A weak upper level disturbance moved through southern New Mexico in a modestly moist and unstable environment. A weak surface trough was also present which helped aid in thunderstorm development over the lower elevations.
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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 EPZ wrote it up.
A weak upper level disturbance moved through southern New Mexico in a modestly moist and unstable environment. A weak surface trough was also present which helped aid in thunderstorm development over the lower elevations.
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 El Paso, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 21, 1:54 PM MST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 254 PM MDT WED JUL 21 2010 .SYNOPSIS... MOISTURE IS ON THE INCREASE OVER THE BORDERLAND. HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT SHRINKING TO THE EAST WILL RESULT IN A DEEP SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW ALOFT. THIS WILL IMPORT MID-LEVEL MOISTURE INTO THE REGION FROM THE GULF BRINGING UP HUMIDITY AND LOWERING AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WHICH HAD BEEN LIMITED IN DAYS PAST EAST THE RIO GRANDE WILL INCREASE IN NUMBER AND COVER AREAS BOTH EAST AND WEST OF THE RIO GRANDE EACH DAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK. && .DISCUSSION... RADAR SHOWING A LOT MORE STORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON...AS EXPECTED BASED ON MODEL DATA THE PREVIOUS COUPLE OF DAYS. THE UPPER HIGH IS SHRINKING EAST AND RE-CENTERING OVER THE SE U.S. WATER VAPOR STILL SHOWS A SLUG OF DRIER AIR OVER THE CWFA ALOFT...BUT LOWER LEVELS REMAIN QUITE MOIST WITH HIGH DEWPOINTS. WINDS ALOFT ARE TRUNING SE AND OPENING THE REGION TO THE ADVECTION OF DEEPER MOISTURE FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO. PW WAS UP A BIT THIS MORNING...AND ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO CLIMB FROM 1.18" THIS MORNING TO NEAR 1.5" BY SATURDAY. A VIGOROUS IMPULSE ALOFT IS CLEARLY VISIBLE IN SATELLITE DATA TO OUR SE...THIS WAVE IS TRACKING W/NW TOWARD THE CWFA AND SHOULD BE A PLAYER IN INCREASING STORM DEVELOPMENT THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. BIG DIFFERENCES IN YESTERDAY'S SOUNDING VS. THIS MORNINGS AS THE UPPER CAPPING DUE TO WARM INVERSIONS ALOFT HAVE ALL ERODED...THUS THE INHIBITION OF THE THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS ARE GONE. DON'T SEE A LOT OF CHANGE IN THE BIGGER-PICTURE PATTERN THROUGH THE WEEKEND. UPPER HIGH REMAINS WELL EAST WITH E/SE FLOW INTO THE REGION FROM SURFACE TO UPPER LEVELS. THIS WILL CONTINUE OUR INFLUX OF MOIST GULF AIR. THUS WE WILL KEEP POPS GENERALLY IN THE SCATTERED/CHANCE RANGE FOR MOST OF THE ZONES...MOST OF THE PERIODS. LOWER HEIGHTS AND INCREASED CLOUDS WILL HELP TO BRING AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES BACK DOWN TO SEASONAL NORMS. 14 - BIRD && .AVIATION...VALID 22/00Z-23/00Z A SURFACE AND UPPER AIR PRESSURE PATTERN OF HIGH PRESSURE TO THE EAST OF THE CWA AND LOW PRESSURE TO THE WEST COUPLED WITH WESTWARD MOVING SUBTROPICAL WAVES FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO INTO MEXICO WILL RAMP UP MONSOONAL CONVECTION ACROSS THE AREA FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. GENERALLY SCT070 SCT-BKN100-140 AND SCT-BKN200-250 WITH AREAS OF MVFR TO BRIEFLY IFR IN ISOLATED TO SCATTERED TSTMS...GNLY... BKN030-050 AND BKN-OVC080-120 AND VSBY 1-3 MI IN +TSRA WITH SFC WINDS VRB 35G48KTS AND TOPS 470 MSL. STORMS GNLY MOVING WNW 5-10 KTS WITH BEST PRECIP WINDOW 00Z-09Z. 20 - NOVLAN && .FIRE WEATHER... WITH HIGH PRESSURE TO THE EAST OF THE FIRE ZONES AND LOW PRESSURE TO THE WEST ALONG WITH AN IMPORTATION OF SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO INTO MEXICO AND THEN NORTHWESTWARD TOWARD THE UNITED STATES...LOOK FOR A GRADUAL INTENSIFICATION OF THE MOIST SOUTH-SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW WILL SPREAD OVER THE AREA THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WHICH HAD BEEN LIMITED TO THE AREA MAINLY WEST OF THE RIO GRANDE WILL NOW COVER THE ENTIRE AREA BY THURSDAY WITH ACTIVITY INCREASING IN INTENSITY AND COVERAGE INTO THE WEEKEND. TEMPERATURES WILL ALSO LOWER TO LATE JULY NORMAL LEVELS BY THE WEEKEND AS THE AREA EXPERIENCES A HEIGHTENED MONSOON CIRCULATION. MIN RH VALUES WILL RANGE FROM 25% TO 35% MOST LOWLANDS AND 35% TO 45% ABOVE 7000 FEET TODAY AND THURSDAY WITH THE HAINES INDEX FOR THE MOST PART IN THE 3 CATEGORY AND 3 TO 4 IN ZONE 110. 