A strong backdoor cold front that moved through the state the previous day replenished moisture throughout the area on June 23, 2020. With northwest flow aloft, deep shear and instability was in place throughout central and eastern NM.
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 strong backdoor cold front that moved through the state the previous day replenished moisture throughout the area on June 23, 2020. With northwest flow aloft, deep shear and instability was in place throughout central and eastern NM. This resulted in widespread thunderstorms with several severe storms throughout the afternoon and evening. Storms initially formed early in the afternoon over the northern high terrain of New Mexico before moving east-southeast into the Rio Grande Valley and eastern plains. The most intense thunderstorms were across the eastern plains where storms that produced large hail and damaging winds continued into the evening hours. A strong thunderstorm also affected the Albuquerque metro area, and penny sized hail fell at the Albuquerque WFO.
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 23, 10:05 AM MST, 2 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM Issued by National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 1105 AM MDT Tue Jun 23 2020 .UPDATE... Overall forecast looks good. Starting to see some convection develop over the Sangre de Christos while a steady upslope flow continues south along the east slopes of the Sangrias and Sacramentos. This moist upslope flow along with strong insolation will be sufficient to produce scattered thunderstorms over the mountains. Northwesterly steering flow aloft and cold pool interactions will then aid upscale development into a mesoscale convective system (MCS) to the south and east across the eastern NM plains tonight. This MCS will then track southeast into west Texas late this evening, and thunderstorm activity will end from west to east during the early morning hours. The strongest of these storms will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and hail up to the size of quarters; frequent cloud-to- ground lightning is also likely. Another canyon wind event into the Albuquerque metro area will be possible late tonight as easterly thunderstorm outflow winds funnel through Tijeras Canyon. West of the Continental Drive, dry northwesterly winds and temperatures ranging from the mid 80s to the upper 90s will send RH readings below 10 percent this afternoon. 99 && .PREV DISCUSSION...542 AM MDT Tue Jun 23 2020... .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE Patches of MVFR cigs are located across central and south central NM this morning per the latest nighttime microphysics satellite imagery, but otherwise area terminals are currently VFR. A gusty east canyon winds continues at KABQ, but will lighten up by mid morning. A robust round of strong to severe storms is expected this afternoon and evening across central and eastern NM, with potential for impacts at all TAF sites except KFMN and KGUP. The terminals most likely to take hits later this afternoon and evening are KLVS, KROW, KTCC and KSAF and generally in that order in terms of forecast confidence. Strong to potentially damaging wind gusts and large hail will be aviation weather threats today. MVFR conditions are likely with thunderstorm impacts, but short-lived IFR conditions can not be ruled-out at KLVS, KROW and KTCC. 11 && .PREV DISCUSSION...225 AM MDT Tue Jun 23 2020... .SYNOPSIS... Another round of showers and thunderstorms is expected today, favoring eastern New Mexico although a few storms will be possible across central New Mexico as well. Severe weather will be possible through the evening hours with large hail and damaging winds. Daily rounds of thunderstorms will continue across the east through the next several days with a few severe storms again possible Wednesday and Thursday. Drier air filtering into the state this weekend will cause a downtick in activity although isolated storms will remain possible in the east. Stay weather-aware and be prepared to seek shelter should a warning be issued for your area. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)... A backdoor front is racing west toward the Continental Divide and has resulted in strong east canyon winds into the Rio Grande and Upper Tularosa Valleys. Gusts at KABQ will start to trend down soon, but have been hitting 42kts frequently between 1-2AM. The front is moistening-up the lower boundary layer and surface dewpoints are climbing up into the mid 40s to near 50 in the RGV, with mid 50s to near 60 across eastern NM. Winds in the lower boundary layer will gradually veer to the south-southeast today as northwest flow aloft prevails, presenting favorable shear profiles for severe storms with 0-6km bulk shear of 35-45kts from the RGV east across the state. The 06Z NAM is even more bullish with instability than the previous run, showing around 2,000 J/kg in the Albuquerque Metro at 21Z this afternoon with LIs of -5 to -7C. So, an impressive setup overall, but especially for the RGV. The day1 SPC convective outlook captures this well and has the marginal risk backed up to the RGV, with a slight risk for most of eastern NM. Storm motion will take convection south-southeast with time through the evening hours off of the higher terrain and across the plains, hitting locales such as Roswell, Clovis and Portales after dark. Hot and dry conditions will prevail west of the Continental Divide again today, with highs above normal. Outflow will bring east canyon winds back tonight and will help keep PWATs up west of the central mountain chain going into Wednesday. Same basic setup Wednesday, but with lighter winds aloft and drier air penetrating a tad further east by late day. Areas favored for storms Wednesday afternoon will be the central mountain chain and adjacent eastern highlands. Severe potential goes down significantly Wednesday as bulk shear decreases by 10-20kts. 11 LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY)... Northwest flow aloft Wednesday night will turn southwesterly Thursday as a trough moves southward into the Great Basin area. There are some model disagreements in just how far south this trough will dig, but nevertheless, embedded shortwaves ahead of the trough will move across CO and NM which will help generate another round of afternoon convection. Again, areas along and east of the central mountain chain will be favored where the best moisture will reside. In