Northwest flow aloft across New Mexico combined with abundant low level moisture across the eastern plains to produce scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms on the 9th. The first thunderstorms developed over the northern mountains then moved southeast while strengthening across the northeast plains.
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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.
Northwest flow aloft across New Mexico combined with abundant low level moisture across the eastern plains to produce scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms on the 9th. The first thunderstorms developed over the northern mountains then moved southeast while strengthening across the northeast plains. The strongest storms moved across Colfax and Union counties where hail and high winds were reported. A short-lived tornado touched down several miles south of Capulin. Penny size hail was reported in Guadalupe County along with strong winds and heavy rainfall.
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 9, 10:31 AM MST, 2 hours 44 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1131 AM MDT Sun Sep 9 2018 .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE Mid level clouds sliding over northern NM are signaling the approach of an upper level wave that will force SHRA/TSRA over the northern mts aft 20Z. A few of these storms will become strong to perhaps severe as they move southeast across the northeast plains. Model guidance is in good agreement KTCC will be in line for a heavier TSRA. A convective outflow will probably move into the Rio Grande Valley as well late today which may spark a couple SHRA/TSRA from KSAF to KABQ. A thunderstorm complex will congeal across the east central plains late this evening and last through much of the night. Generally VFR conditions except brief MVFR and IFR cigs and vsbys in the stronger thunderstorms. && .PREV DISCUSSION...255 AM MDT Sun Sep 9 2018... .SYNOPSIS... Low clouds and areas of fog over the far east near the Texas border and possibly the Moreno Valley will burn off soon after sunrise today. Strong to severe storms are possible over northeast New Mexico where plenty of Gulf moisture and instability are present. Storm activity will push down the eastern plains, possibly as far as Clovis and Portales after midnight tonight. Temperatures warm a few more degrees Monday and Tuesday with storm activity trending down, favoring the Sacramento Mountains Monday. Dry conditions and above normal temperatures with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s will remain through the end of the work week. && .DISCUSSION... Plenty of low level moisture across the east and clear skies have allowed for low clouds and areas of patchy fog to develop near the TX border. Fog is also likely within the Moreno Valley this morning. Sunny skies and plenty of warming is expected today with highs 5F warmer across the east today. Today's main story will be an upper level disturbance traversing NM with northwest flow aloft over the northern mtns. Southerly flow will allow for a good shear profile across eastern NM, and will combine with 1500 to 2000+ J/kg of CAPE to allow for strong to severe storms this afternoon and evening. Storm motion will be to the southeast with 25-35kts of bulk shear and mid- level lapse rates near 8C/km allowing storms to persist well into the night into east-central NM, potentially down to Curry and Roosevelt Counties after midnight. Another round low clouds is likely Monday morning, with storm outflow producing a weak east wind to Santa Fe and ABQ. Monday's storm activity will favor the Sacramento Mtns with isolated activity still possible over the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo's. Tuesday, southerly flow strengthens pushing Gulf moisture further up the RGV and into west-central NM. This is expected to help increase cloud cover Tuesday afternoon helping highs dip a few degrees from Monday's forecast levels but still remain above normal. Storms will favor the southern high terrain. The high becomes stretched and elongated SW-NE across the state by mid to late week with only isolated storms possible over the Gila. Highs remain 5-10F above normal with dry conditions persisting into next weekend. 24/Hergert && .FIRE WEATHER... Showers and storms will develop over the northern mountains this afternoon then shift southeast across eastern NM as a large area of rain with embedded storms. Precip amounts will average one quarter inch to one half inch, with locally heavier rain likely. Convective outflows will force stronger winds and higher humidity into the Rio Grande Valley this evening. Upper level high pressure will develop eastward into southern NM through Wednesday but the latest guidance has a bit deeper moisture beneath the high than previous model runs. Temperatures will still warm 5 to 10 degrees above normal for much of this week but it may not be quite as dry as previously expected. Moisture from eastern NM today will improve chances for storms along the east slopes of the central mt chain Monday. A bit more mid level moisture may slide north beneath the high Tuesday and lead to wet/dry storms over the southern and western high terrain. The best impulse of mid level moisture is now shown Wednesday when storms form over the western high terrain then possibly move into the Rio Grande Valley. The upper high is still shown to become unseasonably strong by late week while becoming centered over central NM. This would limit storm development and trend temperatures even warmer through next weekend. Guyer && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 334 AM MDT Sun Sep 9 2018 NMZ501>540-101100- 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- 334 AM MDT Sun Sep 9 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 tonight over northeast and east-central New Mexico where large hail and damaging winds are possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday High pressure will continue to build over New Mexico with a drying trend and warmer temperatures expected for the upcoming week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required this afternoon and tonight for severe weather over northeast and east-central NM for large hail and damaging winds. Spotters are encouraged to report any severe weather through the National Weather Service Albuquerque web site at weather.gov/abq or by calling 1.888.386.7637. 24
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 138 PM MDT SUN SEP 9 2018 NMZ527-528-092015- Far Northeast Highlands-Raton Ridge/Johnson Mesa- 138 PM MDT SUN SEP 9 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN COLFAX COUNTY UNTIL 215 PM MDT... At 138 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Raton Crews Airport, or 7 miles south of Raton, moving southeast at 15 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Heavy rain will also be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Raton and Raton Crews Airport. This includes Interstate 25 between Mile Markers 435 and 450. If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy building. && LAT...LON 3675 10461 3689 10448 3677 10418 3655 10439 TIME...MOT...LOC 1938Z 307DEG 11KT 3678 10448 34
The Cannon AFB radar (KFDX), 197 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:12 UTC.
1 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A brief tornado touched down over rural countryside. No damage was reported.
Penny size hail near San Ignacio.
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: 773512, 773514.