A landspout tornado was captured by an observer from the Wild Rivers Recreation Area in Taos County. The landspout developed near Ute Mountain around 215 pm and was visible for about 15 minutes before dissipating.
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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 ABQ wrote it up.
A landspout tornado was captured by an observer from the Wild Rivers Recreation Area in Taos County. The landspout developed near Ute Mountain around 215 pm and was visible for about 15 minutes before dissipating. Scattered showers and thunderstorms across eastern New Mexico also resulted in an active afternoon of heavy rainfall, strong winds, and intense lightning. The Cannon AFB reported a peak wind gust up to 64 mph from thunderstorm outflow.
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 Sep 1, 10:44 AM MST, 2 hours 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1144 AM MDT Sat Sep 1 2018 .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE VFR conditions prevail, but areas of mountain obscurations are likely given a moisture-loaded atmosphere and left-over debris from earlier rains. VFR conditions are generally forecast to persist, but short- lived MVFR conditions are likely with showers and storms today. Clearing is not forecast overnight, but if clearing does occur then areas of IFR low stratus/fog are possible early Sunday morning. 11 && .PREV DISCUSSION...1129 AM MDT Sat Sep 1 2018... .UPDATE... Lowered temperatures some more in central NM and increased PoPs east central areas. && .PREV DISCUSSION...748 AM MDT Sat Sep 1 2018... .UPDATE... Updated 1st period forecast to increase PoPs and sky cover based on latest radar and satellite imagery, along with 12Z HRRR output. Also decreased high temperatures by 1-5 degrees with rain-cooling playing a bigger role. Otherwise, forecast on track. 11 && .PREV DISCUSSION...552 AM MDT Sat Sep 1 2018... .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE Showers and thunderstorms persist across much of northern and central NM this morning. Brief heavy rain is possible which may result in MVFR vsbys. Wind gusts near 30kts are possible as well. Storms should gradually weaken in intensity and coverage through mid morning before the next round of storms develops by late morning/early afternoon as a shortwave trough crosses the state. Widespread thunderstorms are expected and MVFR cigs/vsbys are possible. A few severe thunderstorms with hail and damaging wind gusts are possible during the aftn/eve across eastern NM as well. After 00Z Sun, much of the storm activity will be focused across eastern NM and will linger into the overnight hours. 34 && .PREV DISCUSSION...256 AM MDT Sat Sep 1 2018... .SYNOPSIS... Temperatures fall into the 70s and 80s today, with low 90s holding onto Roswell. Scattered to numerous storms can be expected over much of the state today, with a few becoming severe over portions of eastern New Mexico. Another round of high terrain thunderstorms in the afternoon moving to valley locations in the evening can be expected Sunday, with highs falling a few more degrees below normal. Highs remain below normal through most of next week, with a backdoor front having storms favor eastern New Mexico Wednesday. A reduction in storm coverage and uptrend in temperatures looks to arrive by Friday. && .DISCUSSION... High pressure continues to shift east as a trough builds into the southwest U.S.. A weak embedded disturbance along the SE periphery of the trough has kept storm activity going through the night into this morning across the northern third of the state. These storms will likely continue through the morning, albeit at a weaker intensity before the disturbance shifts over eastern NM where a marginal risk is up for severe weather across eastern NM where shear and instability will be higher this afternoon. The latest RAP and NAM12 indicate CAPE values between 1700-2800 J/kg with 20-35kts of 0-6km shear across the east, certainly enough to warrant the possibility of a few severe cells developing this afternoon and evening across the east. Highs today will fall 5-10F below Friday's highs. The larger trough will dig further over the desert SW Sunday, potentially closing off over southern AZ. This will keep tropical moisture flowing into NM allowing afternoon storms over the higher terrain before shifting over valley locations in the evening Sunday. Southern NM will see the widest storm coverage. The trough inches closer to western NM Monday with storms favoring the central mtn chain eastward, with isolated to scattered activity still western NM. Highs fall a few more degrees Sunday and will stay below normal through the forecast period. Midweek, another trough approaches the PacNW as the Bermuda High begins to build further west into TX. This will allow smaller features to dictate where storms develop such as a backdoor front swooping through eastern NM and the central mtn chain Wednesday having storms favor the central mtn chain eastward. By late week, an elongated ridge looks to build over the desert SW shutting down the flow of tropical moisture into NM, and thus reducing storm chances as a result. 