The month of May saw below normal precipitation through the Four Corners region and portions of the central highlands of New Mexico, while areas along the Rio Grande Valley, southwestern, and eastern NM saw near to above normal precipitation. Mean temperatures trended near to slightly above normal through western NM and near to slightly below normal across eastern NM.
Every event with a place to put it; 30 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 saw below normal precipitation through the Four Corners region and portions of the central highlands of New Mexico, while areas along the Rio Grande Valley, southwestern, and eastern NM saw near to above normal precipitation. Mean temperatures trended near to slightly above normal through western NM and near to slightly below normal across eastern NM. This led to a modest expansion of extreme drought conditions across western NM and portions of the eastern plains of NM along the TX border. Gaps of severe drought through the northern mountains were filled in. Due to ongoing drought conditions and record low snowpack the previous winter, the Rio Grande dried up through the Albuquerque metro area.
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, 10:42 PM MST, 1 hour 18 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1142 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1130 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026 - Widespread rain will impact areas along and east of the central mountain chain tonight into Friday with more sparse shower and thunderstorm activity in western areas Friday afternoon. - Winter travel conditions will impact the high northern mountains tonight through Friday night. - Gusty east winds up 50 mph will develop below canyons into the Rio Grande and Upper Tularosa Valleys tonight and Friday. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Friday night) Issued at 139 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026 A wetter and cooler period of weather remains on track heading into this evening and lasting through Friday night. Very beneficial rain amounts generally between a third of an inch to one inch through Friday night are favored for areas along and east of the central mountain chain. Nuisance flooding will be a concern where moderate showers to at brief heavier rainfall is favored tonight into Friday morning across portions of southeastern NM. Meanwhile, high mountain snow will favor the northern mountains where 1 to 4 inches is favored except higher amounts up to 8 to 12 inches above 10,000 feet. Strong east canyon winds gusting to 50 mph will also impact the ABQ metro area, particularly below the Tijeras Canyon area along I-40 this evening and overnight. The synoptic scale setup shows a 567dm H5 low moving ashore the northern Baja Peninsula this afternoon, which will fill and phase with an upstream trough over UT tonight into Friday. At the surface, higher moisture remains pent up across eastern NM being pushed back by drier westerlies infiltrating western and central NM. Shower activity already beginning to break out over the northern mountains this afternoon will expand along the east slopes of the central mountain chain this evening as this moisture boundary pushes back west, surging through the gaps of the central mountain chain this evening. This will be the impetus for strong easterly winds pushing through the gaps of the central mountain chain into Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The Wind Advisory remains on track for the Middle Rio Grande Valley and ABQ Metro where wind gusts overnight are favored to reach 50 mph, notably through and immediately west of the Tijeras Canyon area along I-40. As the moisture and strong east winds continue on to and west of the Continental Divide, what's left of the H5 low will track east overhead along the international border with Mexico. Areas through east-central and northeastern NM will see more stable conditions favoring lighter shower activity thru the night. Upslope flow with some modestly favorable dynamics beneath a deformation area will help generate healthy snow production over the northern mountains. The Winter Storm Warning for the Sangre de Cristo Mts there remains on track, but the elevations for the healthiest accumulations >6 inches have trended higher to >9,500 feet. Meanwhile, guidance has come down for snow along the Raton Pass and Johnson/Bartlett Mesas likely thanks to slightly warmer temperatures and less favorable upslope flow. Given this continued downward trend for snow there, will do a rare downgrade of the Winter Storm Warning to a Winter Weather Advisory. Areas of south-central and southeastern NM will see the best potential for thunderstorms and moderate to locally heavy rainfall tonight into Friday morning. A few spots could see a quick 0.25" to 0.75" over 3 to 6 hours overnight, with some nuisance flooding concern in low-lying areas mainly in Chaves County. Elsewhere in that part of the forecast area, rises on area streams in and around the Ruidoso burn scar areas are expected, but the threat of burn scar flash flooding remains low. Rainfall tapers off over eastern NM, switching focus over the Continental Divide and central mountain chain Friday afternoon and evening. The best chances for snow over the northern mountains also shifts more into the Tusas Mts and very high peaks of the Jemez Mts during this time. A Winter Weather Advisory may be needed for the Tusas Mts, but there is some uncertainty with snow ratios given the afternoon timing for the best snow accumulations. Will let the midnight shift take another pass at this. Shower activity and easterly winds finally begins to wane heading into Saturday morning. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Wednesday) Issued at 139 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026 The weekend sees drier and warmer conditions each day with enough remnant boundary layer moisture to allow for isolated to scattered showers and perhaps a couple thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday afternoon favoring the central and western high terrain. Westerly winds increase Monday ahead of the next approaching upper low along the CA coastline. This upper low is favored to track across southern CA Tuesday and AZ/NM Wednesday. A few pieces of energy or vort-lobes will rotate out ahead of this low into the Desert Southwest bringing increasing precipitation chances to the area. Thereafter, forecast confidence dips considerably. Global numerical models are having a hard time resolving a high amplitude jetstream pattern over the Pacific and western CONUS. This is allowing for a few different plausible scenarios for the aforementioned upper low to either progress eastward or stall over NM for a few days into late next week. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1130 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026 A pair of upper level disturbances are approaching New Mexico from the southwest and northwest while cool, moist moves over the eastern half of the state. This will continue to lead to rain and high elevation snow tonight into Friday morning, especially along and east of the central mountain chain. Snow will mix with rain at elevations between 7,000 to 8,000 feet, turning more consistently snow above. Widespread MVFR ceilings (below 3,000 ft) and visibility (below 5 SM) will be common in the eastern half of New Mexico with scattered areas of IFR ceilings (below 1,000 ft) and visibility (below 3 SM). Areas observing snow will be more prone to IFR conditions. Rain will gradually thin into Friday afternoon over the east, but ceilings and visibility will be slow to lift until late afternoon or early evening. Western areas will start to see shower and thunderstorm development Friday afternoon with lightning, brief isolated downpours, small hail, and gusty outflow winds accompanying. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 139 PM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026 Dry and breezy elevated fire weather conditions remain this afternoon over western NM, with cooler temperatures and higher moisture alongside easterly winds remaining pent up east of the central mountain chain. This higher moisture surges westward this evening and tonight thru the gaps of the central mountain chain bringing a strong east canyon wind to Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Fire weather concerns get shut down thru western NM as this boundary progresses westward to and past the Continental Divide Friday. Meanwhile, a storm system tracking east along the International Border will generate abundant wetting rainfall along and east of the central mountain chain tonight through Friday night with high elevation snow over the northern mountains. Sparse and isolated wetting rain footprints are expected along and west of the Rio Grande Valley however. However, a few isolated to scattered thunderstorms could produce locally heavier rain amounts along the Continental Divide in west-central NM Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, beneficial and healthy snow amounts of 4 to 12 inches are forecast in the higher elevations of the northern mountains. Fire weather concerns remain low this weekend as conditions dry out and warm up. Humidity recoveries remain good to excellent alongside lighter southerly winds. Drier westerlies are favored to return Monday and Tuesday ahead of an approaching storm system from the west. Precipitation chances begin to increase over far northern NM Monday, and over more of the area Tuesday and Wednesday. However, forecast confidence is notably low Tuesday and beyond. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 38 70 41 70 / 0 10 10 0 Dulce........................... 28 61 27 66 / 10 60 50 20 Cuba............................ 35 59 31 62 / 30 50 40 30 Gallup.......................... 33 66 31 67 / 0 20 20 20 El Morro........................ 37 62 35 61 / 5 40 40 30 Grants.......................... 36 62 33 64 / 10 50 30 30 Quemado......................... 38 64 37 64 / 10 30 20 50 Magdalena....................... 43 56 38 60 / 30 50 50 40 Datil........................... 41 58 37 59 / 20 60 60 60 Reserve......................... 36 71 37 68 / 30 30 40 40 Glenwood........................ 40 76 39 73 / 40 20 30 30 Chama........................... 29 54 25 58 / 30 80 70 40 Los Alamos...................... 38 52 36 59 / 70 80 50 40 Pecos........................... 35 48 29 60 / 90 70 50 50 Cerro/Questa.................... 32 52 28 58 / 60 80 70 40 Red River....................... 