Gulf of Mexico moisture was being drawn up aloft and low level moisture from Baja combined over southern New Mexico and helped to produce strong to severe thunderstorms around Holloman AFB.
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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 EPZ wrote it up.
Gulf of Mexico moisture was being drawn up aloft and low level moisture from Baja combined over southern New Mexico and helped to produce strong to severe thunderstorms around Holloman AFB.
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 22, 2:35 PM MST, 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM 335 PM MDT Wed Aug 22 2018 .SYNOPSIS... Upper high over eastern Texas will persist through the weekend, with moist southerly flow aloft continuing. This will lead to afternoon and evening thunderstorms across the area, with the best coverage north and west of Deming. With slow storm steering winds and relatively high moisture, some heavy rain and flood potential will continue through this weekend, especially over mountain areas. Temperatures will remain near normal through the period. && .DISCUSSION... Our rather moist monsoon pattern will continue through the weekend before moisture plume drifts eastward. For the shorter term, upper high over north central Texas will continue streaming sub-tropical moisture up across much of the area through the weekend. Deepest moisture in the plume is west of Deming, where PWs are around 1.1 to 1.3 inches. PWs to the east range from 0.9 to 1.0 inches. Upper high will only slowly drift east through Sunday, perhaps as far east as the lower Mississippi Valley. This will leave the current position of the moisture plume largely unchanged. Expect scattered thunderstorms over mountains and west of Deming, with isolated thunderstorms elsewhere. With relatively slow steering flow and seasonable levels of PW, some storms will produce heavy rainfall and local flash flooding. Monday and beyond...upper high moves to the Atlantic Seaboard by Tuesday, with mid-latitude westerlies encroaching on the area. This should move much of the moisture plume east of our area, limiting thunderstorm chances to mainly east of El Paso after Monday. && .AVIATION...Valid 23/00Z-24/00Z... P6SM SCT060-080 SCT100-150 SCT-BKN200-250 through much of the period with SE-SW WINDS 7-12 KTS. Through the forecast pd...more isolated to scattered thunderstorms favoring the the higher terrain, with isolated to scattered storms over the lower elevations, favoring areas west of an ELP-ALM line. VRB35G45KT VSBY 1-3SM BKN-OVC050 IN HEAVIER STORMS. && .FIRE WEATHER... The subtropical ridge will remain to our east through the weekend, with upper level moisture focused on SW New Mexico today and tomorrow. Expect scattered to widespread afternoon thunderstorms in the Sacramento Mountains and the Gila, with good wetting rains likely. Lowland storms will generally be more favored over western areas. Thunderstorm chances will become more evenly spread-out over the weekend. Afternoon Min RH values will range from 25 to 40 percent in the lowlands (highest in the west), and 40 to 50 percent in the higher elevations, with excellent overnight recovery. Very patchy valley fog in the early morning hours through the weekend is even possible in areas of heavier rainfall. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... El Paso 73 94 72 94 / 20 10 10 10 Sierra Blanca 67 95 67 93 / 0 0 10 10 Las Cruces 65 91 66 91 / 30 10 30 10 Alamogordo 66 93 66 92 / 20 20 20 20 Cloudcroft 50 70 52 72 / 20 40 20 50 Truth or Consequences 65 90 66 89 / 40 20 30 30 Silver City 58 83 60 85 / 50 40 40 40 Deming 65 91 65 91 / 40 20 30 20 Lordsburg 63 87 65 89 / 50 30 40 20 West El Paso Metro 71 93 72 93 / 20 10 10 10 Dell City 67 96 67 96 / 0 0 10 10 Fort Hancock 70 97 71 96 / 10 0 10 10 Loma Linda 67 93 68 92 / 10 0 10 10 Fabens 68 95 70 94 / 20 0 10 10 Santa Teresa 69 93 68 93 / 30 10 10 10 White Sands HQ 67 92 68 92 / 30 10 20 10 Jornada Range 66 92 65 93 / 30 10 30 20 Hatch 65 91 65 92 / 30 20 30 20 Columbus 66 92 68 92 / 30 20 30 20 Orogrande 70 93 70 92 / 20 10 10 10 Mayhill 56 82 57 82 / 20 30 20 50 Mescalero 56 81 57 82 / 20 40 20 50 Timberon 53 81 56 82 / 20 30 10 40 Winston 52 84 54 86 / 50 50 40 60 Hillsboro 59 89 62 88 / 40 30 40 50 Spaceport 64 90 63 90 / 30 20 30 20 Lake Roberts 49 81 51 85 / 50 50 40 60 Hurley 58 84 60 86 / 50 40 40 40 Cliff 59 84 58 88 / 50 40 40 40 Mule Creek 59 83 60 87 / 50 40 40 40 Faywood 60 87 63 88 / 40 30 40 40 Animas 65 87 65 89 / 50 40 40 20 Hachita 63 89 63 90 / 50 30 40 20 Antelope Wells 61 87 64 87 / 50 50 30 30 Cloverdale 60 85 62 86 / 50 40 30 30 && .EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...None. TX...None. && Hefner/Novlan
