The month of May on the whole saw near to below normal temperatures and near to above normal precipitation across the majority of New Mexico, notably the northeastern half to two-thirds of the state. Portions of south-central and southwestern NM however saw near to slightly above normal temperatures and near to slightly below normal precipitation allowing for the introduction of exceptional…
Every event with a place to put it; 28 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 month of May on the whole saw near to below normal temperatures and near to above normal precipitation across the majority of New Mexico, notably the northeastern half to two-thirds of the state. Portions of south-central and southwestern NM however saw near to slightly above normal temperatures and near to slightly below normal precipitation allowing for the introduction of exceptional drought in Catron and Socorro Counties. Because of the severe to exceptional drought conditions and high fire risk across western and central New Mexico, the state governor declared a drought emergency for the entire state om May 22nd. The Navajo Nation followed suit and declared a drought emergency on May 30th.
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 30, 10:31 PM MST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1131 PM MDT Wed Apr 30 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1126 PM MDT Wed Apr 30 2025 - A strong east canyon wind is expected for the Albuquerque and Santa Fe Metro areas Thursday night into Friday. Localized blowing dust may reduce visibility. - Precipitation chances ramp up Thursday through early next week. Northern and western New Mexico are favored for Friday, then favoring western and central New Mexico on Saturday, and then eastern New Mexico will be favored late this weekend into early next week. Some severe storms will be possible. - Critical fire weather conditions look to return for southwest and south central areas on Sunday. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Thursday night) Issued at 322 PM MDT Wed Apr 30 2025 Convection has fired in the locations generally expected today, though an hour or two earlier than previously forecast. Upper-level low which was centered nearly overhead of ABQ early this morning has begun opening up and progressing westward, with NAM/GFS guidance both taking the trough axis to the Texas border by around 21Z. This should effectively end any organized convection. Storms moving through northeastern NM still have potential to produce gusty and erratic winds due to dewpoint depressions of 30-35F. Precip should pretty well end by 6pm MDT/00Z, yielding a fairly quiet overnight period as zonal flow aloft moves in. A back-door cold front moves into NE NM between 06-09Z, with short-range guidance in good agreement on this. Wind shift should reach all of the eastern Plains by around dawn, but this initial shift isn't likely to make it past the central mountains, at least not with any force, as it will be fighting drier southwesterly winds ahead of the next upper low dropping into place near San Diego, CA on Thursday. So the more moist post-frontal airmass will generally be confined to the NE quadrant of NM. A short-wave trough aloft is progged to pass through northern NM on Thursday. Interaction with the frontal boundary yields a round of fairly widespread showers and thunderstorms from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains eastward to the Texas border during the afternoon and early evening. While severe hail or wind is not expected, some of these storms could be robust, with gusty winds and heavy rain. Latest WPC QPF has a swath of 0.25- 0.60 inches areal-average amounts from eastern Colfax into Union Counties. Storms will be moving at a fairly good clip in the fairly fast zonal mid-level flow, so low confidence in any flooding issues materializing. NBM, with CAM's included at this range, has 90th percentile amounts only approaching 1.0 inch, which supports this idea. This convection will also provide a reinforcing push to the back- door front to push its way through gaps in the central mountain chain late Thursday night into early Friday morning. Guidance has trended down with east-canyon winds for the ABQ Metro, with MAV guidance for peak winds at the Sunport 26 knots, and that not until mid-Friday morning. With uncertainty regarding the convective push, blended previous wind forecast in this area with latest ConsMOS. A Wind Advisory may ultimately be needed, but with confidence slightly lower and onset not until Period 3, will let overnight shift take another look. Also trimmed back mention of patchy blowing dust to areas more immediately downwind of the Sandia/Manzano Mountains. && .LONG TERM... (Friday through Tuesday) Issued at 322 PM MDT Wed Apr 30 2025 A backdoor front will be pushing through the gaps of the central mountain chain and all the way west to the Continental Divide Friday morning. This will bring a light to at most moderate east canyon wind to the ABQ Metro with wind gusts of around 30 mph. The backdoor front will also bring higher moisture to western and central NM ahead of a weak upper low over Arizona south of a upper ridge axis over the Great Basin. Daytime heating combined with lift ahead of the baggy upper low and the added surface moisture behind the backdoor front will result in the development of showers and thunderstorms over the northern and western higher terrain moving down to lower elevations during the evening due to outflow boundaries. Little shower and storm activity is expected across eastern NM as atmospheric conditions look to remain stable behind the