20 - NOVLAN && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... EL PASO 75 96 75 96 76 / 30 30 30 30 30 SIERRA BLANCA TX 70 91 70 91 71 / 20 30 30 30 30 LAS CRUCES 71 95 71 95 72 / 30 30 30 30 30 ALAMOGORDO 67 98 67 99 68 / 20 30 30 30 30 CLOUDCROFT 52 71 52 72 53 / 30 40 50 50 40 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES 66 94 66 95 67 / 20 30 40 30 30 SILVER CITY 60 86 60 86 61 / 40 40 50 40 40 DEMING 68 94 68 94 69 / 30 40 40 30 30 LORDSBURG 67 97 67 97 68 / 40 40 40 40 30 && .EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...NONE. TX...NONE. && 14/20
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 1100 AM MDT WED JUL 21 2010 NMZ022>025-030>032-TXZ055-056-221715- SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS/LOWER GILA REGION-SIERRA COUNTY LAKES REGION- TULAROSA BASIN/SOUTHERN DESERT-SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS- SOUTHWEST DESERT/BOOTHEEL-SOUTHWEST DESERT/MIMBRES BASIN- SOUTHERN DESERT-EL PASO-HUDSPETH- 1100 AM MDT WED JUL 21 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO...SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT MOISTURE WILL BEGAN TO INCREASE THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE DAY TODAY. ISOLATED LOWLAND AND SCATTERED MOUNTAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON DUE TO UPSLOPE FLOW OVER AREA MOUNTAINS AND INTENSE SURFACE HEATING OVER THE LOWLANDS. STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MORE WIDESPREAD FROM THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY WESTWARD AND OVER THE HIGHER MOUNTAINS THAN OVER FAR WEST TEXAS AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. HOWEVER ISOLATED STORMS ARE EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT OVER AREAS EAST OF THE RIO GRANDE. STORMS TODAY WILL MOVE TO THE NORTHWEST. FEW STORMS MAY PRODUCE OVER AN INCH OF RAINFALL... AND LOCALIZED FLOODING...ALONG WITH SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...DEEPER MOISTURE WILL SETTLE OVER THE REGION FROM BOTH THE WEST AND THE EAST AS HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT RECEDES EAST AND ALLOWS A DEEPER SOUTHERLY MONSOONAL FLOW PATTERN ALOFT. SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE WITH SCATTERED STORM COVERAGE SPREAD OVER THE ENTIRE WARNING AREA. WITH INCREASED MOISTURE HEAVY RAIN WITH A FEW STORMS MAY PRODUCE OVER AN INCH OF RAIN AND LOCAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL BE STRONG...PRODUCING HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER DIRECTLY TO THE NWS VIA OUR 800 NUMBER. BIRD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 318 PM MDT WED JUL 21 2010 TXZ055-212330- EL PASO- INCLUDING THE CITY OF...EL PASO 318 PM MDT WED JUL 21 2010 SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND HAIL...ARE CONTINUING TO DEVELOP AND MOVE INTO EL PASO COUNTY FROM THE EAST...AS ANOTHER IN A SERIES OF TROPICAL WAVES IS BRINGING ADDITIONAL MOISTURE ACROSS FAR WEST TEXAS. STRENGTH OF THE OUTFLOW FROM THESE STORMS...AND THOSE SOUTH OF THE BORDER...IS BEING ENHANCED BY APPROACH OF THE WAVE. IN ADDITION TO LOCALIZED TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH OR MORE AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE THE MAIN THREATS WITH THESE STORMS. ALSO GIVEN THE SLOW MOVEMENT TO THESE STORMS...RAPID RUNOFF AND ACCUMULATION OF WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS IS LIKELY. TRIPOLI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX 411 PM MDT WED JUL 21 2010 NMZ024-032-TXZ055-212245- EL PASO TX-SOUTHERN DESERT NM-TULAROSA BASIN/SOUTHERN DESERT NM- 411 PM MDT WED JUL 21 2010 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THREATENING CENTRAL DONA ANA AND EXTREME NORTHWESTERN EL PASO COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM MDT... AT 359 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ANTHONY...