Typical monsoon moisture over the region resulted in some weak showers and thunderstorms to develop. The initial lightning strike from a storm in Las Cruces resulted in 6 people being injured during football practice.
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.
Typical monsoon moisture over the region resulted in some weak showers and thunderstorms to develop. The initial lightning strike from a storm in Las Cruces resulted in 6 people being injured during football practice.
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 19, 2:15 PM MST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 315 PM MDT TUE AUG 19 2014 .SYNOPSIS... RAIN CHANCES WILL BE ON THE INCREASE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS MOISTURE FROM ARIZONA MOVES BACK INTO THE REGION. A FEW STORMS MAY PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN WHICH COULD LEAD TO SOME FLOODING. OUR RAIN CHANCES WILL GO DOWN A LITTLE FOR THE WEEKEND...BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE A CHANCE FOR RAIN INTO THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL RUN A COUPLE OF DEGREES BELOW NORMAL WEDNESDAY INTO THE COMING WEEKEND. && .DISCUSSION... HERE COMES THE MOISTURE. THE MOISTURE THAT RECENTLY DRIFTED TO THE WEST OVER ARIZONA IS NOW ON THE MOVE AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT IS HEADED BACK TO THE EAST. THE PLUME IS ALREADY HELPING FIRE OFF SCATTERED CONVECTION ALONG THE AZ/NM BORDER THIS AFTERNOON. THE MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD ACROSS THE REGION. WITH THE INCREASED MOISTURE WE WILL SEE AN INCREASED THREAT OF HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOODING SO I HAVE ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE SOUTHWEST PART OF NEW MEXICO. BOTH THE SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM MODELS ARE HAVING TROUBLE IN HOW TO HANDLE THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE TO OUR EAST. A FEW MODELS KEEP THE RIDGE WEAK AND THAT ALLOWS THE MOISTURE PLUME TO ZIP RIGHT ON BY US...SOME OTHER REALLY STRENGTHEN THE RIDGE AND THAT HELPS PUSH THE PLUME BACK INTO ARIZONA AND FINALLY A FEW MODELS HAVE THE GOLDILOCKS RIDGE (JUST RIGHT) AND THAT KEEPS THE PLUME CENTERED OVER NEW MEXICO. SINCE THERE IS NO REAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MODELS AND SINCE THERE IS NO REAL RUN TO RUN CONSISTENCY I WILL KEEP THINGS PRETTY BROAD BRUSHED FOR NOW. I DO THINK THAT SOMETIME BETWEEN NOW AND FRIDAY THERE WILL BE AT LEAST ONE DAY WHEN WE WILL HAVE AN ENHANCED THREAT OF FLOODING RAINS FOR THE ENTIRE AREA. ALL THE MODELS DO AGREE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE A CHANCE FOR RAIN THROUGH THE COMING WEEKEND. AGAIN SOME MODELS ARE HITTING THINGS HARDER THAN OTHERS. FOR NOW I WILL STICK WITH THE SLIGHTLY LOWER POPS FOR THE WEEKEND AND WAIT AND SEE WHAT LATER MODEL RUNS WILL BRING. FOR THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK WE WILL SEE A CONTINUATION OF OUR RAIN CHANCES. THE EXTENDED MODELS ARE SHOWING THAT THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL TRY AND SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST U.S. BUT WITH THE MOISTURE IN PLACE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE AT LEAST A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAIN. LOOKING AT TEMPERATURES. THINGS WILL BE CHALLENGING WITH TEMPERATURES. IF A LOT OF MOISTURE MOVES IN WE WILL SEE WELL BELOW NORMAL READINGS...BUT IF IT MISSES US WE WILL SEE NEAR NORMAL READINGS. FOR NOW I'VE GONE WITH TEMPERATURE FROM 2 TO 5 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL THROUGH WEEKEND. LIKE I SAID...COULD BE A LITTLE LOWER IF MORE RAIN MOVES INTO THE REGION. && .AVIATION...VALID 19/00Z - 20/00Z... THE MAIN PLUME OF MONSOON MOISTURE IS NOW OVER WESTERN NEW MEXICO AND EASTERN ARIZONA...BUT WILL SHIFT EASTWARD INTO NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. EXPECT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS INTO TONIGHT FOR AREAS WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WHILE AREAS EAST OF THE DIVIDE WILL HAVE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL INCREASE EASTWARD TOMORROW. FOR AREAS WEST OF THE DIVIDE TONIGHT...AND THE ENTIRE AREA TOMORROW: VSBY BLO 1SM TSRAGS SCT-BKN010-030 BKN-OVC050-080 WIND VRB35G50KTS. AREAS EAST OF THE DIVIDE WILL HAVE 1-3SM TSRAGS SCT-BKN030-060 BKN-OVC070-110 WIND VRB25G45KTS. && .FIRE WEATHER... A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT AND A TROUGH MOVING INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILL BRING SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS ALOFT OVER THE REGION. THIS WILL SHIFT