A series of slow-moving thunderstorms pushed southeast across the Thompson Ridge burn scar during the early to mid afternoon hours. Heavy rainfall overwhelmed several creeks in the area producing flash flooding along the western periphery of the burn scar.
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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 ABQ wrote it up.
A series of slow-moving thunderstorms pushed southeast across the Thompson Ridge burn scar during the early to mid afternoon hours. Heavy rainfall overwhelmed several creeks in the area producing flash flooding along the western periphery of the burn scar. Flash flooding was observed along Forest Service Road 105 where culverts were destroyed due to mud and debris. Elk Valley Estates was also impacted by a significant torrent of water, mud, and debris however no structures were lost.
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 Jul 21, 2:20 PM MST, 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 320 PM MDT SUN JUL 21 2013 .DISCUSSION... CONVECTION IS RATHER TERRAIN LOCKED SO FAR EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WITH 5 KTS OR LESS AT/NEAR 500MB. WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO GET STORM OUTFLOWS INTO THE LOWER ELEVATIONS LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EARLY EVENING. THE ONE EXCEPTION APPEARS TO BE OVER THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS SOUTH OF GLORIETA TO CLINES CORNERS THEN WEST TO THE EDGEWOOD...SANDIA PARK AND TIJERAS SOUTH TO ESCABOSA...CHILILI AND MANZANO. WITH THE WEAK FLOW ALOFT...UPDRAFTS WILL COLLAPSE QUICKLY SO NOT EXPECTING MORE THAN ISOLATED ACTIVITY TO SURVIVE MORE THAN A FEW HOURS AFTER SUNSET. VERY SUBTLE CHANGES ARE IN STORE FOR MONDAY. 12Z AND 18Z NAM12 INDICATING THAT THE STEERING FLOW WILL BE SLIGHTLY STRONGER MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF I-40. ANOTHER SUBTLE CHANGE IN THE FLOW OVER NW NM SHOULD BRING MORE STORMS SOUTH OFF THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS IN COLORADO TOWARD THE FARMINGTON...AZTEC AND BROOMFIELD AREAS. ANOTHER GROUNDHOG LIKE DAY IN STORE FOR TUESDAY WITH SIMILAR STORM COVERAGE AND INTENSITY. AN AREA OF DRIER AIR/LOW PWAT ROTATES AROUND THE UPPER HIGH TUESDAY...POSSIBLY LIMITING THE HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL FOR THE SACRAMENTO AND CAPITAN MOUNTAINS. NAM AND GFS BOTH SHOWING SOME SORT OF PERTURBATION/VORT LOBE/MCV ROTATING AROUND THE UPPER HIGH AS IT TRANSLATES SEWD AND SPLITS INTO TWO CENTROIDS TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF IT MATERIALIZES BUT A MORE ORGANIZED BAND OF CONVECTION COULD BE IN THE CARDS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT THAT WESTERN CENTROID OVER AZ WILL BECOME THE DOMINANT FEATURE AND THE UPPER LEVEL HIGH CENTER GRADUALLY MORPHS OVER AZ THURSDAY NIGHT. AS IT DOES SO...A RATHER UNSEASONABLY STRONG SHORT-WAVE TROUGH OVERTOPS THE HIGH CENTER AND DROPS SEWD INTO NE NM. ASSOCIATED STRONG BACKDOOR DROPS INTO ERN NM...MAKING FOR QUITE AN ACTIVE THURSDAY. ECMWF ELONGATES EWD FRIDAY...POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A DOWNTREND OF CONVECTION. GFS MORE AMPLIFIED WITH THE HIGH CENTER...KEEPING BACK DOOR SURGES IN THE MIX...RESULTING IN A MORE STATUS QUO SOLUTION. KEPT FORECAST CLOSER TO GFS SOLUTION AS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE NOT GOING ANYWHERE LIKELY RESULTING IN AT LEAST SCT THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT OVER THE MTNS AND ISLD VALLEYS FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND. 33 && .FIRE WEATHER... ANOTHER ACTIVE THUNDERSTORM DAY WITH WETTING RAINS MAINLY OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN AS STORMS MOVE VERY SLOW AND HAVE A HARD TIME HOLDING TOGETHER. OVERNIGHT HUMIDITY RECOVERIES WILL BE GOOD TO EXCELLENT ONCE AGAIN...WITH ONLY A FEW LOWER ELEVATION LOCATIONS DIPPING INTO THE FAIR CATEGORY. THE TREND GOING INTO THE FIRST HALF OF THE WORK WEEK WILL BE A DRYING/WARMING ONE AS HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT SHIFTS FROM NEVADA TO OVER COLORADO AND NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. HUMIDITY RECOVERIES WILL BE FAIR TO GOOD MOST AREAS BY WEDNESDAY