Multiple injuries were reported at the Guru Ram Das Puri retreat center just west of Espa ola due to a large tent that blew down during a dust devil. The tent was occupied by over 300 people, according to Rio Arriba County Sheriff's deputies.
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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.
Multiple injuries were reported at the Guru Ram Das Puri retreat center just west of Espa ola due to a large tent that blew down during a dust devil. The tent was occupied by over 300 people, according to Rio Arriba County Sheriff's deputies. Powerful winds from the dust devil ripped out posts and tore apart ropes used to secure the large tent. Multiple agencies responded, including units from Espa ola Fire Rescue, Rio Arriba County, and Santa Fe County Fire Department. Multiple ambulances from Presbyterian hospital and a helicopter arrived quickly at the scene. About 20 patients were treated at Presbyterian Espanola Hospital for non life-threatening injuries. One of the patients was transported to Albuquerque for critical head injuries.
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 21, 10:40 AM MST, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1140 AM MDT Fri Jun 21 2019 .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE VFR conditions have returned to northern and central New Mexico after a smoky overnight and early morning period. Just a few high-based cumulus are forecast through the afternoon with strong winds being the bigger story. Occasional gusts of 30 to 40 kt will be common with the strongest speeds near KSRR, KCQC, KLVS, and KRTN through early evening. Wildfire smoke from southern Arizona could return to New Mexico late this afternoon into the overnight hours. Confidence is high on the trajectory/path of the smoke, it is just a matter of how active the Woodbury fire is this afternoon, as it is the primary source for smoke. If it is as active as yesterday, visibility will easily plummet to 3 to 5 miles in much of central New Mexico tonight. Breezy to windy conditions will redevelop late Saturday morning, dispersing smoke. 52 && .PREV DISCUSSION...330 AM MDT Fri Jun 21 2019... .SYNOPSIS... Warm, very dry and breezy to windy weather today will lead to critical fire weather conditions for areas along and south of Interstate 40. Smoke from Arizona wildfires will permeate western and central New Mexico through Saturday morning. A cold front will bring chances for showers and storms late Saturday to mainly northern New Mexico. Some of the storms over the northwest and north central will produce occasional lightning and gusty, variable winds but little to no rain. Temperatures will cool down this weekend to below normal by Sunday but warm to near normal by next Tuesday. Isolated showers and storms will develop over the higher terrain next Tuesday and Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION... Warm, very dry and breezy to windy conditions still expected today. Highs to be within a few degrees of normal. Strongest winds expected over the northeast and east central but guidance has decreased a little, so that speeds don't appear to reach wind advisory criteria this afternoon. The more significant forecast challenge will continue to be the widespread smoke from Arizona wildfires, mainly the Woodbury Gap fire east of Phoenix. HRRR Smoke model indicates that wildfire will generate significant smoke again this afternoon, which will impact a large portion of our CWA, with the exception of the Northwest Plateau and far east, where more minor impacts are indicated. Based on Thursday's satellite imagery and the HRRR forecast for today, trimmed today's high temperatures down a degree or two from guidance. Also based on current guidance, expect the Air Quality Alert Message issued Thursday afternoon will likely be reissued sometime today. Smoke issues continue tonight and into Saturday morning, before a cold front pushes into northwest and north central New Mexico late Saturday. Models have been consistent with showers and storms breaking out along the front as it moves south and eastward. Much of this activity may be dry, with thunderstorms producing occasional lightning, gusty and variable winds but little to no rain. The front is quick moving and convection should diminish by midnight Saturday night. There will be substantial cooling in it's wake Sunday with highs about 5 to 15 degrees below average. There are differences in the NAM12 and GFS how far the backdoor front travels south and westward Saturday night/Sunday. Leaned toward the NAM12 with higher pops in the east Sunday. Models continue the trend of a building upper ridge early to mid next week. The GFS is tending toward a tap of mid level moisture advecting from Old Mexico into the New Mexico on Tuesday, which generates more precipitation than the ECMWF. Low pops focused over the higher terrain seems plausible at this point. && .FIRE WEATHER... ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED TODAY... ...DRY LIGHTNING POSSIBLE SATURDAY... After poor relative humidity recoveries overnight, warm, continued dry, and windy conditions will result in critical fire weather conditions this afternoon. These conditions are expected mainly near and south of I-40 where a Red Flag Warning has been issued. Southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph are expected in these areas. Several hours of single digit humidity values are also expected, especially in the Middle Rio Grande Valley, where up to 12 hours of single digit RH is likely. It should be noted that both wind speeds and humidity values meet critical criteria across NE NM and in fact, wind speeds may be slightly higher than other locations, but vegetation has not yet cured. Across the northwest, high temperatures will be a few degrees shy of normal in addition to marginal wind speeds, thus a Red Flag Warning will not be issued in this area either. Marginally critical fire weather conditions are expected on Saturday across the northeast highlands, but falling temperatures will mitigate the concern. The bigger concern for Saturday is dry lightning across northwest and north central NM along a cold front pressing into the area. Large inverted-V forecast soundings with steep mid level lapse rates and relatively quick storm motions are in store. Cooler but continued breezy conditions are expected on Sunday. Thereafter, an upper level ridge will slowly build into the area through mid week. Temperatures will warm back up, but less wind is expected. The GFS is more aggressive at seeping moisture back into NM under the ridge and breaking out thunderstorms, but for now, think the drier ECMWF and Canadian models are more on track. 34 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 7 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ105>109. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 249 AM MDT Fri Jun 21 2019 NMZ501>540-221200- 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- 249 AM MDT Fri Jun 21 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon to 7 pm MDT for areas along and south of Interstate 40 where low humidities combined with strong winds will create critical fire weather conditions. Smoke from wildfires in Arizona will continue to invade New Mexico. While widespread dense smoke is generally not expected, people sensitive to smoke should monitor conditions and take necessary precautions. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Smoke from wildfires in Arizona will linger over northern and central New Mexico Saturday morning. While widespread dense smoke is generally not expected, people sensitive to smoke should monitor conditions and continue to take necessary precautions. A cold front moving into northwest and north central New Mexico Saturday afternoon and evening will produce thunderstorms with little to no rain, strong and gusty winds and occasional lightning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 dust devil. Local standard time, as filed.
Twenty people were injured when a dust devil blew apart a large tent at a summer solstice event at the Guru Ram Das Puri retreat center west of Espanola. Damage amounts are a rough estimate for destruction of the event tent.
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, June 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: 820908.