A break in the monsoon activity was finally in store for northern and central New Mexico, and this led to much quieter conditions through early September. However, a weak disturbance racing across the central Rockies plus a slight increase in mid-level moisture was enough to generate isolated thunderstorms across the northwest corner of the state on September 5, 2022.
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.
A break in the monsoon activity was finally in store for northern and central New Mexico, and this led to much quieter conditions through early September. However, a weak disturbance racing across the central Rockies plus a slight increase in mid-level moisture was enough to generate isolated thunderstorms across the northwest corner of the state on September 5, 2022. With drier low-levels, strong and gusty downburst winds were more common with these thunderstorms, and a 58 mph wind gust was briefly measured at the Farmington Airport.
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 5, 4:21 PM MST, 3 hours 40 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 521 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 121 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022 Hot and dry conditions will persist across the region this week with only isolated showers and thunderstorms near the high terrain. Gusty and erratic outflow wind gusts with brief rain is possible. A series of backdoor cold fronts will move into eastern NM Friday and again on Saturday with a noticeable increase in storm coverage across NM. High temperatures will cool closer to normal for early September behind these fronts. && .SHORT TERM... This evening through Tuesday night Issued at 121 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022 Isolated evening showers and thunderstorms over portions of western NM are forecast to slowly dissipate several hours after sunset. A quiet night is in store with mostly clear to clear sky and low temperatures forecast to be a degree or three above last night's readings. Rising pressure heights along with dry air aloft will result in a sunny to mostly sunny and hot day Tuesday. The rising pressure heights are the result of the monsoon high getting a subsidence (sinking air) boost from Tropical Storm Kay, strengthening over the Great Basin during the next couple of days. What goes up, must come down at some point. Low temperatures Tuesday night/Wednesday morning are forecast to be warmer than tonight's, especially mid-slope areas as the big bubble builds to near 598dm over UT. && .LONG TERM... Wednesday through Sunday Issued at 121 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022 The unseasonably strong 599dm H5 high over southeast UT will weaken Wednesday/Thursday while drifting southeast into the Four Corners region. Dry air with below normal PWATs and widespread subsidence will lead to clear skies over much of the region. Max temps will be around 5 to 10F above normal but fall short of any record highs. The upper high will get the squeeze Friday and Saturday as the main circulation of Kay moves NW along the Baja and an upper wave moves S/SE from the northern Rockies. The high center will elongate into a ridge axis near 586dm across NM. The first of two backdoor cold fronts is likely to enter northeast NM late Friday afternoon and serve as the focus for CI along the Sangre de Cristo Mts. PWATs will be trending higher as mid and upper level moisture trickles northward from Kay and low level moisture increases with the backdoor cold front. A much stronger backdoor cold front will then surge southwest Saturday with deeper moisture and instability over northern and central NM. A significant uptick in storm coverage is possible and models have trended in this direction over the past several runs. Locally heavy rainfall may occur as PWATs rise above 0.90" with slow cell motions beneath the weak upper level ridge axis. Rain and storms may linger into Saturday night as forcing continues with the upper wave ejecting southeast into the Great Plains from the northern/central Rockies. Forecast confidence decreases quickly Sunday given the complexity of the upper level pattern and where/how the remnant circulation from Kay evolves over the southwest CONUS. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 515 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022 Upper high center remaining over the Great Basin while expanding into wrn CO and strengthening during the next 24 hrs. Isold showers and tstms with gusty variable winds mainly over the nw quarter of NM at 23Z will continue to move to the sw, diminishing between 03-06Z. Forecast models indicate few, if any storms developing over the higher terrain aft 06/18Z but isold activity may form over swrn CO and move into nwrn NM. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 121 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022 Mostly dry weather with above average high temperatures are forecast for much of the work week as the monsoon high pumps up over the Great Basin. No critical fire weather conditons are forecast during the next week. A backdoor cold front is expected to bring slightly cooler air in along with increased chances for thunderstorms Saturday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 61 96 63 96 / 10 0 10 0 Dulce........................... 50 91 50 90 / 20 10 10 10 Cuba............................ 56 87 56 88 / 10 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 55 92 55 91 / 0 10 0 0 El Morro........................ 53 85 54 84 / 10 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 51 88 51 88 / 10 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 53 86 51 86 / 10 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 57 83 56 84 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 52 82 52 82 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 54 90 52 90 / 10 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 61 89 60 92 / 10 0 0 0 Chama........................... 50 84 50 83 / 10 10 10 10 Los Alamos...................... 58 84 57 85 / 10 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 56 86 56 86 / 0 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 42 85 41 85 / 0 0 0 0 Red River....................... 46 78 45 79 / 0 0 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 37 79 36 79 / 0 0 0 0 Taos............................ 50 88 50 88 / 0 0 0 0 Mora............................ 50 83 51 83 / 0 0 0 0 Espanola........................ 56 93 58 93 / 10 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 58 86 58 87 / 10 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 55 89 56 89 / 10 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 62 90 64 91 / 10 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 63 92 63 93 / 10 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 60 94 60 95 / 10 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 61 93 61 94 / 10 0 0 0 Belen........................... 58 93 57 94 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 60 95 60 96 / 10 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 58 93 57 94 / 10 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 61 95 60 96 / 10 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 59 92 58 94 / 10 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 59 91 61 92 / 10 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 61 93 62 94 / 10 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 60 92 60 94 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 58 84 58 84 / 10 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 54 87 55 88 / 10 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 50 86 51 87 / 0 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 49 88 51 88 / 0 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 54 83 54 84 / 0 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 52 85 52 86 / 0 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 54 85 53 86 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 59 88 60 89 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 52 79 53 79 / 0 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 53 85 53 85 / 0 0 0 0 Raton........................... 51 89 51 89 / 0 0 0 0 Springer........................ 51 91 52 91 / 0 0 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 52 86 52 86 / 0 0 0 0 Clayton......................... 57 90 59 91 / 0 0 0 0 Roy............................. 54 88 54 88 / 0 0 0 0 Conchas......................... 58 93 59 93 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 57 90 57 90 / 0 0 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 61 94 61 94 / 0 0 0 0 Clovis.......................... 60 90 60 90 / 0 0 0 0 Portales........................ 60 91 60 91 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 59 92 59 92 / 0 0 0 0 Roswell......................... 62 94 62 94 / 0 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 57 87 58 87 / 0 0 0 0 Elk............................. 54 83 56 83 / 0 0 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
457 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022
NMZ211-217-218-052330-
Espanola Valley-Santa Fe Metro Area-Jemez Mountains-
457 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF LOS ALAMOS, SOUTH
CENTRAL RIO ARRIBA, EAST CENTRAL SANDOVAL AND NORTHWESTERN SANTA FE
COUNTIES THROUGH 530 PM MDT...
