A very hot and unstable airmass with meager moisture over northern New Mexico set the stage for a couple showers and thunderstorms on September 1, 2019. A large dust devil kicked up on the edge of one of these showers near Taos during the late afternoon hours.
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 very hot and unstable airmass with meager moisture over northern New Mexico set the stage for a couple showers and thunderstorms on September 1, 2019. A large dust devil kicked up on the edge of one of these showers near Taos during the late afternoon hours. The dust devil damaged the roof of the Medley restaurant as it moved rapidly through the property. Fortunately, there were no injuries with this dust devil event.
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, 1:59 PM MST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 259 PM MDT Sun Sep 1 2019 .SYNOPSIS... After a relatively active evening, drier air above mountain top level will punch into the southern half or so of the state tonight and Monday. Isolated storms will be confined to the northern half of the state Monday while the heat continues all areas. A weak cold front will drop into eastern New Mexico late-day Tuesday and through central and western portions of the state on Wednesday. Temperatures will cool a few degrees Wednesday, especially east. Hot and dry weather will be the rule Thursday and Friday, ahead of what looks like a cooler and wetter pattern for next weekend. && .DISCUSSION... After a relatively active late afternoon and evening, the 12Z model trend is drier for Labor Day through Thursday. Favorable steering flow should make for a few storms in the ABQ metro this evening and possibly on Labor Day but dry air aloft will work in from the east across the southern half of the state late tonight and Monday morning, shutting down most afternoon and evening shower and thunderstorm chances south of I-40 for much of the work week. In fact, Wednesday and Thursday could be shower and storm free with the only hope of a over the Chuskas and near the CO line. The heat will continue through the week as the Four Corners' high remains to the east- northeast of NM but too close to get a southerly moisture tap. The backdoor cold front slated to move in for Tuesday is progged to be weak and not result in much more than a few degrees of cooling on Wednesday, mainly east of the central mountain chain. Then things get quite interesting late in the week and into next weekend. GFS and ECMWF agree that an upper-level trough in the EPAC dropping southward picks up what is now Tropical Storm Juliette (forecast to be Hurricane Juliette at this point), phasing and helping to deepen/strengthen the trough into a closed low. It's this feature that the models indicate will result in a deep southerly moisture tap and a wet period next weekend into early next week. September of 2013 comes to mind with a similar set up which led to widespread heavy rains and a good amount of flash flooding (10"+ of rain fell in portions of the Gila in a 9-day period). Forecast confidence is still very low that far out with so many factors that can change but it's definitely a scenario that is more likely with a positive PNA. 33 && .FIRE WEATHER... High temperatures will generally be a few to around 10 degrees above normal this week. Haines Indices will reach 5 across most of northern NM Monday, then 6 along the CO/NM border Tuesday, before falling some on Wednesday. The upper high will migrate very slowly eastward along the CO/NM border during the first part of the week steering slow-moving storms that form on the high terrain to the west and southwest over adjacent lowlands. Counter-clockwise circulation around the high will shunt the monsoon moisture plume well to the west of NM, and there won't be much forcing for precipitation under the ridge, so precipitation chances will trend downward through the first half of the work week. Any storms that develop should favor the northern and western mountains Monday and Tuesday, then there will only be a slight chance of thunderstorms in the mountains near the CO border Thursday and Friday. Precipitation chances should improve over the coming weekend, because a moist back door front is forecast to push well into the state Friday night. Also, a slow moving upper level low pressure system entering the western US is forecast to draw a surge of moisture northward over NM starting Sunday. 44 && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE With the upper high centered near the Four Corners, storms will generally move slowly toward the west and southwest this afternoon and evening. An exception will be for isolated cells expected to drift southeastward over the northeast highlands from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Some showers and thunderstorms will produce gusty winds with little or no rain in the middle Rio Grande Valley near Albuquerque, and from around Gallup to Cuba. Dry weather is expected areawide by midnight. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 60 97 60 97 / 0 5 5 0 Dulce........................... 51 93 51 93 / 10 10 10 10 Cuba............................ 56 89 57 90 / 20 30 20 20 Gallup.......................... 53 91 54 93 / 10 30 20 10 El Morro........................ 50 86 49 86 / 20 20 20 20 Grants.......................... 52 88 51 90 / 20 20 20 10 Quemado......................... 56 84 56 86 / 30 30 20 20 Datil........................... 57 83 56 84 / 20 20 10 10 Glenwood........................ 63 91 63 92 / 20 20 10 20 Chama........................... 49 83 49 84 / 20 20 10 20 Los Alamos...................... 