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 5 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. AREAS OF BLOWING DUST WILL LIKELY ACCOMPANY THIS STORM...REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO DANGEROUS LEVELS ON AREA ROADWAYS ESPECIALLY ON INTERSTATE 10. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... ANTHONY... BERINO... SAN MIGUEL... CHAMBERINO... VADO... MESQUITE... LA MESA... VINTON... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. TORRENTIAL RAIN MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. NOVLAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX 416 PM MDT WED JUL 21 2010 NMZ024-212300- TULAROSA BASIN/SOUTHERN DESERT NM- 416 PM MDT WED JUL 21 2010 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THREATENING WESTERN OTERO COUNTY THROUGH 500 PM MDT... AT 405 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF OROGRANDE...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 5 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. AREAS OF BLOWING DUST WILL LIKELY ACCOMPANY THIS STORM...REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO DANGEROUS LEVELS ON AREA ROADWAYS ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAY 54. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... OROGRANDE... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. TORRENTIAL RAIN MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. NOVLAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 423 PM MDT WED JUL 21 2010 NMZ023-220130- SIERRA COUNTY LAKES REGION- INCLUDING THE CITY OF...TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES 423 PM MDT WED JUL 21 2010 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO THREATEN SIERRA COUNTY THROUGH 830 PM MDT... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN AND HAIL...WILL CONTINUE ACROSS MUCH OF SIERRA COUNTY FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS...AS ANOTHER IN A SERIES OF TROPICAL WAVES BRINGS ADDITIONAL MOISTURE INTO CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. LARGE OUTFLOW BOUNDRY MOVING UP FROM THE SOUTHEAST...WILL FURTHER ENHANCE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL STORMS. IN ADDITION TO LOCALIZED TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH OR MORE AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE THE MAIN THREATS WITH THESE STORMS. ALSO GIVEN THE SLOW MOVEMENT TO THESE STORMS...RAPID RUNOFF AND ACCUMULATION OF WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS IS LIKELY. TORRENTIAL RAIN MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND DIPS IN THE ROAD AHEAD. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. TRIPOLI
The El Paso radar (KEPZ), 164 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:45 UTC.
2 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A 8' by 5' deep storm drainage ditch was overrunning onto the adjacent street in the south part of Hurley.
An estimated wind gust of 60 mph was reported with blowing dust 2 miles north of Columbus.
Flooding was occurring on New Mexico Highway 11 between mile markers 7 and 9. Barricades were put up to stop traffic.
Minor field flooding around residence after multiple storms moved across area.
Hangar at the Columbus Airport was damaged due to wind.
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, July 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: 248313, 248315, 248316, 248332, 248318.