A slow moving complex of thunderstorms that developed along the east slopes of the Jemez Mountains produced heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and a funnel cloud over the Los Alamos area.
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The episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.
A slow moving complex of thunderstorms that developed along the east slopes of the Jemez Mountains produced heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and a funnel cloud over the Los Alamos area.
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 5, 1:44 PM MST, 3 hours 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 244 PM MDT MON AUG 5 2013 .DISCUSSION... LESS ACTIVE TODAY THAN AT THIS TIME YESTERDAY. SHOWERS AND STORMS WITH LOCALLY HVY RAIN ARE STILL DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN HIGH TERRAIN AND EASTERN HIGH PLAINS. STORM MOTIONS ARE FASTER AND MORE TO THE NORTHEAST. LAPS PARAMETERS STILL INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR A FEW STRONG STORMS ARE FLASH FLOODING IS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR ANY AREA. RUC GUIDANCE AGAIN SHOWS ACTIVITY MERGING INTO THE RGV THIS VALLEY HOWEVER CONFIDENCE NOT AS HIGH SINCE OTHER GUIDANCE MEMBERS KEEP ALL ACTIVITY FARTHER SOUTH AND THERE IS A LESS THAN IMPRESSIVE CU FIELD OVER THE AREA ATTM. THE INTERESTINGLY THERE IS A WELL DEFINED WAVE THAT HAS DEVELOPED IN THE MONSOONAL PLUME HEADING NORTH INTO THE NM BOOTHEEL. FOR THIS REASON HAVE KEPT A LARGER THAN TYPICAL AREA OF CHANCE POPS FOR THE OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT VERY WELL DEFINED WAVE IS POISED OVER THE BAJA REGION AND THIS WILL MOVE NORTH THROUGH THE MONSOON PLUME TUESDAY. TOTAL BLENDED PWAT VALUES PER CIRA IMAGERY WITH THIS WAVE ARE IN THE 2.25-2.50 RANGE. 12Z GFS INDICATES THE MAX THETA-E WAVE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL SLIDE OVER CENTRAL AND WESTERN NM NOW... WHICH IS A LITTLE FARTHER EAST THAN PREVIOUS RUNS. STORM MOTIONS WILL BE FASTER TO THE NE BUT FLASH FLOODING IS STILL A CONCERN. THIS UPPER WAVE WILL GET CAUGHT UP IN INCREASING WESTERLY FLOW OVER THE CENTRAL ROCKIES THEN NW FLOW OVER THE GREAT PLAINS. A BACK DOOR FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL BE FORCED SOUTHWARD INTO THE NE PLAINS BEHIND THESE UPPER DYNAMICS. VERY MOIST UPSLOPE FLOW WILL IMPACT THE SANGRES EASTWARD ACROSS THE PLAINS AND GIVEN LATEST ROUNDS OF HEAVY RAINFALL IN THIS AREA...THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT WILL BE QUITE HIGH. WEDNESDAY NIGHT EXPECTING TO SEE A LARGE RAIN SHIELD SHIFTING SOUTHEAST OVER THE EAST...FOLLOWED BY A DRIER DAY FOR THURSDAY. TEMPS WILL BE BELOW NORMAL THROUGH THE WHOLE PERIOD. THE FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY PERIOD LOOKS INTERESTING WITH ANOTHER MONSOON BURST POSSIBLE DURING THIS TIME OVER CENTRAL AND WESTERN NM. MODEL CONSISTENCY ON TIMING AND PLACEMENT IS NOT THE BEST SO WILL KEEP VALUES JUST AT CLIMO OR BELOW FOR NOW. GUYER && .FIRE WEATHER... UPPER HIGH WILL REMAIN CENTERED OVER PORTIONS OF TEXAS AND THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THROUGH TUESDAY. THE MONSOONAL MOISTURE PLUME WILL REMAIN CENTERED OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO DURING THIS PERIOD. WETTING THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE EMBEDDED WITHIN THIS PLUME WITH HIGHER HUMIDITY. MODELS SHOWS A GRADUAL CHANGE IN THE MONSOON FLOW WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AS A WEAK TROUGH SWINGS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL ROCKIES. WEDNESDAY COULD BE QUITE DYNAMIC AS FAR AS AN EXPECTED DRIER TREND ACROSS THE WEST AND WETTING THUNDERSTORMS CENTRAL AND EASTERN AREAS. MODELS SHOW AN UPTICK IN THE UPPER FLOW SO THIS SHOULD TRANSLATE INTO A LITTLE STRONGER SURFACE WIND VERSUS WHAT WE HAVE HAD THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS. MIGHT BE A LITTLE LOW IN THE GRIDDED WIND FORECAST SO WILL WATCH