The center of upper level high pressure shifted west into southwest New Mexico the first few days of August 2017. This allowed stronger northwest flow aloft to develop over eastern New Mexico with very moist and unstable southeast low level flow.
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 ABQ wrote it up.
The center of upper level high pressure shifted west into southwest New Mexico the first few days of August 2017. This allowed stronger northwest flow aloft to develop over eastern New Mexico with very moist and unstable southeast low level flow. A large area of showers and thunderstorms developed over the northern mountains by late morning then shifted southeast into the nearby highlands and plains. Strong outflow winds from a storm near Dulce produced significant damage to the roof of the Jicarilla Head Start. Another storm over Albuquerque downed a tree near Montano and Rio Grande. These storms organized into mesoscale convective complex as they pushed into eastern New Mexico during the evening hours. High winds first impacted the area around Melrose where gusts up to 60 mph were reported. The most severe portion of the storm complex surged through the area between Portales and Dora where significant damage was reported. Straight line winds estimated up to 85 mph tore roofs off buildings, downed tree limbs, damaged vehicles, turned over large irrigation pivots, and downed a one mile stretch of power poles. Heavy rainfall over saturated grounds produced flash flooding and forced the closure of several county roads south of Portales.
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 3, 2:30 PM MST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 330 PM MDT Thu Aug 3 2017 .SYNOPSIS... Northwest flow aloft will allow a backdoor front to move through eastern New Mexico this afternoon and west into the Rio Grande Valley this evening. The front will push west to the Arizona line by sunrise Friday. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will accompany the front as it moves through eastern New Mexico with isolated showers and storms west of the central mountain chain. The increased low level moisture is forecast to combine with a weak upper level wave to generate scattered to numerous showers and storms Friday afternoon and evening, particularly near and north of Interstate 40. Storm coverage will drop off some Saturday before ramping back up across the northeast Sunday evening and areawide Monday. && .DISCUSSION... Backdoor cold front currently near a Raton Airport to Mills Canyon to Tucumcari line. Meanwhile, a weak upper level short-wave trough in northwest flow aloft is moving sewd through northeast NM. These two features are resulting in scattered thunderstorms across north- central and northeast NM. A few of the storms across the north have become strong and are producing penny to nickel size hail. Expect scattered strong storms to continue across eastern NM through about midnight before diminishing. Backdoor front plows wwd through the canyons of the central mountain chain around sunset. Models not too excited about evening convection in the mid RGV as the front comes west through the canyons but do develop showers and storms along/near the continental divide several hours after sunset. Convection continues across east- central and southeast areas until the early morning hours. Weather prediction models agree that the increased low level moisture will interact with another weak upper level short-wave trough and speed max moving east/se through the northern half of the state on Friday to produce sct-num showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening. Several strong strong storms are likely once again given the 50kt nwly speed max moving over the northeast quarter of the state. Convection continues well into the late evening hours with the large-scale forcing overhead. Drier air aloft moves in from the west and northwest Saturday, limiting storm coverage somewhat Saturday afternoon and evening, especially south of I-40. Models are slower bringing down another backdoor boundary for Sunday. Activity will focus from the east slopes of the Sangres ewd Sunday afternoon and overnight. Monday looking like an active day once again as the above mentioned backdoor front moves in and another weak wave in wly flow aloft moves over. Four Corners high builds back north into southeast AZ Tuesday and Wednesday with another strong backdoor front poised to move into NM for the latter half of next week. Aleutian Low remains much stronger than average which will act to keep upper level troughs moving through the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, keeping the backdoor front train chuggin' right along. 