particular, the northeast will be most favored due to the aforementioned shortwaves that will be moving through the area. A few storms may become strong to severe with hail and strong winds the primary threats, but 0-6km bulk shear around 25 knots will likely not support organized or long-lived storms. Elsewhere, southwesterly flow will scour out low-level moisture west of the central mountain chain. The Great Basin trough should move eastward on Friday, and westerly flow behind it will bring in drier air. Storm coverage will decline through the weekend although isolated activity will continue to be possible across the east where low-level moisture will linger. Flow turns southwesterly again on Monday ahead of another approaching upper-level low. There are some significant model differences regarding this low, but for now it looks like the continued drier air associated with the southwesterly flow should scour out any remaining moisture leading to a mostly dry Monday and Tuesday. 15 && .FIRE WEATHER... Moisture behind a backdoor front will bring chances for wetting storms from near the Continental Divide east across the state through Wednesday, with areas along and east of the central mountain chain favored. A hot, dry and unstable airmass will continue west of the Continental Divide, with afternoon breezes. A trough will approach Thursday and help the westerlies to penetrate further east, bringing a hot, dry and unstable atmosphere to near the central mountain chain while chances for wetting storms continue across the eastern plains. This trend will continue through the weekend until a hot, dry and unstable atmosphere takes over the entire area on Sunday. A potent Pacific low/trough will park over the Great Basin and Desert Southwest early next week and will bring increasing winds to the state, although forecast to remain below critical threshold at this time. 11 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 247 AM MDT Tue Jun 23 2020 NMZ201>241-241100- Northwest Plateau-Chuska Mountains-Far Northwest Highlands- Northwest Highlands-West Central Plateau-West Central Mountains- West Central Highlands-Southwest Mountains- San Francisco River Valley-Tusas Mountains Including Chama- Jemez Mountains-Glorieta Mesa Including Glorieta Pass- Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains- Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains- East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Upper Rio Grande Valley- Espanola Valley-Santa Fe Metro Area- Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area- Lower Rio Grande Valley-Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood- Estancia Valley-Central Highlands-South Central Highlands- Upper Tularosa Valley-South Central Mountains- Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass- 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- San Agustin Plains and Adjacent Lowlands- 247 AM MDT Tue Jun 23 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms across much of eastern New Mexico with a marginal risk across the Rio Grande Valley this afternoon through mid-evening. Large hail and damaging wind gusts will be the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Daily rounds of shower and thunderstorm activity are expected through the weekend primarily for areas along and east of the central mountain chain. A few of these storms Wednesday and Thursday may become strong to severe with large hail and damaging winds. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... 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. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. You can also submit storm reports and photos on our Facebook page or via Twitter using the hashtag nmwx. 15
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 101 PM MDT Tue Jun 23 2020 NMZ211-218-231930- Santa Fe Metro Area-Jemez Mountains- 101 PM MDT Tue Jun 23 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN LOS ALAMOS...EAST CENTRAL SANDOVAL AND NORTHWESTERN SANTA FE COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM MDT... At 100 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Los Alamos, moving south at 5 mph. Dime size hail will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... White Rock, Bandelier National Monument and Frijoles. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor your preferred media outlets and NOAA Weather Radio for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && LAT...LON 3582 10648 3590 10638 3577 10614 3566 10633 TIME...MOT...LOC 1900Z 350DEG 5KT 3582 10638 DPorter
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:29 UTC.
10 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Penny to nickel size hail fell with a strong thunderstorm that moved near Frijoles. Hail accumulated along New Mexico State Road 4 from Los Alamos to Valles Caldera.
A trained spotter near San Pablo reported ping-pong size hail with a severe thunderstorm. The hail was large enough to cause damage to the spotter's outdoor deck and plastic picnic table. Damage amounts are rough estimates.
Golf ball size hail was reported with a severe thunderstorm near Pena Blanca.
Penny to quarter size hail was reported in the Edgewood area.
Penny size hail fell at the Albuquerque NWS office with a strong thunderstorm that moved through the metro area.
A strong thunderstorm that moved through the Rio Rancho area produced large hail. Members of the public reported nickel size hail.
A storm chaser near Milagro reported hail up to golf ball size.
A CoCoRaHS observer near Bernalillo reported penny size hail with a strong thunderstorm that moved through the area.
A trained spotter reported quarter size hail with a severe thunderstorm that moved through Socorro.
An outflow boundary ahead of a severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust of 66 mph near White Sands Missile Range.
A storm chaser in the Vaughn area reported nickel size hail with a strong thunderstorm that moved through the area.
Severe thunderstorm winds up to 63 mph were measured around Carrizozo.
A CoCoRaHS observer over rural Chaves County reported a peak wind gust up to 60 mph.
A thunderstorm that moved through the Roswell area produced severe wind gusts. The Roswell airport reported a peak wind gust of 72 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, June 2020
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: 888952, 888953, 888956, 888957, 888958, 888942, 888940, 888943, 888959, 888960, 888948, 888961, 892807, 888962.