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM 110 PM MDT Wed Aug 22 2018 NMZ401>408-414>416-231915- 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- West Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet- Sacramento Mountains Above 7500 Feet- East Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet- 110 PM MDT Wed Aug 22 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central New Mexico and southwest New Mexico. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Scattered thunderstorms. Some heavy rainfall and local flash flooding possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Scattered thunderstorms continuing, mainly afternoons and evenings. Areas of heavy rain and localized flooding possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. NMZ409>413-417-TXZ418>424-231915- Sierra County Lakes-Northern Dona Ana County- Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley-Central Tularosa Basin- Southern Tularosa Basin-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- 110 PM MDT Wed Aug 22 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central New Mexico and southwest Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Isolated thunderstorms, mainly this evening. Moderate rain and localized flooding possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Isolated late afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Some heavy rain and localized flooding possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. Hefner
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service El Paso TX 154 PM MDT WED AUG 22 2018 NMZ402-222045- Southern Gila Highlands/Black Range NM- 154 PM MDT WED AUG 22 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN SIERRA COUNTY UNTIL 245 PM MDT... At 154 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles south of Poverty Creek, moving north at 10 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 45 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Poverty Creek. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3332 10771 3332 10791 3348 10795 3348 10767 TIME...MOT...LOC 1954Z 180DEG 8KT 3337 10782 TRIPOLI
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service El Paso TX 213 PM MDT WED AUG 22 2018 NMZ412-413-222100- Southern Tularosa Basin NM-Central Tularosa Basin NM- 213 PM MDT WED AUG 22 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL OTERO COUNTY UNTIL 300 PM MDT... At 212 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10 miles north of Orogrande, moving north northwest at 16 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Orogrande. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3241 10594 3237 10613 3265 10624 3271 10595 TIME...MOT...LOC 2012Z 170DEG 18KT 3253 10605 TRIPOLI
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service El Paso TX
220 PM MDT WED AUG 22 2018
NMZ411-413-TXZ418-419-222100-
Southern Tularosa Basin NM-
Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley NM-
Eastern/Central El Paso County TX-Western El Paso County TX-
220 PM MDT WED AUG 22 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN DONA ANA AND
NORTHWESTERN EL PASO COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM MDT...
At 219 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Sunland Park, or near West El Paso, moving north northwest at 15 mph.
Pea size hail and winds in excess of 45 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Anthony Gap, Westway, Santa Teresa, West El Paso, Anthony, Franklin
Mountains State Park, Vinton, Canutillo, La Union, Sunland Park,
Central El Paso and Northeast El Paso.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3177 10651 3178 10653 3178 10668 3199 10674
3203 10650 3177 10646 3176 10651
TIME...MOT...LOC 2019Z 170DEG 12KT 3182 10658
TRIPOLISpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service El Paso TX 334 PM MDT WED AUG 22 2018 NMZ412-222215- Central Tularosa Basin NM- 334 PM MDT WED AUG 22 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL OTERO COUNTY UNTIL 415 PM MDT... At 334 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Holloman Air Force Base, or 7 miles west of Alamogordo, moving north northwest at 15 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 45 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Holloman Air Force Base, Boles Acres, Alamogordo and White Sands National Monument. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3280 10596 3273 10614 3294 10630 3306 10602 TIME...MOT...LOC 2134Z 159DEG 12KT 3288 10609 TRIPOLI
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service El Paso TX 344 PM MDT WED AUG 22 2018 NMZ412-414-415-222230- Central Tularosa Basin NM- West Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet NM- Sacramento Mountains Above 7500 Feet NM- 344 PM MDT WED AUG 22 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL OTERO COUNTY UNTIL 430 PM MDT... At 344 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Alamogordo, moving north northwest at 10 mph. Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... La Luz, High Rolls, Burro Flats, Karr Canyon, Mountain Park, Alamogordo, Benson Ridge and Boles Acres. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3285 10577 3280 10596 3303 10601 3306 10583 TIME...MOT...LOC 2144Z 166DEG 10KT 3292 10592 TRIPOLI
The Holloman AFB radar (KHDX), 26 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:46 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
KHMN AWOS reported a peak gust of 66 mph with a wet microburst detected on radar. Considerable wind damage on base.
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: 779978.