Southeasterly flow around a high pressure ridge over the central plains allowed for a return of deeper moisture into the area. Afternoon heating led to an unstable atmosphere and several slow moving thunderstorms developed late in the afternoon.
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.
Southeasterly flow around a high pressure ridge over the central plains allowed for a return of deeper moisture into the area. Afternoon heating led to an unstable atmosphere and several slow moving thunderstorms developed late in the afternoon. These slow moving storms resulted in localized minor flooding across the region.
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 23, 1:07 PM MST, 2 hours 58 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 207 PM MDT MON JUL 23 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE REGION FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THIS WILL ALLOW ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING EACH DAY. THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL THAT MIGHT GENERATE MINOR LOCALIZED FLOODING ALONG DRAINAGES AND ARROYOS. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN NEAR SEASONAL AVERAGES THROUGH THE WEEKEND. && .DISCUSSION... SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED OVER THE HIGHER MOUNTAIN RANGES EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT. WHILE MOST OF THE STORMS HAVE NOT BEEN TOO STRONG...THESE STORMS HAVE LITTLE MOVEMENT WITH PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE. MINOR LOCALIZED FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG LOW LYING AREAS AND DRAINAGES. OVERALL RAIN AMOUNTS WILL CONTINUE TO SPOTTY WITH MOUNTAIN AREAS HAVING A BETTER CHANCE OF MEASURABLE RAIN. FOR TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN GENERALLY MOIST AND UNSTABLE. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES WILL VARY BETWEEN 1.1 AND 1.4 INCHES WHICH RUNS ABOVE NORMAL. THE SEMI- PERMANENT HIGH OVER THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY WILL BE WEAKENED BY A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE PASSING WELL NORTH OF THE AREA. WEAK UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES IN THE FORM OF EASTERLY WAVES WILL CONTINUE TO LINGER IN THE LOCAL AREA...PROVIDING WEAK FORCING TO ENHANCE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE FROM SOME OF THE STORMS. RAIN AMOUNTS WILL BE HIGHER IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH MORE SPOTTY ACCUMULATIONS IN THE LOWLANDS. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MAY PEAK ON FRIDAY AS AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVES DIRECTLY OVER THE AREA...PROVIDING ADDITIONAL LIFT AND FORCING TO ENHANCE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. LONGER RANGE MODEL RUNS PROJECT A DOWNWARD TREND IN THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY NEXT WEEKEND AS THE HIGH STRENGTHENS OVER TEXAS AND THE MOISTURE PLUME IS SHIFTED WESTWARD TOWARD ARIZONA. THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT LEAST SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INTO NEXT WEEK AS RESULT OF RESIDUAL MOISTURE AND DAY TIME HEATING. TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD WILL REMAIN NEAR NORMAL WITH LOWLAND HIGHS IN THE MIDDLE 90S. && .AVIATION....VALID 24/00Z-25/00Z. P6SM SCT070-090 SCT-BKN100-140 BKN-OVC200-250 ISOLD TO WDLY SCT TS WITH LCL MVFR IFR BKN040-050OVC +TSRAGS VSBY 3-6MI G35KT THRU 06Z AND AGAIN AFT 17Z WHEN GREATER LOWLAND COVERAGE IS EXPECTED. GENERAL STORM MOVEMENT TO THE NNW AROUND 10 MPH. && .FIRE WEATHER... UPPER HIGH CURRENTLY CENTERED OVER KANSAS WILL BE SHIFTING SOUTHEASTWARD OVER THE COMING DAYS WHICH WILL ALLOW THE DEEPER MOISTURE PLUME CURRENTLY OVER ARIZONA AND FAR WESTERN NM TO SHIFT EASTWARD. