Scattered virga showers over western and central NM developed along the Continental Divide during the afternoon of August 8th. These dry showers producing little to no rainfall spread into the Rio Grande Valley, producing dry downburst winds.
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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.
Scattered virga showers over western and central NM developed along the Continental Divide during the afternoon of August 8th. These dry showers producing little to no rainfall spread into the Rio Grande Valley, producing dry downburst winds. One severe downburst wind impacted the Belen Regional Airport with a 61 mph wind gust. No damage was reported.
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 8, 4:43 PM MST, 2 hours 52 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 543 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 115 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025 - High confidence remains for widespread moderate to major heat risk impacts through this afternoon, which may cause health issues for individuals without adequate cooling and hydration. Some areas will approach record highs. Additional areas of moderate to isolated major heat risk are likely in the Albuquerque Metro area and eastern New Mexico Saturday. - Gusty and erratic winds are likely across western and central New Mexico through Saturday from isolated to widely scattered virga showers and dry thunderstorms. - There is a Marginal Risk of severe weather for northeastern New Mexico today, Saturday, and Sunday, during the afternoon and early evening each day. Damaging winds and large hail are the primary threats. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Saturday night) Issued at 115 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025 High pressure continues to sit over New Mexico this afternoon, though height levels have decreased slightly (597dm on today's 18z sounding, compared to 600dm on Wednesday). As such, hot temperatures continue across the forecast area. Today's Heat Advisories for Roswell and Albuquerque look to remain on track. Highs are likely to remain in the high 90s to low 100s for nearly all lower elevation areas. There is a good chance that ABQ sees a record high temperature today, as 98F is the current calendar day record. Outside of temperatures, high based virga showers and dry thunderstorms remain the main threat across western and central NM this afternoon and evening. Inverted V soundings can be seen on both the 18z ABQ sounding and on model soundings further west. With modest mid-level RH around 50%, this continues to support little to no precipitation with developing showers and storms, but more of a gusty wind and dry lightning threat. The strongest gusts are likely to reach 50mph in some instances. With a shortwave traversing the northern periphery of the high along the CO/NM border, additional lift may be provided to storms in northeast NM this afternoon, where SBCAPE values up to 1500 J/kg and 20kts of 0-6km bulk shear may be enough to spit out a strong to severe storm. Confidence is not very high with this, but the ingredients support the chance, as outlined with the Marginal Risk via the SPC. The high takes its time breaking down and shifting west, so a very similar day is expected for Saturday. An additional Heat Advisory was issued for the ABQ Metro Area as temperatures will still be near 100F, especially in the valley. Temperatures drop a few degrees over eastern NM as the center of the high shifts west, taking them out of consideration for an Advisory (though it will still be toasty). Dry thunderstorms and virga showers will once again be a threat across western and central NM, though a slight bump in mid-level moisture may yield accumulating precipitation across the Gila Region in southwest NM. A stray strong to severe thunderstorm is once again possible over northeast NM. Instability and shear values are likely to be more sufficient for severe storms, but there is still a big question mark as to whether storms can actually develop. As such, a Marginal Risk remains for Saturday with low to moderate confidence in it. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 115 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025 A shift back into a wetter pattern appears likely to begin this upcoming work week. The high pressure gradually shifts westward and sits over CA by Monday, placing NM in a regime of northwest flow. This works to increase moisture and forcing mechanisms throughout the state, as shortwaves and minor disturbances in the flow favor this regime. Sunday could be a more active day given a few factors. On top of the upper-level/synoptic features previously listed, convection from Saturday in eastern CO is likely to enhance a backdoor front pushing into NM, providing additional moisture to the area. Instability and shear also looks to increase considerably, paving the way for higher confidence in strong to severe storms (though not a slam dunk forecast, as this evolution likely depends on how Saturday's convection plays out). Monday appears to be a similarly active day, this time more focused on potential flooding concerns, especially around burn scars. Diffluence aloft from northwest flow with antecedent moisture appears favorable for a setup of numerous showers and thunderstorms across the area. Embedded strong to severe storms are possible, though PWAT values forecast to overtop 1" across eastern NM signal the potential for flooding concerns as well. Continuing into the middle part of the week, daily rounds of thunderstorms appear likely, with chances for burn scar flash flooding each day. Ensemble guidance is painting a troughing pattern to our west and a high pressure to our east, signaling the potential return of a more traditional monsoon setup by late week. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 115 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025 A shift back into a wetter pattern appears likely to begin this upcoming work week. The high pressure gradually shifts westward and sits over CA by Monday, placing NM in a regime of northwest flow. This works to increase moisture and forcing mechanisms throughout the state, as shortwaves and minor disturbances in the flow favor this regime. Sunday could be a more active day given a few factors. On top of the upper-level/synoptic features previously listed, convection from Saturday in eastern CO is likely to enhance a backdoor front pushing into NM, providing additional moisture to the area. Instability and shear also looks to increase considerably, paving the way for higher confidence in strong to severe storms (though not a slam dunk forecast, as this evolution likely depends on how Saturday's convection plays out). Monday appears to be a similarly active day, this time more focused on potential flooding concerns, especially around burn scars. Diffluence aloft from northwest flow with antecedent moisture appears favorable for a setup of numerous showers and thunderstorms across the area. Embedded strong to severe storms are possible, though PWAT values forecast to overtop 1" across eastern NM signal the potential for flooding concerns as well. Continuing into the middle part of the week, daily rounds of thunderstorms appear likely, with chances for burn scar flash flooding each day. Ensemble guidance is painting a troughing pattern to our west and a high pressure to our east, signaling the potential return of a more traditional monsoon setup by late week. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 543 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025 Virga, sprinkles and a few dry thunderstorms along and west of the Central Mountain Chain will continue to result in gusty and erratic winds to 40kt, locally higher, through 01-02Z. Meanwhile, shower and thunderstorm activity across northeast and east central NM will continue through 03-04Z before diminishing. These storms will be capable of gusty and erratic wind gusts between 40 and 50kt. After storms diminish, the low level jet will increase across eastern NM resulting in LLWS at both KTCC and KROW overnight. The LLJ will weaken by 12Z. On Saturday, another round of showers and a few thunderstorms will develop favoring the high terrain areas south of I-40. Gusty and erratic wind gusts will again be a concern. Additional storms may impact eastern NM late in the afternoon and evening. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 115 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025 Near critical fire weather conditions are likely to persist today and, to a lesser extent, tomorrow for northwest NM. Low teen to single digit humidity values along with breezy west winds contribute to this today. Isolated pockets and/or brief periods of critical fire weather conditions are possible, but expected to remain isolated in nature. Thus, continued the thinking of the previous shift of considering but not issuing a Red Flag Warning for Fire Wx Zone 101. Across much of western NM today, virga showers with very little wetting footprints are likely, and dry lightning is a possibility as well given a very dry surface layer. This runs the risk of creating new fire starts. Tomorrow sees similar conditions to today, but on a smaller scale as humidity values rise slightly, winds slow down a touch, and the coverage of dry thunderstorms decreases. Further into Sunday and next week, only pockets of elevated fire weather conditions are possible in western NM given lower humidity. Elsewhere, moisture increases along with precipitation chances. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 61 96 62 93 / 10 0 5 0 Dulce........................... 48 91 48 88 / 10 0 5 20 Cuba............................ 57 91 57 89 / 10 5 5 20 Gallup.......................... 54 93 56 91 / 10 10 10 10 El Morro........................ 57 89 56 87 / 10 10 20 30 Grants.......................... 57 93 58 90 / 10 10 20 30 Quemado......................... 59 90 59 88 / 20 30 40 50 Magdalena....................... 66 92 65 89 / 20 30 30 50 Datil........................... 61 88 59 86 / 20 30 30 60 Reserve......................... 57 95 55 93 / 20 50 30 60 Glenwood........................ 64 100 61 98 / 20 50 30 60 Chama........................... 49 85 49 82 / 10 0 5 30 Los Alamos...................... 63 89 62 86 / 10 5 5 40 Pecos........................... 60 89 59 85 / 10 10 10 40 Cerro/Questa.................... 57 87 56 83 / 10 0 5 50 Red River....................... 48 77 47 73 / 10 0 5 60 Angel Fire...................... 41 81 41 76 / 10 5 5 60 Taos............................ 52 90 53 85 / 10 0 5 40 Mora............................ 55 86 54 81 / 10 20 5 50 Espanola........................ 59 97 58 93 / 10 0 5 20 Santa Fe........................ 63 91 62 87 / 10 5 10 30 Santa Fe Airport................ 59 95 59 90 / 10 5 5 20 Albuquerque Foothills........... 71 96 70 94 / 10 10 20 30 Albuquerque Heights............. 68 98 67 95 / 10 10 20 20 Albuquerque Valley.............. 