An unseasonably strong upper level trough moving through the central Rockies forced a powerful cold front through New Mexico on June 8, 2020. Strong west to southwest winds ahead of the front impacted much of central and western New Mexico with wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph.
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.
An unseasonably strong upper level trough moving through the central Rockies forced a powerful cold front through New Mexico on June 8, 2020. Strong west to southwest winds ahead of the front impacted much of central and western New Mexico with wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Winds then shifted to the west and northwest as the front plowed through the state with localized peak gusts of 60 to 70 mph. A few record low temperatures were reported in the wake of the front with lows in the 20s and 30s over some northern and western valleys on the morning of June 9th.
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 8, 2:30 PM MST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 330 PM MDT Mon Jun 8 2020 .SYNOPSIS... A very strong upper level disturbance will cross near the Four Corners region early this evening before moving into Colorado. This system will bring strong to severe winds to much of New Mexico tonight along with a cold front. Wind gusts will likely reach or exceed 50 to 60 mph through the evening and early morning hours as this front plunges into the Land of Enchantment. Into Tuesday, high temperatures will be below average by 5 to 15 degrees with northwest winds remaining gusty, but not nearly as severe as what is expected tonight. Dry conditions will persist Tuesday and again on Wednesday, but temperatures should rebound back to normal by Wednesday afternoon with light to moderate breezes. Temperatures will rise a couple to a few degrees more on Thursday and Friday with faint areas of moisture moving into the state, leading to isolated to scattered areas of shower and thunderstorm development. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY)... Strong southwest winds will continue until this evening and late tonight when speeds will strengthen and shift out of the northwest with the passage of a Pacific cold front. The strongest wind gusts could reach 65 mph over central areas. In the wake of the cold front late tonight speeds will weaken across western areas, and also in sheltered parts of the northern mountains. Places like Gallup, Dulce, Chama, Red River, and Angel Fire will have freezing temperatures tonight. Freezing temperatures should return again in the northern mountains Tuesday night. Northwest and north winds will become breezy to windy again Tuesday with the strongest gusts reaching 50 mph in the morning across parts of the eastern plains, and potentially as high as 60 mph near Clayton. The potential exists for another round of critical fire weather conditions on Tuesday as strong north and northwest winds linger across northern and eastern areas in the wake of an upper level trough gradually exiting CO to the east. A few rain showers will be possible near the CO border from Raton Pass eastward late tonight into Tuesday morning. LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY)... Wednesday morning's temperatures will be cool again, but slightly warmer than Tuesday morning's readings. A welcome respite from the wind will be in store as the upper level gradient relaxes in response to a dome of high pressure nudging northward over Chihuahua, Mexico. Dry conditions will persist with low dewpoints, but the southerly low level flow will begin to alter this going into Thursday. By Thursday afternoon the surface dewpoints should be rising into the 40's and low 50's in east central to southeastern NM, escalating more into Thursday night and Friday as return flow off of the Gulf of Mexico continues. This will carry PWATs above a half inch in parts of the forecast area Thursday, and up to 0.75 to 1.25 inches over the eastern two-thirds of the forecast area on Friday. Showers and storms will likely be inefficient at producing measurable rainfall Thursday, but that would change for central to eastern areas Friday with at least isolated to scattered coverage. Another eastern Pacific low will then make landfall over the OR or northern CA coast by early Saturday, and this will dictate the location of both the upper high over Old Mexico and the moisture plume on its western periphery. For now, an axis of moisture sufficient for showers and thunderstorms appears to stay intact Saturday, potentially eroding some Sunday into Monday of next week. 44/52 && .FIRE WEATHER... ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO PERSIST INTO TUESDAY... Widespread critical fire weather conditions should linger until midnight tonight, due to very dry air and very strong northwest winds that will occur with the passage of a Pacific cold front tonight. The strongest gusts could reach 65 mph over central areas. Portions of the northern and western mountains, including Gallup, are expected to freeze tonight, then again in parts of the northern mountains Tuesday night. The string of days with critical fire weather conditions may continue into Tuesday across northern and eastern parts of the Fire Weather Forecast area. Gusts could reach up to 50 mph in parts of the east, except up to 60 mph near Clayton, and around 40 mph central and northwest. Humidities will remain very low. However, high temperatures around 5 to 15 degrees below normal and Haines Indices varying from 3-5 will be limiting factors. Given the ongoing fire growing pattern, which followed a week of active lightning strikes, we are leaning toward issuing a Red Flag Warning for Tuesday. Winds will weaken Wednesday and Thursday and high temperatures will trend warmer. Humidities will remain very low until the latter half of the week, when a high pressure system will build closer to the state and a moist southerly and southeasterly low-level return flow develops underneath. The potential exists for some drier variety thunderstorms over central and southern portions of the fire weather forecast area on Thursday, then wetting footprints should increase as thunderstorm coverage spreads to much of the forecast area on Friday and Saturday. A mix of wet and dry cells will probably still be found along and west of the continental divide, with wetter storms favoring locations farther east. Drier air will decrease storm coverage and wetness again on Sunday as it infiltrates from the southwest. 44 && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE Windy conditions this afternoon will get windier tonight east of the continental divide as an unseasonably strong Pacific cold front plows through central and eastern parts of the forecast area. There will be a pronounced wind shift out of the northwest as the cold front crosses. Blowing dust is likely in dust-prone locations. A thick smoke plume from SE AZ wildfires is expected to pass eastward over Valencia, Torrance, Catron, Socorro, and Lincoln Counties this afternoon and early evening, potentially producing flight category restrictions. In addition, there will be low-level wind shear at airports just east of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains late tonight as the speed maximum crosses aloft. Strong north and northwest winds will persist through Tuesday morning across the east, then the focus for strong northwest winds will shift to central and northwest areas Tuesday afternoon. In addition, a few rain showers could develop from Raton Pass eastward along the CO border late tonight and Tuesday morning. 