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY THROUGH THIS EVENING WILL MAINLY BE FOCUSED ON THE HIGHER TERRAIN...BUT AS THE WEEK PROGRESSES...THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE BIGGEST THREAT AS STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING WITH PLENTY OF MOISTURE TO WORK WITH. TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR NORMAL THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEK WITH MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES MAINLY IN THE 20-30 PERCENT RANGE FOR THE LOWLANDS EARLY ON AND INCREASING INTO THE 25-35 PERCENT RANGE BY LATE IN THE WEEK. EXCELLENT RECOVERIES EXPECTED...ESPECIALLY FROM WED INTO THE WEEKEND. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... EL PASO 73 96 74 96 76 / 10 20 20 30 30 SIERRA BLANCA 68 93 68 95 70 / 20 20 20 30 20 LAS CRUCES 69 93 69 93 71 / 10 20 20 40 30 ALAMOGORDO 70 95 69 95 71 / 10 30 20 30 20 CLOUDCROFT 51 73 51 72 54 / 10 40 30 50 40 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES 69 94 69 93 72 / 10 30 30 40 30 SILVER CITY 64 85 61 86 66 / 20 40 30 50 50 DEMING 69 93 69 94 69 / 20 30 30 40 30 LORDSBURG 69 94 68 95 67 / 20 40 20 40 40 WEST EL PASO METRO 77 95 75 96 78 / 10 20 20 30 30 DELL CITY 67 95 67 97 67 / 10 20 20 30 20 FORT HANCOCK 72 95 71 96 74 / 10 20 20 30 30 LOMA LINDA 67 90 66 91 66 / 20 30 20 40 30 FABENS 73 98 73 98 74 / 10 20 20 30 30 SANTA TERESA 74 95 73 94 74 / 10 20 20 30 30 WHITE SANDS HQ 72 93 70 94 72 / 10 30 20 30 30 JORNADA RANGE 67 94 67 95 68 / 10 20 20 40 30 HATCH 67 93 68 94 69 / 10 20 30 40 30 COLUMBUS 70 93 70 93 68 / 20 30 20 40 30 OROGRANDE 75 97 72 97 75 / 10 20 20 30 20 MAYHILL 57 82 56 80 58 / 10 40 30 50 30 MESCALERO 55 83 55 83 56 / 10 40 30 50 40 TIMBERON 56 80 56 78 57 / 10 40 30 50 40 WINSTON 59 81 58 81 60 / 20 40 30 50 40 HILLSBORO 64 88 63 87 65 / 20 30 30 50 40 SPACEPORT 69 94 69 95 71 / 10 20 30 40 30 LAKE ROBERTS 59 86 59 87 59 / 20 40 30 50 50 HURLEY 63 88 63 90 65 / 20 40 30 50 40 CLIFF 62 92 62 94 61 / 20 40 30 40 40 MULE CREEK 59 88 58 88 58 / 20 40 40 50 50 FAYWOOD 63 87 62 90 65 / 20 40 30 50 40 ANIMAS 67 91 66 90 64 / 20 40 20 40 40 HACHITA 66 92 66 91 67 / 20 40 20 40 30 ANTELOPE WELLS 67 91 66 90 65 / 20 40 20 40 30 CLOVERDALE 64 85 62 84 63 / 20 50 30 50 40 && .EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...NONE. TX...NONE. && 04/26 LUNDEEN/GRZYWACZ
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 1123 AM MDT MON JUL 23 2012 NMZ401>417-TXZ418>424-241730- 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- 1123 AM MDT MON JUL 23 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NM AND TX. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ABUNDANT AVAILABLE MOISTURE WILL ALLOW FOR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL WITH MINOR LOCALIZED FLOODING ALONG DRAINAGES AND ARROYOS POSSIBLE. STRONG WIND GUSTS OF 45 MPH AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE FROM THUNDERSTORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY MOIST ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS...DAY TIME HEATING AND MOUNTAIN TERRAIN AFFECTS WILL RESULT IN ISOLATED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH SUNDAY. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL...STRONG WIND GUSTS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. MINOR LOCALIZED FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG DRAINAGES AND ARROYOS AND ACROSS LOW WATER CROSSINGS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT ANY OBSERVED HAZARDOUS WEATHER TO THIS OFFICE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. GNL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX 1219 PM MDT MON JUL 23 2012 NMZ402-403-231900- SOUTHERN GILA FOOTHILLS/MIMBRES VALLEY NM-SOUTHERN GILA HIGHLANDS/BLACK RANGE NM- 1219 PM MDT MON JUL 23 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THREATENING WESTERN SIERRA AND NORTHEASTERN GRANT COUNTIES THROUGH 100 PM MDT... AT 1215 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS HIGHWAY 152 NEAR SAN LORENZO AND IRON CREEK CAMPGROUND. VERY HEAVY RAINS WITH MINOR FLOODING ALONG WITH WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINS WERE ALONG THE BLACK MOUNTAIN RANGE NEAR BLACK CANYON AND ROCKY CANYON CAMPGROUNDS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... CAMP THUNDERBIRD... MIMBRES... IRON CREEK CAMPGROUND... ROCKY CANYON CAMPGROUND... BLACK CANYON CAMPGROUNDS... 