A deep tap of moisture surged north into New Mexico ahead of a strong Pacific cold front approaching from the west on June 5-6, 2020. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed over western New Mexico during the afternoon hours of June 5th before spreading slowly east into the Rio Grande Valley through the morning of the June 6th.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 deep tap of moisture surged north into New Mexico ahead of a strong Pacific cold front approaching from the west on June 5-6, 2020. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed over western New Mexico during the afternoon hours of June 5th before spreading slowly east into the Rio Grande Valley through the morning of the June 6th. Strong south to southwest flow ahead of the front combined with showers and thunderstorms to produce localized high winds over parts of the area. Significantly drier and cooler conditions moved into the area in the wake of this front on strong west to northwest winds.
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 5, 11:08 AM MST, 3 hours 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1208 PM MDT Fri Jun 5 2020 .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE VFR conditions are currently in place, but a deteriorating and unsettled trend will unfold into Saturday as a Pacific low pressure system moves toward the Four Corners region. Another round of high- based showers and mostly dry thunderstorms is expected this afternoon along and near the central mountain chain of New Mexico and also showers and storms will be increasing in far western parts of the state late this afternoon and into the early evening. While little rainfall or ceiling/visibility reductions are forecast with this activity, abrupt and gusty downburst winds will accompany. Also, hot temperatures and low density altitudes today will create difficult ascents for some aircraft. Showers and storms will persist tonight, mainly over western New Mexico, re-focusing toward north central parts of the state by mid day Saturday. Strong to very strong winds will also develop Saturday with strongest gusts of 40 to 50 kt expected in northwestern and northeastern high country areas of the state. 52 && .PREV DISCUSSION...330 AM MDT Fri Jun 5 2020... .SYNOPSIS... Chances for showers and storms increase over western New Mexico today, and over the west and north tonight. A few storms over far northwest New Mexico this afternoon and evening may produce strong and gusty winds. As precipitation tapers off Saturday, drier and windy weather Saturday afternoon may lead to critical fire weather conditions from the Rio Grande Valley westward. Temperatures will also start to cool down Saturday, then become progressively cooler Sunday and Monday as winds remain gusty. Highs will fall to below normal Tuesday then rebound mid to late next week. The next chance for precipitation won't be until late next week. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY)... The upper high currently over NM will shift eastward as a Pacific low moves over SoCal late today. Increasing moisture and atmospheric lift ahead of the storm system will allow for isolated to scattered storms to develop over NW NM this afternoon. The low will weaken into an open wave late tonight as it moves across AZ and finally over the Four Corners region Saturday morning. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to spread eastward this evening and tonight before focusing over north central NM early Saturday. Storms today should move toward the north around 20 to 25 mph. Relatively low surface dewpoints and large inverted-V soundings by late afternoon, combined with an increase in mid level winds, will likely result in some dry or mostly dry storms with gusty winds, especially within the Rio Grande Valley. By Saturday afternoon, weak low level convergence just east of the central mountain chain may be a focus for isolated storms, mainly dry, to develop once again. Strong winds will also be possible on Saturday as mid level winds increase with continue strong mixing, combined with a strengthening surface pressure gradient with the passage of a weak front. Wind advisory-like winds speeds will be likely across western NM by mid day and across northeast NM by mid to late afternoon. Aside from the storms with potential gusty winds, and gusty winds not related to storms, the other hot story, pun intended, will be the heat. Near record or record temperatures are expected again this afternoon with several locations expected to pass the century mark across the east. A few localized spots, namely TCC and ROW, will be near Heat Advisory criteria today, and will have day shift monitor these areas today. Slightly cooler temperatures are expected for Saturday in the wake of the trough passage. LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY)... Precipitation for the most part should be ending Saturday evening, although models continue to suggest there will be a line of isolated convection over eastern NM in the evening, and some of this could be dry. Thereafter, breezy to windy, dry and cooler weather is forecast for Sunday through Tuesday as an upper trough swings through the central Rockies and pushes a cold front through NM. Lows Monday night will be cooler than normal over northwest and west central NM, where temperatures may fall into the mid to upper 30s at Gallup and Farmington. Tuesday appears to be the coolest day overall of next week, when highs vary from near to about 12 degrees cooler than normal. A warming trend will resume Wednesday, with highs rebounding to above average by Thursday thanks to a ridge building over NM. Increasing southwest flow aloft may bring another shot at precipitation late next week. && .FIRE WEATHER... Showers and thunderstorms will develop this afternoon across northwest NM and may spread eastward this evening and overnight toward the central mountain chain. Wetting rain footprints will likely be small and gusty winds will be possible. Storms this afternoon will generally move toward the north around 20 to 25 mph. Much drier conditions will be ushered into western and central NM on Saturday with stronger wind speeds. Critical fire weather conditions will be possible from the Rio Grande Valley westward as humidity values fall below 15% with high Haines values and wind gusts between 35 and 40 mph. A Fire Weather Watch will be issued for these areas. The only potential limiter will be if and/or how much precipitation falls this afternoon and tonight. Also of concern is across northeast NM where winds will be just as strong if not stronger than across western NM, with Haines values around 5, but forecast humidity values remain just above critical thresholds. If humidity values drop slightly, critical fire weather conditions would be likely. Another round of critical fire weather conditions are possible on Sunday, mainly for areas east of the central mountain chain, though northwest and far west central NM may also see critical conditions. A drier pattern with occasional breezes is in store early next work week. Daytime humidity values falling into the single digits will not be out of the question. Temperatures will generally trend downward Monday and Tuesday before rebounding Wednesday. && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Fire Weather Watch from Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening for the following zones... NMZ101-105-106-109. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 421 AM MDT Fri Jun 5 2020 NMZ201>241-061200- 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- 421 AM MDT Fri Jun 5 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Showers and thunderstorms will be increasing today and tonight over western and northern New Mexico. Some of this activity will produce strong and erratic wind gusts. Near record heat is expected again today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday On Saturday afternoon, critical fire weather conditions are possible from the Rio Grande Valley westward while southwest winds gusting to around 55 mph are forecast to impact northeast New Mexico. Critical fire weather conditions may return Sunday from the central mountain chain eastward and over northwest New Mexico but will be limited on Monday to the Northeast Highlands and Plains. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report wind gusts and precipitation amounts and impacts 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.
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 133 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:21 UTC.
6 high wind, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Gallup airport reported a peak wind gust up to 58 mph ahead of an approaching Pacific cold front.
The NM Air Quality mesonet site northeast of Farmington reported a thunderstorm wind gust up to 58 mph. A large Cottonwood tree at a residence in Farmington was also partially blown down from high winds.
The NMDOT mesonet site near I-40 and NM-6 reported a peak wind gust up to 59 mph ahead of an approaching Pacific cold front.
A thunderstorm moving rapidly north through the Belen area produced a peak wind gust up to 66 mph. No significant damage to trees and power lines was reported with the passage of this storm.
The Taos Ski Valley mesonet site at Kachina Peak reported peak wind gusts between 58 mph and 62 mph periodically for several hours.
The Taos airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 45 mph.
Peak wind gusts up to 59 mph were reported near Capulin.
The Melrose Bombing Range reported a peak wind gust up to 60 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: 885406, 885405, 885407, 885408, 885410, 885411, 885785, 885412.