EFU Tornado — Colfax, New Mexico

2023-07-15 · near Abbott, Colfax, New Mexico

Event narrative

A cone tornado was reported by storm chasers just southeast of the intersection of NM 39 and U.S. Highway 56. The tornado lasted three minutes and was rain-wrapped for a time.

Wider weather episode

Higher low-level moisture on July 13th and a backdoor cold front replenishing this moisture for July 14th and 15th combined with robust upper level wind shear produced three days of severe weather across eastern NM. Severe weather impacts were limited to northeastern NM on the 13th and 14th, becoming more widespread across northeastern and east-central NM on the 15th. There were a few thunderstorm wind gusts measured in the vicinity of the White Sands Missile Range on the 13th and 14th, likely from dry microbursts as the exception for the 13th and 14th. More substantial reports of damage and large hail occurred on the 15th ranging from broken skylights, flooding, accumulated hail, and a tornado. Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries or casualties.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.2700, -104.2200)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1100761. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.