Lightning — Colfax, New Mexico

2014-05-22 · near Cimarron, Colfax, New Mexico

Event narrative

State police reported that a man was struck by lightning and killed while riding his motorcycle along U.S. Highway 84 just west of Cimarron at mile post 308 Friday afternoon.

Wider weather episode

A slow-moving upper level low pressure system over the Great Basin pulled abundant moisture north and west into New Mexico. The combination of deep moisture and instability over eastern New Mexico set the stage for severe thunderstorms beginning by late morning through the late afternoon hours. Several reports of large hail, strong winds, and heavy rainfall were received. A large tree in Roswell was blown over onto nearby power lines and a car due to the strong winds. Pea to quarter size hail accumulated 6 to 12 inches along Interstate 25 between Watrous and Wagon Mound, creating numerous traffic accidents.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.5100, -104.9460)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 530894. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.