aforementioned backdoor front. Outflow boundaries from the shower and thunderstorm activity over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains will also reinforce the east canyon wind across the ABQ Metro with this wind push looking to be stronger than Friday morning. Wind gusts could approach 50 mph according the NAM guidance so this bears watching. Shower and thunderstorm activity looks to wane around sunset with lingering clouds overnight. The upper low opens up into a trough and moves northeast over the Four Corners ahead of a larger and deeper upper level trough and eventual low moving into the Pacific Coast. Daytime heating under the opening trough will allow a few showers and storms to develop across the higher terrain Saturday afternoon. With higher instability and southeast surface winds, some guidance develops some heavier QPF across the Sacramento Mountains. This brings the potential for some flash flooding on the burn scars around Ruidoso. However, this is dependent on if the mid level caps breaks, so this will need to be monitored closely. The upper level trough really digs south along the California coast Saturday night into Sunday cutting off into a unseasonably deep low over Southern California by Sunday afternoon and evening. This low is around 3 standard deviations below average for early May. As this happens, this will bring dry southwest winds into southwest NM Sunday afternoon west of the retreating backdoor front to eventual dryline. Southeast winds bring higher Gulf moisture into eastern NM with PWATs increasing to 0.8 to 1 inch across the eastern plains. A multi-hazard day is expected across the forecast area with critical fire weather conditions possible across the southwest mountains and lower Rio Grande Valley, gusty south winds near Wind Advisory criteria across the middle Rio Grande Valley, and strong to severe storms along and east of the central mountain chain. The HPCC burn scar will need to be monitored for burn scar flash flooding. Higher uncertainty exists for the Ruidoso burn scar as the aforementioned dry southwest flow to the west could allow showers and storms to develop just east and northeast of the burn scars. However, this is dependent on the position of the upper low circulation over southern CA and western AZ. The upper low slowly moves slowly into Arizona Monday and it looks to spin there through mid next week due to an omega block across the lower 48 (upper high over the Mississippi River Valley and upper low over the Ohio River Valley) and potentially a Rex block over the western U.S. with a high over British Columbia. This will bring the diurnal chance for strong to severe thunderstorms across eastern NM with more scattered showers and storms across western and central NM closer to the upper level circulation. Flash flooding and burn scar flash flooding concerns will increase along and east of the central mountain chain each day next week due to several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms. With the blocking upper level pattern next week, forecast confidence remains low on the exact placement and coverage of shower and thunderstorm activity, so stay tuned to the forecast for more changes. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1126 PM MDT Wed Apr 30 2025 VFR prevails tonight except for a few isolated patchy low clouds through east-central NM heading into Thursday morning. Scattered afternoon showers will favor the northern third of the state Thursday afternoon, with thunderstorms focused along and east of the Sangre de Cristo Mts tracking east toward the OK/TX lines. Localized MVFR conditions will follow these storms mainly between KRTN to KCAO. A few gusty outflows will also be possible from the mostly virga showers over northwestern and north-central NM, and have included a PROB30 for this at KSAF. Otherwise, a backdoor cold front stalled at the CO line will advance southward through northeastern NM Thursday evening bringing a northerly to northeasterly wind shift. Look for this front to advance through the gaps of the central mountain chain bringing an east canyon wind to KSAF and KABQ toward by Friday morning. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 322 PM MDT Wed Apr 30 2025 Elevated fire weather conditions continue for western NM today and become more relegated to the southern zones on Thursday behind a weather system exiting into TX as westerlies pick up alongside relative humidity values falling below 15% in those areas. 20-foot winds of 10-15mph will be a limiting factor. A backdoor cold front advancing into northeastern NM tonight eventually advances through the gaps of the central mountain chain Thursday night, and onward to the Continental Divide by Friday brings cooler and wetter weather, pausing fire weather concerns through Saturday. Fire weather conditions, potentially Critical, return Sunday through western and central NM, as dry and strong SSW flow picks up Sunday ahead of a strengthening storm system over the western CONUS. This direction is favorable for funneling up the Rio Grande Valley. These near-critical to critical conditions now appear to remain in the same areas into early next week, with higher RH's and robust rain chances continuing east of the central mountains through next Tuesday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 41 72 41 74 / 0 20 5 30 Dulce........................... 30 69 31 68 / 0 40 10 60 Cuba............................ 36 68 38 65 / 0 20 20 60 Gallup.......................... 31 70 34 69 / 0 20 10 60 El Morro........................ 36 67 40 66 / 0 20 10 70 Grants.......................... 