July 26, 2021 was yet another active monsoon day across northern and central New Mexico. With an area of high pressure over northern Colorado, moist southeasterly flow continued across much of New Mexico which resulted in another round of numerous afternoon thunderstorms.
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.
July 26, 2021 was yet another active monsoon day across northern and central New Mexico. With an area of high pressure over northern Colorado, moist southeasterly flow continued across much of New Mexico which resulted in another round of numerous afternoon thunderstorms. Thunderstorms developed first over the high terrain areas before coverage increased across lower elevations. The combination of heavy rainfall and slow steering flow resulted in a few reports of flash flooding across central New Mexico. The most notable event occurred over the Ute Park burn scar where the Colfax County emergency manager relayed reports of damage to multiple roadways in the area as well as numerous residents stranded in their homes.
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 Jul 26, 10:42 AM MST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1142 AM MDT Mon Jul 26 2021 .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE Another active monsoon day with storm coverage again favoring areas along and west of the central mountain chain with isolated activity across the east. Steering flow will generally move storms in a north to northeast direction, but slow and erratic motions are possible. Heavy rain, frequent lightning, and strong downburst winds will be possible with the stronger thunderstorms. Impacts are possible at all TAF sites, but highest confidence is in TAF sites across central and western NM, including KLVS. Storm coverage will diminish through tonight. Mostly VFR conditions except brief MVFR in thunderstorms. Occasional mountain obscurations as well. && .PREV DISCUSSION...157 AM MDT Mon Jul 26 2021... .SYNOPSIS... This week will be active with daily rounds of storms, favoring the central mountain chain west to the Arizona border. Locally heavy rainfall will accompany some storms with the potential for flash flooding. Expect a downtick in storm coverage across most of the area Friday into Saturday while temperatures warm to within a few degrees of normal. Chances for storms will trend back up Sunday into Monday, mainly across central and western New Mexico, as a Monsoon moisture plume develops over the area. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY)... The H5 high that was centered over the TX Panhandle yesterday will broaden and strengthen over northern CO/southern WY today. Flow aloft changes subtly to more southeasterly over the area, and drier air rounding the high will allow for a slight reduction in PWATs. However, there will still be plenty of moisture for the atmosphere to work with as PWATs still remain above an inch across much of central and western NM. Another active monsoon day (one that is very similar to yesterday) is ahead with scattered to numerous thunderstorms favoring areas along and west of the central mountain chain. Steering flow looks to be slower and messier today, but these storms will generally have a northerly component to their movement with steering flow at less than 10 knots. Did opt to issue a Flash Flood Watch for the South Central Mountains zone today. This area received up to 3 inches of rainfall yesterday with reports of flash flooding received near Nogal. With the same general setup and the potential for an additional 1-2" of rain today, this is the area of greatest concern for flash flooding potential. However, any thunderstorm will be capable of locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding. The H5 high shifts eastward on Tuesday with its center over Nebraska. PWATs continue their downward trend, but will still remain high at around an inch. A very similar setup is once again expected with flow aloft developing storms first across the higher terrain then moving them in a northerly direction. Central and western NM will once LONG TERM...(TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY)... The upper high will be centered over the central US plains by Wednesday, with deep easterly flow across our area and an easterly wave on approach from over south TX. The upper high is forecast to sink south toward the ArkLaTex through Saturday as the easterly wave moves across northern Mexico, then moves north around the upper high circulation over AZ. This scenario will favor central and western NM for precip Wed/Thu, with a gradual downtrend thereafter across central NM as drier air is steered over at least the eastern half of the state. Both the 00Z ECMWF and GFS show the KABQ PWAT dipping below an inch by Friday night into Saturday. Thunderstorm chances will dip during the Fri/Sat period as temperatures warm to within a few degrees of normal. Although the the latest medium range models are at odds with the exact placement and strength of the upper high late in the weekend and early next week, they agree on a jump in PWATs back to above normal as southerly flow develops in the mid levels of the atmosphere and a Monsoon moisture plume develops. 15/11 && .FIRE WEATHER... There are no critical fire weather concerns over the next week as daily rounds of thunderstorms and good chances for wetting precipitation continue. With the upper-level high to the northeast, storm coverage will generally favor central and western NM this week with isolated coverage across the east. Heavy rainfall and localized areas of flash flooding will remain a daily concern, especially on or near recent burn scars. The possibility for heavy rainfall potentially increases Wednesday and Thursday across southern and western NM as an easterly wave moves westward through the area. Storm motions will generally have a northerly component this week, but may be slow and erratic at times. 15 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch through this evening for the following zones... NMZ226. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 347 AM MDT Mon Jul 26 2021 NMZ201>241-271100- 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 Jul 26 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of north and central New Mexico. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Heavy rainfall is possible across central and western portions of the area this afternoon and evening, but especially in the South Central Mountains where localized areas of flash flooding may occur. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Heavy rainfall is possible during the afternoon and evening hours each day, mainly in the mountains and surrounding higher terrain, where localized areas of flash flooding may occur. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report rainfall amounts and any flooding through the National Weather Service Albuquerque web site at weather.gov/abq or by calling 1.888.386.7637. 11
The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 223 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:10 UTC.
3 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter near Ute Park reported nickel size hail from a strong thunderstorm that was slowly tracking northward through the area.
Strong thunderstorms near Encinoso produced an estimated 1.5 to 2 inches of rainfall. This resulted in severe flooding along New Mexico State Road 246 which forced the closure of the roadway from mile marker 18 to mile marker 36. Damages are estimated for the washed out roadway.
A strong thunderstorm produced an estimated 1 inch of heavy rainfall in a short period of time on the Ute Park burn scar. This resulted in rapid runoff with emergency personnel reporting a six foot wall of water that flowed through Ute Park with a three foot rise of water in Cimarron. This damaged many roads in the area and trapped numerous residents within their homes. No injuries or fatalities resulted from the flash flooding. Damages are estimated.
An estimated 2.5 to 3.5 inches of heavy rainfall in under an hour caused flash flooding in Placitas. Several roads and drainage ditches in the Placitas area were flooded with mud and debris also covering roadways. Damages are estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, July 2021
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: 962618, 962629, 962635, 962931.