62 85 62 86 / 20 30 20 30 Pecos........................... 58 84 57 86 / 20 30 20 20 Cerro/Questa.................... 52 82 52 84 / 20 20 20 20 Red River....................... 48 74 46 75 / 20 50 20 30 Angel Fire...................... 37 78 37 79 / 20 40 20 20 Taos............................ 50 88 49 88 / 10 20 20 10 Mora............................ 52 83 52 84 / 20 30 20 20 Espanola........................ 59 91 59 92 / 10 10 20 10 Santa Fe........................ 61 84 61 87 / 20 30 20 20 Santa Fe Airport................ 58 89 58 91 / 20 20 20 10 Albuquerque Foothills........... 63 92 65 93 / 20 10 10 5 Albuquerque Heights............. 64 93 66 94 / 10 5 10 5 Albuquerque Valley.............. 60 95 62 96 / 10 5 10 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 65 94 65 95 / 10 5 10 5 Los Lunas....................... 58 95 59 96 / 20 5 10 0 Rio Rancho...................... 64 94 66 95 / 10 5 10 5 Socorro......................... 65 96 65 96 / 20 5 5 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 59 87 59 87 / 20 20 20 10 Tijeras......................... 56 90 56 90 / 20 20 20 10 Moriarty/Estancia............... 51 91 52 91 / 20 10 10 5 Clines Corners.................. 57 89 57 89 / 20 10 10 5 Gran Quivira.................... 60 89 60 89 / 20 10 5 5 Carrizozo....................... 64 91 64 91 / 10 10 5 5 Ruidoso......................... 56 83 55 83 / 10 20 5 10 Capulin......................... 56 87 56 88 / 10 10 5 5 Raton........................... 54 91 54 91 / 5 20 10 10 Springer........................ 54 90 54 90 / 10 20 10 10 Las Vegas....................... 54 87 53 87 / 20 20 10 10 Clayton......................... 60 92 60 92 / 0 5 0 0 Roy............................. 60 89 60 91 / 5 5 5 5 Conchas......................... 65 96 65 97 / 5 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 65 96 65 97 / 10 5 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 64 98 65 98 / 5 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 64 93 64 94 / 10 5 0 0 Portales........................ 64 94 65 95 / 10 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 65 94 65 94 / 5 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 69 98 70 98 / 5 5 0 0 Picacho......................... 63 90 64 90 / 10 10 0 0 Elk............................. 60 86 60 86 / 10 10 0 5 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && 33
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 308 AM MDT Sun Sep 1 2019 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- 308 AM MDT Sun Sep 1 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Well above normal temperatures are again expected across northwest and west central New Mexico. The heat will create hazardous conditions for those susceptible to heat related illness, including those working outdoors, the elderly, and children. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will are expected across the high terrain this afternoon before spreading onto lower elevations this evening. Slow storm motions may result in locally heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Near record heat will continue across northwest and far west central New Mexico on Monday and Tuesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. 34
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 102 PM MDT Sun Sep 1 2019 NMZ515-527-011930- East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Raton Ridge/Johnson Mesa- 102 PM MDT Sun Sep 1 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL COLFAX COUNTY UNTIL 130 PM MDT... At 102 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 17 miles south of Segundo, or 23 miles west of Raton, moving south at 5 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. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of north central Colfax County. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Heavy rains will cause water to pond on roads and in low spots. Fast running water will quickly fill arroyos and ditches. && LAT...LON 3674 10469 3678 10506 3698 10491 3696 10477 TIME...MOT...LOC 1902Z 011DEG 5KT 3688 10488 Shoemake
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 235 PM MDT Sun Sep 1 2019 NMZ511-517-012100- Lower Chama River Valley-Jemez Mountains- 235 PM MDT Sun Sep 1 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LOS ALAMOS...SOUTH CENTRAL RIO ARRIBA...EAST CENTRAL SANDOVAL AND NORTHWESTERN SANTA FE COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM MDT... At 234 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Los Alamos. This storm was nearly stationary. Dime size hail, heavy rainfall, and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Los Alamos and White Rock. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists can expect brief but sudden changes in visibility and ponding of water on highways as storms move through the area. Heavy rains will cause water to pond on roads and in low spots. Fast running water will quickly fill arroyos and ditches. && LAT...LON 3579 10624 3578 10645 3601 10641 3600 10614 TIME...MOT...LOC 2034Z 013DEG 2KT 3590 10632 Shoemake
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 dust devil. Local standard time, as filed.
A large dust devil moved across state road 150 and over the Medley restaurant north of Taos. A large section of roofing was torn off the restaurant. The restaurant was closed for several days. Fortunately there were no injuries. Damage amounts have been estimated based on news footage of the dust devil.
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, September 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: 842026.