EF0 tornado in Colfax County, New Mexico

A landspout tornado produced a narrow swath of damage near Eagle Nest. This is the first documented tornado in the Moreno Valley since at least 1950. The landspout tornado also exhibited anti-cyclonic rotation during its entire lifecycle. It had a classically narrow condensation funnel cloud and formed in a vast open area just

west of U.S. 64 between mile markers 283 and 284 near Pepper Sauce Camp. The landspout tornado crossed U.S. 64 very near Elk Lane Rd. tracking slightly north of due east until dissipating over the northeast portion of Eagle Nest Lake. Elevations along the track ranged from approximately 8350 feet to 8175 feet. Approximately 180 feet of barbed wire/picket fence was downed and damaged. Several steel t-posts were sheared or bent nearly 90-degrees. All 10 units that comprise the Pepper Sauce Camp property suffered damage. All but two of sixteen west-facing windows were partially or completely destroyed by flying debris. Windows and storm doors at the main building were partially or completely busted. A small car that was parked and facing east had

all but the front windshield busted out. The bed of an old truck used as a marketing sign was lifted and carried about 50 feet toward the southwest. The front windshield of an old Chevrolet C65 truck was struck no less than 75 times by flying debris but remained intact while both side windows were completely busted out. An old hay barn was collapsed and roofing material found 300 feet away. An unoccupied fifth wheel recreational vehicle with an estimated weight of 12,000 pounds was partially lifted, shifted and rolled on its side at the Eagle Nest Campground. Two other RVs sustained

damage to include busted windows, including a Class A diesel pusher (dry weight 32,000 pounds) that was oriented nearly perpendicular to the tornado`s path. Damage amounts have been estimated.

The center of upper level high pressure shifted farther west into Arizona on August 9th and allowed weaker steering flow to become more north to south across New Mexico. Deep moisture and strong instability over the state allowed numerous showers and thunderstorms to develop over the higher terrain during the early afternoon before spreading into nearby highlands and valleys through the evening. A powerful thunderstorm near Eagle Nest produced a rare landspout tornado that moved into Eagle Nest Lake while dissipating as a spectacular waterspout around 230 pm. Thunderstorms that moved off the higher terrain onto the Interstate 25 corridor produced large hail in San Miguel and Colfax counties. Very heavy rainfall near Pilar resulted in a flash flood that closed NM-567 for four days. An impressive 75 mph wind gust was reported at Gallup from thunderstorm outflow winds. Thunderstorms around the Edgewood area also resulted in accumulations of nickel size hail.