The combination of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the remnants of Tropical Storm Ileana across eastern NM underlaid strengthening southwesterly flow aloft ahead of an approaching storm system over UT and ID. The strong shear and abundant moisture allowed for scattered strong to severe thunderstorms to develop along the central mountain chain and Rio Grande Valley by the early afternoon.
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.
The combination of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the remnants of Tropical Storm Ileana across eastern NM underlaid strengthening southwesterly flow aloft ahead of an approaching storm system over UT and ID. The strong shear and abundant moisture allowed for scattered strong to severe thunderstorms to develop along the central mountain chain and Rio Grande Valley by the early afternoon. Thunderstorm activity then advanced eastward toward the TX line through the afternoon and early evening hours. Individual storm cells were able to transport high winds aloft to the surface in several locations across eastern NM, including Clayton, Nara Visa, San Jon, Santa Fe and Portales, NM. Power outages were reported along with large tree limbs being snapped.
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 17, 10:54 AM MST, 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1154 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 146 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024 Strong to severe storms are possible in central and eastern New Mexico this afternoon and evening. Storms will be moving very quickly from southwest to northeast out ahead of a Pacific cold front that will sweep across the state from west to east. Fog may develop Wednesday morning in the east-central and southeast plains. Dry and breezy weather with seasonable temps will generally prevail Wednesday and Thursday, then storms return to the east on Friday as another Pacific storm impacts the area. Near to slightly below average temps are expected next weekend behind a cold front. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Wednesday) Issued at 146 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024 A potent 562dam 500mb low was south of Reno, NV per the 00Z upper air analysis, with strong winds aloft rounding the base of the low over SoCal and the Desert SW. Anomalously high PWATs reside across NM and although moisture advection has ended, surface dewpoint temperatures are an average 5+ degrees higher than 24hrs ago. The upper low is forecast to move east across the Great Basin today, while a jet maxima pulls northeast across the Desert SW and into the Four Corners and southern Rockies. Ascent associated with the jet maxima combined with 0-6km bulk shear of 30-40kts, sbCAPE of 1500- 2000J/kg and LIs of -4 to -6C will be sufficient to produce a threat for severe storms this afternoon/evening and the SPC has much of central and eastern portions of our area in a marginal risk for the day 1 convective outlook. Both the latest HRRR and HREF are bullish with development this afternoon all the way south into northern Chaves County, with the highest probabilities for severe storms from Harding County south to De Baca County. The flash flood threat is fairly minimal today for area burn scars given storm motion of 30- 40mph or greater and a lack of a surface boundary to focus initiation. Training of storms is possible and would bring a higher flash flood threat, but probabilities are too low to justify a watch at this time. Otherwise, lee side troughing will be partially responsible for breezy to locally windy conditions today with south or southwest winds. PWATs will plummet tonight as a much drier airmass filters in from the west, with the upper level low pulling northeast out of the central Rockies. Areas of fog are possible across the east central and southeast plains early Wednesday morning where near-surface moisture will be slow to scour and a favorable moisture profile will be present with very dry air just above. Winds aloft will back on Wednesday as the next upper low dives south along the CA coast. Temperatures will be 1-3 degrees warmer Wednesday with pressure heights trending up. Highs on Wednesday are forecast to be above normal east and below normal northwest. && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 146 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024 Dry, southwest will will remain entrenched across the state Wednesday and Thursday, keeping the region dry. The downsloping breeze will keep temps a few to several degrees above average in the east while the west will be near to slightly below average during the day. However, dry air will help temps drop below average in low- lying areas in western NM each night. Dryline storms appear less likely than they have in previous days, but cannot be ruled out in the far southeast Thursday afternoon. Another seasonably deep trough will approach the area from the west Thursday and Friday. This combined with the amplification of the sub- tropical ridge over TX will draw Gulf moisture northward into eastern NM, setting the stage for an active Friday. Storms will focus along and east of the central mountain chain where some storms could be severe given ample wind shear (30-50KT) and decent instability. The base of the trough will eventually swing through Saturday, but the exact track remains a question mark. A track further south, as shown by the deterministic EC, would bring more precip. to northern and eastern NM, while a track further north, as shown by the deterministic GFS, would result in more wind and less precip. Either way, temps will cool behind a cold front next weekend. Temperatures could drop into the mid and low 30s Saturday night for communities in the western and northern high terrain. Another storm system may impact the northeastern portion of the state early to mid-next week, but confidence is low is given the range of solutions suggested by ensemble guidance. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1154 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024 The Pacific cold front is currently entering western NM with scattered showers and storms containing localized MVFR conditions ahead of it. Another cluster of showers and storms with localized MVFR conditions are blossoming across the central mountain chain. Storms will quickly move to the northeast with locally heavy rainfall under any storm. West winds will strengthen behind the Pacific front with gusts of 30 to 35 kts possible. The Pacific front will be across central NM later this afternoon and eastern NM this evening. Storms across eastern NM could become severe with large hail and wind gusts of up to 50 kts possible within any storm. Severe thunderstorm winds will become the greater threat closer to the Texas state line this evening as storms cluster together into a line. Storms will exit into West Texas around sunset with the Pacific front across the eastern plains overnight. VFR and clear skies overnight. Low confidence in fog across far east central and southeast NM TAF sites around sunrise, but potential exists due to lingering low level moisture and much drier air aloft. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 146 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024 Lee side troughing and strong southwest flow over the region will bring breezy to locally windy conditions this afternoon/evening. Chances for wetting storms will favor northern and eastern NM today as an upper low moves east across the Great Basin toward the central Rockies. A drier airmass will follow on Wed/Thu for much of the area prior to the next upper low, forecast to bring back chances for wetting storms to eastern NM Fri/Sat. The upper low will also bring dry and breezy to windy conditions to western and portions of central NM Fri/Sat. Cooler conditions will prevail over the weekend in the wake of the departing low, with a warming/drying trend forecast next week, although the latest medium range model solutions differ on the handling of an upstream trough. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 44 77 45 80 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 35 73 36 78 / 5 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 41 73 45 78 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 35 77 38 81 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 39 75 44 79 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 36 79 39 83 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 42 77 43 80 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 49 80 51 81 / 0 0 5 5 Datil........................... 42 78 45 79 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 42 80 42 83 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 53 82 53 85 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 36 68 37 72 / 5 0 0 5 Los Alamos...................... 48 74 51 77 / 10 0 0 5 Pecos........................... 45 74 47 77 / 10 0 5 5 Cerro/Questa.................... 39 71 43 75 / 20 0 0 5 Red River....................... 35 62 39 66 / 20 0 0 5 Angel Fire...................... 31 68 28 71 / 20 0 0 5 Taos............................ 38 75 39 78 / 20 0 0 5 Mora............................ 40 75 42 77 / 20 0 0 5 Espanola........................ 46 80 45 84 / 10 0 0 5 Santa Fe........................ 47 76 50 79 / 10 0 5 5 Santa Fe Airport................ 46 78 46 82 / 10 0 5 5 Albuquerque Foothills........... 55 80 57 85 / 5 0 5 5 Albuquerque Heights............. 53 82 54 87 / 5 0 5 5 Albuquerque Valley.............. 49 84 52 89 / 0 0 5 5 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 53 82 54 87 / 5 0 5 5 Belen........................... 50 86 50 88 / 0 0 5 0 Bernalillo...................... 51 83 52 88 / 5 0 5 5 Bosque Farms.................... 47 84 48 87 / 0 0 5 0 Corrales........................ 51 83 52 89 / 5 0 5 5 Los Lunas....................... 49 85 49 88 / 0 0 5 0 Placitas........................ 52 79 54 84 / 5 0 5 5 Rio Rancho...................... 52 83 53 87 / 5 0 5 5 Socorro......................... 54 88 55 92 / 0 0 5 5 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 49 76 49 79 / 5 0 5 5 Tijeras......................... 48 78 51 81 / 5 0 5 5 Edgewood........................ 45 79 46 83 / 5 0 5 5 Moriarty/Estancia............... 41 81 38 84 / 5 0 5 5 Clines Corners.................. 45 77 47 80 / 10 0 5 5 Mountainair..................... 47 79 49 82 / 0 0 5 5 Gran Quivira.................... 48 80 49 83 / 0 0 5 5 Carrizozo....................... 56 83 58 87 / 5 0 5 5 Ruidoso......................... 52 76 53 81 / 10 5 5 10 Capulin......................... 46 78 47 79 / 20 0 0 5 Raton........................... 44 82 44 82 / 20 0 0 5 Springer........................ 44 83 44 84 / 20 0 0 5 Las Vegas....................... 44 77 45 81 / 20 0 5 5 Clayton......................... 54 86 56 86 / 40 0 5 5 Roy............................. 50 81 49 83 / 30 0 5 5 Conchas......................... 54 88 53 90 / 30 0 5 5 Santa Rosa...................... 54 86 54 87 / 20 0 5 5 Tucumcari....................... 58 90 56 91 / 60 0 5 5 Clovis.......................... 62 90 63 93 / 60 10 5 5 Portales........................ 62 92 63 94 / 50 5 5 0 Fort Sumner..................... 57 90 57 91 / 20 0 5 5 Roswell......................... 65 96 65 97 / 20 0 5 0 Picacho......................... 56 89 57 91 / 10 5 5 5 Elk............................. 54 85 55 90 / 10 5 5 5 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...11 LONG TERM....16 AVIATION...71
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1131 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024
NMZ218-221>223-171800-
Central Highlands-Santa Fe Metro Area-Estancia Valley-Sandia/Manzano
Mountains Including Edgewood-
1131 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN SANDOVAL...
SOUTHWESTERN SANTA FE...BERNALILLO AND NORTHWESTERN TORRANCE COUNTIES
THROUGH NOON MDT...
At 1130 AM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Sandia Park to near Tajique. Movement was
northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Moriarty, Edgewood, Tijeras, Cedar Crest, Cedar Grove, Sedillo,
Tajique, Chilili, McIntosh, and Stanley.