33 && .FIRE WEATHER... More active this afternoon and tonight, as a disturbance and associated cold front slide into north central and northeast New Mexico. Although the disturbance exits, the cold front will continue to spark widespread showers and thunderstorms over the eastern plains tonight and is expected to push into the Rio Grande Valley later tonight on gusty east winds to around 40 mph. A few strong to severe storms with wind gusts to around 55 or 60 mph and hail are possible over the Northeast Highlands, Northeast and East Central Plains through this evening. Locally heavy rain is also possible although cell motion will be generally from northwest to southeast around 15 to 20 mph. The far west central and southwest will be least likely to see showers and storms through tonight. Overnight humidity recoveries improve tonight for all except the far west central and southwest. A weak ridge Friday, along with the replenished moisture due to Thursday night's front, will allow for showers and storms to resume over the higher terrain then drift from west to east into the valleys and plains. Another front is forecast Sunday, but timing appears to be slower so the main convective activity associated with the front may not develop until late Sunday afternoon and Sunday night. This boundary is reinforced Monday and pushes through the Rio Grande Valley and to the Contdvd Monday night. The GFS hints at yet another front Tuesday and Wednesday nights but is wishy-washy in that they appear relatively weak. Therefore there will be periods of more active weather due to frontal intrusions, then possibly periods that are somewhat less active, but still with showers and storms, just a little fewer. The far west/northwest though will have the lowest chances for wetting rain through the middle of next week. Some areas of fair to poor vent rates forecast through north central New Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley Friday. High temperatures will be near to below average through the middle of next week while lows will be near to somewhat above normal. && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE More active convective weather next 24 hrs. Cell motion mainly northwest to southeast. A front will push into north central and northeast NM by 00Z then through the east central plains, igniting nmrs showers and storms along it's path. A few of the storms could be strong to svr with wnd gusts to 50kt and hail. Gusty east wnd into the RGV aft 02Z. Aft 06Z lcl MVFR to IFR cigs/vbys along the east slopes central mt chain in br. West of the Contdvd, sct diurnal showers and storms. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 63 88 62 88 / 20 50 40 30 Dulce........................... 51 79 53 79 / 30 50 50 40 Cuba............................ 55 79 56 78 / 30 60 60 40 Gallup.......................... 58 85 58 83 / 20 60 60 50 El Morro........................ 55 79 54 79 / 30 70 70 40 Grants.......................... 57 84 56 84 / 20 60 70 60 Quemado......................... 57 82 57 81 / 20 50 60 30 Glenwood........................ 64 88 64 87 / 20 30 10 30 Chama........................... 50 75 50 74 / 30 50 60 60 Los Alamos...................... 57 78 59 79 / 50 60 70 60 Pecos........................... 55 78 56 78 / 60 40 50 40 Cerro/Questa.................... 52 75 53 75 / 70 50 50 40 Red River....................... 46 67 47 67 / 80 50 60 50 Angel Fire...................... 43 72 45 72 / 80 50 50 60 Taos............................ 51 80 52 80 / 60 40 50 30 Mora............................ 52 75 54 76 / 90 50 50 40 Espanola........................ 62 85 63 86 / 40 30 60 30 Santa Fe........................ 58 79 59 80 / 50 40 60 40 Santa Fe Airport................ 58 83 59 84 / 40 30 60 40 Albuquerque Foothills........... 65 86 64 88 / 30 20 60 30 Albuquerque Heights............. 66 88 65 89 / 20 20 50 30 Albuquerque Valley.............. 65 90 63 91 / 20 20 50 30 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 65 89 65 91 / 20 20 60 30 Los Lunas....................... 63 91 61 92 / 20 20 50 20 Rio Rancho...................... 65 89 65 89 / 30 20 60 20 Socorro......................... 65 92 65 92 / 30 20 40 20 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 55 81 58 81 / 50 40 60 30 Tijeras......................... 58 84 57 84 / 40 30 60 30 Moriarty/Estancia............... 56 84 57 85 / 40 50 50 30 Clines Corners.................. 54 81 56 83 / 60 60 60 30 Gran Quivira.................... 59 84 60 85 / 50 30 30 30 Carrizozo....................... 62 86 62 87 / 20 20 20 20 Ruidoso......................... 55 79 56 81 / 30 30 20 30 Capulin......................... 53 79 56 82 / 60 30 30 30 Raton........................... 