24 && .FIRE WEATHER... Today will be very active across the Land of Enchantment. Showers and thunderstorms ongoing across much of northern NM this morning will linger through at least sunrise. Then, today's crop of showers and thunderstorms will quickly initiate by late morning or early afternoon as a shortwave trough crosses the state. Moisture values will continue to trend upward today, thus, heavy rainfall is possible and wetting rain footprints will be widespread today. Just about all of northern and central NM will have a chance at wetting rainfall today through this evening. A few severe storms are possible across eastern NM as well. Sunday will remain active, though not quite to today's standards. A secondary trough will close into a weak low over AZ which will allow moisture to continue to shift into NM. By Monday, the moisture plume will shift over eastern NM and will remain there through mid week. This will be the favored area for continued rounds of showers and thunderstorms next week. Heavy rainfall will remain possible. Meanwhile, drier air will slowly filter into western NM slowly decreasing thunderstorm coverage each day. Nonetheless, cloud cover and precipitation will keep temperatures cooler than average for much of the next week. A drying trend looks to be on tap toward next weekend. Pockets of poor ventilation will be possible through much of the week with lowering mixing heights. 34 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && 40
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 330 AM MDT Sat Sep 1 2018 NMZ501>540-021100- 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- 330 AM MDT Sat Sep 1 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening for east-central and northeast New Mexico where large hail, frequent lightning, and damaging winds are possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Tropical moisture will continue to flow into New Mexico Sunday and Labor Day producing scattered to numerous thunderstorms each afternoon and evening. Thunderstorms will be capable of producing strong downburst winds, frequent lightning, hail, and heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required through the holiday weekend across the warned area, but especially for east-central and northeast New Mexico where severe thunderstorms could develop later Saturday. Spotters are encouraged to report rainfall amounts and any impacts 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. 24
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 138 PM MDT SAT SEP 1 2018 NMZ536-538-012015- Roosevelt County-Chaves County Plains- 138 PM MDT SAT SEP 1 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN ROOSEVELT COUNTY UNTIL 215 PM MDT... At 131 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Portales to 7 miles west of Crossroads. Movement was southeast at 15 mph. Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Portales, Dora, Floyd, Causey, Milnesand, Lingo, Arch, Pep and Rogers. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Motorists can expect brief but sudden changes in visibility and ponding of water on highways as storms move through the area. && LAT...LON 3357 10354 3424 10348 3418 10304 3357 10306 TIME...MOT...LOC 1931Z 296DEG 14KT 3418 10342 3353 10348 33
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 138 PM MDT SAT SEP 1 2018 NMZ501-503-504-012015- Northwest Plateau-Far Northwest Highlands-Northwest Highlands- 138 PM MDT SAT SEP 1 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN MCKINLEY...WEST CENTRAL RIO ARRIBA...NORTHWESTERN SANDOVAL AND SOUTHEASTERN SAN JUAN COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM MDT... At 138 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 9 miles northwest of Cuba to 13 miles northeast of Marquez. Movement was east at 15 mph. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms. Heavy rain will also be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Ojo Encino, Blanco Trading Post, Nageezi, Counselor, Pueblo Pintado and El Huerfano Trading Post. Heavy rains will cause water to pond on roads and in low spots. Fast running water will quickly fill arroyos and ditches. && LAT...LON 3666 10742 3591 10727 3571 10788 3651 10789 TIME...MOT...LOC 1938Z 269DEG 14KT 3608 10711 3543 10711 33
The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 215 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:14 UTC.
1 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A Facebook user posted a video of a landspout tornado near Ute Mountain in Taos County.
Cannon AFB reported a peak wind gust up to 70 mph.
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, September 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: 771954, 771955.