A powerful spring storm system that moved slowly east through the southwest United States on May 20-21, 2019 produced a variety of spring weather conditions over northern and central New Mexico. The active weather pattern began on the evening of the 19th when a virga bomb impacted the Albuquerque Sunport with a brief wind gust to 64 mph.
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 powerful spring storm system that moved slowly east through the southwest United States on May 20-21, 2019 produced a variety of spring weather conditions over northern and central New Mexico. The active weather pattern began on the evening of the 19th when a virga bomb impacted the Albuquerque Sunport with a brief wind gust to 64 mph. Power outages were reported across parts of Nob Hill and Ridgecrest. Low level moisture then surged northwest into eastern New Mexico while a potent jet streak moved in from the southwest. Severe thunderstorms develop over the far eastern plains shortly after midnight. Golf ball size hail, strong winds, and heavy rainfall impacted Quay County. Southwest winds then increased quickly after sunrise on the 20th when widespread wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph were reported around south central and eastern New Mexico. The strongest winds impacted Lincoln County where gusts near 60 mph were reported. Meanwhile, several inches of snow fell over northern and western New Mexico through the morning of the 21st, including Farmington, Gallup, and Raton. Strong northwest winds then impacted much of eastern New Mexico on the afternoon of the 21st as the powerful storm system moved into the Great Plains states. Peak wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph were common along the Interstate 40 corridor east of Tijeras Canyon. Temperatures ended up 15 to 25 degrees below normal in many areas in the wake of this storm system.
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 May 19, 4:32 PM MST, 2 hours 56 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 532 PM MDT Sun May 19 2019 .AVIATION... 00Z TAF CYCLE Southwest winds are near their peak intensity this hour, coupled with widespread of mid to high level cigs 100-250. Winds will begin to diminish by 02Z-03Z but will resume again out of the S/SW Monday morning by 15Z-16Z. Peak gusts will be higher Monday afternoon ranging from 25-40kts with the highest speeds focusing through the south-central mtns and east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mtns. Meanwhile, -shra will begin to enter far northwest NM near sunrise Monday as the core of an upper low enters into northern AZ. This will bring lowering cigs and mtn obscurations through the northern third of the state. Meanwhile tonight, there is still the opportunity for a few discrete strong to severe ts to develop near the NM/TX border. Expect frequent lightning and vrb gusty outflows. While confidence in timing is fairly high from 08Z-13Z, exact location of storm initiation is still too sparse to include in any one TAF location but cannot rule out some impact from KCAO to KTCC to KCVN. 24/RJH && .PREV DISCUSSION...223 PM MDT Sun May 19 2019... .SYNOPSIS... An active weather pattern still expected through next weekend. There will be rain, mountain snow, thunderstorms, which could be strong to severe near the TX border, lots of wind and cool temperatures for May. The first storm will impact us into Tuesday, while the second one interacts with NM Wednesday into Thursday. After that, the main trough position will be to our west, providing moist southwest winds aloft and southerly winds at the surface. The main weather threat from Thursday through next weekend will be the formation of a dryline on the eastern plains, with the potential for strong to severe storms each day. && .DISCUSSION... Lots of mid and high clouds across the forecast area today, holding down temperatures some, as well as the wind. The next storm to impact NM has moved into CA. It will move to the Great Basin tonight and the four corners region by late Monday. From there it will move east along the NM/CO border and begin to intensify, finally turning northeast into southeast CO Tuesday, still deepening to a 541DM low. We will experience rain, mountain snow, thunderstorms which could turn strong to severe later tonight near the TX border, strong winds, and well below normal temperatures Monday and Tuesday, especially in the west. We will leave the High Wind Watch as is, with the thinking much of the highlighted area will only see wind advisory speeds Monday. Other areas will need wind advisories as well Monday. Of more concern will be the winds on Tuesday in the east, as the upper low and surface low pressure plummet to around 540dm and 980mb, respectively. Much of the northeast and east central areas could experience high winds. Surrounding areas may need wind advisories Tuesday. As for snow, snow levels will be around 7500 feet in the west Monday, 8000 to 8500 feet Monday across the northern mountains. Levels will drop sharply Monday night. Significant snow accumulations will be fairly high up, 8500 feet or higher, with a couple/few of inches below 8500 feet. The next storm will come into the Pacific Northwest Monday night and be over the Great Basin Tuesday. From there it will drift south, with a portion of the trough lifting northeast late Wednesday into