51 83 53 86 / 60 30 30 30 Springer........................ 54 83 56 86 / 80 30 30 20 Las Vegas....................... 51 79 55 81 / 80 40 50 30 Clayton......................... 57 84 60 89 / 50 20 20 20 Roy............................. 56 81 60 86 / 80 30 30 20 Conchas......................... 63 88 66 93 / 70 30 40 20 Santa Rosa...................... 61 87 63 92 / 70 30 40 20 Tucumcari....................... 61 92 67 96 / 70 20 50 20 Clovis.......................... 63 87 65 91 / 70 20 30 20 Portales........................ 64 87 66 91 / 70 20 30 20 Fort Sumner..................... 63 87 66 91 / 70 30 40 20 Roswell......................... 67 93 68 97 / 20 10 20 20 Picacho......................... 62 84 63 88 / 30 30 20 20 Elk............................. 59 81 60 84 / 30 40 30 30 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && 33
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 431 AM MDT Thu Aug 3 2017 NMZ501>540-041100- 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- 431 AM MDT Thu Aug 3 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A cold front entering northeast New Mexico today will be the focus for thunderstorms this afternoon into tonight. Some of the storms will be strong, and a few may approach severe limits, close to one inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts. The most likely area will be from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains east to the Texas border and south from Santa Fe to Santa Rosa to Clovis. The most likely time for these storms will be between 2:00 PM and 2:00 AM MDT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Heavy rainfall is possible each day from Friday through next Wednesday, which may lead to localized areas of flash flooding. The main concern will be from the northern mountains across the northeast highlands and plains, south into the east central plains. Some locations could receive two to four inches of rain during this time period. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report severe weather, heavy rain and flash flooding through the National Weather Service Albuquerque web site at weather.gov/abq or by calling 1.888.386.7637. You can also submit storm reports and photos on our Facebook page or via Twitter using the hashtag nmwx. 40
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
246 PM MDT THU AUG 3 2017
NMZ529-533-032115-
Guadalupe County-Northeast Highlands-
246 PM MDT THU AUG 3 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN SAN MIGUEL AND
NORTHWESTERN GUADALUPE COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM MDT...
At 246 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Anton Chico, or 24 miles south of Las Vegas, moving southeast at 15
mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Heavy rain will also be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Dilia, Anton Chico and Tecolotito.
Accumulations of small hail on roads can create very slick and
hazardous driving conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3502 10525 3515 10529 3522 10529 3523 10530
3532 10513 3523 10505 3522 10505 3522 10503
3509 10491
TIME...MOT...LOC 2046Z 328DEG 14KT 3524 10522
ShoemakeSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 251 PM MDT THU AUG 3 2017 NMZ515-528-032115- Far Northeast Highlands-East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains- 251 PM MDT THU AUG 3 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN MORA AND SOUTHWESTERN COLFAX COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM MDT... At 251 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11 miles east of Ocate, or 16 miles northwest of Wagon Mound, moving southeast at 20 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Heavy rain will also be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Wagon Mound. This includes Interstate 25 between Mile Markers 385 and 400. Motorists can expect brief but sudden changes in visibility and ponding of water on highways as storms move through the area. Accumulations of small hail on roads can create very slick and hazardous driving conditions. && LAT...LON 3620 10497 3629 10478 3607 10455 3593 10484 TIME...MOT...LOC 2051Z 322DEG 16KT 3621 10485 Shoemake
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 324 PM MDT THU AUG 3 2017 NMZ533-032200- Guadalupe County- 324 PM MDT THU AUG 3 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN GUADALUPE COUNTY UNTIL 400 PM MDT... At 324 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Dilia, or 25 miles northwest of Santa Rosa, moving southeast at 15 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Pintada. This includes Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 249 and 263. Motorists can expect brief but sudden changes in visibility and ponding of water on highways as storms move through the area. Accumulations of small hail on roads can create very slick and hazardous driving conditions. && LAT...LON 3510 10518 3521 10501 3503 10474 3485 10508 TIME...MOT...LOC 2124Z 320DEG 15KT 3512 10508 Shoemake
