Thanks to one of the more active monsoon seasons in recent years, a very active pattern throughout the month of August contributed to continued improvement in New Mexico drought conditions. Eastern New Mexico, which had largely been left out of beneficial precipitation the previous month, saw a significant uptick in thunderstorm coverage during August.
Every event with a place to put it; 33 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.
Thanks to one of the more active monsoon seasons in recent years, a very active pattern throughout the month of August contributed to continued improvement in New Mexico drought conditions. Eastern New Mexico, which had largely been left out of beneficial precipitation the previous month, saw a significant uptick in thunderstorm coverage during August. In fact, portions of southeast New Mexico saw precipitation totals 3 to 5 inches above normal for the month or 300% to 450% above normal. This allowed for drought conditions to significantly improve, especially across the east. Precipitation totals across western and central New Mexico were generally around 1 to 3 inches during the month with some locally higher amounts in the northern high terrain. Across the east, precipitation totals were generally 3 to 8 inches with those higher amounts across the southeast. Now about 59 percent of the state was in at least severe drought. About 10 percent of that was in at least extreme drought with less than 1 percent in the exceptional category.
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 31, 10:20 PM MST, 1 hour 40 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1120 PM MDT Sun Jul 31 2022 .AVIATION... 06Z TAF CYCLE VFR conditions prevail and are forecast to persist through the TAF period outside of scattered convection Monday afternoon/evening, when short-lived MVFR conditions are possible. Highest probabilities for thunderstorm impacts Monday will be at KLVS and KSAF. In addition, patches of mountain obscurations are likely overnight. Otherwise, winds will be light outside of thunderstorm outflow. 11 && .PREV DISCUSSION...237 PM MDT Sun Jul 31 2022... .SYNOPSIS... It is hard to say if there will be a lull in monsoon thunderstorm activity as it has been very hit and miss as typical. But there looks to be a downward trend in overall thunderstorm coverage to start the week but activity should increase in coverage again for the middle of the week. The weather pattern changes to support a front pushing into northeast and eastern New Mexico on Wednesday. This will allow for more thunderstorm activity especially over the northern mountains. Thunderstorm activity will become more widespread on Thursday given this front will linger over northeast New Mexico. This means we are expecting an increase in flash flood potential on the burn areas of Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon as well as Cook's Peak. So while the burn areas may expect thunderstorm activity each day, there looks to be higher chances on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT)... Storms were a little slower to ignite today, and didn't make an appearance until about noon. The upper high center had pushed farther into New Mexico this morning and storm motion has responded to that change, with current activity tending to move to the northeast and east, except along the Arizona border where movement was more to the north northeast. Models indicate a cluster of showers and isolated storms may persist late this evening and into the overnight over west central New Mexico with potential for a second area over portions of northeast/east central New Mexico. No changes anticipated to the ongoing Flood Watch. The upper high center is forecast to drift into western New Mexico Monday, resulting in more northwesterly storm motions and a focus for the most activity along and near the central mountain chain. Locally heavy rain will continue to be possible. Overnight lows will continue to be a few degrees warmer than normal. Monday's highs will be slightly warmer than today's but still close to climatology for the first day of August. LONG TERM...(TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY)... Overall it is hard to find any changes from the previous forecast to discuss. The previous long term discussion does a really good job of describing the evolution of the monsoonal upper level ridge which by Tuesday becomes fairly well situated over the NM/AZ border. The ridge weakens a little on Wednesday and shifts a touch north to allow for a trough to push through the plains with a trailing cold front that makes its way into E NM. Thursday the ridge builds over CO/NM border trying to build into the C Plains on Friday. This allows for more easterly flow to develop aloft with southerly low level flow. By 12Z Sunday both the ECMWF/GFS ensembles have the ridge over the central plains which would then open up easterly flow and perhaps an easterly waves to push across TX from the Gulf. So what does this mean for thunderstorm activity across New Mexico? To start out the ridge will limit some of the activity but on Tuesday it looks like most of this activity will be over higher terrain over the Gila Forest and Continental Divide. Activity becomes more widespread with the front coming into NE NM. The increased E flow will allow for upslope forcing for the Sangre de Cristo Mtns and a higher threat for flash flooding on the HP/CC burn scar. Moisture is around normal levels for this time of year, but the added forcing will be key for thunderstorm activity. Even 700-500mb flow becomes more easterly through Thursday so Thursday will be another day for widespread thunderstorm activity for much of the state. The ridge will also be more centered over CO as well. Thunderstorm activity into the weekend should continue but less coverage than Wed/Thur or probably even Friday. It does look like the easterly