| Event |
Tornado |
| -- Scale |
EF1 |
| -- Length |
1.17 |
| -- Width |
75 |
| State |
NEW MEXICO |
| County/Area |
SOCORRO |
| WFO |
ABQ |
| Begin Date |
05/13/2012 12:49:00 MST-7 |
| Begin Range |
2 |
| Begin Azimuth |
SE |
| Begin Location |
MAGDALENA MUNI ARPT |
| Begin Lat/Lon |
34.09/-107.28 |
| End Date |
05/13/2012 12:57:00 MST-7 |
| End Range |
2 |
| End Azimuth |
SSW |
| End Location |
MAGDALENA |
| End Lat/Lon |
34.09/-107.26 |
| Deaths Direct/Indirect |
0/0 (fatality details below, when available...) |
| Injuries Direct/Indirect |
0/0 |
| Property Damage |
1.00K |
| Crop Damage |
0.00K |
| Episode Narrative |
Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed mainly south of I-40 once cloud cover dissipated. Strong instability and shear led to rapidly developing severe storms in the early afternoon. These storms continued through the evening hours across much of south central New Mexico. |
| Event Narrative |
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed tornado damage that originated in an open desert, native to only small juniper trees and cactus. Based on multiple eyewitness accounts, several photos and video, the landspout began as two dust devils merged. The circulation grew vertically and made connection with the parent thunderstorm as it moved east. Interestingly though, the parent storm moved southeast. The landspout moved over two stock tanks. One was blown back to the west approximately 20 feet and hit a steel fence that was dented. The other tank was blown approximately 0.75 miles to the east and was mangled and in pieces. The landspout crossed State Road 107 and increased in intensity. Numerous pinon and juniper trees as well as cholla cacti were uprooted and displaced between 20 and 100 feet. No homes or outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Peak wind speed was estimated at 90 mph. |
