An upper level trough moved through the region during the day and interacted with low level monsoon moisture to generate showers and thunderstorms. Additional strong thunderstorms developed across Luna county along an outflow boundary and managed to become severe.
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 EPZ wrote it up.
An upper level trough moved through the region during the day and interacted with low level monsoon moisture to generate showers and thunderstorms. Additional strong thunderstorms developed across Luna county along an outflow boundary and managed to become severe.
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 Aug 26, 1:57 PM MST, 3 hours 43 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 257 PM MDT SUN AUG 26 2012 .SYNOPSIS... UPPER HIGH OVER NORTHERN NEW MEXICO WILL PERSIST THROUGH AT LEAST THE MID PORTION OF THE NEW WEEK AHEAD. THIS WILL LIMIT BUT NOT ELIMINATE THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. EXPECT ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TO CONTINUE TONIGHT AND AGAIN ON MONDAY. AFTER MONDAY THE ATMOSPHERE DRIES OUT SOME AND STABILIZES. FOR THE PERIOD TUESDAY INTO NEXT WEEKEND THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE MOUNTAINS. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN NEAR NORMAL. && .DISCUSSION... LOOKS LIKE A FAIRLY ACTIVE AFTERNOON IN PROGRESS AS CONVECTION OVER THE LOWLANDS HAS STARTED SEVERAL HOURS EARLIER THAN TYPICAL FASHION. WV IMAGERY SHOWS SMALL UPPER TROUGH...PROBABLY ATTACHED TO THE MAIN TROUGH EXTENDING UP THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TO THE GREAT LAKES...JUST PASSING THROUGH WEST TEXAS AND INTO EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. 18Z EPZ SOUNDING STILL SHOWED CAP JUST ABOVE 500 MB BUT 24 HOUR DELTA T SHOWED COOLING...WITH THE HELP OF THE TROUGH...LIKELY ELIMINATING THE CAP. THIS MAY END ALL CONVECTION IN THE EASTERN CWA BY LATE AFTERNOON...BUT WILL LEAVE LOW POPS IN FOR THE EVENING. BEST CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING MAY BE WEST OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. FOR MONDAY AND MOST OF THE WEEK AHEAD...WEATHER PATTERN REMAINS QUITE STATIC WITH UPPER HIGH ANCHORED OVER NORTHERN NEW MEXICO/SOUTHERN COLORADO THROUGH AT LEAST MID WEEK. GFS SHOWING INCREASING DRYING OUT AND STABILIZATION FOR THE AT LEAST THE FIRST HALF OF THE WEEK. WENT WITH JUST LOW POPS OVER THE MOUNTAINS AFTER MONDAY. BY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY THE HIGH WILL BE MODIFIED SOMEWHAT BY AN INCOMING PACIFIC TROUGH TO THE WEST AND THE REMAINS OF ISAAC TO THE EAST BUT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE BOTTOM LINE OF DRY WILL CHANGE. && .AVIATION....VALID 27/00Z-28/00Z. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED OVER MOST OF THE AREA. HOWEVER...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS FAR WEST TEXAS AND IN THE GILA WILL PRODUCE OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES THAT WILL TRIGGER ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INTO EARLY TONIGHT. LITTLE OR NO ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED IN SIERRA COUNTY AND THE NORTH HALF OF OTERO COUNTY...INCLUDING THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS. IN GENERAL...EXPECT FEW070-100 SCT200-250 WITH VSBY P6SM. MVFR TO IFR CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY NEAR ANY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS. && .FIRE WEATHER... A BROAD AND WEAK UPPER LEVEL TROUGH JUST SOUTH OF THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER WILL MOVE SLOWLY SOUTH TONIGHT AND MONDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT BUILDS OVER COLORADO AND NORTHERN MEXICO. THE PROXIMITY OF THE TROUGH...COMBINED WITH AFTERNOON HEATING AND AVAILABLE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE...WILL ALLOW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP OVER MUCH OF THE AREA INTO EARLY TONIGHT. HOWEVER...VERY LITTLE OR NO ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED IN THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS OR ACROSS SIERRA COUNTY. THAT HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT BUILDING OVER COLORADO AND NORTHERN NEW MEXICO WILL TURN UPPER LEVEL WINDS MORE TO THE NORTHEAST MONDAY AND TUESDAY...BRINGING IN MUCH DRIER AIR WITH VERY LITTLE CHANCE OF SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK AHEAD. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN THE MID 20S TO LOW 30S ACROSS THE LOWLANDS MONDAY AFTERNOON...GRADUALLY DROPPING INTO THE MID TEENS TO LOW 20S BY WEDNESDAY. HAINES INDICES WILL REMAIN VERY LOW (2 OR 3) THROUGH MONDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... EL PASO 73 93 72 92 72 / 20 10 10 10 10 SIERRA BLANCA 67 86 66 85 66 / 20 10 10 10 10 LAS CRUCES 68 93 67 90 67 / 20 10 10 10 10 ALAMOGORDO 68 92 67 91 67 / 20 10 10 10 10 CLOUDCROFT 49 73 50 72 49 / 20 20 10 20 10 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES 70 92 69 91 69 / 20 10 10 10 10 SILVER CITY 64 86 62 85 63 / 20 20 10 20 10 DEMING 69 92 68 91 68 / 20 10 10 10 10 LORDSBURG 68 93 67 91 67 / 20 10 10 20 10 WEST EL PASO METRO 76 91 75 90 75 / 20 10 10 10 10 DELL CITY 67 93 66 92 66 / 20 10 10 10 10 FORT HANCOCK 70 94 69 93 69 / 20 10 10 10 10 LOMA LINDA 68 85 67 84 65 / 20 10 10 10 10 FABENS 73 93 72 92 72 / 20 10 10 10 10 SANTA TERESA 72 91 71 90 71 / 20 10 10 10 10 WHITE SANDS HQ 70 93 69 92 69 / 20 10 10 10 10 JORNADA RANGE 65 92 64 91 64 / 20 10 10 10 10 HATCH 66 91 65 90 65 / 20 10 10 10 10 COLUMBUS 70 92 69 91 69 / 20 10 10 10 10 OROGRANDE 73 93 72 92 72 / 20 10 10 10 10 MAYHILL 58 80 55 79 52 / 20 20 10 20 10 MESCALERO 56 83 56 82 55 / 20 20 10 20 10 TIMBERON 58 79 58 78 57 / 20 20 10 20 10 WINSTON 60 86 59 86 59 / 20 20 10 20 10 HILLSBORO 66 88 65 87 63 / 20 10 10 10 10 SPACEPORT 68 92 67 91 67 / 20 10 10 10 10 LAKE ROBERTS 61 87 59 87 60 / 20 20 20 20 10 HURLEY 65 86 62 85 62 / 20 10 10 10 10 CLIFF 57 94 57 93 56 / 20 20 20 20 10 MULE CREEK 54 88 54 87 55 / 20 20 20 20 10 FAYWOOD 64 87 63 86 61 / 20 10 10 10 10 ANIMAS 64 94 63 93 63 / 20 10 10 10 10 HACHITA 65 94 64 93 64 / 20 10 10 10 10 ANTELOPE WELLS 65 91 64 90 64 / 20 10 10 10 10 CLOVERDALE 63 85 62 84 60 / 20 10 10 10 10 && .EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...NONE. TX...NONE. && HEFNER/PARK
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 1105 AM MDT SUN AUG 26 2012 NMZ401>417-TXZ418>424-271745- UPPER GILA RIVER VALLEY-SOUTHERN GILA HIGHLANDS/BLACK RANGE- SOUTHERN GILA FOOTHILLS/MIMBRES VALLEY- SOUTHWEST DESERT/LOWER GILA RIVER VALLEY-LOWLANDS OF THE BOOTHEEL- UPLANDS OF THE BOOTHEEL-SOUTHWEST DESERT/MIMBRES BASIN- EASTERN BLACK RANGE FOOTHILLS-SIERRA COUNTY LAKES- NORTHERN DONA ANA COUNTY-SOUTHERN DONA ANA COUNTY/MESILLA VALLEY- CENTRAL TULAROSA BASIN-SOUTHERN TULAROSA BASIN- WEST SLOPES SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS BELOW 7500 FEET- SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 7500 FEET- EAST SLOPES SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS BELOW 7500 FEET-OTERO MESA- WESTERN EL PASO COUNTY-EASTERN/CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY- NORTHERN HUDSPETH HIGHLANDS/HUECO MOUNTAINS-SALT BASIN- SOUTHERN HUDSPETH HIGHLANDS- RIO GRANDE VALLEY OF EASTERN EL PASO/WESTERN HUDSPETH COUNTIES- RIO GRANDE VALLEY OF EASTERN HUDSPETH COUNTY- 1105 AM MDT SUN AUG 26 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NM AND TX. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. ISOLATED MOUNTAIN THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ALL AREAS THIS EVENING. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL AND GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. A MOSTLY DRY AND SEASONABLE TEMPERATURE PERIOD. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF MOUNTAIN THUNDERSTORMS EACH AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... HEFNER
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX
221 PM MDT SUN AUG 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 PM HAIL 4 SSE KELP 31.74N 106.37W
08/26/2012 E0.70 INCH EL PASO TX TRAINED SPOTTER
TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED DIME SIZE HAIL HAD ENDED BUT
HEAVY RAIN WAS STILL IN PROGRESS.
&&
EVENT NUMBER EPZ1200247
FAUSETTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX 513 PM MDT SUN AUG 26 2012 NMZ407-270000- SOUTHWEST DESERT/MIMBRES BASIN NM- 513 PM MDT SUN AUG 26 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THREATENING CENTRAL LUNA COUNTY THROUGH 600 PM MDT... AT 509 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DEMING...MOVING WEST AT 10 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. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... DEMING... SUNSHINE... ROCK HOUND STATE PARK... 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. JMG
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX
603 PM MDT SUN AUG 26 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0540 PM TSTM WND GST 2 W ROCK HOUND STATE PA 32.18N 107.65W
08/26/2012 E60 MPH LUNA NM TRAINED SPOTTER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH WITH BRIEF
HEAVY RAINS.
&&
EVENT NUMBER EPZ1200248
JARThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A local storm spotter measured a 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust and reported brief heavy rainfall from a severe thunderstorm. Earlier Luna County Dispatch reported a tree down in nearby Deming as a result of a lightning strike.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, August 2012
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: 410534.