At 457 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Los Alamos, moving south at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size 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...
Los Alamos, White Rock, Frijoles, Bandelier National Monument, San
Ildefonso Pueblo, El Rancho and La Cienega.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
Persons in campgrounds should seek sturdy shelter until this storm
passes.
&&
LAT...LON 3601 10635 3595 10606 3559 10608 3572 10657
TIME...MOT...LOC 2257Z 018DEG 20KT 3592 10623
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
24Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
529 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022
NMZ211-218-060000-
Santa Fe Metro Area-Jemez Mountains-
529 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF LOS ALAMOS AND
NORTHEASTERN SANDOVAL COUNTIES THROUGH 600 PM MDT...
At 528 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Los Alamos, moving southwest at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size 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...
Los Alamos, Jemez Springs, Jemez State Monument, Cochiti Pueblo,
Frijoles, Bandelier National Monument, Cochiti Lake, Canon, Ponderosa
and Pena Blanca.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
Persons in campgrounds should seek sturdy shelter until this storm
passes.
&&
LAT...LON 3597 10624 3597 10625 3596 10624 3554 10626
3565 10676 3600 10671 3600 10624
TIME...MOT...LOC 2328Z 044DEG 15KT 3588 10639
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
24Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
559 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022
NMZ204-211-218-219-060030-
Santa Fe Metro Area-Northwest Highlands-Jemez Mountains-Middle Rio
Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area-
559 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL
SANDOVAL COUNTY THROUGH 630 PM MDT...
At 557 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Fenton Lake State Park, or 19 miles southeast of Cuba, moving
southwest at 15 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...
Santo Domingo Pueblo, Jemez Springs, San Ysidro, San Felipe Pueblo,
Kewa Pueblo, Cochiti Pueblo, Jemez Pueblo, Zia Pueblo, Fenton Lake
State Park and Jemez State Monument.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 25 between Mile Markers 251 and 261.
Highway 550 between Mile Markers 23 and 26, between Mile Markers 36
and 38, and between Mile Markers 40 and 52.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
Persons in campgrounds should seek sturdy shelter until this storm
passes.
&&
LAT...LON 3596 10670 3566 10628 3533 10625 3555 10682
3582 10704
TIME...MOT...LOC 2357Z 044DEG 15KT 3585 10669
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
24Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
614 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022
NMZ208-060045-
Southwest Mountains-
614 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL CATRON
COUNTY THROUGH 645 PM MDT...
At 614 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Luna, or 12 miles northwest of Reserve, moving southwest at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size 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...
Luna.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3391 10905 3395 10887 3378 10879 3364 10904
TIME...MOT...LOC 0014Z 066DEG 13KT 3384 10892
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
24Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
652 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022
NMZ204-206-207-219-060115-
West Central Highlands-Northwest Highlands-Middle Rio Grande
Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area-West Central Mountains-
652 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL
MCKINLEY AND SOUTHWESTERN SANDOVAL COUNTIES THROUGH 715 PM MDT...
At 651 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15
miles northwest of Torreon, or 30 miles northwest of Rio Rancho,
moving southwest at 40 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...
Marquez.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3568 10709 3556 10684 3526 10721 3531 10724
3531 10747 3549 10757
TIME...MOT...LOC 0051Z 062DEG 33KT 3555 10711
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
24Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
726 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022
NMZ206-207-060200-
West Central Highlands-West Central Mountains-
726 PM MDT Mon Sep 5 2022
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF NORTHEASTERN CIBOLA,
SOUTHEASTERN MCKINLEY AND SOUTHWESTERN SANDOVAL COUNTIES THROUGH 800
PM MDT...
At 725 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles north of Marquez, or 26 miles north of Laguna Pueblo, moving
southwest at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size 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...
Marquez.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3553 10723 3537 10708 3515 10748 3538 10765
TIME...MOT...LOC 0125Z 059DEG 24KT 3542 10726
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
24The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 219 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:03 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An ASOS station in Farmington measured a brief wind gust of 58 mph due to strong downburst winds from nearby showers and thunderstorms.
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, September 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: 1045058.