Hot and dry conditions continued during the month of August across northern and central New Mexico. The lack of monsoon showers and storms allowed drought conditions to continue to deteriorate areawide with most of the region under severe to extreme drought, outside of parts of west central New Mexico and most of northeast New Mexico.
Every event with a place to put it; 34 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.
Hot and dry conditions continued during the month of August across northern and central New Mexico. The lack of monsoon showers and storms allowed drought conditions to continue to deteriorate areawide with most of the region under severe to extreme drought, outside of parts of west central New Mexico and most of northeast New Mexico.
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, 10:26 PM MST, 1 hour 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1126 PM MDT Mon Jul 31 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 227 PM MDT Mon Jul 31 2023 Several days of typical weather for early August is forecast through Thursday, with daily rounds of afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. By Friday, very dry air begins moving in from the west on Friday, continuing through the weekend. This dry air will shut down chances for afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. The one exception will be across far northeast NM where enough moisture remains for isolated strong to severe storms. High temperatures will remain above to well above average for early August. && .SHORT TERM... 12Z upper air analysis showed the upper high east of NM over the TX/OK Red River Valley at around 597dam at 500mb. The latest water vapor satellite imagery revealed the easterly wave making northward progress around the upper high circulation and into south central AZ. Moisture associated with this feature will continue to stream north into western NM overnight and spread east across the state Tuesday. The result will be an increase in both coverage of convection and intensity of rainfall, with some potential for burn scar flooding. A Flash Flood Watch may be required for the McBride burn scar for Tuesday and may need to include the Cerro Pelado the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon scars as well. Lower pressure heights and increased coverage of showers and storms is taking the edge off of the heat, but high temperatures will still be above normal most areas on Tuesday. && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Sunday) Issued at 227 PM MDT Mon Jul 31 2023 The westerlies will not be denied in 2023. Monsoon high center gets pushed eastward to near the TX/LA border by Wednesday afternoon. GFS and ECWMF, however, extend a 594dam 500mb geopotential height over the state, effectively resulting in westerly flow aloft Wednesday and Thursday (not southerly as previously forecast). Shower and thunderstorm activity trends down both days, but especially Wednesday, as a result of this westward monsoon high extension. Models agree that by Friday, a quasi- zonal flow aloft sets up over northern NM, scouring out low level moisture as it essentially squashes the monsoon high center to over Las Cruces. South-central mountain stand the best chances for storms on Friday with the vast majority of the forecast area dry. The dry westerlies continue into the weekend with mid teens dewpoint temperatures forecast by the GFS to enter much of western and central NM on Sunday. If this run-to- run consistent forecast is anywhere near being correct, it could end up being a record all- time dry airmass for the state during the month of August. The once wettest month of the year is likely to see dewpoint temperatures rivaling early spring and late fall. ECMWF ENS model continues to forecast a trend toward climatology or normal during the last week of August and into early September. After that, once the MJO comes back to life and is able to combine with El Nino (constructive interference or amplification of two climate signals/patterns), it's game on in late September through the months of October-November, and potentially through winter. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1122 PM MDT Mon Jul 31 2023 A few remnant shras remain along the Cont'l Divide to the Rio Grande Valley this evening. These will continue to slowly taper off into the early morning hours. Sct-bkn skies will linger through the night into Tuesday morning. Another rd of afternoon storms is expected to initiate along the central and western high terrain Tuesday. With the upper high centered to the east over TX/OK, storm motions will be N/NE with activity steadily spreading west to east out and over the eastern plains of NM. All terminals have mention of vcsh or vcts given the expected to sct- num ts coverage Tuesday afternoon. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 227 PM MDT Mon Jul 31 2023 The Monsoon high has shifted east of the area and is allowing moisture to move north into NM, resulting in improved coverage of convection and associated wetting rainfall through Thursday. The upper high will move back west over the area Fri/Sat and then shift west-southwest of NM early next week. This motion will allow dry air associated with the westerlies to penetrate into western and central NM over the weekend and into early next week, bringing the return of hot, dry and unstable conditions. A series of outflow boundaries from organize convection and a backdoor front will impact eastern NM from Saturday through at least early next week, bringing renewed chances for wetting storms to the plains. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 63 91 64 91 / 50 40 40 20 Dulce........................... 52 88 53 88 / 50 70 50 30 Cuba............................ 58 86 58 87 / 50 50 40 30 Gallup.......................... 57 88 55 88 / 60 50 30 30 El Morro........................ 53 84 54 87 / 60 60 40 40 Grants.......................... 56 88 53 90 / 50 50 30 40 Quemado......................... 56 85 57 85 / 70 60 30 60 Magdalena....................... 63 87 63 87 / 40 60 30 50 Datil........................... 56 84 57 85 / 60 60 20 50 Reserve......................... 54 90 54 92 / 60 50 20 50 Glenwood........................ 62 93 65 96 / 60 40 20 40 Chama........................... 49 82 50 82 / 50 70 50 50 Los Alamos...................... 65 86 65 85 / 40 70 50 50 Pecos........................... 61 86 60 87 / 20 60 40 40 Cerro/Questa.................... 49 85 50 84 / 30 60 40 50 Red River....................... 45 78 47 78 / 30 70 50 60 Angel Fire...................... 41 78 44 79 / 20 70 40 50 Taos............................ 54 88 54 89 / 30 60 30 40 Mora............................ 55 83 55 84 / 20 70 50 50 Espanola........................ 60 93 63 93 / 30 50 40 30 Santa Fe........................ 65 82 65 87 / 30 50 40 40 Santa Fe Airport................ 61 91 61 91 / 30 50 30 30 Albuquerque Foothills........... 71 93 70 94 / 30 40 30 30 Albuquerque Heights............. 70 94 69 95 / 30 40 30 20 Albuquerque Valley.............. 67 96 66 97 / 30 30 30 20 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 69 94 68 95 / 30 40 30 20 Belen........................... 