A potent back door frontal boundary shifted west through the Rio Grande Valley and delivered much higher moisture levels west to the Continental Divide on June 3rd. |Meanwhile, an upper level wave moving northeast through the Four Corners region spread stronger winds aloft over the state and the necessary shear and lift for strong to severe thunderstorms.
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.
A potent back door frontal boundary shifted west through the Rio Grande Valley and delivered much higher moisture levels west to the Continental Divide on June 3rd. |Meanwhile, an upper level wave moving northeast through the Four Corners region spread stronger winds aloft over the state and the necessary shear and lift for strong to severe thunderstorms. Showers and thunderstorms developed quickly after sunrise along the Continental Divide then spread northeastward into the Rio Grande Valley through the afternoon. These storms produced hail and strong winds across the area with even a few funnel clouds and two tornadoes. Heavy rainfall accompanied this activity as it shifted east into eastern New Mexico through the late evening hours. Powerful straight line winds from two separate downbursts produced significant damage in rural south-central Chaves County. Three mobile homes were overturned and completely destroyed west of Hagerman. Several recreational vehicles were also overturned and damaged in the vicinity. A large barn west of Lake Arthur was also 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 Jun 2, 5:08 PM MST, 6 hours 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 608 PM MDT Sat Jun 2 2018 .AVIATION... 00Z TAF CYCLE VFR conditions are currently in place across most of northern and central New Mexico this evening, exceptions being in smoke laden areas near wildfires. Winds will surge into central valleys this evening with gusts of 30 to 45 kt being common overnight, slackening some into the day Sunday. Aviation Weather Warning will be issued for KABQ to account for gusts above 35 kt. Moisture will also creep into New Mexico, setting the stage for scattered to widespread shower and thunderstorm activity Sunday. Some storms will turn severe with large hail, damaging wind gusts, and heavy downpours temporarily reducing ceilings and visibility. 52 && .PREV DISCUSSION...309 PM MDT Sat Jun 2 2018... .SYNOPSIS... A backdoor cold front will move slowly westward tonight, before stalling near the Continental Divide after midnight. Behind the front, strong east to southeast winds will develop tonight west of the canyons along the central mountains. A wind advisory has been issued for the Albuquerque Metro areas this evening through early Sunday morning. Lighter east to southeast winds in northern New Mexico will transport smoke from the Ute Park wildfire farther west and north. An upper low in western Arizona this evening will move northeast tonight. Deeper layer moisture over northern Mexico will be drawn northward across New Mexico by the upper low tonight and Sunday. Showers and thunderstorms will develop over northern and central New Mexico Sunday and then move into the eastern New Mexico Sunday night. Stronger thunderstorms will be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain Sunday and Sunday night. High pressure will build across the region Monday through Wednesday with dry weather and a warming trend. && .DISCUSSION... A backdoor cold front west of the central mountains early this afternoon will continue to move slowly westward this afternoon, before stalling out near the Continental Divide tonight. As an upper low moves northeastward across central AZ tonight, surface high pressure from the central Rockies will build southeastward into northeastern NM. This pattern will increase the pressure gradient across central NM, and east to southeast winds pushing through the gaps in the central mountains will increase to 20 to 35 mph this evening through early Sunday morning. A wind advisory has been issued for the Albuquerque Metro area during this time period for east to east southeast winds 30 to 35 mph and gusts to around 40 mph. Lighter east to southeast winds are expected across the rest of the region tonight. These winds will spread smoke from the Ute Park wildfire farther to the north and west tonight. An upper level low will move into northern AZ tonight and become an open wave Sunday afternoon, as it moves into western CO. This system will draw deep layer moisture northward across NM tonight and Sunday. 15Z SREF and 12Z NAM12 indicate that there will be strong instability Sunday afternoon and evening across the region with CAPE values ranging from 1000 to 2000 J/kg and lifted indices between minus 2 C and minus 5 C. These model runs are also projecting significant deep layer shear with 0-6 km bulk shear between 35 and 50 knots. GFS is forecasting a sharp rise in precipitable water to around 1.3 inches by Sunday afternoon at KABQ, while the NAM12 peaks out near 1.2 inches. Forecast NAM precipitable water for Sunday afternoon and evening would be approximately 150 to 200 percent of normal. Given these forecast elements, thunderstorms which form across western and central NM late Sunday morning through Sunday evening and then move eastward into the eastern plains late Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening will have the potential to become severe with large hail and damaging winds. The latest convective outlook from the Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a marginal chance of severe thunderstorms west of the central mountains on Sunday. With precipitable water projected to be well above the daily record of 0.88 inches for June 4th at 00Z, over a period of record from 1948 to 2014, there will be a risk for flash flooding Sunday afternoon and evening across the region. Relatively fast storm motion to the north and northeast at 30 to 35 knots Sunday afternoon and evening may reduce the threat of flash flooding, but it will have to be monitored closely. A strong upper level ridge will build across NM Monday, as the upper level trough exits quickly to the east over the southern Plains states. This will allow drier air to move across NM from the west. A few showers and thunderstorms will be possible across northeast NM Monday evening, before low and mid level moisture is scoured out later Monday night. The ridge over NM will amplify Tuesday and Wednesday, as it slowly moves eastward. Dry weather and a strong warming trend are expected Monday through Wednesday with highs 5 to 15 degrees above normal on Wednesday. 