Thursday. Precipitation will not be as widespread as the first storm. Windy and below normal temperatures will continue. Southwest flow aloft with a persistent trough/closed low to our west will remain through next weekend. This pattern could result in daily rounds of thunderstorms on the eastern plains as a dryline sloshes back and forth. Severe weather would not be out of the question. CHJ && .FIRE WEATHER... An active and windy weather pattern will persist through the week. This afternoon, and continuing each afternoon through Thursday, will see a combination of critically low humidities and strong winds along and east of Interstate 25 and along and south of Interstate 40. Over portions of this same area, fair to poor overnight humidity recoveries will be featured tonight as well as Tuesday night and Thursday night. High temperatures will range from near to below normal this week. Forecast models indicate an unseasonably cool storm system will track farther south over New Mexico Monday through Monday night, bringing better potential for wetting precipitation over the northwest half of the state and along the eastern New Mexico border. The northern mountains above 8000 feet may pick up several inches of snow from this system. As this system exits into the Great Plains Tuesday, it could potentially result in widespread very strong winds across the eastern New Mexico plains. Spotty showers and storms will again be focused over the northwest and north central Tuesday and Tuesday night. Another system Wednesday/Wednesday night looks to spread at least meager precipitation over the northwest third of the region and spark a few dryline storms near the Texas border. With a trough to our west and ridge of high pressure over the southeastern US persisting through the end of this week, low level moisture will slosh back and forth along the eastern New Mexico border, while periods of drier southwest winds alternating with ejecting disturbances dominate western and central New Mexico. && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Watch from Monday afternoon through Monday evening for the following zones... NMZ525-526-538>540. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 334 AM MDT Sun May 19 2019 NMZ501>540-201100- 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 May 19 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Showers and thunderstorms will develop over far eastern New Mexico late tonight then move northeast toward the Texas state line through sunrise Monday. A few of these storms may become severe with large hail, damaging winds, and minor flooding, especially within Curry, Quay, and Union counties. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday A couple severe thunderstorms may linger near the Texas state line Monday morning with large hail, damaging winds, and minor flooding possible. The focus will then shift to strong southwest winds Monday afternoon over much of central and eastern New Mexico. Wind gusts in excess of 60 mph are possible over Lincoln and Chaves counties. Light snow accumulations are then possible over the high terrain of northern and western New Mexico Monday night. The focus will then shift back to widespread strong west winds Tuesday when gusts of 50 to 60 mph are possible over central and eastern New Mexico. Strong southwest winds will return Wednesday ahead of the weather system approaching from the west. Extended computer models are indicating a weather pattern conducive to daily rounds of severe thunderstorms over far eastern New Mexico Thursday through Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required early Monday morning over the far eastern counties of New Mexico. Guyer
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 322 PM MDT Sun May 19 2019 NMZ501>540-192330- 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 PM MDT Sun May 19 2019 ...SHOWERS...THUNDERSTORMS...MOUNTAIN SNOW...STRONG TO HIGH WINDS AND UNUSUALLY COOL MAY TEMPERATURES THIS COMING WEEK... It will be an active week of weather thanks to a couple of storms this week. But first, a surge of low level moisture and resulting instability will strike the eastern plains of New Mexico late tonight into early Monday morning, with thunderstorms that could turn strong to severe. The first storm is over California now. It will reach the Four Corners area late Monday, bringing strong and gusty winds, showers, thunderstorms and high mountain snow Monday into Monday night. The storm will then move east along the New Mexico and Colorado border before turning northeast Monday night into Tuesday. While doing so, the storm will intensify as will the surface pressure. This could lead to strong to high winds across much of eastern New Mexico Tuesday. Snow levels will lower Monday night and Tuesday with accumulating snow likely above 7500 or 8000 feet, with significant amounts possible above 8500 feet. The second storm will not be as vigorous, but will bring more precipitation, wind and cool temperatures to the north and west Wednesday through Thursday. With the main trough position to our west later this week into next weekend, there will likely be a dryline setting up, with thunderstorms on the eastern plains, perhaps strong to severe near the TX border. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor NOAA weather radio, weather.gov/abq or your local media for the latest updates on this active weather pattern. 40