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 327 PM MDT THU AUG 3 2017 NMZ529-532-032200- Eastern San Miguel County-Northeast Highlands- 327 PM MDT THU AUG 3 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL SAN MIGUEL COUNTY UNTIL 400 PM MDT... At 327 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Trujillo, or 24 miles east of Las Vegas, moving southeast at 15 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Heavy rain will also be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Trujillo and Trementina. Accumulations of small hail on roads can create very slick and hazardous driving conditions. Heavy rains will cause water to pond on roads and in low spots. Fast running water will quickly fill arroyos and ditches. && LAT...LON 3557 10493 3569 10476 3549 10444 3528 10475 TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 320DEG 15KT 3558 10479 Shoemake
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
427 PM MDT THU AUG 3 2017
NMZ507-519-521-032300-
Sandia/Manzano Mountains-West Central Highlands-Middle Rio Grande
Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area-
427 PM MDT THU AUG 3 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN CIBOLA...NORTHERN
VALENCIA...SOUTH CENTRAL SANDOVAL AND BERNALILLO COUNTIES UNTIL 500
PM MDT...
At 425 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking an outflow boundary, or
line of strong winds rapidly preceding thunderstorms in the middle
Rio Grande valley of New Mexico. This includes locations near Los
Ranchos De Albuquerque, Albuquerque, and the South Valley. The
outflow boundary was moving southwest at 35 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with areas of blowing
dust that could temporarily reduce visibility.
Locations impacted include...
Albuquerque, southwestern Rio Rancho, Valencia, Los Lunas, Corrales,
Los Ranchos De Albuquerque, Bosque Farms, Peralta, Cabezon and Isleta
Pueblo.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 131 and 170.
Interstate 25 between Mile Markers 204 and 234.
&&
LAT...LON 3516 10717 3531 10677 3515 10645 3479 10646
3482 10706
TIME...MOT...LOC 2225Z 038DEG 31KT 3514 10669
ShoemakeSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 445 PM MDT THU AUG 3 2017 NMZ532-533-032315- Eastern San Miguel County-Guadalupe County- 445 PM MDT THU AUG 3 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN SAN MIGUEL AND NORTHEASTERN GUADALUPE COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM MDT... At 445 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Variadero, or 28 miles northeast of Santa Rosa, moving southeast at 20 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Heavy rain will also be possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southeastern San Miguel and northeastern Guadalupe Counties. Accumulations of small hail on roads can create very slick and hazardous driving conditions. && LAT...LON 3529 10455 3540 10438 3520 10408 3503 10442 TIME...MOT...LOC 2245Z 317DEG 19KT 3530 10444 Shoemake
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 15 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:43 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Fallen tree reported on Montano Road westbound near Rio Grande.
Severe winds produced significant roof damage to the Jicarilla Head Start building in Dulce.
Melrose Range peak wind gust to 60 mph.
Heavy rain that fell on saturated grounds in the area between Portales, Elida, and Dora produced major flash flooding. Several county roads were under water, damaged, and closed. Emergency management estimated total damages across Roosevelt County from flooding topped 2.4 million dollars.
Hail up to the size of quarters accumulated one inch deep. Dense fog developed in the area after the storm passed.
Straight line wind gusts estimated up to 85 mph tore the roofs of several buildings three miles south of Portales. Hail and high winds also damaged vehicles in the area.
Severe winds downed a one mile stretch of power poles four miles south-southeast of Portales. Metal roofing material was blown several hundred feet away. A large pivot irrigation system was also blown over.
Dora fire chief reported a peak wind gust up to 65 mph with moderate rotation beneath storm base.
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: 705670, 705669, 705671, 706512, 705672, 705674, 705675, 705673.