THE MAIN PLUME OF MONSOON MOISTURE EAST INTO NEW MEXICO AND FAR WEST TEXAS FOR TOMORROW AND THURSDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NUMEROUS WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE THIS EVENING WITH AREAS OF HEAVY RAIN LIKELY. LOCATIONS EAST OF THE DIVIDE WILL HAVE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT...THEN INCREASED ACTIVITY TOMORROW INTO FRIDAY WITH THE CHANCE OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. MINIMUM RH 35 TO 40 PERCENT TOMORROW AND THURSDAY OVER LOWER ELEVATIONS AND 40 TO 50 PERCENT OVER AREA MOUNTAINS. HAINES INDICES VERY LOW (2 OR 3) WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... EL PASO 73 90 72 88 70 / 40 50 40 40 40 SIERRA BLANCA 68 86 67 83 65 / 30 40 50 40 40 LAS CRUCES 69 89 68 86 65 / 40 50 40 40 40 ALAMOGORDO 67 88 66 85 64 / 40 40 40 50 40 CLOUDCROFT 45 69 45 66 46 / 40 60 60 60 40 TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES 68 88 66 84 64 / 50 50 40 40 40 SILVER CITY 58 82 58 78 57 / 50 50 40 40 40 DEMING 68 88 67 87 64 / 50 50 40 40 40 LORDSBURG 67 88 67 86 63 / 50 50 40 40 40 WEST EL PASO METRO 74 90 71 88 68 / 40 50 40 40 40 DELL CITY 69 90 68 88 66 / 30 40 50 40 50 FORT HANCOCK 73 88 71 86 69 / 30 40 40 40 40 LOMA LINDA 67 85 66 82 65 / 40 50 50 40 40 FABENS 71 89 69 87 67 / 40 50 40 40 40 SANTA TERESA 70 90 69 86 66 / 40 50 40 40 40 WHITE SANDS HQ 69 90 68 86 66 / 40 50 40 40 40 JORNADA RANGE 67 89 68 86 65 / 40 50 40 40 40 HATCH 68 88 67 86 64 / 40 50 40 40 40 COLUMBUS 70 90 69 86 66 / 50 50 40 40 40 OROGRANDE 69 89 68 86 66 / 40 40 40 40 40 MAYHILL 52 74 53 71 52 / 40 50 60 60 40 MESCALERO 52 77 53 74 52 / 40 50 60 60 40 TIMBERON 53 78 54 75 53 / 40 50 60 60 40 WINSTON 49 79 52 75 51 / 50 60 50 40 40 HILLSBORO 63 84 62 80 60 / 50 50 40 40 40 SPACEPORT 68 88 67 84 64 / 50 50 40 40 40 LAKE ROBERTS 56 82 58 78 56 / 50 60 50 40 40 HURLEY 58 84 61 80 59 / 50 50 40 40 40 CLIFF 56 86 54 82 56 / 50 50 30 40 40 MULE CREEK 52 85 53 80 53 / 50 50 40 40 40 FAYWOOD 62 84 61 80 59 / 50 50 40 40 40 ANIMAS 67 89 67 84 63 / 50 50 40 40 40 HACHITA 67 91 66 86 63 / 50 50 40 40 40 ANTELOPE WELLS 65 87 65 82 61 / 50 50 30 40 40 CLOVERDALE 64 85 64 79 61 / 50 50 40 40 40 && .EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR NMZ401>409. TX...NONE. && BRICE/PARK
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX/SANTA TERESA NM 1127 AM MDT TUE AUG 19 2014 NMZ401>409-201730- 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- 1127 AM MDT TUE AUG 19 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NM. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ABUNDANT MOISTURE THAT HAS BEEN IN ARIZONA WILL PUSH BACK TO THE EAST TODAY AND GIVE SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO THE THREAT OF HEAVY RAIN AND EXCESSIVE RUNOFF THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THESE STORMS TODAY WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN IN AN HOUR. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THE THREAT FOR HEAVY RAIN LOOKS LIKE IT WILL CONTINUE ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. WE WILL BE A LITTLE DRIER FOR THE WEEKEND...BUT THERE WILL STILL BE A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FORECAST INTO THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE WEATHER OFFICE VIA OUR 800 NUMBER OR VIA TWITTER @NWSELPASO NMZ410>417-TXZ418>424-201730- 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- 1127 AM MDT TUE AUG 19 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NM AND TX. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN OF ONE INCH IN AN HOUR. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY OUR RAIN CHANCES WILL INCREASE ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AND WE WILL SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE AREA. WE WILL SEE LOWER RAIN CHANCES FOR THE WEEKEND INTO THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK AS SOME OF THE MOISTURE MOVES OUT OF THE AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE WEATHER OFFICE VIA OUR 800 NUMBER OR VIA TWITTER @NWSELPASO
The El Paso radar (KEPZ), 50 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:59 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Six people, including several middle school football players were injured from the initial lightning strike from a nearby thunderstorm. No fatalities occurred with this lightning strike, but one student who was closest to the strike suffered significant injuries and was in the hospital for over a week.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, August 2014
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: 542617.