Abundant moisture and instability in place across New Mexico on August 9, 2019 set the stage for scattered showers and thunderstorms with torrential rainfall. Most of the storm activity produced locally heavy rainfall, gusty winds, small hail, and frequent lightning in the area from near Socorro to Ruidoso and the Caprock region of eastern New Mexico.
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.
Abundant moisture and instability in place across New Mexico on August 9, 2019 set the stage for scattered showers and thunderstorms with torrential rainfall. Most of the storm activity produced locally heavy rainfall, gusty winds, small hail, and frequent lightning in the area from near Socorro to Ruidoso and the Caprock region of eastern New Mexico. The strongest storm impacted Clovis where a peak wind gust up to 66 mph was reported at the airport.
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 9, 2:15 PM MST, 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 315 PM MDT Fri Aug 9 2019 .SYNOPSIS... The most widespread coverage of showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall is expected to impact New Mexico late today through the weekend. Storm motion will be slow toward the north and northeast with locally heavy rainfall, frequent lightning strikes, strong winds, and possible flash flooding. The greatest threat for flooding will be on Saturday and Sunday, especially over recent burn scars, steep terrain, urban drainages, and locations that receive several rounds of heavy rain. Temperatures will be closer to normal in most areas except eastern New Mexico where it will remain hot each day. A drying and warming trend is possible Monday and Tuesday next week. && .DISCUSSION... The latest GOES-16 water vapor loop shows upper level high pressure centered over Texas while an axis of deep moisture moves north from the Baja region into the southwest CONUS. An inverted trough axis north of Puerto Vallarta is shown with very good model agreement to move northward into AZ and NM Saturday and Sunday as a closed circulation with widespread rain and storms. Satellite derived PWAT values in the Baja are near 2.5" and surface obs show a dewpoint of nearly 80 degrees at Guaymas. A Flash Flood Watch will be issued initially for the southwest higher terrain tonight through Saturday night per collaboration with WPC and nearby WFOs. There is a good chance based on near-term hi-res model guidance and NAM/GFS/ECMWF precip values that the watch will be expanded into much of central and western NM for Saturday. The main confidence limiter by Sunday will be how cloud cover from convection Saturday limits coverage and intensity of storms into Sunday. Medium range models shows the axis of monsoon moisture becoming disorganized Monday and Tuesday while upper level high pressure elongates over northern Mexico and Texas. An area of mid and upper level drying attempts to move as far east as the central mt chain both days thus limiting storm coverage and boosting max temps. A back door cold front is shown approaching eastern NM Tuesday which may help bring a slight uptick in storm coverage for Wednesday. && .FIRE WEATHER... The high has once again shifted to our east, setting up the pattern for scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms every afternoon and evening this weekend, as several disturbances cross the state. The exception being isolated showers and thunderstorms present across east central NM. By the Monday/Tuesday timeframe, drier air will move into the state - reducing storm coverage, dropping minimum humidities into the upper teens to low 20s percentage range, and Haines values reaching 5's/Moderate over western and central NM on Tuesday. The exception being the northeast portion of the state, as a backdoor cold front brings gusty winds and an elevated chance for precipitation Monday. There is some disagreement to the placement of the high into late next week, as some are hinting at a return plume of monsoonal moisture. Currently, have lower dew points and near normal temperatures into next weekend. Will re-evaluate as necessary. 31 && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE Another round of showers and thunderstorms is expected across most TAF sites today. Some storms near KLVS and KTCC may become severe, with the chance of seeing large hail and gusty, erratic winds near thunderstorms. Pockets of MVFR conditions are possible later tonight, but confidence wasn't high enough to include them in the TAF's at this time. Maintained the tempo groups, as most models are agreement as to the timing of shower activity. Showers and thunderstorms may persist after 03z, but the coverage is spotty and confidence less so. 31 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 62 89 64 85 / 30 20 40 40 Dulce........................... 