MORNING...ALTHOUGH SOME AREAS WILL STILL GET UP INTO THE EXCELLENT CATEGORY...MAINLY IN THE WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS. VENT RATES WILL BE IMPROVING AND SHOULD BE GOOD TO EXCELLENT MOST AREAS BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. LOOKING FOR AN UPTICK IN THUNDERSTORMS AND WETTING RAIN CHANCES FOR THE LATER HALF OF THE WORK WEEK AS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH ROUNDS THE TOP OF THE UPPER HIGH CIRCULATION AND TAKES A SOUTHEAST DIVE THROUGH COLORADO AND NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO. THE UPPER HIGH THEN FORECAST TO BUILD/SHIFT OVER AZ/NV/SOCAL. GOOD AGREEMENT AMONG THE 12Z MEDIUM RANGE MODEL SOLUTIONS SHOWING THIS UPPER HIGH EXPANDING AND BECOMING DOMINANT ACROSS THE DESERT SW AND SOUTHERN ROCKIES GOING INTO NEXT WEEKEND. SO...AFTER A SHORT-LIVED UPTICK IN WETTING RAIN CHANCES WE'LL LIKELY BE BACK TO A WARMING/DRYING TREND BY NEXT WEEKEND. 11 && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE VFR TERMINALS FORECAST OUTSIDE OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING. STORMS WILL BE MOVING VERY SLOWLY W OR SW. KABQ...KSAF AND KGUP TERMINALS HAVE THE HIGHEST PROBABILITIES OF GETTING HIT AMONG THE AREA TAF SITES. MVFR CONDITIONS FORECAST WITH TSRA...BUT SHORT-LIVED IFR CONDITIONS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE. WET RUNWAYS LIKELY WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND POTENTIAL FOR SMALL HAIL. THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT FORECAST AT/NEAR KROW/KTCC TODAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FARMINGTON...................... 67 93 66 94 / 30 30 20 30 DULCE........................... 56 88 53 90 / 40 40 20 40 CUBA............................ 55 88 56 89 / 50 40 30 40 GALLUP.......................... 56 85 58 86 / 30 50 30 30 EL MORRO........................ 50 80 53 81 / 50 60 40 50 GRANTS.......................... 58 84 58 86 / 40 40 30 40 QUEMADO......................... 56 81 57 82 / 40 60 40 50 GLENWOOD........................ 55 83 56 87 / 30 40 40 40 CHAMA........................... 53 80 52 82 / 40 50 30 50 LOS ALAMOS...................... 62 84 63 84 / 50 30 30 40 PECOS........................... 60 81 62 81 / 40 30 30 30 CERRO/QUESTA.................... 55 82 58 81 / 40 40 30 40 RED RIVER....................... 48 76 49 76 / 40 50 30 50 ANGEL FIRE...................... 43 79 45 78 / 30 40 30 40 TAOS............................ 55 87 56 88 / 30 30 20 30 MORA............................ 55 82 57 81 / 40 30 30 20 ESPANOLA........................ 61 90 61 91 / 30 20 20 30 SANTA FE........................ 63 84 63 85 / 40 30 30 30 SANTA FE AIRPORT................ 64 88 64 90 / 30 20 30 20 ALBUQUERQUE FOOTHILLS........... 67 89 69 91 / 40 20 30 30 ALBUQUERQUE HEIGHTS............. 70 91 71 93 / 30 10 30 20 ALBUQUERQUE VALLEY.............. 65 94 67 96 / 30 10 30 20 ALBUQUERQUE WEST MESA........... 68 93 69 95 / 30 10 30 20 LOS LUNAS....................... 67 93 68 94 / 30 10 30 20 RIO RANCHO...................... 67 95 68 94 / 30 10 30 30 SOCORRO......................... 67 98 68 100 / 30 10 30 20 SANDIA PARK/CEDAR CREST......... 59 87 59 88 / 40 30 30 30 TIJERAS......................... 60 88 62 89 / 40 20 30 30 MORIARTY/ESTANCIA............... 56 89 59 91 / 30 10 30 20 CLINES CORNERS.................. 60 85 63 86 / 40 20 30 20 GRAN QUIVIRA.................... 60 87 63 89 / 30 30 30 20 CARRIZOZO....................... 63 89 66 92 / 30 20 20 20 RUIDOSO......................... 56 81 59 83 / 30 40 30 20 CAPULIN......................... 58 87 60 87 / 20 30 10 20 RATON........................... 60 92 61 92 / 20 30 10 30 SPRINGER........................ 60 91 60 91 / 20 20 10 20 LAS VEGAS....................... 58 86 59 86 / 30 30 20 30 CLAYTON......................... 67 95 68 96 / 10 20 10 30 ROY............................. 64 89 65 90 / 10 10 20 30 CONCHAS......................... 68 95 70 97 / 10 5 10 20 SANTA ROSA...................... 67 95 68 96 / 10 10 10 10 TUCUMCARI....................... 71 98 72 100 / 5 5 5 5 CLOVIS.......................... 65 92 67 94 / 5 5 5 5 PORTALES........................ 65 91 67 94 / 5 5 5 5 FORT SUMNER..................... 67 93 70 96 / 5 5 5 5 ROSWELL......................... 68 94 71 97 / 5 5 5 5 PICACHO......................... 62 89 64 92 / 10 20 10 10 ELK............................. 59 82 62 85 / 20 30 30 20 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 10 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...NMZ501>529. && 33
