A backdoor front pushed through northeast NM during the morning hours of April 25th stalling across east central NM midday. Additionally, a dryline backed west into the southeast plains of New Mexico.
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 backdoor front pushed through northeast NM during the morning hours of April 25th stalling across east central NM midday. Additionally, a dryline backed west into the southeast plains of New Mexico. These surface boundaries allowed higher low level Gulf moisture. Daytime heating, combined with the higher moisture, lift from the aforementioned boundaries and an upper level shortwave overhead and stronger vertical wind shear, resulted in the development of discrete severe storms across far east central NM. These storms produced large hail up to 2.75 inches in diameter. Training thunderstorms between Tucumcari and Clovis resulted in some flash flooding on State Highway 275. Upslope easterly behind and north of the backdoor front resulted in the development of additional strong to severe storms across the northeast and east central plains during the overnight hours of April 25th into April 26th. Some of the storms resulted in quarter size hail and flash flooding in Fort Sumner. Rainfall amounts of around 4 inches were observed in town. Storms exited into West Texas around sunrise April 26th. Another round of discrete supercells developed along and east of a stalled surface front across the eastern highlands and plains and ahead of an upper low moving into California. These supercells brought large hail as well as producing brief tornadoes south of Fort Sumner and north and northeast of Roswell. Storms dissipated during the late evening hours with the loss of daytime heating.
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 Apr 25, 1:15 PM MST, 3 hours 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 215 PM MDT Fri Apr 25 2025 ...New SYNOPSIS, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, FIRE WEATHER... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 120 PM MDT Fri Apr 25 2025 - Isolated severe storms will develop in far eastern New Mexico this afternoon and again Saturday. A few storms will produce hail and/or damaging wind gusts. There is a low chance of tornadoes and flash flooding. - Critical fire weather conditions will increase the risk of fire spread along and southwest of the middle and lower Rio Grande Valley Saturday, with stronger southwest winds on Sunday creating a more widespread risk of fire spread. - Strong southwest winds may down tree limbs and cause damage to utility poles in central and eastern New Mexico Sunday afternoon. Blowing dust and hazardous crosswinds may impact travel. - Chances for showers and storms will increase going into the middle of next week across eastern and portions of northern NM. && .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 120 PM MDT Fri Apr 25 2025 Isolated severe storms are forecast across far eastern NM this afternoon and evening, with chances continuing into Saturday. Winds will increase this weekend, especially on Sunday when strong to potentially damaging wind gusts and areas of blowing dust are forecast. Chances for showers and storms will trend up going into the middle of next week across much of northern and eastern NM, with daytime temperatures generally near to below average. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Saturday night) Issued at 120 PM MDT Fri Apr 25 2025 Northern and central NM remains split across three different surface airmasses with southwesterly flow aloft across the entire state. While dry southerly winds are combining with very low humidity near or below ten percent across the western half, higher moisture resides across eastern NM. A cold frontal boundary backed through northeastern NM wrapping around the southern tip of the Sangre de Cristo's into Santa Fe bringing cooler temperatures and higher moisture. Clayton notably has barely reached 50F today so far. Southerly return flow bringing higher Td's from the Gulf continues to push into southeastern and east-central NM meeting the aforementioned cold front across Roosevelt County. This stalled frontal boundary is where convective initiation has begun this hour. SBCAPE of 1500-2500 J/kg will allow for robust convective updrafts, and a veering vertical wind profile will allow for organized supercells to develop. Drier mid-level air aloft mixing to the surface, as has been observed the past few days in this region, will again shunt the threat for severe weather further west into De Baca and Chaves County this afternoon. However, this won't have much luck penetrating past the surface frontal boundary allowing for convection to stay focused and threaten areas of Curry and Roosevelt Counties through the rest of this afternoon where a Tornado Watch is in effect. Large hail and severe wind gusts are the main threats with any of these cells, however SRH surpassing 100 m2/s2 will allow for a tornado threat. Single-cell thunderstorms will favor an easterly trek into TX by the evening with outflow pushing back west into the eastern plains of NM. The original frontal boundary becomes meshed and redefined north- to-south further west, surging through the gaps of the central mountain chain into Albuquerque. Showers and a few thunderstorms will favor areas along this redefined frontal boundary in east- central NM, with shower activity and patchy fog favored from Las Vegas to Clines Corners past midnight. Gusty east canyon winds at Albuquerque look to reach 30-35 mph with a brief uptick in moisture spilling into the Rio Grande Valley all the way to the Continental Divide between Grants and Chama. Drier southerly to southwesterly winds quickly mix this moisture out Saturday afternoon, with chances for thunderstorm activity returning to the eastern plains of NM. Forecast uncertainty regarding atmospheric instability remains across the eastern plains where there is a marginal risk for strong to severe thunderstorms. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 120 PM MDT Fri Apr 25 2025 Strong to potentially damaging southwest winds will develop Sunday as the jet stream pivots over the area in advance of an approaching upper level low/trough. Winds are forecast to reach up to 115kts at 300mb across northwest NM and a lee side trough is forecast to deepen to near 989mb across northeast CO. Deep atmospheric mixing will bring strong to damaging winds gusts to the surface Sunday afternoon, with the highest gusts forecast from south central NM through north central NM where a High Wind Watch is in place. Areas of blowing dust will likely develop Sunday afternoon, impacting middle RGV and Roswell areas. The upper level trough will move east through the central/southern Rockies Monday, turning our winds to the west. However, winds will trend down Monday as the jet stream pulls away and another upper level low approaches from over SoCal. Monday will be dry, but PWATs are forecast to rise through mid week as the upper low over Socal moves east over NM on Wednesday. The result will be increasing chances for showers and storms Tue/Wed, especially across north central and northeast NM on Wednesday where the upper low may interact with a weak backdoor cold front. Another, weaker upper low may impact the region toward the end of next week and keep chances for convection going, mainly across northern and eastern NM. Daytime temperatures will trend down and be near to below average from mid to late next week thanks to the increase in atmospheric moisture. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1120 AM MDT Fri Apr 25 2025 Northern and central NM is covered by three unique airmasses this morning, each bringing their own aviation impacts. Dry southerly to south-westerly winds will define areas along and west of the central mountain chain, pushing into the central highland areas this afternoon. Gusty winds of 25 to 35 kts will reach this area this afternoon, threatening the need for an AWW at KABQ. A backdoor cold front has pushed through northeastern NM bringing a northeasterly to easterly wind shift, reaching K0E0 late this morning, and wrapping around the southern tip of the Sangre de Cristo Mts bringing a southeasterly wind to KSAF. A bank of broken to overcast cirrus remains entrenched in the post-frontal area of northeastern NM bringing low ceilings from KRTN to KCAO to KTCC. Meanwhile, southerly return flow continues to flow into southeastern and east-central NM where this morning's low ceilings have eroded. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are favored to develop along a sharpening dryline from KCVN southward this afternoon with storms moving into TX. Thereafter, showers and thunderstorm activity will favor the leading edge of the cold front from KLVS to KSXU to KTCC and KCVN this evening. Light shower activity will continue through the central highlands along the cold frontal boundary alongside low IFR/MVFR ceilings reaching much of eastern NM. The resurgent front will bring east canyon winds threatening 35kts and an AWW at KABQ again tonight into early Saturday morning. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 120 PM MDT Fri Apr 25 2025 ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER THREAT THROUGH SUNDAY MAINLY WESTERN AND CENTRAL NM THEN EASTERN NM MONDAY... While cooler and higher moisture resides over eastern NM this afternoon persisting there Saturday shunting the fire weather threat, very dry southerly flow persists elevated to critical fire weather conditions across the western half of NM this afternoon. This is notably true in the middle Rio Grande Valley. The increased moisture pushes back west through the gaps of the central mountain chain tonight bringing gusty east canyon winds to Santa Fe and Albuquerque tonight and a brief good recovery in humidity Saturday morning. This low level moisture gets mixed back out quick Saturday afternoon by dry southerly winds, expanding the threat of critical fire weather across west-central NM as well. Strong southwesterly winds push the low level moisture back east to TX Sunday, with widespread critical fire weather over at least the western two-thirds of NM. A Pacific cold front brings temperatures down some over western NM, turning winds westerly and shifting the focus for critical fire weather conditions to the eastern half of NM && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 43 78 41 72 / 0 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 33 75 33 71 / 0 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 38 74 39 72 / 0 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 30 74 30 68 / 0 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 37 72 36 68 / 0 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 33 77 33 73 / 0 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 35 73 36 69 / 0 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 44 77 45 75 / 0 0 0 0 Datil........................... 39 73 39 70 / 0 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 31 76 37 72 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 35 82 40 77 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 33 68 34 65 / 0 0 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 46 71 46 72 / 5 5 0 0 Pecos........................... 44 70 43 73 / 30 20 10 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 40 70 43 68 / 10 5 5 0 Red River....................... 34 60 38 59 / 20 10 10 0 Angel Fire...................... 32 64 33 66 / 40 20 20 0 Taos............................ 36 72 37 72 / 20 5 5 0 Mora............................ 40 67 39 71 / 40 30 20 0 Espanola........................ 43 80 44 79 / 5 5 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 46 74 47 74 / 10 10 5 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 45 77 44 78 / 10 10 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 53 81 54 79 / 0 5 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 49 82 49 81 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 46 85 47 83 / 0 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 48 83 49 82 / 0 0 0 0 Belen........................... 