54 85 54 80 / 50 50 60 70 Cuba............................ 57 85 58 81 / 60 60 60 80 Gallup.......................... 56 86 57 83 / 40 70 60 70 El Morro........................ 53 81 54 75 / 50 80 80 80 Grants.......................... 55 84 56 79 / 60 70 70 70 Quemado......................... 56 80 56 77 / 50 80 80 80 Datil........................... 54 81 55 78 / 60 70 70 70 Glenwood........................ 64 87 63 84 / 40 60 70 70 Chama........................... 51 77 52 72 / 50 60 70 80 Los Alamos...................... 61 82 61 79 / 60 50 60 60 Pecos........................... 58 82 59 80 / 60 60 60 60 Cerro/Questa.................... 53 80 54 77 / 60 60 60 60 Red River....................... 48 74 47 71 / 60 70 60 70 Angel Fire...................... 46 76 46 73 / 60 80 70 70 Taos............................ 54 85 55 82 / 60 50 50 60 Mora............................ 54 81 55 80 / 70 60 60 60 Espanola........................ 60 89 61 87 / 50 30 50 50 Santa Fe........................ 61 83 62 81 / 60 50 60 60 Santa Fe Airport................ 60 87 61 85 / 50 40 60 50 Albuquerque Foothills........... 65 90 66 86 / 50 40 50 50 Albuquerque Heights............. 66 91 66 87 / 50 40 50 40 Albuquerque Valley.............. 66 92 66 88 / 50 40 50 40 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 66 91 66 87 / 50 40 50 40 Los Lunas....................... 64 91 64 88 / 50 40 50 40 Rio Rancho...................... 66 90 66 87 / 50 50 50 40 Socorro......................... 67 94 67 92 / 50 40 60 40 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 59 85 60 83 / 60 50 60 50 Tijeras......................... 61 88 62 85 / 60 50 60 50 Moriarty/Estancia............... 56 87 56 87 / 60 60 50 50 Clines Corners.................. 59 84 59 83 / 60 60 40 60 Gran Quivira.................... 61 88 61 87 / 50 50 40 50 Carrizozo....................... 66 90 66 91 / 60 50 40 30 Ruidoso......................... 58 83 58 84 / 60 70 60 50 Capulin......................... 57 86 57 86 / 60 60 50 50 Raton........................... 56 90 56 88 / 60 60 50 60 Springer........................ 57 89 57 88 / 60 50 50 60 Las Vegas....................... 56 84 56 83 / 60 50 40 60 Clayton......................... 64 94 64 94 / 70 20 30 20 Roy............................. 61 88 62 89 / 70 30 40 40 Conchas......................... 67 96 69 97 / 70 20 30 30 Santa Rosa...................... 67 97 68 97 / 60 30 30 40 Tucumcari....................... 68 100 70 99 / 60 10 30 10 Clovis.......................... 67 96 68 96 / 40 10 30 10 Portales........................ 69 98 70 98 / 30 10 30 10 Fort Sumner..................... 68 94 69 95 / 50 20 30 20 Roswell......................... 73 101 73 100 / 40 20 30 20 Picacho......................... 65 91 66 91 / 50 40 40 40 Elk............................. 62 88 62 88 / 50 50 40 50 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch from Saturday morning through late Saturday night for the following zones... NMZ506>509 &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 322 AM MDT Fri Aug 9 2019 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- 322 AM MDT Fri Aug 9 2019 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 burn scars. Additionally, a few severe storms are expected across northeast New Mexico this afternoon and evening. Large hail and damaging winds are the main concerns. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected over the weekend. These storms will continue to be capable of heavy rain and flash flooding. Gusty outflow winds will also be possible. Drier air will working into New Mexico for Monday and Tuesday, limiting storm coverage and heavy rain potential. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report rainfall amounts, and any severe weather or flooding 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. 34
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
343 PM MDT Fri Aug 9 2019
NMZ535-092215-
Curry County-
343 PM MDT Fri Aug 9 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN CURRY COUNTY UNTIL
415 PM MDT...
At 343 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Texico, or near Clovis, moving northeast at 15 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Heavy rain and frequent and dangerous cloud to ground lightning will
also be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Clovis, Farwell, Texico and Pleasant Hill.
&&
LAT...LON 3430 10307 3430 10317 3450 10320 3458 10304
3431 10304
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 240DEG 12KT 3442 10311
ShoemakeThe Cannon AFB radar (KFDX), 55 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:48 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Clovis airport reported a peak wind gust up to 66 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, August 2019
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: 834646.