44 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 38 73 42 82 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 30 72 31 78 / 5 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 35 69 39 78 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 29 73 35 82 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 30 70 37 78 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 33 72 37 81 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 34 72 40 81 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 43 76 47 82 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 38 71 43 80 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 33 80 38 85 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 46 85 52 88 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 28 67 32 71 / 10 5 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 42 69 45 78 / 0 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 40 69 45 75 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 35 70 37 73 / 10 10 0 0 Red River....................... 30 59 32 66 / 20 10 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 27 62 30 69 / 5 5 0 0 Taos............................ 34 70 35 77 / 5 5 0 0 Mora............................ 36 68 37 76 / 0 5 0 0 Espanola........................ 43 77 44 82 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 41 70 46 78 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 40 74 42 81 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 47 76 50 82 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 47 77 49 84 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 48 80 49 86 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 48 77 49 84 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 46 80 45 87 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 47 79 47 85 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 45 79 45 86 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 46 79 48 85 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 45 80 47 86 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 47 73 50 83 / 0 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 47 77 48 84 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 50 85 50 88 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 42 69 47 79 / 0 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 44 72 46 82 / 0 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 40 72 42 80 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 38 75 37 82 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 38 70 42 77 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 42 73 43 81 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 42 73 43 81 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 47 78 50 83 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 43 72 47 78 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 39 64 39 77 / 20 20 0 0 Raton........................... 41 72 37 79 / 10 10 0 0 Springer........................ 44 74 39 82 / 0 5 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 39 72 40 77 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 47 69 45 82 / 5 10 0 0 Roy............................. 47 75 43 79 / 0 5 0 0 Conchas......................... 53 82 48 88 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 51 80 48 85 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 56 81 50 90 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 52 80 48 85 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 54 82 48 87 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 54 83 50 86 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 58 87 53 90 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 50 81 49 84 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 47 82 46 82 / 0 0 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until midnight MDT tonight for the following zones... NMZ101>109. Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening for the following zones... NMZ101>104-106>108. Wind Advisory until 9 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ201>206-210. High Wind Warning from 6 PM this evening to 3 AM MDT Tuesday for the following zones... NMZ207-208-219>222-224-241. High Wind Warning from 6 PM this evening to 6 AM MDT Tuesday for the following zones... NMZ223-229-233. Wind Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 6 AM MDT Tuesday for the following zones... NMZ214-215-226>228-230>232-234>239. Wind Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 3 AM MDT Tuesday for the following zones... NMZ211-212-217-218-225. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 347 AM MDT Mon Jun 8 2020 NMZ201>241-091100- 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- 347 AM MDT Mon Jun 8 2020 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 this afternoon and early evening across all of northern and central New Mexico where low humidity combined with strong winds will create critical fire weather conditions. Late this afternoon and evening, a strong cold front will blast from northwest to southeast. Another burst of strong to potentially damaging winds is expected along and behind the cold front for one to three hours. Wind gusts between 50 and 60 mph will be common. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Critical fire weather conditions may return Tuesday for the Sandia, Manzano and Gallinas Mountains eastward to the Texas border due to strong winds and low humidity. Winds will be strongest across northeast New Mexico where gusts near 50 mph will be possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report strong wind gusts, wind damage and any wildfires 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. 34
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
359 PM MDT MON JUN 08 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0328 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WNW GALLUP 35.54N 108.78W
06/08/2020 M74 MPH MCKINLEY NM ASOS
KGUP ASOS.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ABQ202001299
SHOEMAKESpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 417 PM MDT Mon Jun 8 2020 NMZ202-205>208-091200- Chuska Mountains-West Central Plateau-West Central Mountains- West Central Highlands-Southwest Mountains- 417 PM MDT Mon Jun 8 2020 ...POWERFUL COLD FRONT TO INVADE WESTERN NEW MEXICO THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING... A vigorous upper level disturbance is currently racing toward the Four Corners region, dragging a strong surface cold front along with it. As this cold front surges into western New Mexico it will not only produce strong to severe wind gusts, but it will also bring unseasonably cold temperatures to the area tonight. Many locations in western New Mexico will observe freezing temperatures for the first time in several days or weeks. This could damage or kill sensitive vegetation or crops. Exposed pipes, above-ground irrigation, and swamp cooler lines will also be at risk of freezing. Take action now to protect sensitive vegetation, insulate outdoor plumbing, and ensure that pets and livestock have an unfrozen source of drinking water. 52
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A strong cold front ripped through Farmington with peak wind gusts near 59 mph. Visibility was reduced to between two and three miles in blowing dust.
High winds tore off shingles from the roof of a home near McIntosh. A tree limb was also blown down from the strong winds. Damage amounts are estimated for minor roof damage.
A public weather station near Tecolotito reported a peak wind gust up to 58 mph.
A strong cold front ripped through Clines Corners with peak wind gusts up to 63 mph.
The Clayton airpark reported powerful sustained winds between 40 mph and 53 mph for several hours. No damage was observed in Clayton although power outages were reported.
The Clayton airpark reported peak wind gusts up to 67 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: 886066, 886759, 886761, 886071, 886763, 886764.