flow to the south of the ridge will support some activity but it is far enough out that we cannot really pinpoint any details. Moisture may be somewhat an issue as both the GFS/ECMWF show precip water values under 1 inches instead of just above 1 inch. 99/39 && .FIRE WEATHER... Cell motion through tonight will be mainly from southwest to northeast or west to east with potential for locally heavy rain continuing. Strongest winds will be associated with showers and thunderstorms and outflow boundaries. The upper high center over New Mexico early this week is now forecast to drift into Arizona, allowing for a front to push into the region Wednesday night/Thursday. Therefore, a slight downtick in convection by Tuesday/Wednesday will be followed by an upswing due to the front. Forecast models now suggest the upper high center will be slower to move to the east late this week, if it does at all. It may stay anchored over the central and southern Rockies into the Great Basin. Showers and storms are still likely over the higher terrain but they may become less numerous. Highs will generally be within a few degrees of normal with Wednesday most likely the warmest day of the upcoming work week. Areas of fair to poor ventilation are forecast each day, especially Monday and Saturday. 99 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
731 PM MDT Sun Jul 31 2022
NMZ234-010200-
Quay County-
731 PM MDT Sun Jul 31 2022
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF CENTRAL QUAY COUNTY
THROUGH 800 PM MDT...
At 731 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles east of Quay, or 15 miles southeast of Tucumcari, moving east
at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Wheatland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
Heavy rains will cause water to pond on roads and in low spots. Fast
running water will quickly fill arroyos and ditches.
&&
LAT...LON 3486 10365 3505 10368 3513 10341 3500 10332
3487 10335
TIME...MOT...LOC 0131Z 260DEG 8KT 3498 10358
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
44PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
906 PM MDT SUN JUL 31 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0737 PM FLASH FLOOD 5 NE MANUELITO 35.47N 108.93W
07/29/2022 MCKINLEY NM DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
NM118 AT MM11 CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS DUE
TO FLOODING.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBUQUERQUE NM
909 PM MDT SUN JUL 31 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0523 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 SE CHURCH ROCK 35.52N 108.58W
07/26/2022 MCKINLEY NM DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
NM118 MM29-33 CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS DUE
TO FLOODING.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
33 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe to extreme drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 improved to moderate drought or abnormally dry conditions in August.
Extreme to exceptional drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe to extreme drought conditions in August.
Extreme to exceptional drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe to extreme drought conditions in August.
Moderate to severe drought conditions from July 2022 improved to moderate drought conditions areawide in August.
Moderate to severe drought conditions from July 2022 improved to moderate drought conditions areawide in August.
Extreme drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe drought conditions in August.
Severe to extreme drought conditions from July 2022 improved in August to severe drought conditions across eastern third of Guadalupe County.
Extreme drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe drought conditions in August.
Extreme drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe drought conditions in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 improved to moderate drought conditions in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 improved to moderate drought conditions in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 improved to moderate drought in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.
Moderate to severe drought conditions from July 2022 improved to moderate drought conditions areawide in August.
Moderate to severe drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 improved to moderate drought conditions in August.
Extreme to exceptional drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe to extreme drought conditions in August.
Severe to extreme drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe drought conditions areawide in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.
Extreme to exceptional drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe drought conditions in August.
Exceptional drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe drought conditions in August.
Extreme to exceptional drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe drought conditions in August.
Severe to extreme drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe drought conditions areawide in August.
Extreme to exceptional drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe drought conditions in August.
Severe to extreme drought conditions from July 2022 improved to severe drought conditions areawide in August.
Severe drought conditions from July 2022 continued in August.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, August 2022
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: 1043777, 1043778, 1043779, 1043780, 1043781, 1043782, 1043783, 1043784, 1043786, 1043787, 1043788, 1043789, 1043790, 1043791, 1043792, 1043793, 1043794, 1043795, 1043796, 1043797, 1043798, 1043800, 1043801, 1043802, 1043803, 1043804, 1043805, 1043806, 1043807, 1043808, 1043809, 1043810, 1043811.