EF1 tornado in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

A tornado traveled slightly north of due east through complex terrain of the Lazy Triangle Anchor Ranch, passing less than one quarter mile north of the ranch headquarters located near the intersection of U.S. Highway 64/84. The tornado traveled through terrain ranging from 7500 feet to 9800 feet in elevation. Numerous if not hundreds of large diameter pine trees and cedars were snapped and/or twisted and subsequently uprooted along the first one to one and a half miles. An old long-standing chapel dating back to the 1940s was destroyed. A 6-ft long 4x6 beam was tossed 150 yards. The main ranch residence suffered considerable damage including complete removal of it's pitched roof that was carried 50 yards to the east northeast. A bunkhouse and other storage buildings sustained significant damage. Winds were estimtated at 110 mph, the upper end of EF-1.

An upper level low passing to the north of New Mexico steered a polar jet overhead. The right entrance region of the jet crossed south central to east central areas increasing dynamic forcing and the threat for severe weather as abundant moisture as well as instability were also present. By early afternoon a long line of showers and thunderstorms had developed across the northern mountains with another line extending from Raton down the eastern plains to Carrizozo. Many of these embedded storms became severe with large hail, high wind, and even a tornado reported. The activity continued into the late night hours across Quay and Roosevelt counties before exiting east into Texas right around midnight.