A record breaking heatwave during the first week of September took a dramatic turn toward winter as a powerful storm system moved south through the Rocky Mountains on September 8, 2020. A powerful cold front shifted south and west through eastern New Mexico and plowed through gaps in the central mountain chain into the Rio Grande Valley on the morning of September 9, 2020.
Every event with a place to put it; 11 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 record breaking heatwave during the first week of September took a dramatic turn toward winter as a powerful storm system moved south through the Rocky Mountains on September 8, 2020. A powerful cold front shifted south and west through eastern New Mexico and plowed through gaps in the central mountain chain into the Rio Grande Valley on the morning of September 9, 2020. Canyon winds peaked during the late afternoon and evening hours when gusts of 70 to 80 mph were reported. These powerful winds affected the east side of the Albuquerque metro area for several hours before slowly tapering off through September 10, 2020. Dozens of trees, power lines, power poles, fences, and walls were blown down. Roof damage was also reported across the city. At least 15,000 customers were without power, and as many as a 1,000 customers had no power for three days after the event. Record breaking early snowfall also impacted the high terrain with this event. Many locations in the northern mountains reported two to six inches of snow while one to two inches fell at lower elevations of northern New Mexico. Fire and rescue personnel evacuated the Rio Chama RV Park as the combination of heavy snow and strong winds downed several large tree limbs onto at least two recreational vehicles. Several locations also set daily record low minimum and record low maximum temperatures on both September 9th and September 10th.
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 8, 11:21 AM MST, 39 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1221 PM MDT Tue Sep 8 2020 .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE An upper level low pressure system over UT will sag slowly southward to just west of the Four Corners tonight through Wednesday. This position will keep a strong gap wind going below canyons opening from the east or southeast, including GNT, ABQ, AEG, SAF, and at times SKX and Carrizozo. Widespread precipitation is expected with IFR and MVFR conditions tonight into Wednesday. Timing of precipitation will be tricky at ABQ due to the downslope gap wind. The gap wind could temporarily weaken at ABQ if strong enough dynamics develop for rain on station tonight, otherwise rain at ABQ will be more likely once the gap winds begin to weaken on Wednesday. Otherwise, rain and snow mix may reach as low as 6000 feet in the vicinity of the northern mountains tonight, with snow likely above 7500 feet. 44 && .PREV DISCUSSION...324 AM MDT Tue Sep 8 2020... .SYNOPSIS... A wild weather day is in store across the Land of Enchantment. A strong back door cold front will continue to dive southward across eastern New Mexico, then through the gaps of the central mountain chain by mid day. Wind gusts between 50 and 60 mph will be common behind the front as temperatures drastically lower. By this afternoon, rain will begin to develop across the northwest cold front and this will expand to nearly all areas through tonight. The cold temperatures will allow for snow across the northern mountains, and a wintry mix across the northeast plains this evening. The first freeze of the season is expected across many north and east central locales tonight. Precipitation will continue through Wednesday, with areas of rain evening persisting through Thursday. After temperatures 20 to 40 degrees below normal on Wednesday, high temperatures will rebound Thursday through the weekend. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)... A dramatic change in the weather today through Wednesday as we experience high and possibly damaging winds, rain, a little ice and mountain snow, and temperatures 30 to 50 degrees lower than Monday! A deepening storm in Utah will move south to near the Four Corners tonight and remain there Wednesday. Precipitation will become widespread today and continue through Wednesday. Rain will change to snow in the northern mountains and northeast highlands, while a little sleet and freezing rain will be possible in the far northeast plains later tonight. And if that is not enough, there will be a freeze tonight in east central and northeast areas, which would be the earliest freeze for several locations. Near record lows will be widespread. LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY)... By Wednesday night, the upper level low will have moved little, still positioned near or just northwest of the Four Corners. The canyon winds will have calmed some in the Rio Grande Valley, but it will still be blowing. Low temperatures will be warmer than tonight by a few degrees, but generally still between 5 and 15 degrees below normal. A weak disturbance within the flow aloft is expected help develop another round of rain, from the southwest mountains northeastward. On Thursday, the upper low will start to shift northeastward, but if the GFS is correct, one final bout of rain will come as it shifts away. However, the GFS seems to bring back low level moisture within southeasterly flow much faster than any other model on Thursday, which leads to greater instability than the other models. Thus, confidence is low to medium on this final round of rainfall. The base of the attendant trough will be moving overhead, which would help with lift. Should this last round occur, central and north central areas would be favored. Drier air aloft will move in behind the system on Friday, however, low level moisture will be moving in from the southeast. The GFS continues to be the most aggressive with the moisture advection. Nonetheless, isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible by Friday afternoon and continue through the weekend, mainly near and south of I-40 across the higher terrain. Northern areas will remain drier. The upper high will start to build back into the Desert Southwest early next week, but won't be nearly as strong as this past week. CHJ/34 && .FIRE WEATHER... The hot and dry weather of late will be a distant memory today through Thursday. The storm is moving south and deepening in Utah while a powerful back door front has reached northeast NM. The temperatures will be dramatically lower in the east today and all areas tonight and Wednesday. Winds will be strong and possibly damaging in the Rio Grande Valley and eastern plains. Precipitation will become widespread with rain through Thursday. Snow will fall tonight and Wednesday in the northern mountains. A little sleet and freezing will be possible in the far northeast. Precipitation will diminish Friday but not end. A weak short wave trough will cross NM Saturday with showers and thunderstorms possible, mainly across the south. CHJ && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Freeze Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM MDT Wednesday for the following zones... NMZ222-223-228>231. Wind Advisory until 6 AM MDT Wednesday for the following zones... NMZ228-232-233. High Wind Warning until 6 AM MDT Wednesday for the following zones... NMZ218-219-221-230-231-234-235. Wind Advisory until 6 PM MDT this evening for the following zones... NMZ227. Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM this evening to 6 PM MDT Wednesday for the following zones... NMZ210-213-227. Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 6 PM MDT Wednesday for the following zones... NMZ211-214>216. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 501 AM MDT Tue Sep 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- 501 AM MDT Tue Sep 8 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A major cold front will continue to slide down the plains today and through the gaps of the central mountain chain by the afternoon. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph are expected behind the front, which may create areas of blowing dust. Strong winds will persist through the overnight period. Much colder temperatures are expected behind the front, with the first freeze expected for portions of north, northeast and east central New Mexico tonight. Widespread rain will develop this afternoon and evening, though the colder temperatures across the north will allow for snow across the Northern Mountains and Upper Rio Grande Valley. A wintry mix is also possible across northeast New Mexico. This precipitation should help alleviate the smoke impacts felt during the morning hours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Record cold maximum temperatures are in store for much of the area on Wednesday. Snow will persist across portions of the north, but temperatures may gradually warm, allowing snow to change to rain below 10,000 feet in the afternoon. Periods of rain will persist into Thursday before the storm system causing the dramatic change in weather finally leaves the area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report snow and rainfall amounts as well as high wind speeds or damage 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
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1250 PM MDT Tue Sep 8 2020
NMZ203-081915-
Far Northwest Highlands-
1250 PM MDT Tue Sep 8 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN RIO ARRIBA COUNTY
UNTIL 115 PM MDT...
At 1250 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles southwest of Dulce, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Dulce and Lumberton.
This includes Highway 64 between Mile Markers 93 and 140.
&&
LAT...LON 3700 10687 3698 10687 3655 10719 3669 10754
3700 10728
TIME...MOT...LOC 1850Z 212DEG 40KT 3687 10718
15The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 high wind, 2 winter storm, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
U.S. Highway 285 was closed between Roswell and Artesia due to blowing dust with poor visibility. One vehicle accident was reported with unknown injuries.
The Santa Fe airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 47 mph for several hours as gap winds pushed through the area.
A weather station below Embudo Canyon reported wind gusts as high as 79 mph for several hours as gap winds plowed through Tijeras Canyon. Dozens of large trees were toppled across the city, including; one tree near Lomas and Eubank, one at City View park near Copper and Tramway, one tree near Central and Wyoming, and another tree along Central east of Tramway. Roof damage was reported to one home near I-40 and Eubank. A concrete wall and fence were toppled near I-40 and Louisiana. Thousands of PNM customers were without power for one to two days and some others were without power for three to four days. Damage amounts are a rough estimate for damage to power infrastructure, roofs, and fences.
The Albuquerque Sunport measured damaging wind gusts between 58 mph and 71 mph for several hours as gap winds plowed through Tijeras Canyon. Dozens of large trees were toppled across the city, including; one tree along Girard just south of Gibson, one tree along Sunport Loop near the Sheraton hotel, at least one tree on the University of New Mexico campus, and other large trees at Roosevelt Park and Hyder Park. A large pine tree at Jefferson Middle School fell over power lines along Girard Blvd. Another large pine tree fell over power lines into Girard near Campus Blvd. Roofing was damaged at the city courthouse in downtown Albuquerque and another roof was damaged at a hotel near the Sunport. Thousands of PNM customers were without power for one to two days and some others were without power for three to four days. Damage amounts are a rough estimate for damage to power infrastructure, roofs, and fences.
The Clovis airport reported sustained winds between 40 mph and 43 mph periodically for several hours.
Two observers near the Taos airport reported wind gusts between 63 mph and 71 mph as powerful gap winds surged into the Upper Rio Grande Valley. Minor damage was reported to a portal at one residence.
The Albuquerque Sunport measured sustained winds between 40 mph and 51 mph for several hours as gap winds plowed through Tijeras Canyon.
A peak wind gust up to 89 mph was measured at the top of the Sandia Peak Tramway. The tram was closed for the day due to high winds.
The Santa Fe airport reported a peak wind gust to 59 mph as gap winds pushed through the area.
The combination of heavy snow, high winds, and low visibility resulted in severe travel conditions along U.S. Highway 64 between mile markers 349 and 386 east of Raton. Snowfall amounts averaged one to three inches around Capulin.
Local media reported that fire and rescue teams evacuated around 50 campers at the Rio Chama RV park around 100 am due to falling tree branches. The weight of heavy snow on fully leafed out trees along with strong winds toppled dozens of large branches. At least one recreational vehicle was destroyed and another one was damaged. Minor injuries were reported however the extent of the injuries was not known. Damage amounts are estimated for total loss of two small RVs.
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, September 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: 910330, 910320, 910333, 910317, 910315, 910318, 910316, 910334, 910321, 910336, 910335.