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. ROGASH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX 211 PM MDT MON JUL 23 2012 NMZ401>404-407-232115- UPPER GILA RIVER VALLEY NM-SOUTHERN GILA HIGHLANDS/BLACK RANGE NM- SOUTHWEST DESERT/LOWER GILA RIVER VALLEY NM- SOUTHWEST DESERT/MIMBRES BASIN NM- SOUTHERN GILA FOOTHILLS/MIMBRES VALLEY NM- 211 PM MDT MON JUL 23 2012 SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INCREASING ACROSS GRANT COUNTY NEW MEXICO... AT 2 PM MDT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE INCREASING ACROSS GRANT COUNTY NEW MEXICO. STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHWEST AT AROUND 15 MPH AND MAY AFFECT THE CITIES AND TOWNS OF SILVER CITY...PINOS ALTOS...BAYARD...HURLEY...MANGAS SPRINGS...HANOVER...GILA HOT SPRINGS AND REDROCK THIS AFTERNOON. THE STORMS ARE PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WHICH MAY CAUSE MINOR FLOODING...ESPECIALLY ALONG ARROYOS AND STREAMS AND ACROSS LOW LYING AREAS. WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL MAY ALSO OCCUR WITH A FEW OF THE STORMS. PERSONS TRAVELING MUST REMEMBER TO NEVER DRIVE OR WALK ACROSS WATER COVERED ROADS BUT INSTEAD TURN AROUND AND SEEK ALTERNATE ROUTES OF TRAVEL. ROGASH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX 231 PM MDT MON JUL 23 2012 NMZ402-408-409-232115- EASTERN BLACK RANGE FOOTHILLS NM-SIERRA COUNTY LAKES NM-SOUTHERN GILA HIGHLANDS/BLACK RANGE NM- 231 PM MDT MON JUL 23 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THREATENING SIERRA AND EASTERN GRANT COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM MDT... AT 220 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF SIERRA AND GRANT COUNTIES MOVING TO THE NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE MOVING INTO THE VICINITY OF TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES...LOS PALOMAS...ELEPHANT BUTTE...CABALLO...ALAMOSA CANYON AND NORTH MONTICELLO POINT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WILL OCCUR WHICH MAY CAUSE MINOR FLOODING INCLUDING ACROSS INTERSTATE 25. IN ADDITION THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. 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. ROGASH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX 451 PM MDT MON JUL 23 2012 NMZ411-TXZ418-419-232330- EASTERN/CENTRAL EL PASO COUNTY TX-SOUTHERN DONA ANA COUNTY/MESILLA VALLEY NM-WESTERN EL PASO COUNTY TX- 451 PM MDT MON JUL 23 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THREATENING SOUTHERN DONA ANA AND NORTHWESTERN EL PASO COUNTIES THROUGH 530 PM MDT... AT 438 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN PORTIONS OF EL PASO TEXAS AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THE STORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALLS WITH POSSIBLE STREET FLOODING ALONG WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. WINDS MAY ALSO GUST TO 40 MPH OVER A FEW AREAS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... NORTHEAST EL PASO... WEST EL PASO... SUNLAND PARK... CENTRAL EL PASO... SANTA TERESA... LA UNION... WESTWAY... VINTON... FORT BLISS... CANUTILLO... FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS STATE PARK... TORRENTIAL RAIN MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. ROGASH
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A local weather spotter reported minor flooding along Mesa Hills drive near Sunland Park Mall. Water reached the height of the curb in some spots. A public report of .55 inches of rain in less than one hours time was reported at the same time near Putnam School in the same area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, July 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: 397672.