28 && .FIRE WEATHER... A more moist and cooler trend tonight through Sunday night, then warming and drying for much of the upcoming work week. However, the Continental Divide to the Arizona border will remain relatively dry and warmer than average with potential for some dry showers or storms late tonight and Sunday. Winds to be generally below critical fire weather thresholds Monday through Thursday as a ridge of high pressure dominates the region. Forecast models differ on the exact placement of the upper high center later next week, but there is potential for some moisture to circulate into New Mexico from the south. An upper low over Arizona this afternoon is forecast to track to the Four Corners by Sunday morning, then cross Colorado and northern New Mexico Sunday and Sunday night. The combination of high pressure over the eastern portion of the state and the upper low will draw low level moisture from the southeast while mid level moisture circulates into western and central New Mexico. East to southeast winds into the RGV have already begun this afternoon but will likely become stronger as soon as sunset this evening and persist overnight with gusts to 40 or 50 mph. There may be isolated to scattered dry showers and storms over the west later tonight and into Sunday as the mid level moisture increases, but wetting showers and storms become more likely from the Contdvd eastward Sunday and Sunday night. Storm motion will generally be to the north and northeast Sunday but trend more to the east and southeast into Sunday night, as well as potentially becoming boundary driven at times. Some storms on Sunday may contain hail and wind gusts to around 55 or 60 mph. Models still suggest portions of central/east central and southeast New Mexico may be the focus for the most widespread and wetting rainfall. Diminished vent rates are forecast along the Sangre de Cristo mountains Sunday as mixing heights fall. Unfortunately, the moisture won't be long lived. By Tuesday, widespread high Haines and an extended period of single digit humidities are forecast for the west and central. Poor overnight recoveries will spread from the west into the central by Tuesday night and persist through Thursday night. Widespread high Haines continues Wednesday and Thursday with temperatures 5 to 15 degrees above average. Chances for showers and storms sneak back into the forecast Thursday through Saturday given the possibility of moisture circulating around the upper high and into New Mexico. && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 7 AM MDT Sunday for the following zones... NMZ519. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 504 PM MDT Sat Jun 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- 504 PM MDT Sat Jun 2 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Tonight Areas of dense smoke from the Ute Park Fire will spread to the north and west tonight. Areas of dense smoke will be possible tonight into Sunday morning from the Raton Ridge and Northeast Highlands westward to the Taos Valley and along the western slopes of the Sangre de Cristos. Poor visibility due to smoke will impact portions of U.S. Highway 64 and State Routes 21, 38, 58 and 522. East canyon winds will develop tonight across the Albuquerque Metro area with sustained winds from 30 to 35 mph and gusts to near 40 mph expected through early Saturday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms Sunday afternoon and evening across most of the forecast area. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main threats, but an isolated tornado will also be possible. Some storms will also be capable of producing very heavy rain at rates over 1 inch per hour. Very heavy rain on very dry soil could lead to flash flooding, but the greatest risk of flash flooding will be in urban areas of central New Mexico and also on recent burn scars. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required Sunday afternoon and evening across much of northern and central New Mexico due to the risk of severe thunderstorms and flash flooding. 28
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:57 UTC.
11 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 4 funnel cloud, 2 tornado, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong gap winds in the Albuquerque foothills toppled a large pine tree onto the front of a vehicle. Damage appeared minimal but no information was available.
Nickel size hail at El Malpais National Monument.
A spotter observed a developing wall cloud then a subsequent funnel cloud south of McCartys.
Nickel size hail in Farmington.
Nickel size hail near San Juan College in Farmington.
Tribal emergency management and trained spotters reported a small tornado producing a dusty ground circulation over open range land within Acoma Pueblo.
Hail up to the size of golf balls five miles south of San Fidel.
A wall cloud and associated funnel cloud were observed south of Interstate 40 and west of NM-6 in open range land.
A funnel cloud with no ground circulation was spotted near Mesita. This same storm produced abundant amounts of hail along Interstate 40 at NM-6. The interstate was closed as a result of very slick travel conditions.
Hail up to the size of half dollars in Veguita.
Nickel size hail several miles south of Portales.
Hail up to the size of ping pong balls five miles south of Belen knocked out skylights at a residence.
Quarter size hail near Jarales.
Quarter size hail in Meadow Lake.
Quarter size hail near Tierra Grande.
Spotters observed a significant area of blowing dust with very low visibility and two gustnadoes associated with a severe thunderstorm near NM-47 and U.S. Highway 60.
Funnel cloud observed near Abo Pass.
Nickel size hail southwest of Mountainair.
A spotter observed a tornado south of Willard in open range land.
Three single-wide mobile homes were overturned and destroyed by straight line winds near Sagebrush Valley Road and U.S. Highway 285. All three trailers were supported on concrete blocks with no tie-downs and no skirting. There were no injuries as none of the units were occupied at the time. Several recreational vehicles were also overturned and damaged in the vicinity. A large tree at a residence near Hagerman was toppled and crushed a nearby carport causing damage to one vehicle. Damage amounts are a rough estimate.
A large barn with concrete floors, concrete footings, and large wood beam trusses was completely destroyed by straight line winds. A semi-trailer inside the barn was also overturned. There were no injuries as the structure was unoccupied. Damage amounts are a rough estimate.
Outflow from thunderstorms well to the southeast of Fort Sumner produced a 61 mph wind gust at the CSBF.
Outflow from thunderstorms well to the east of Roswell produced a 58 mph wind gust at the airport.
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 historyThe tornado archive for New Mexico, 2018Warnings in New Mexico, June 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: 750149, 748639, 748646, 748640, 748641, 748644, 748642, 748649, 748650, 748652, 748654, 748656, 748657, 748658, 748659, 748660, 748661, 748662, 748663, 748665, 749342, 748670, 748667.