32 72 35 69 / 0 20 10 60 Quemado......................... 36 70 38 68 / 0 10 0 60 Magdalena....................... 44 72 44 66 / 0 5 5 60 Datil........................... 39 69 40 66 / 0 10 5 70 Reserve......................... 32 77 34 76 / 0 5 0 40 Glenwood........................ 38 80 40 81 / 0 0 0 20 Chama........................... 31 62 32 60 / 0 50 20 70 Los Alamos...................... 44 65 45 61 / 0 20 20 70 Pecos........................... 40 67 39 58 / 0 20 30 70 Cerro/Questa.................... 36 63 36 61 / 5 60 40 60 Red River....................... 30 53 30 48 / 5 60 50 70 Angel Fire...................... 27 60 28 53 / 0 60 50 80 Taos............................ 31 67 32 64 / 0 50 30 60 Mora............................ 35 64 33 53 / 0 40 30 80 Espanola........................ 39 73 43 70 / 0 20 20 60 Santa Fe........................ 44 69 44 62 / 0 20 20 70 Santa Fe Airport................ 40 73 43 66 / 0 20 10 60 Albuquerque Foothills........... 51 75 51 69 / 0 10 10 50 Albuquerque Heights............. 47 77 49 71 / 0 5 10 50 Albuquerque Valley.............. 45 80 49 73 / 0 5 10 50 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 47 78 50 72 / 0 10 10 50 Belen........................... 41 80 46 73 / 0 5 5 50 Bernalillo...................... 46 78 49 73 / 0 10 10 50 Bosque Farms.................... 41 79 45 73 / 0 5 5 50 Corrales........................ 46 79 49 73 / 0 10 10 50 Los Lunas....................... 43 79 47 73 / 0 5 5 50 Placitas........................ 48 74 49 68 / 0 10 10 60 Rio Rancho...................... 46 78 49 72 / 0 10 10 50 Socorro......................... 46 83 49 76 / 0 0 5 50 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 44 70 44 63 / 0 10 20 60 Tijeras......................... 44 72 44 64 / 0 10 20 50 Edgewood........................ 40 73 42 63 / 0 10 10 50 Moriarty/Estancia............... 34 75 40 63 / 0 10 10 40 Clines Corners.................. 39 69 39 57 / 0 10 10 40 Mountainair..................... 41 73 42 63 / 0 5 5 40 Gran Quivira.................... 40 73 43 63 / 0 0 5 40 Carrizozo....................... 44 77 45 70 / 0 0 0 40 Ruidoso......................... 43 71 43 61 / 0 0 0 50 Capulin......................... 34 58 37 54 / 0 70 60 30 Raton........................... 34 63 38 60 / 0 70 50 30 Springer........................ 34 67 39 60 / 0 60 40 40 Las Vegas....................... 37 68 36 56 / 0 30 30 50 Clayton......................... 42 65 40 61 / 0 60 60 20 Roy............................. 38 67 39 58 / 0 50 40 30 Conchas......................... 41 75 45 65 / 0 40 40 30 Santa Rosa...................... 43 75 45 61 / 0 20 10 30 Tucumcari....................... 43 75 47 64 / 0 20 40 30 Clovis.......................... 47 80 48 66 / 0 5 20 20 Portales........................ 45 80 48 67 / 0 0 10 20 Fort Sumner..................... 44 79 49 66 / 0 5 10 30 Roswell......................... 51 87 52 71 / 0 0 0 30 Picacho......................... 47 81 46 66 / 0 0 0 40 Elk............................. 44 80 41 67 / 0 0 0 50 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...53 LONG TERM....71 AVIATION...24
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
28 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Extreme drought persisted over the eastern third of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted over the southwestern tier of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted over the southern tier of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted over the majority of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted over the western and eastern edges of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted over the majority of the zone while exceptional drought was introduced to the southern portion of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the majority of the zone while exceptional drought was introduced the southwestern portion of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the majority of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the majority of the zone.
Extreme drought conditions were removed from the zone.
Extreme drought conditions were removed from the zone.
Extreme drought conditions were removed from the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the western portion the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the western portion the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the western portion the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the majority of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the southern half of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the majority of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the southeastern portion of the zone.
Severe drought was removed from the entire zone.
Severe drought was removed from the entire zone.
Severe drought was removed from a small northeastern portion of the zone while severe to extreme drought persisted over the majority of the zone.
Severe drought persisted over the northern half of the zone while extreme drought persisted over the southern half of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the entire zone.
Severe drought persisted across the zone.
Severe drought was removed from the zone.
Severe drought persisted across much of the zone.
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, May 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: 1252798, 1252799, 1252800, 1252801, 1252802, 1252804, 1252805, 1252807, 1252809, 1252810, 1252811, 1252812, 1252813, 1252814, 1252815, 1252816, 1252817, 1252818, 1252819, 1252820, 1252828, 1252829, 1252830, 1252831, 1252832, 1271878, 1271880, 1271889.