Lightning — Lincoln, New Mexico

2015-05-15 · near Capitan, Lincoln, New Mexico

Event narrative

Kalina Jinzo, a 40-year mother of three, was struck by lightning and killed while traveling from Albuquerque to Ruidoso on a motorcycle on the 15th. Her husband was also struck but his injuries were not life threatening. The woman died several days later in a Lubbock hospital around the 22nd.

Wider weather episode

The slow-moving upper level storm system responsible for isolated strong thunderstorms over New Mexico on the 14th edged closer to New Mexico on the 15th. A large subtropical moisture tap and associated upper level jet core ahead of this system moved northeast across eastern New Mexico during the late afternoon and evening hours. Scattered showers and thunderstorms moved northeast over the region, some of which became strong to severe. Quarter size hail was reported at Pep. Unfortunately, a woman traveling to Ruidoso from Albuquerque was struck by lightning while on a motorcycle east of Carrizozo. She died several days later in the hospital. Meanwhile, farther north, enough cold air with the approaching upper level storm system allowed snow to accumulate over the northern mountains. Many high elevation areas in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains reported 2 to 12 inches of wet snow, however impacts were limited due to the very high elevation and relatively warm surface temperatures.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.5400, -105.5900)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 567914. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.