The center of upper level high pressure drifted into New Mexico on August 2nd and led to very slow-moving thunderstorms with torrential rainfall. The area around the Sangre de Cristo Mountains was the hardest hit with flooding.
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 drifted into New Mexico on August 2nd and led to very slow-moving thunderstorms with torrential rainfall. The area around the Sangre de Cristo Mountains was the hardest hit with flooding. Folks around the Ute Park burn scar experienced the most significant flash flooding of the season as a torrent of water tore through parts of the community. Flash flooding was also reported around Mineral Hill as Tecolote Creek overflowed its banks. A severe thunderstorm in Bobcat Pass produced quarter size hail. Thunderstorms drifted south into the area around Chimayo where water rescues occurred along NM-76 and county road 93 was completely destroyed.
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 2, 10:58 AM MST, 2 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1158 AM MDT Thu Aug 2 2018 .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE Another round of scattered to isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening, except for a period of numerous coverage in the mountains. Most of the activity will move toward the south and southeast at 5 to 20 mph. Wet microbursts will be capable of erratic wind gusts to 45kt near storms. An upper level trough crossing the central Rockies should enable some of the activity to linger into the overnight hours. 44 && .PREV DISCUSSION...308 AM MDT Thu Aug 2 2018... .SYNOPSIS... Fairly typical Monsoon season weather is forecast today and Friday with some locally heavy rainfall, but much of northwest New Mexico will miss out on rain again. High pressure will strengthen over the state this weekend, leading to a downtrend in thunderstorm coverage and a warming trend with above normal temperatures forecast. High pressure will relocate from New Mexico to over the Great Basin and California next week, opening the door for more moisture to move into New Mexico leading to an uptick in thunderstorm coverage. && .DISCUSSION... The upper level high over Arizona will nudge into New Mexico today, but given sufficient moisture remaining over the state and daytime heating, another fairly active day is anticipated. Locally heavy rainfall is possible once again, with localized flash flooding over already saturated soils. This includes the south central mountains and recent burn scars, but forecast confidence in storm coverage too low to issue a flash flood watch. The upper high will drift south Friday, allowing a shortwave trough to move across Colorado and northern New Mexico. The added forcing provided by the shortwave trough should allow for an uptick in storms, with decent shear across northeast New Mexico possibly leading to a severe storm or two. A warming trend is forecast this weekend with a downtick in thunderstorm coverage as the upper high moves over the state and strengthens to near 597dam at 500mb by late Sunday. As a result, high temperatures will climb above normal areawide. No worries though for rain-lovers, as the upper high is modeled by both the 00z ECMWF and GFS to relocate over the Great Basin and California next week allowing for a resurgence in daily rounds of storms. A favorable north/northeast flow regime will set up by mid to late next week that should bring both the Santa Fe and Albuquerque Metro areas more rain. 11 && .FIRE WEATHER... A large upper level high over the Desert Southwest will shift slightly eastward today. This will result in light winds at the surface and aloft. Recycled moisture will generate scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms, mainly across western and central NM. Light steering flow this afternoon and evening will bring the threat of flash flooding, especially in the recent burn scar areas. Ventilation rates will be poor to fair today east of the central mountains and fair to good to the west. A weak upper level trough will cross southern CO and far northern NM Friday with coverage of showers and thunderstorms generally scattered across the entire area with pockets of numerous activity over the higher terrain. A few thunderstorms could become severe Friday afternoon and evening across northern and eastern NM with gusty winds and large hail. Ventilation rates Friday will be fair to good across most of the region with near excellent rates in the far eastern plains and portions of northwest NM. The upper high will build eastward over NM Saturday and Sunday, and thunderstorm activity will diminish and be most likely over the higher terrain. Relative humidity over the weekend will decrease, but minimum values will still be near to above 20 percent across the region. Winds Saturday and Sunday will be light across most of the area, but south winds 10 to 15 mph will develop across the eastern plains each afternoon. The upper high will shift back to the west Monday through Thursday, allowing moisture from the east to return to NM. Shower and thunderstorm activity will generally be scattered through this period with daytime temperatures trending slightly cooler, but still above normal for early August. 28 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 406 AM MDT Thu Aug 2 2018 NMZ501>540-031100- 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- 406 AM MDT Thu Aug 2 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected today through the overnight. Storm motions will be slow and rainfall could become heavy. This may lead to localized areas of flash flooding, especially over and near recent and older burn scars. Isolated locations may receive up to 2 inches of rainfall. A few storms may also produce small hail and wind gusts to 50 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected Friday. Storm motions will be slow and rainfall could become heavy. This may lead to localized areas of flash flooding, especially over and near recent and older burn scars. Isolated locations may receive up to 2 inches of rainfall. A few storms may also produce small hail and wind gusts to 50 mph. .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. 11
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
1000 AM MDT THU AUG 02 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0124 PM HAIL EL PORVENIR 35.69N 105.37W
08/01/2018 M1.00 INCH SAN MIGUEL NM FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0255 PM HAIL RAINSVILLE 35.98N 105.21W
08/01/2018 E1.25 INCH MORA NM TRAINED SPOTTER
0548 PM HAIL BELEN 34.66N 106.78W
08/01/2018 E1.00 INCH VALENCIA NM PUBLIC
0700 PM HAIL 1 SW WHEATLAND 34.90N 103.37W
08/01/2018 M1.00 INCH QUAY NM TRAINED SPOTTER
0700 PM TSTM WND GST 1 SW WHEATLAND 34.90N 103.37W
08/01/2018 M60 MPH QUAY NM TRAINED SPOTTER
0710 PM TSTM WND DMG WHEATLAND 34.91N 103.35W
08/01/2018 QUAY NM NMDOT
LARGE TREE BRANCHES DOWN
0714 PM HAIL 2 S WHEATLAND 34.88N 103.35W
08/01/2018 E1.00 INCH QUAY NM NMDOT
&&
EVENT NUMBER ABQ201800774 ABQ201800775 ABQ201800776 ABQ201800777
ABQ201800778 ABQ201800782 ABQ201800781
DAKThe Albuquerque radar (KABX), 138 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:58 UTC.
3 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The Tecolote River overflowed its banks onto NM-283 near Mineral Hill.
Hail up to the size of quarters at Bobcat Pass.
Widespread significant damage from flash flooding on the Ute Park burn scar. NMDOT closed U.S. Highway 64 due to flooding and debris over the roadway. A total of 28 homes were impacted, some were the same as the ones impacted on July 13th. Six homes were completely cut-off from access due to several feet of mud, rocks, and debris. Damage amounts are estimated.
A motorists attempting to cross a flooded roadway along the Santa Cruz River was swept away and rescued. Damage amounts are estimated for loss of the vehicle.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, August 2018
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: 762889, 762888, 762893, 762897.