New Mexico, 2023

Flash Flooding and Hail in New Mexico, July 21 to 22, 2023

July 21 to 22, 2023 · NWS ABQ · 11 events in 5 counties and zones

Northwest flow rounding the northeastern periphery of an upper high over AZ combined with abundant low-level moisture over the high plains of eastern NM to produce severe weather along and east of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on July 21st and 22nd. Large hail and severe winds were observed from these scattered storm cells.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
11

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.

Northwest flow rounding the northeastern periphery of an upper high over AZ combined with abundant low-level moisture over the high plains of eastern NM to produce severe weather along and east of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on July 21st and 22nd. Large hail and severe winds were observed from these scattered storm cells. Heavy rainfall also produced flash flooding on the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon burn scar on July 21st. Fast flowing flood waters with burn scar debris was observed at several locations causing damage to properties and forcing two road closures north and south of Mora, NM. Flash flooding was also reported near the Ute Park burn scar along the Ponil Creek.

What forecasters said that day

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 21, 2:02 PM MST, 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 2:02 PM MST, 48 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 21, 1:34 PM MST, 1 hour 16 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 21, 1:43 PM MST, 1 hour 7 minutes before
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The radar

The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 150 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:49 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flash flood, 3 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, San Miguel

When
July 21, 2:50 PM MST to 3:20 PM MST
Where
San Miguel County, San Ignacio to 0.3 mi NNW of San Ignacio
Cause
Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
35.770, -105.350

Local media shared a video on social media from a viewer showing flash flooding. Fast flowing water with hail and debris was flowing all across the property and beneath the home. Damage is an estimate. There were no reports of injuries or casualties.

Hail, San Miguel

When
July 21, 2:52 PM MST to 3:00 PM MST
Where
San Miguel County, 2.15 mi NNE of San Ignacio
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
35.800, -105.340

Flash Flood, Mora

When
July 21, 3:00 PM MST to 3:45 PM MST
Where
Mora County, 1.32 mi ENE of Ledoux to 1.02 mi SSW of Mora
Cause
Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.930, -105.350

Heavy rain caused flash flooding within the Hermit's Peak Calf Canyon burn scar along State Highway 94 at mile marker 15, closing the road.

Flash Flood, San Miguel

When
July 21, 3:00 PM MST to 3:30 PM MST
Where
San Miguel County, Las Tusas to 0.31 mi W of Las Tusas
Cause
Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.770, -105.280

The Sapello River flooded and went out of it's banks near the State Highway 266 crossing.

Flash Flood, Mora

When
July 21, 3:05 PM MST to 3:47 PM MST
Where
Mora County, 2.79 mi W of Lucero to 2.62 mi WNW of Lucero
Cause
Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.020, -105.280

Heavy rain caused flash flooding within the Hermit's Peak Calf Canyon burn scar along state highway 434 at mile markers 4 and 5, closing the road.

Flash Flood, Mora

When
July 21, 3:10 PM MST to 3:40 PM MST
Where
Mora County, Gascon to 0.3 mi SSE of Gascon
Cause
Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.890, -105.450

A video shared on twitter showed fast moving flood waters carrying debris flowing behind a home along State Highway 105 near Gascon.

Hail, San Miguel

When
July 21, 3:37 PM MST to 3:50 PM MST
Where
San Miguel County, 1.32 mi WSW of Las Vegas
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.590, -105.240

Flash Flood, Colfax

When
July 21, 3:50 PM MST to 4:15 PM MST
Where
Colfax County, 5.32 mi NE of Ute Park to 5.59 mi NE of Ute Park
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.620, -105.040

Ponil road near intersection of State Highway 204 was reported to be under approximately three feet of water as the middle Ponil Creek flooded. Debris, including mud and rocks, made the road impassable. This location is located north of the Ute Park burn scar.

Thunderstorm Wind, Roosevelt

When
July 21, 7:50 PM MST to 7:58 PM MST
Where
Roosevelt County, 12.74 mi SE of Tolar
Measured
60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
34.300, -103.800

The Melrose Gunnery weather station measured a peak thunderstorm wind gust of 69 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harding

When
July 22, 4:05 PM MST to 4:08 PM MST
Where
Harding County, 4.43 mi WSW of Mills
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
36.050, -104.320

A mesonet station near Mills measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph.

Hail, Harding

When
July 22, 4:25 PM MST to 4:35 PM MST
Where
Harding County, 2.15 mi SSE of Roy
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.920, -104.190

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Mexico in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, July 2023

Sources

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1103212, 1103214, 1103209, 1103213, 1103210, 1103211, 1103215, 1103219, 1103373, 1103378, 1103376.