A trailing upper level disturbance moved through northern and central New Mexico on May 19th. Daytime heating resulted in the development of isolated to scattered virga showers and thunderstorms across central NM mid to late morning.
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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.
A trailing upper level disturbance moved through northern and central New Mexico on May 19th. Daytime heating resulted in the development of isolated to scattered virga showers and thunderstorms across central NM mid to late morning. This virga and shower activity resulted in high wind gusts across the central highlands, western Guadalupe County and Fort Sumner during the early to mid afternoon hours. Additionally, strong wind gusts from showers in the Albuquerque Metro resulted in down trees and tree branches in Corrales. Finally, a high wind gust of 60 mph was observed at Tucumcari Municipal Airport. Shower and storm activity exited east into Texas during the evening hours.
Key Words: Virga, High Wind Gusts.
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 May 19, 10:28 AM MST, 44 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM Issued by National Weather Service El Paso TX/Santa Teresa NM 1128 AM MDT Mon May 19 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1117 AM MDT Mon May 19 2025 - Strong winds and dry fuels will lead to critical fire weather today, leading to an increased risk of rapid fire spread along and south of U.S. 60. West to northwest wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph will be common, particularly for areas along and south of I-40. - Scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms will develop over western New Mexico today and move quickly east-southeast with erratic microburst wind gusts greater than 50 mph possible. - Temperatures will begin climbing through late week, with highs reaching the upper 80s to mid 90s Friday and Saturday across the state. The risk for heat-related illnesses may increase over Chaves County Friday and Saturday where highs approach 100. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Tuesday) Issued at 327 AM MDT Mon May 19 2025 A trailing shortwave trough currently over Utah will rapidly dig southeastward into New Mexico today, sending another (stronger) Pacific front across the state from northwest to southeast. West to northwest winds from the sfc to the upper atmosphere will help to efficiently mix strong winds down the sfc, with the strongest 500 mb focusing on the corridor from Glenwood northeast to Las Vegas. The Wind Advisory was expanded to include almost all zones along and south of I-40 and a few sites may briefly reach high wind criteria this afternoon. Models have been consistent with the development of a batch of showers in central NM early this afternoon, tracking from Grants southeastward into the highlands and eventually the plains. While the vertical development on these showers won't be particularly strong, they will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts given the strong background flow and evaporative cooling as rain falls to the sfc. These showers will begin to fall apart in the evening as they move into the eastern plains, but there is a low chance that they make it all the way to the TX border. More widespread precipitation is likely near the CO border where a few showers/storms may produce wetting rainfall. Blowing dust should be limited today, with the area near Roswell being of main concern. Significant reductions in visibility will be very localized in nature. Cooler and drier air will funnel into the area tonight behind the Pacific front, with many locations falling near, if not below freezing. The Freeze Watch was upgraded to a Warning and expanded to include a few more zones, including the Estancia Basin and far northeast highlands. There is also around a 30% chance of a freeze at Clines Corners and Las Vegas so those areas will be monitored for potential expansion. Temperatures moderate quite well on Tuesday as heights rise, but highs will still be a few degrees below average in all areas. Breezy northwest winds will develop in the Central Highlands in the afternoon with generally light winds elsewhere. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday night through Sunday) Issued at 327 AM MDT Mon May 19 2025 H5 heights will continue rising Tuesday night along with lighter surface winds, clear skies, and very low dewpoints. Temps will be chilly again but several degrees warmer than Tuesday morning. Min temps are expected to remain above freezing for most northern and western valleys. Light winds will persist Wednesday afternoon with max temps trending 5 to 10F warmer. Surface humidity will be very low Wednesday with most areas falling below 10%. Low level moisture will begin sloshing westward into eastern NM Wednesday night with light winds and very low humidity elsewhere. Min temps will trend several degrees warmer again Wednesday night. Surface winds will increase by Thursday as flow aloft backs to the southwest between a ridge building over TX and a trough entering the Great Basin. A persistent upper level pattern will allow low level moisture to continue sloshing into eastern NM each night with very low humidity and breezy southwest winds elsewhere thru Sunday. Highs will continue warming each day with the warmest readings so far this season Friday and Saturday. The probability of Roswell reaching 100F continues to increase both days. The ABQ metro area southward will also see low 90s during this period. A stray shower cannot be ruled out across northeast or southeast NM beginning Thursday. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1117 AM MDT Mon May 19 2025 A few showers with a few lightning strikes have been observed at KABQ and KAEG. An analysis of CAMs morning showers some isolated to scattered showers with a few lightning strikes not out of the question especially in the northern zones this afternoon with brief periods of MVFR possible. Some gusty winds have been observed with gusts up to 45kts with showers that are moving generally east to west. The Pacific front just west of KABQ will sweep across the rest of the area and clear TAF sites by tonight. There is a low chance of blowing dust at KROW this afternoon around 20-01z, which could briefly reduce visibilites to between 3-5 miles from dust sources west of the area. Gusty winds will decouple around 02-03z in most areas. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 327 AM MDT Mon May 19 2025 ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AGAIN TODAY IN SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH- CENTRAL NM... Today will be the last of a several day stretch of critical fire weather conditions in southwest and south-central New Mexico. Strong west winds of 25 to 35 mph are expected this afternoon, with winds changing around to the northwest behind a Pacific frontal passage in the late afternoon and evening. Gusty showers and an isolated storm or two could enhance winds in the Rio Grande Valley and Sandia and Manzano mountains during the afternoon before the front moves through and brings in drier/cooler air. Showers and storms will be more widespread near the Colorado border today where there is a low chance of wetting rainfall in the mountains. Breezy northwest winds will be confined to the Central Highlands on Tuesday afternoon where there may be a few hours of localized critical fire weather conditions. Winds will trend weaker mid-week as temperatures rise above seasonal averages. Return flow from the east will increase moisture in eastern NM late week into the weekend, with increasing chances early next week as this moisture interacts with a disturbance approaching from the west. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 61 34 72 39 / 5 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 57 25 69 29 / 20 0 0 0 Cuba............................ 57 30 68 37 / 20 0 0 0 Gallup.......................... 61 26 73 31 / 20 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 57 29 70 36 / 20 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 62 28 73 33 / 20 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 63 31 72 38 / 10 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 66 38 76 46 / 10 0 0 0 Datil........................... 63 32 72 40 / 5 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 73 33 81 38 / 0 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 78 41 85 44 / 0 0 0 0 Chama........................... 51 24 63 31 / 40 5 0 0 Los Alamos...................... 58 36 69 44 / 20 0 0 0 Pecos........................... 58 34 69 42 / 20 0 0 0 Cerro/Questa.................... 55 29 67 36 / 40 10 0 0 Red River....................... 46 24 57 31 / 40 10 0 0 Angel Fire...................... 52 24 62 27 / 30 10 0 0 Taos............................ 59 27 69 33 / 20 5 0 0 Mora............................ 56 31 68 37 / 20 5 0 0 Espanola........................ 65 36 76 41 / 20 0 0 0 Santa Fe........................ 58 36 71 43 / 20 0 0 0 Santa Fe Airport................ 63 35 74 41 / 20 0 0 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 64 42 76 51 / 20 0 0 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 67 41 77 48 / 20 0 0 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 69 41 80 46 / 20 0 0 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 67 41 78 47 / 20 0 0 0 Belen........................... 71 39 81 43 / 20 0 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 67 40 79 46 / 20 0 0 0 Bosque Farms.................... 70 39 80 43 / 20 0 0 0 Corrales........................ 68 41 79 46 / 20 0 0 0 Los Lunas....................... 70 39 80 44 / 20 0 0 0 Placitas........................ 63 39 74 47 / 20 0 0 0 Rio Rancho...................... 67 41 78 46 / 20 0 0 0 Socorro......................... 76 44 84 50 / 10 0 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 59 36 70 43 / 20 0 0 0 Tijeras......................... 61 37 72 44 / 20 0 0 0 Edgewood........................ 61 34 72 40 / 20 0 0 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 63 31 74 36 / 20 0 0 0 Clines Corners.................. 59 34 69 40 / 20 0 0 0 Mountainair..................... 62 35 72 42 / 20 0 0 0 Gran Quivira.................... 63 36 73 42 / 20 0 0 0 Carrizozo....................... 71 43 77 50 / 10 0 0 0 Ruidoso......................... 64 41 72 48 / 5 0 0 0 Capulin......................... 61 33 68 39 / 60 20 0 0 Raton........................... 64 32 74 38 / 50 20 0 0 Springer........................ 68 32 75 38 / 30 10 0 0 Las Vegas....................... 62 34 72 40 / 10 10 0 0 Clayton......................... 71 42 75 46 / 40 20 0 0 Roy............................. 67 38 74 43 / 20 10 0 0 Conchas......................... 76 43 82 47 / 10 10 0 0 Santa Rosa...................... 71 42 79 47 / 20 10 0 0 Tucumcari....................... 77 44 81 48 / 10 10 0 0 Clovis.......................... 77 46 80 50 / 10 10 0 0 Portales........................ 80 45 81 49 / 5 10 0 0 Fort Sumner..................... 77 44 83 49 / 20 10 0 0 Roswell......................... 85 51 87 53 / 5 0 0 0 Picacho......................... 75 46 82 50 / 5 0 0 0 Elk............................. 73 44 82 48 / 0 0 0 0 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 7 PM MDT this evening for NMZ206>208-219>226- 233>241. Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for NMZ106-109-124. Freeze Warning from 3 AM to 9 AM MDT Tuesday for NMZ216-222-228- 241. && SHORT TERM...16 LONG TERM....42 AVIATION...99
The Albuquerque radar (KABX), 106 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:09 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Clines Corners ASOS measured a 61 mph wind gust as showers moved through the area.
The mesonet station a few miles southeast of Vaughn measured a 61 mph wind gust as showers moved through the area.
Small to medium sized branches down on a ditch dirt road between Ranchitos Road and Coronado Road due to strong winds from showers in the area.
Strong wind gusts from showers resulted in a downed tree on a property fence in an alleyway on Hollywood Road off of Loma Larga Road.
Strong wind gusts from showers resulted in downed branches along Mariquita Road in Corrales.
Strong wind gusts from showers resulted in a down tree on the north end of Corrales Road near Mountain View Road.
A public weather station near Estancia measured a 59 mph wind gust as showers moved through the area.
The Clines Corners ASOS measured a 59 mph wind gust as another round of showers moved through the area.
The mesonet station a few miles southeast of Vaughn measured a peak wind gust surpassing the limits of their instrumentation of 67 mph with another wind gust of 61 mph shortly thereafter as showers moved through the area.
The Thompson Cattle mesonet station measured a 62 mph wind gust as showers moved through the area.
A public station along the Union Pacific Railroad east of Vaughn measured a wind gust of 60 mph as virga showers moved through the area.
The mesonet station east of Fort Sumner measured peak wind gusts of 66 mph from nearby showers.
The Tucumcari Municipal Airport ASOS measured a brief wind gust of 60 mph.
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: 1245718, 1245720, 1245783, 1245789, 1245803, 1245811, 1245729, 1245730, 1245731, 1245750, 1245749, 1245819, 1245820.