This includes Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 172 and 213.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3551 10599 3490 10570 3469 10630 3518 10646
TIME...MOT...LOC 1730Z 236DEG 35KT 3515 10638 3480 10626
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
44Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1136 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024
NMZ203-204-171800-
Far Northwest Highlands-Northwest Highlands-
1136 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN RIO ARRIBA COUNTY
THROUGH NOON MDT...
At 1136 AM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 11 miles east of Navajo Lake State Park to 21
miles west of Heron Lake State Park. Movement was northeast at 40
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Dulce, Heron Lake State Park, Lumberton, and Monero.
This includes Highway 64 between Mile Markers 104 and 148.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3700 10688 3697 10686 3695 10684 3694 10681
3672 10668 3646 10731 3694 10740 3700 10732
TIME...MOT...LOC 1736Z 215DEG 36KT 3689 10738 3655 10732
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
44Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1159 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024
NMZ223-224-233-237-239-171830-
Eastern Lincoln County-Central Highlands-Guadalupe County-South
Central Highlands-De Baca County-
1159 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN...WESTERN
DE BACA...SOUTHWESTERN GUADALUPE AND SOUTHEASTERN TORRANCE COUNTIES
THROUGH 1230 PM MDT...
At 1158 AM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14
miles east of Corona, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northeastern
Lincoln, western De Baca, southwestern Guadalupe and southeastern
Torrance Counties.
This includes Highway 285 between Mile Markers 176 and 185.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor your preferred
media outlets and NOAA Weather Radio for additional information and
possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3398 10539 3408 10559 3446 10535 3431 10477
TIME...MOT...LOC 1758Z 212DEG 21KT 3418 10536
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
MASpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1202 PM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024
NMZ211-214-217-218-171830-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Espanola Valley-Santa Fe Metro
Area-Jemez Mountains-
1202 PM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT LOS ALAMOS...SOUTHEASTERN RIO
ARRIBA...EAST CENTRAL SANDOVAL AND NORTHERN SANTA FE COUNTIES THROUGH
1230 PM MDT...
At 1202 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Los Alamos to near La Bajada. Movement was
northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Northern Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Espanola, Chimayo, White Rock,
Pojoaque, Santa Clara Pueblo, Cuartelez, Nambe Pueblo, and Rio
Chiquito.
This includes Highway 285 between Mile Markers 337 and 340, and near
Mile Marker 345.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3628 10595 3587 10575 3549 10628 3589 10641
TIME...MOT...LOC 1802Z 228DEG 44KT 3595 10630 3553 10626
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
44Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1204 PM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024
NMZ203-210-171830-
Far Northwest Highlands-Tusas Mountains Including Chama-
1204 PM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL RIO ARRIBA COUNTY
THROUGH 1230 PM MDT...
At 1204 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles southeast of Dulce, moving northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Dulce, Lumberton, and Monero.
This includes Highway 64 between Mile Markers 128 and 154.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3699 10687 3699 10649 3672 10692 3687 10707
3700 10691 3700 10688
TIME...MOT...LOC 1804Z 228DEG 44KT 3686 10693
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
44Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1213 PM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024
NMZ203-204-171845-
Far Northwest Highlands-Northwest Highlands-
1213 PM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN RIO ARRIBA COUNTY
THROUGH 1245 PM MDT...
At 1212 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 16
miles southwest of Heron Lake State Park, or 26 miles southeast of
Navajo Dam, moving northeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Heron Lake State Park and Lumberton.
This includes Highway 64 between Mile Markers 119 and 132, and
between Mile Markers 138 and 139.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If threatening weather approaches your area, take shelter in a sturdy
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3644 10722 3657 10737 3694 10694 3674 10672
TIME...MOT...LOC 1812Z 228DEG 39KT 3656 10723
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
44The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 99 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:25 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Large sycamore tree limbs up to 2 inches in diameter were snapped near the Santa Fe Railyards.
The county Emergency Manager and Quay County Sun newspaper reported 10 commercial vehicles were blown over on I-40 due to severe thunderstorm wind gusts. This along with 7 other simultaneous crashes closed I-40 for several hours in both directions. Several people were taken to the local hospital in Tucumcari as emergency response from Logan, San Jon, Tucumcari and the Quay Fire District 2 responded to the incident.
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts blew of a community center roof, church doors and destroyed numerous outbuildings in Nara Visa as reported in Quay County Sun. A social media post showed a large section of a metal fence lofted into the air and draped over a toppled tree at Burns Ranch and a second large tree blown down.
Severe wind gusts from a storm heading directly toward Texline, TX blew through Clayton, NM, knocking out power for to an estimated 15 hours. Three power poles were reported down by the Southwestern Electric Cooperative.
The same severe thunderstorm wind gust that knocked at power at Clayton, NM also blew over a FEDEX semi-trailer along U.S. Highway 64/87 at mile marker 2 just west of the TX state line.
Quarter size hail fell at mile marker 232 along U.S. Highway 84 outside Ghost Ranch.
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts blew down a large tree branch at NM Highway 206 and Moreland Road, while also knocking out power in the area south of Portales to include the towns of Dora, Pep and Causey.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, September 2024
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: 1203068, 1203070, 1203155, 1203160, 1203069, 1203233, 1203235, 1203237.