Thunderstorm Wind — Torrance, New Mexico

2021-09-04 · near Moriarty, Torrance, New Mexico

Event narrative

A severe thunderstorm tracking southeast across Interstate 40 near Moriarty caused thunderstorm wind damage with estimated 60 to 70 mph winds. A Moriarty resident reported that multiple trees were downed in the area with widespread power outages. Another resident's above ground cistern was also moved several feet by the strong winds. Schwebach Farms in Moriarty reported extensive damage to their entire farm crops which forced them to harvest the entire crop immediately. Damages are a rough estimate.

Wider weather episode

Atmospheric moisture values remained high across southern and eastern New Mexico on September 4, 2021, which led to another active monsoon day across the area. As an area of high pressure built over the Great Basin, much drier air filtered into the state from the north which led to warmer and drier conditions for the northwest quadrant of the state. Meanwhile, a backdoor cold front that moved through the east earlier in the day replenished low-level moisture across the plains, and the boundary provided instability that allowed for stronger thunderstorms. Roswell, which has already seen yearly rainfall totals above average, measured another one to three inches of rain which led to flash flooding and numerous water rescues in the city. A severe thunderstorm also impacted Moriarty which resulted in thunderstorm wind damage as well as flash flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.0000, -106.0500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 971604. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.