3667 10416 3640 10407 3637 10443 3656 10446 TIME...MOT...LOC 2142Z 242DEG 9KT 3648 10433 KW
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 346 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 NMZ512-515-518-523-529-152230- CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS-SANTA FE METRO AREA-WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS- 346 PM MDT SUN AUG 15 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN SANTA FE AND WESTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM MDT... AT 343 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ROWE...OR ABOUT 19 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SANTA FE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...ROWE...SOUTH SAN YSIDRO AND NORTH SAN YSIDRO. THIS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING NEW MEXICO HIGHWAYS... INTERSTATE 25 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 301 AND 316... HIGHWAY 285 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 278 AND 281... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. && LAT...LON 3550 10545 3530 10572 3541 10591 3559 10573 TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 265DEG 9KT 3546 10573 KW
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:21 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Highway 76 was closed due to flash flooding in the vicinity of La Puebla, southeast of Espanola. Four to five feet of rock and silt was washed over the road. Cars were washed into nearby arroyos.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, August 2010
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: 242404.