Abundant monsoon moisture surged into NM allowing for storms producing heavy rainfall and severe winds over portions of northeastern NM. Severe winds near Clayton, NM caused some damage on August 12th.
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.
Abundant monsoon moisture surged into NM allowing for storms producing heavy rainfall and severe winds over portions of northeastern NM. Severe winds near Clayton, NM caused some damage on August 12th. Two more storms produced severe winds that were observed by automated weather stations at Santa Rosa and Tucumcari on August 13th. Heavy rainfall also produced flash flooding within the Hermit's Peak Calf Canyon burn scar during the afternoon. There were reports of debris and rocks washed across two state highways near Holman and Mora, and sandbags were deployed to protect homes in and around Rociada.
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 Aug 12, 10:34 AM MST, 2 hours 41 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1134 AM MDT Sat Aug 12 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 300 AM MDT Sat Aug 12 2023 A surge of monsoon moisture will allow for more widespread shower and thunderstorm coverage this weekend across northern and central New Mexico. Locally heavy rainfall will be possible over the weekend, along with an increased risk of flash flooding, especially across recent burn scars. A backdoor front Sunday night will bring cooler temperatures Monday and Tuesday. Precipitation potential trends down by midweek with isolated to scattered storms favoring the high terrain. Temperatures will climb near to above average Wednesday through Friday. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Sunday) Issued at 300 AM MDT Sat Aug 12 2023 Disturbance moving north over eastern AZ with resulting light showers over northwest NM early this morning. Surface boundary continues to sag into east central NM at this time but models indicate it's not going to make it much farther south and west. SPC Day 1 outlook has spread the Marginal and Slight Risk areas into northeast NM and have noted this in the weather grids. Have also hoisted a Flood Watch for Flash Flooding for portions of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains this afternoon and evening. While models indicate cells over northeast NM will move fairly quickly, stronger winds aloft there would potentially be favorable for heavy rain, however CAMS at this time suggest the highest QPF would be over eastern Colfax and Union counties, so there is some level of uncertainty. High temperatures today have come down across western NM and are actually about 5-10 degrees below normal. Another boundary will push into northeast and east central NM tonight based on convection over southeast CO although Sunday's forecast highs don't seem to be impacted much if at all. SPC Day 2 outlook has portions of northeast NM under the Marginal Risk, which is also now mentioned in the grids. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday night through Friday) Issued at 300 AM MDT Sat Aug 12 2023 High pressure elongates over the Deep South as a broad trough swings through the northern Great Plains to start the extended forecast. Ample monsoon moisture continues to filter into the Desert Southwest and the aforementioned trough will kick off a backdoor front down the eastern plains of NM Sunday night. Given the additional lift provided by the front and the available moisture, did trend PoPs up across northeastern and east central NM Sunday night. Westward surge of the front will bring gusty canyon winds to the central valleys, the magnitude of which continues to amplify by each model run. Did run with the high side of guidance for these east winds, especially through the Middle RGV and ABQ metro. Should the trend continue, wind highlights may be necessary in future updates. Significantly cooler temperatures will follow in the wake of this front, where reductions of a few to as many as 20F can be expected of Monday's highs, especially across the eastern plains. High pressure aloft snakes back into the Desert Southwest Monday, allowing for shower and thunderstorm focus to shift to western NM. The upper high reorganizes over NM Tuesday, resulting in less favorable access to the moisture plume. This will limit convective activity but won't eliminate it, with the highest chances for storms across the western and northern high terrain during the midweek. Models begin to deviate from each other come Friday, creating large disparities regarding the high center's position. The GFS pushes the feature eastward into TX, allowing for the monsoon plume to attempt to stand up across the Desert Southwest. It's a scenario somewhat echoed by the CMC, allowing for widespread shower and thunderstorm coverage across northern and central NM. The rosy picture is not shared, however, by the ECMWF, which anchors the high over the Four Corners in all its stubbornness. The result would be a far drier and hotter solution. Given the disagreement, did not deviate too far from NBM PoPs but did trend some of the higher PoPs back a skosh. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1005 AM MDT Sat Aug 12 2023 VFR conditions prevail and are forecast to persist, except for brief MVFR conditions with sct/num showers and storms this afternoon/evening. Gusty/erratic winds are likely with convection this afternoon/evening. Terminals most likely to be impacted this afternoon are KGUP, KAEG and KSAF, followed by KTCC this evening. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 300 AM MDT Sat Aug 12 2023 A plume of moisture streaming over the region in conjunction with a couple of boundaries will bring higher potential for wetting showers and thunderstorms to northern and central NM through Monday. One boundary will impact northeast NM later today and tonight with another more vigorous boundary forecast to surge into the Rio Grande Valley to the Continental Divide Sunday night. Locally heavy rain will be possible which could lead to flash flooding. The upper high is forecast to move back over NM next Tuesday and linger through the rest of the week. Enough moisture will be trapped under the ridge for isolated to scattered thunderstorms over the higher terrain. Temperatures generally remain near to above normal except for today across the west and overall on Monday when cooler than normal highs are expected. Some areas of fair to poor ventilation forecast today through Tuesday west and north. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 87 59 91 64 / 20 20 20 10 Dulce........................... 82 49 86 53 / 50 30 30 30 Cuba............................ 80 53 83 57 / 30 30 30 30 Gallup.......................... 80 53 85 58 / 40 30 30 20 El Morro........................ 76 51 80 55 / 50 30 40 30 Grants.......................... 80 53 84 56 / 40 30 40 30 Quemado......................... 77 53 81 57 / 50 40 50 40 Magdalena....................... 78 59 83 61 / 60 30 50 40 Datil........................... 75 53 79 57 / 60 30 60 40 Reserve......................... 81 55 85 55 / 50 30 50 30 Glenwood........................ 86 63 91 64 / 50 30 40 30 Chama........................... 75 46 80 49 / 60 40 50 40 Los Alamos...................... 78 58 83 62 / 50 40 50 40 Pecos........................... 82 56 84 58 / 50 40 50 60 Cerro/Questa.................... 80 48 81 49 / 70 50 50 60 Red River....................... 74 44 75 45 / 70 50 70 60 Angel Fire...................... 72 42 74 43 / 80 60 60 60 Taos............................ 80 51 84 53 / 60 40 50 50 Mora............................ 78 51 80 53 / 60 60 60 60 Espanola........................ 86 56 88 62 / 40 40 40 40 Santa Fe........................ 82 58 84 62 / 40 40 50 50 Santa Fe Airport................ 85 58 87 60 / 40 30 40 50 Albuquerque Foothills........... 85 65 89 67 / 30 30 30 40 Albuquerque Heights............. 88 66 90 67 / 20 30 30 40 Albuquerque Valley.............. 89 61 92 66 / 20 30 20 40 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 87 65 91 67 / 20 30 20 40 Belen........................... 89 63 92 66 / 20 30 20 40 Bernalillo...................... 88 63 92 66 / 30 30 20 40 Bosque Farms.................... 89 61 92 63 / 20 30 20 50 Corrales........................ 88 63 92 66 / 30 30 20 40 Los Lunas....................... 89 62 92 64 / 20 30 20 50 Placitas........................ 85 62 88 66 / 30 30 30 50 Rio Rancho...................... 87 64 91 67 / 30 30 20 40 Socorro......................... 88 66 92 67 / 30 30 30 40 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 81 58 83 60 / 30 30 40 50 Tijeras......................... 83 60 85 62 / 30 30 40 50 Edgewood........................ 83 58 86 59 / 40 30 40 50 Moriarty/Estancia............... 85 56 87 56 / 30 30 40 50 Clines Corners.................. 83 56 84 54 / 40 40 40 60 Mountainair..................... 83 58 85 59 / 30 30 40 50 Gran Quivira.................... 84 59 85 59 / 30 30 40 50 Carrizozo....................... 87 65 88 64 / 30 20 30 50 Ruidoso......................... 80 59 81 56 / 40 20 50 50 Capulin......................... 82 54 80 53 / 70 70 50 60 Raton........................... 81 53 84 55 / 70 60 50 60 Springer........................ 82 55 84 57 / 70 60 60 60 Las Vegas....................... 82 55 84 55 / 60 60 60 60 Clayton......................... 88 62 89 57 / 60 60 30 60 Roy............................. 86 59 87 57 / 60 60 60 70 Conchas......................... 91 63 92 63 / 40 60 30 80 Santa Rosa...................... 93 64 92 62 / 40 60 30 70 Tucumcari....................... 96 66 96 62 / 30 60 30 80 Clovis.......................... 96 67 96 65 / 20 40 20 70 Portales........................ 98 69 98 66 / 20 40 20 60 Fort Sumner..................... 96 68 96 66 / 20 40 30 70 Roswell......................... 102 73 101 71 / 20 20 20 60 Picacho......................... 92 66 91 64 / 40 20 30 60 Elk............................. 87 63 88 60 / 30 20 40 50 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch until 9 PM MDT this evening for NMZ214-215. && SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM....12 AVIATION...11
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1241 PM MDT Sat Aug 12 2023
NMZ228-229-231-121915-
Far Northeast Highlands-Harding County-Northeast Highlands-
1241 PM MDT Sat Aug 12 2023
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF NORTHEASTERN SAN
MIGUEL, WEST CENTRAL HARDING AND SOUTHEASTERN MORA COUNTIES THROUGH
115 PM MDT...
At 1241 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles northeast of Maes, or 15 miles southeast of Wagon Mound, moving
northeast 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...
Roy.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
Accumulations of small hail on roads can create very slick and
hazardous driving conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3574 10448 3586 10464 3615 10443 3593 10413
TIME...MOT...LOC 1841Z 222DEG 15KT 3586 10450
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
33Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
201 PM MDT Sat Aug 12 2023
NMZ230-122030-
Union County-
201 PM MDT Sat Aug 12 2023
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN UNION
COUNTY THROUGH 230 PM MDT...
At 201 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles north of Hayden, or 12 miles northwest of Amistad, moving
northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 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...
Hayden and Sedan.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
Accumulations of small hail on roads can create very slick and
hazardous driving conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3593 10324 3601 10337 3609 10336 3609 10338
3650 10308 3646 10304 3610 10304
TIME...MOT...LOC 2001Z 217DEG 17KT 3608 10325
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
33The Cannon AFB radar (KFDX), 184 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:16 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe winds destroyed a wall and blew part of the roof off of an old horse barn. It also blew two fiberglass windows out of a metal barn.
The Southwestern Electric Cooperative reported severe winds having knocked down six power poles along State Highway 56 between mile markers 13 and 14 southwest of Clayton. Power was lost for a few hours. Damage is an estimate.
Debris flow across State Highway 434 required removal of rocks and mud across the road.
Debris flow from heavy rainfall required the state emergency operations center to deliver sandbags to protect homes in and around Rociada. No damage was reported.
Debris flow across State Highway 518 in Holman required removal of rocks and mud across the road.
The Santa Rosa Airport measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph.
The Tucumcari Airport measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph.
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: 1108222, 1108232, 1110103, 1110100, 1110099, 1108453, 1108456.