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 600 AM MDT SUN JUL 21 2013 NMZ501>540-221200- ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA-CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-CHAVES COUNTY PLAINS- CHUSKA MOUNTAINS-CURRY COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY- EAST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS-EASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY- EASTERN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY-ESTANCIA VALLEY-FAR NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS- FAR NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-GUADALUPE COUNTY-HARDING COUNTY- JEMEZ MOUNTAINS-LOWER CHAMA RIVER VALLEY-LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY- NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET/RED RIVER- NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS-NORTHWEST PLATEAU-QUAY COUNTY- RATON RIDGE/JOHNSON MESA-ROOSEVELT COUNTY-SAN FRANCISCO RIVER VALLEY- SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS-SANTA FE METRO AREA- SOUTH CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTOS ABOVE 9500 FEET-SOUTHWEST CHAVES COUNTY- SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS-UNION COUNTY-UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY- UPPER TULAROSA VALLEY-WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS-WEST CENTRAL MOUNTAINS- WEST CENTRAL PLATEAU-WEST SLOPES SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS- 600 AM MDT SUN JUL 21 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN NEW MEXICO THROUGH THIS EVENING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL REDEVELOP TODAY FAVORING THE HIGH TERRAIN AND ADJACENT VALLEYS. LIGHT STEERING FLOW COMBINED WITH ABOVE NORMAL MOISTURE VALUES...MAY RESULT IN LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOODING. AREAS THAT HAVE RECEIVED RECENT HEAVY RAINS AS WELL AS AREAS WITHIN AND DOWNSTREAM OF BURN SCARS ARE OF GREATEST CONCERN. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THOUGH STORM COVERAGE WILL DECREASE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS AND FLASH FLOODING REMAINS A POSSIBILITY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS WESTERN NEW MEXICO...THANKS TO CONTINUED LIGHT STEERING FLOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT RAINFALL AMOUNTS AND ANY FLOODING THROUGH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/ABQ OR BY CALLING 1.888.386.7637. 34
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM 209 PM MDT SUN JUL 21 2013 NMZ521-212045- SANDIA/MANZANO MOUNTAINS- 209 PM MDT SUN JUL 21 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN BERNALILLO AND NORTHWESTERN TORRANCE COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM MDT... AT 206 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTH OF ESCABOSA...OR ABOUT 12 MILES WEST OF MORIARTY...MOVING WEST AT 5 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. HAIL MAY ACCUMULATE SEVERAL INCHES DEEP...CREATING TREACHEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AND POTENTIALLY BLOCKING CULVERTS AND OTHER DRAINAGES. AREAS AFFECTED BY THIS STORM INCLUDE...PONDEROSA PINES AND MIERA. HEAVY RAINS WILL CAUSE WATER TO POND ON ROADS AND IN LOW SPOTS. FAST RUNNING WATER WILL QUICKLY FILL ARROYOS AND DITCHES. && LAT...LON 3491 10633 3502 10637 3503 10624 3498 10622 TIME...MOT...LOC 2009Z 069DEG 2KT 3500 10626 SHOEMAKE
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 83 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:31 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Culvert on forest service 105 destroyed due to fast flowing water, mud, and debris. 60ft wide torrent of water, mud, and debris also impacted Elk Valley Estates however no structures were lost.
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, July 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: 455118.