THE TREND IN THE MODELS. A BACK DOOR COLD FRONT TIED TO A VIGOROUS LOW PRESSURE AREA SHOULD ADD TO THE THUNDERSTORM FOCUS ACROSS THE NORTHEAST. IT APPEARS THAT HUMIDITY VALUES LOWER THE MOST ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST HALF. THURSDAY LOOKS TO BE DRIER BOTH HUMIDITY AND WETTING THUNDERSTORM WISE. WINDS ALSO LOOK TO BE LIGHTER ON THURSDAY VERSUS WEDNESDAY. BOTH THE ECMWF AND GFS WEATHER MODELS SHOW THE UPPER HIGH REDEVELOPING OVER CENTRAL TEXAS ON FRIDAY. MONSOONAL MOISTURE WOULD TRY TO FLOW BACK OVER THE AREA. AS OF RIGHT NOW...RESIDUAL OR LEFTOVER MOISTURE SHOULD FOCUS WETTING THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND PORTIONS OF THE NORTHEAST PLAINS. THE PLUME OF MOISTURE SHOULD REINVIGORATE OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO DURING THE WEEKEND. HUMIDITY VALUES WOULD TREND UP. A MONSOON BURST CONCENTRATING SIGNIFICANT MOISTURE AND STORMS WOULD BE POSSIBLE DURING THIS PERIOD. WEATHER MODELS TRY TO ELONGATE THE UPPER HIGH OVER PORTIONS OF NEW MEXICO EARLY NEXT WEEK. RESIDUAL MOISTURE WOULD BE AROUND AND CAUGHT WITHIN THIS UPPER HIGH ALTHOUGH STORMS WOULD BE MORE IN THE RECYCLE MODE VERSUS A TRUE MONSOON BURST MODE. THUS THE WETTING RAIN COVERAGE WOULD GRADUALLY DECLINE. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS TREND. 50 && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE BASED ON STEERING FLOW CONSIDERATIONS AND THE LATEST MODEL FORECASTS DECIDED TO GO BULLISH FOR WESTERN TERMINAL SITES LIKE GUP. DO NOT HAVE MVFR CIGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORMS ALTHOUGH COULD SEE SOME MTN TOP OBSCD FOR A PERIOD. MAIN CONVECTIVE ACTION SHOULD BE OUT WEST TODAY. STORMS SHOULD ALSO FIRE UP ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CENTRAL MTNS BUT THE ATMOSPHERE MAY BE A BIT WORKED OVER FROM YESTERDAY/S CONVECTION. EITHER WAY...GOING WITH SOME VCSH AT ABQ/SAF AND LVS LATER IN THE DAY. TCC AND ROW SHOULD BE UNDER VFR CONDITIONS THE NEXT 24 HOURS. 50 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FARMINGTON...................... 65 88 64 87 / 20 20 20 20 DULCE........................... 54 83 54 79 / 30 40 40 40 CUBA............................ 55 83 54 81 / 50 50 40 40 GALLUP.......................... 58 82 58 83 / 30 30 30 20 EL MORRO........................ 53 76 51 78 / 40 50 40 30 GRANTS.......................... 57 80 57 82 / 40 40 40 20 QUEMADO......................... 56 79 53 81 / 40 50 50 20 GLENWOOD........................ 60 84 59 86 / 30 30 30 20 CHAMA........................... 51 75 51 70 / 50 50 40 60 LOS ALAMOS...................... 60 82 58 79 / 50 40 30 50 PECOS........................... 59 79 57 75 / 40 40 40 40 CERRO/QUESTA.................... 54 79 55 75 / 40 40 40 50 RED RIVER....................... 48 71 48 67 / 50 60 60 60 ANGEL FIRE...................... 46 75 47 70 / 50 60 50 60 TAOS............................ 54 84 54 78 / 40 40 40 50 MORA............................ 54 78 55 73 / 40 50 40 60 ESPANOLA........................ 62 86 61 83 / 40 30 30 40 SANTA FE........................ 60 81 58 78 / 40 30 30 40 SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 62 86 60 84 / 40 30 30 40 ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 68 84 65 86 / 40 30 30 20 ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 69 86 67 88 / 30 30 30 20 ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 65 89 66 89 / 30 30 30 20 ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 67 89 65 90 / 40 30 30 20 LOS LUNAS....................... 66 88 65 88 / 30 30 30 20 RIO RANCHO...................... 66 89 65 90 / 40 30 30 20 SOCORRO......................... 67 92 66 92 / 30 30 30 10 SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 61 82 59 83 / 40 30 30 30 TIJERAS......................... 62 84 59 84 / 40 30 30 30 MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 59 84 59 84 / 40 30 30 30 CLINES CORNERS.................. 60 81 59 80 / 30 30 40 30 GRAN QUIVIRA.................... 