Special Weather Statement...RESENT National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 326 PM MDT Sun May 19 2019 NMZ501>540-192330- 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- 326 PM MDT Sun May 19 2019 ...SHOWERS...THUNDERSTORMS...MOUNTAIN SNOW...STRONG TO HIGH WINDS AND UNUSUALLY COOL MAY TEMPERATURES THIS COMING WEEK... It will be an active week of weather thanks to a couple of storms this week. But first, a surge of low level moisture and resulting instability will strike the eastern plains of New Mexico late tonight into early Monday morning, with thunderstorms that could turn strong to severe. The first storm is over California now. It will reach the Four Corners area late Monday, bringing strong and gusty winds, showers, thunderstorms and high mountain snow Monday into Monday night. The storm will then move east along the New Mexico and Colorado border before turning northeast Monday night into Tuesday. While doing so, the storm will intensify as will the surface pressure. This could lead to strong to high winds across much of eastern New Mexico Tuesday. Snow levels will lower Monday night and Tuesday with accumulating snow likely above 7500 or 8000 feet, with significant amounts possible above 8500 feet. The second storm will not be as vigorous, but will bring more precipitation, wind and cool temperatures to the north and west Wednesday through Thursday. With the main trough position to our west later this week into next weekend, there will likely be a dryline setting up, with thunderstorms on the eastern plains, perhaps strong to severe near the TX border. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor NOAA weather radio, weather.gov/abq or your local media for the latest updates on this active weather pattern. 40
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 338 PM MDT Sun May 19 2019 NMZ501>540-201200- 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- 338 PM MDT Sun May 19 2019 ...SHOWERS...THUNDERSTORMS...MOUNTAIN SNOW...STRONG TO HIGH WINDS AND UNUSUALLY COOL MAY TEMPERATURES THIS COMING WEEK... It will be an active week of weather thanks to a couple of storms this week. But first, a surge of low level moisture and resulting instability will strike the eastern plains of New Mexico late tonight into early Monday morning, with thunderstorms that could turn strong to severe. The first storm is over California now. It will reach the Four Corners area late Monday, bringing strong and gusty winds, showers, thunderstorms and high mountain snow Monday into Monday night. The storm will then move east along the New Mexico and Colorado border before turning northeast Monday night into Tuesday. While doing so, the storm will intensify as will the surface pressure. This could lead to strong to high winds across much of eastern New Mexico Tuesday. Snow levels will lower Monday night and Tuesday with accumulating snow likely above 7500 or 8000 feet, with significant amounts possible above 8500 feet. The second storm will not be as vigorous, but will bring more precipitation, wind and cool temperatures to the north and west Wednesday through Thursday. With the main trough position to our west later this week into next weekend, there will likely be a dryline setting up, with thunderstorms on the eastern plains, perhaps strong to severe near the TX border. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor NOAA weather radio, weather.gov/abq or your local media for the latest updates on this active weather pattern. 40
The Cannon AFB radar (KFDX), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:12 UTC.
9 high wind, 3 hail, 2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
A virga bomb over the Albuquerque Sunport produced a brief high wind gust to 64 mph. Power outages were reported in the nearby residential community of Ridgecrest.
A rapidly developing severe thunderstorm produced hail up to the size of golf balls along NM-278 southeast of Tucumcari.
A rapidly moving severe thunderstorm produced golf ball size hail in Logan.
Penny size hail was reported in Logan.
Sierra Blanca airport reported peak wind gusts up to 58 mph.
Sierra Blanca airport reported sustained winds around 41 mph for several hours.
An impressive two to five inches of snow fell in the Raton area during the early morning hours of May 21, 2019. Slick travel was noted in a few areas across town.
An impressive three to six inches of snow fell in the Capulin area during the early morning hours of May 21, 2019. Slick travel was noted in a few areas.
Santa Rosa airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 46 mph for a few hours.
Santa Rosa airport reported a peak wind gust up to 60 mph.
The Melrose RAWS reported peak wind gusts up to 58 mph for a couple hours.
Various weather stations across the Clovis area reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 67 mph for several hours.
The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility reported peak wind gusts up to 58 mph.
The Tucumcari airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 45 mph for a few hours.
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, May 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: 813755, 813756, 813757, 814716, 814734, 814735, 814743, 814745, 814766, 814765, 814770, 814769, 814771, 814768.