67 100 66 98 / 10 10 10 20 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 67 98 67 96 / 10 10 10 20 Belen........................... 65 100 64 98 / 10 10 20 20 Bernalillo...................... 65 99 66 97 / 10 10 10 20 Bosque Farms.................... 63 100 63 97 / 10 10 10 10 Corrales........................ 67 99 67 97 / 10 10 10 20 Los Lunas....................... 65 100 65 97 / 10 10 10 10 Placitas........................ 67 95 66 93 / 10 10 10 20 Rio Rancho...................... 67 98 67 96 / 10 10 10 20 Socorro......................... 70 101 69 98 / 20 10 30 30 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 63 91 61 88 / 10 10 10 30 Tijeras......................... 65 93 64 89 / 10 10 20 30 Edgewood........................ 59 93 58 90 / 10 5 10 30 Moriarty/Estancia............... 57 94 56 90 / 10 10 10 20 Clines Corners.................. 61 88 59 83 / 10 10 10 20 Mountainair..................... 62 91 61 89 / 10 20 20 40 Gran Quivira.................... 63 92 61 88 / 10 20 20 40 Carrizozo....................... 69 95 67 92 / 10 20 30 40 Ruidoso......................... 64 87 61 84 / 5 30 30 50 Capulin......................... 56 85 54 77 / 10 30 30 70 Raton........................... 54 91 53 83 / 10 30 20 70 Springer........................ 55 93 53 86 / 10 20 10 50 Las Vegas....................... 57 89 56 84 / 10 20 10 50 Clayton......................... 65 90 61 83 / 20 20 30 40 Roy............................. 59 89 59 85 / 10 10 20 40 Conchas......................... 67 97 66 93 / 20 10 20 30 Santa Rosa...................... 66 96 64 90 / 20 10 20 30 Tucumcari....................... 69 96 66 90 / 20 5 20 20 Clovis.......................... 71 100 69 96 / 20 5 30 20 Portales........................ 72 101 70 98 / 10 10 30 30 Fort Sumner..................... 70 100 69 96 / 20 10 20 20 Roswell......................... 71 104 71 100 / 0 10 10 20 Picacho......................... 67 97 66 93 / 5 20 20 40 Elk............................. 65 94 64 91 / 0 20 10 40 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 7 PM MDT this evening for NMZ219-238. Heat Advisory from noon to 7 PM MDT Saturday for NMZ219. && SHORT TERM...77 LONG TERM....77 AVIATION...34
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
425 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025
NMZ231-082300-
Harding County NM-
425 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN HARDING COUNTY
UNTIL 5 PM MDT...
At 425 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles northeast of Solano, or 13 miles north of Mosquero, moving
east at 20 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...
Bueyeros.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
&&
LAT...LON 3585 10401 3605 10404 3611 10379 3609 10379
3609 10364 3585 10361
TIME...MOT...LOC 2224Z 260DEG 15KT 3596 10392
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
11Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 441 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025 NMZ219-221-082315- Middle Rio Grande Valley including the Albuquerque Metro Area NM- Sandia and Manzano Mountains including Edgewood NM- 441 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025 ...A SHOWER WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL IMPACT BERNALILLO COUNTY UNTIL 515 PM MDT... At 441 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a shower near Albuquerque, moving east at 15 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... Albuquerque, Tijeras, Cedar Crest, North Valley, South Valley, Sandia Park, Carnuel, Cedro and Canoncito in Bernalillo County. This includes the following highways... Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 157 and 176. Interstate 25 between Mile Markers 215 and 229. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening weather conditions. && LAT...LON 3495 10670 3513 10669 3517 10636 3494 10634 TIME...MOT...LOC 2240Z 266DEG 15KT 3505 10662 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH 34
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 444 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025 NMZ219-082315- Middle Rio Grande Valley including the Albuquerque Metro Area NM- 444 PM MDT Fri Aug 8 2025 ...A SHOWER WILL IMPACT BERNALILLO AND SOUTHERN SANDOVAL COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM MDT... At 444 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a shower 10 miles west of Paradise Hills, or 12 miles west of Albuquerque, moving east at 15 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... Albuquerque, southwestern Rio Rancho, Corrales, Los Ranchos De Albuquerque, Paradise Hills, South Valley, North Valley and Alameda. This includes Interstate 40 between Mile Markers 143 and 157. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening weather conditions. Blowing dust associated with outflow winds can reduce visibility at times. && LAT...LON 3506 10695 3525 10690 3522 10660 3497 10670 TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 276DEG 11KT 3515 10686 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN MAX WIND GUST...50 TO 55 MPH 34
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:34 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Belen Regional Airport measured a severe wind gust of 61 mph from a non-thunderstorm convective dry downburst from virga showers in the area.
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 historyWarnings in New Mexico, August 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: 1271734.