62 84 59 82 / 40 30 40 20 CARRIZOZO....................... 65 88 64 86 / 30 30 30 10 RUIDOSO......................... 58 80 57 78 / 30 50 40 20 CAPULIN......................... 57 83 57 75 / 50 50 50 60 RATON........................... 59 88 59 79 / 50 50 40 60 SPRINGER........................ 59 88 60 81 / 40 40 30 60 LAS VEGAS....................... 58 83 58 78 / 30 50 40 50 CLAYTON......................... 67 93 66 84 / 40 20 40 60 ROY............................. 63 89 63 82 / 40 30 30 50 CONCHAS......................... 70 95 69 90 / 30 20 20 30 SANTA ROSA...................... 69 93 68 90 / 20 20 20 20 TUCUMCARI....................... 72 99 71 94 / 20 10 20 30 CLOVIS.......................... 69 97 69 93 / 10 10 10 10 PORTALES........................ 69 98 70 94 / 5 10 10 10 FORT SUMNER..................... 71 95 70 92 / 10 20 20 20 ROSWELL......................... 72 98 72 97 / 5 10 10 10 PICACHO......................... 65 89 64 89 / 10 20 20 10 ELK............................. 62 82 61 83 / 30 40 30 30 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 535 AM MDT MON AUG 5 2013 NMZ501>540-061200- 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- 535 AM MDT MON AUG 5 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES RESULTING IN LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREAMS...CREEKS...ARROYOS AND LOW WATER CROSSINGS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY SOME THUNDERSTORMS ON TUESDAY MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS BETWEEN 1 AND 2 INCHES RESULTING IN LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREAMS...CREEKS...ARROYOS AND LOW WATER CROSSINGS. ON WEDNESDAY...A BACKDOOR FRONT WILL DROP INTO THE NORTHEAST PLAINS AND BACK UP TO THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS AND ACT AS A TRIGGER FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. EXPECT THESE STORMS TO PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER ALREADY SATURATED GROUNDS...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING ACROSS NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO GOING INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IN ADDITION...HAIL AND STRONG WIND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS LATE WEDNESDAY ACROSS THE NORTHEAST. WEATHER CAN CHANGE VERY RAPIDLY. ALWAYS USE THE LATEST FORECASTS... WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED WEDNESDAY ACROSS NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO. 11
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 535 PM MDT MON AUG 5 2013 NMZ519-060000- MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY/ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA- 535 PM MDT MON AUG 5 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN BERNALILLO AND SOUTHERN SANDOVAL COUNTIES THROUGH 600 PM MDT... AT 535 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR PARADISE HILLS...MOVING NORTH AT 5 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. HAIL MAY COVER THE GROUND...USE CAUTION IF DRIVING. AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...RIO RANCHO...BERNALILLO... CABEZON...RIO RANCHO INTEL AREA...CORRALES...VISTA HILLS...RIO RANCHO CITY CENTER...SANDIA PUEBLO...NORTHERN MEADOWS...ENCHANTED HILLS... CORONADO STATE MONUMENT AND MARIPOSA. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. && LAT...LON 3539 10675 3534 10648 3514 10663 3517 10672 TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 194DEG 5KT 3522 10666 34
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 91 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:52 UTC.
1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
A funnel cloud developed just to the southwest of White Rock. A photo taken by Karl Maness showed a well developed funnel as viewed from the LANL Emergency Operations Center.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, August 2013
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: 458553.