A thunderstorm that moved slowly southeast across the Las Vegas area produced around two inches of rainfall over already saturated grounds. The Rito Vegoso creek five miles east of Las Vegas flooded a large section of state road 104 with mud and hail.
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The episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.
A thunderstorm that moved slowly southeast across the Las Vegas area produced around two inches of rainfall over already saturated grounds. The Rito Vegoso creek five miles east of Las Vegas flooded a large section of state road 104 with mud and hail. A photo from an observer in the area noted the high water and a motorist heading advice not to drive through flood waters.
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 12, 4:19 PM MST, 41 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 519 PM MDT Sat Aug 12 2017 .AVIATION... 00Z TAF CYCLE West to northwest flow alf with weak sfc low/trof over the ern plains. Sct showers and tstms will continue to develop aft 00Z and move to the se. Brief mt obscurations in MVFR cigs/vsbys, gusty winds and small hail are possible with this activity. Lcl MVFR to IFR cigs/vsbys in br to develop along the east slopes of the central mt chain and over the ern plains aft 06Z and perist thru 13/15Z. && .PREV DISCUSSION...330 PM MDT Sat Aug 12 2017... .SYNOPSIS... Scattered to isolated showers and thunderstorms will return each afternoon and evening through Monday with Sunday featuring an uptick in thunderstorm coverage compared to today. Some storms across the northeast may turn severe Sunday afternoon and evening. Much drier air will spread over the state from the west Tuesday through Thursday causing storms to become more isolated. A back door cold front should produce an uptick in thunderstorm coverage across the east Friday afternoon. && .DISCUSSION... In the wake of yesterday's disturbance, much drier air aloft moved over central and western parts of the forecast area. This has limited convection a fair amount today, but low levels are moist enough that showers and storms should be able to increase in coverage to scattered across southern and eastern areas by this evening. A disturbance crossing CO and northern NM will cause scattered showers and storms to cover more of the forecast area on Sunday afternoon and evening. Storms will probably become numerous by late in the day across SW and NE areas, especially as a back door cold front arrives in the NE. The front doesn't look to have a lot of moisture with it, and drier air will begin to filter in from the west again on Monday, so it should be a little less convectively active than Sunday. Tuesday through Thursday, an upper level trough deepening on the west coast funnels much drier air over NM. After temperatures near and below normal Sunday and Monday, highs should climb closer to normal by Wednesday and Thursday. A back door cold front will sag into the northeast Wednesday night and Thursday with a chance of showers and storms there. Another back door cool front will dive further into the plains Thursday night, increasing low level moisture enough to spread a chance for showers and thunderstorms across much of the plains on Friday. 44 && .FIRE WEATHER... A moist low level airmass today will work against a deep mid and upper level dry airmass in place over Arizona and western New Mexico. Recycling of low level moisture will still allow for showers and storms to develop around the higher terrain and move east to southeast thru eastern NM overnight. Excellent humidity recoveries are likely again tonight in most areas along with some patchy fog and low ceilings across the eastern plains. A weak upper level disturbance drifting north from Mexico will set the stage for a much more active day Sunday with deeper moisture and forcing in place across NM. Locally heavy rainfall is expected along and east of the Cont Divide, with possible flash flooding near steep terrain and areas of eastern NM that are saturated. More widespread excellent recoveries on tap for Sunday night, then a drying trend develops from west to east Monday. A dry, upper level trough will approach the Four Corners region on Monday then become stationary over the central Rockies through at least Wednesday. A deep-layer dry intrusion within the base of this trough will aid mixing of significantly drier air to the surface along and west of the central mt chain. Min humidity values will fall into the teens Tuesday through Thursday afternoons, with at least good recoveries expected each night. Any storms will likely focus over the southeastern half of NM during this period. Vent rates will improve to excellent all areas, with even some breezy conditions possible by late afternoon over western NM. High temps will trend warmer with readings closer to normal for mid August. Extended model guidance is hinting that a return to more typical August weather is possible by Friday as an upper high redevelops over TX. Meanwhile, a large easterly wave with abundant moisture is shown to surge north into New Mexico and/or Arizona from northern Mexico. This will increase the chances once again for showers and storms with locally heavy rainfall, trend temps below normal, and deteriorate ventilation all areas. 43 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 250 AM MDT Sat Aug 12 2017 NMZ501>540-131100- 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 Cristos above 9500 feet/Red River- Southern Sangre de Cristos above 9500 feet- East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Upper Rio Grande Valley- Lower Chama River Valley-Santa Fe Metro Area- Middle Rio Grande Valley/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- 250 AM MDT Sat Aug 12 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Significant moisture will produce a large coverage of storms over NM today. This pattern will enhance the possibility for locally heavy rainfall and the risk for flash flooding, especially for areas that have already seen heavy rainfall within the last 24 hours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Significant moisture will produce a large coverage of storms over NM Sunday and Monday. This pattern will enhance the possibility for locally heavy rainfall and the risk for flash flooding. There is a marginal risk for severe weather over the eastern plains Sunday afternoon and evening. Storms will be capable of producing large hail, strong downburst winds, frequent lightning, and locally heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. 24
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 161 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:03 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
State road 104 flooded by mud and hail over a large section of the roadway.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, August 2017
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: 707950.