26 41 21 48 / 80 80 70 40 Angel Fire...................... 24 45 17 52 / 90 80 70 40 Taos............................ 32 55 27 60 / 70 80 70 40 Mora............................ 30 43 25 57 / 90 90 60 40 Espanola........................ 42 61 36 67 / 70 70 50 30 Santa Fe........................ 40 52 34 59 / 80 60 50 50 Santa Fe Airport................ 41 55 33 62 / 70 60 40 30 Albuquerque Foothills........... 45 57 41 64 / 60 50 30 30 Albuquerque Heights............. 45 59 40 66 / 50 40 30 30 Albuquerque Valley.............. 46 61 39 67 / 50 40 30 30 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 47 60 41 68 / 50 40 30 30 Belen........................... 46 63 38 69 / 40 40 30 30 Bernalillo...................... 46 61 39 68 / 60 40 30 30 Bosque Farms.................... 43 61 36 68 / 50 40 30 30 Corrales........................ 46 61 39 69 / 60 40 30 30 Los Lunas....................... 45 62 38 68 / 40 40 30 30 Placitas........................ 45 56 40 63 / 60 50 30 40 Rio Rancho...................... 47 61 40 69 / 50 40 30 30 Socorro......................... 49 64 43 67 / 50 50 40 30 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 39 50 35 61 / 60 60 30 40 Tijeras......................... 40 52 36 62 / 60 60 30 40 Edgewood........................ 37 49 32 62 / 70 70 30 30 Moriarty/Estancia............... 33 51 29 63 / 80 70 30 30 Clines Corners.................. 34 43 31 58 / 90 80 30 30 Mountainair..................... 37 49 33 62 / 70 70 30 40 Gran Quivira.................... 38 48 33 60 / 80 80 30 40 Carrizozo....................... 45 53 40 62 / 90 90 30 30 Ruidoso......................... 39 46 34 56 / 90 100 30 40 Capulin......................... 29 45 26 58 / 100 90 30 10 Raton........................... 32 50 25 63 / 100 80 30 20 Springer........................ 34 49 28 64 / 100 90 40 20 Las Vegas....................... 32 43 29 59 / 90 90 40 30 Clayton......................... 37 54 35 68 / 90 100 20 10 Roy............................. 34 47 31 62 / 100 100 30 10 Conchas......................... 40 52 34 68 / 90 100 30 10 Santa Rosa...................... 39 48 34 64 / 100 90 20 10 Tucumcari....................... 41 54 36 71 / 100 90 20 10 Clovis.......................... 42 52 38 67 / 90 90 30 10 Portales........................ 43 54 38 68 / 90 90 30 5 Fort Sumner..................... 42 52 36 67 / 90 100 20 10 Roswell......................... 49 54 43 66 / 90 100 30 10 Picacho......................... 43 51 38 62 / 90 100 30 20 Elk............................. 39 50 34 59 / 90 100 50 20 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 6 AM MDT Friday for NMZ219. Winter Storm Warning until midnight MDT Friday night for NMZ213>215. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MDT Friday for NMZ227. && SHORT TERM...24 LONG TERM....24 AVIATION...52
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
30 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Extreme drought persisted across nearly all of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across nearly all of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the northwest half of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted across the northern half of the zone.
Extreme drought was introduced to the northern half of the zone.
Extreme drought was introduced to the northern half of the zone.
Extreme drought expanded to two-thirds of the zone.
Extreme drought remained persistent over the northwest and north central portion of the zone.
Extreme drought expanded to a majority of the zone.
Extreme drought expanded to a majority of the zone.
Extreme drought was persistent over the northern half of the zone.
Extreme drought was introduced to the southern half of the zone.
Extreme drought expanded to a majority of the zone.
Severe drought remained persistent over the entire zone.
Severe drought expanded over the entire zone.
Extreme drought remained persistent across nearly all of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted over the northern two-thirds zone while severe drought remained over the southern third of the zone.
Severe drought was introduced to the entire zone.
Extreme drought persisted over a majority of the zone, while severe drought persisted over the far northern portion of the zone.
Extreme and severe drought persisted over the northern and southern portions of the zone respectively.
Severe drought expanded to the entire zone.
Severe drought persisted across the entire zone.
Extreme drought was introduced to a portion of the zone, while severe drought persisted elsewhere.
Extreme drought was introduced to a portion of the zone, while severe drought persisted elsewhere.
Extreme drought was introduced to a portion of the zone, while severe drought persisted elsewhere.
Severe drought persisted across the entire zone.
Severe drought persisted across the entire zone.
Severe drought persisted across the entire zone.
Severe drought remained over the northern half of the zone.
Extreme drought persisted over the far western and far eastern portions of the zone.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, May 2026
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: 1329940, 1329941, 1329942, 1329943, 1329944, 1329948, 1329949, 1329950, 1329951, 1329952, 1329953, 1329954, 1329955, 1329956, 1329957, 1329958, 1329959, 1329960, 1329961, 1329962, 1329963, 1329965, 1329966, 1329967, 1329968, 1329969, 1329970, 1329971, 1329972, 1329973.