66 97 66 98 / 30 40 20 30 Bernalillo...................... 67 96 66 98 / 30 40 30 30 Bosque Farms.................... 62 96 62 97 / 30 40 30 20 Corrales........................ 68 96 67 97 / 30 40 30 20 Los Lunas....................... 65 96 64 97 / 30 40 30 20 Placitas........................ 68 93 67 93 / 30 40 30 30 Rio Rancho...................... 68 94 68 96 / 30 40 30 30 Socorro......................... 68 97 68 98 / 30 40 20 30 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 65 86 62 87 / 30 50 30 30 Tijeras......................... 65 89 63 90 / 30 50 30 30 Edgewood........................ 61 88 59 90 / 20 50 30 30 Moriarty/Estancia............... 54 90 54 91 / 20 50 30 30 Clines Corners.................. 59 86 58 89 / 20 50 30 30 Mountainair..................... 61 88 61 90 / 30 50 30 30 Gran Quivira.................... 61 88 61 90 / 30 50 20 40 Carrizozo....................... 66 90 67 94 / 30 40 30 40 Ruidoso......................... 57 80 59 85 / 30 70 30 50 Capulin......................... 59 88 57 85 / 10 50 50 50 Raton........................... 57 90 57 87 / 10 40 30 50 Springer........................ 58 93 58 91 / 10 40 40 40 Las Vegas....................... 59 87 57 90 / 10 50 30 40 Clayton......................... 66 96 65 94 / 0 20 20 30 Roy............................. 62 92 62 91 / 0 30 20 30 Conchas......................... 66 99 69 98 / 5 20 20 20 Santa Rosa...................... 66 95 67 94 / 10 40 20 20 Tucumcari....................... 69 100 68 98 / 0 10 30 10 Clovis.......................... 68 97 69 98 / 5 20 30 5 Portales........................ 70 99 70 99 / 5 20 20 5 Fort Sumner..................... 69 98 69 98 / 5 20 20 10 Roswell......................... 73 102 73 103 / 10 30 30 20 Picacho......................... 65 92 65 94 / 20 50 30 40 Elk............................. 61 88 62 91 / 40 70 40 50 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...11 LONG TERM....33 AVIATION...24
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
34 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the introduction and expansion of severe drought conditions in the central and eastern portions of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the expansion of severe drought conditions across northern and central areas and introduction of extreme drought conditions in the southern portion of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the expansion of severe drought conditions and introduction of extreme drought conditions.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the introduction of severe drought conditions in the east central portion of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the southward expansion of severe drought conditions in the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the southward expansion of severe drought conditions and introduction of extreme drought conditions in the northern part of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the introduction of severe drought conditions in the southern part of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the introduction of severe drought conditions for most of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the northward expansion of severe drought conditions into the western and southern portions of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the eastward expansion of severe drought conditions and introduction of extreme drought conditions in the western portion of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the eastward expansion of severe drought conditions into the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the eastward expansion of severe drought conditions into most of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the eastward expansion of severe drought conditions into the southwest portion of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the eastward and northern expansion of severe drought conditions into southern portions of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the eastward expansion of severe drought conditions and extreme drought conditions in the far western part of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the eastward expansion of severe drought conditions into most of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the southward and eastward expansion of severe drought conditions into the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the expansion of severe drought conditions into southern and northeastern portions of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the eastward expansion of severe drought conditions into the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the eastward expansion of severe drought conditions into the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the eastward expansion of severe drought conditions into western portion of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the expansion of severe drought conditions into most of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the expansion of severe drought conditions into most of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the expansion of severe drought conditions into the zone along with some extreme drought in the far southeast.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the introduction of a patch of severe drought conditions in southeast portions of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the northward expansion of severe drought conditions into the far southern portion of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the introduction of a patch of severe drought conditions in northern portions of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the northward expansion of severe drought conditions into most of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the northward expansion of severe drought conditions and introduction of extreme drought conditions in the western portion of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the northward expansion of severe drought conditions and introduction of extreme drought conditions in the southeast portion of the zone.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for drought to continue to deteriorate to extreme conditions.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the expansion of severe drought conditions into central portions of the zone along with some extreme drought in the southern portion.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for drought to continue to deteriorate to extreme conditions.
A continuation of a dry monsoon season and above normal temperatures allowed for the introduction of severe drought conditions in the southern part of the zone.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, August 2023
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: 1119599, 1119600, 1119601, 1119602, 1119603, 1119604, 1119605, 1119606, 1119608, 1119609, 1119611, 1119613, 1119614, 1119615, 1119616, 1119617, 1119618, 1119619, 1119620, 1119621, 1119622, 1119623, 1119624, 1119625, 1119626, 1119627, 1119628, 1119629, 1119630, 1119631, 1119632, 1119633, 1119634, 1119635.