45 84 43 84 / 0 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 48 84 48 82 / 0 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 44 84 43 83 / 0 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 47 84 49 82 / 0 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 46 84 45 83 / 0 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 50 79 50 79 / 0 5 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 48 83 49 81 / 0 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 47 86 47 85 / 0 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 45 75 47 74 / 10 10 0 0 Tijeras......................... 46 77 47 76 / 10 10 0 0 Edgewood........................ 43 76 41 76 / 10 10 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 39 77 36 78 / 5 10 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 43 70 41 73 / 10 20 5 0 Mountainair..................... 42 76 45 76 / 5 5 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 41 76 44 76 / 0 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 49 79 51 80 / 0 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 46 73 49 74 / 5 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 41 63 44 74 / 50 30 30 0 Raton........................... 43 68 43 78 / 50 30 20 0 Springer........................ 44 69 43 79 / 50 20 20 0 Las Vegas....................... 44 66 43 75 / 40 30 20 0 Clayton......................... 45 65 51 81 / 70 40 30 10 Roy............................. 45 65 48 79 / 50 40 30 5 Conchas......................... 51 72 51 87 / 50 50 30 10 Santa Rosa...................... 50 72 49 84 / 50 40 20 0 Tucumcari....................... 51 72 54 87 / 50 50 40 10 Clovis.......................... 55 73 56 87 / 70 60 30 10 Portales........................ 54 73 56 89 / 70 60 30 10 Fort Sumner..................... 53 76 53 89 / 50 50 20 5 Roswell......................... 60 85 57 94 / 30 30 10 5 Picacho......................... 50 81 47 86 / 20 10 5 0 Elk............................. 45 81 48 82 / 5 5 5 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from 11 AM to 9 PM MDT Sunday for NMZ101-105- 106-109-120>125. Red Flag Warning until 7 PM MDT this evening for NMZ106. Red Flag Warning from 1 PM to 7 PM MDT Saturday for NMZ106. High Wind Watch from Sunday morning through Sunday evening for NMZ212>215-220>229-239-240. && SHORT TERM...24 LONG TERM....11 AVIATION...24 Please note: The SYNOPSIS section will be terminated by the end of April.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
527 PM MDT Fri Apr 25 2025
NMZ227-228-260000-
Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass NM-Far Northeast
Highlands NM-
527 PM MDT Fri Apr 25 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL COLFAX COUNTY
UNTIL 6 PM MDT...
At 527 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles northwest of Raton Crews Airport, or 11 miles west of Raton,
moving northeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel 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...
Raton.
This includes the following highways...
Highway 64 near Mile Marker 350.
Interstate 25 between Mile Markers 448 and 460.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Accumulations of small hail on roads can create very slick and
hazardous driving conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3699 10463 3699 10447 3685 10439 3675 10468
3693 10475
TIME...MOT...LOC 2326Z 240DEG 12KT 3686 10465
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
11The Cannon AFB radar (KFDX), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:29 UTC.
9 hail, 3 flash flood, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter 1 mile southwest of Wheatland observed quarter size hail from a severe thunderstorm.
A severe thunderstorm produced baseball size hail 3 miles north of Broadview. The hail blew out the windows of the observer's truck and house.
A severe thunderstorm produced 1.5 inch hail 9 miles south southwest of Lingo.
State Highway 275 at mile marker 6 was closed due to flooding and standing water on the roadway.
A trained spotter in Fort Sumner reported quarter size hail from a severe thunderstorm.
U.S. Highway 84 was closed through Fort Sumner due to severe flooding over the highway. Numerous flooding impacts were reported in town including crop damage from flooded fields, residential road closures and damage due to water over roads, and irrigation ditches overflowing. The Fort Sumner high school football field was flooded due to the heavy rainfall.
A trained spotter 9 miles southeast of Variadero observed 2 inch hail from a severe thunderstorm.
A COOP observer 2 mile south of Yeso observed quarter size hail from a severe thunderstorm.
A COOP observer 7 miles east northeast of Yeso observed 1.5 inch hail from a severe thunderstorm.
Photos from two chasers on social media indicate a tornado on the ground approximately 11 miles south of Fort Sumner.
A storm chaser along U.S Highway 70 just southwest of Acme observed tennis ball size hail from a tornadic producing supercell.
Several storm chasers on U.S. Highway 70 and dirt roads around Acme observed up to 3 brief tornado touchdowns. Start and end time and path of tornado is estimated based on storm chaser reports.
A trained spotter along U.S. Highway 84 5 miles east of Puerto De Luna observed quarter sized hail from a severe thunderstorm.
Heavy rainfall from severe thunderstorms resulted in 2.5 feet of water flowing over State Highway 20 from mile marker 37 to 41 leading to the closure of the highway.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for New Mexico, 2025Warnings in New Mexico, April 2025
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: 1238996, 1239009, 1239014, 1239043, 1239046, 1239049, 1239061, 1239052, 1239054, 1239075, 1239148, 1239115, 1239152, 1239160.