Rainfall Variability Across the Albuquerque Metro During the Monsoon

As stated above, few deluges were noted across the Albuquerque Metro area this monsoon season. Rather, a few hundredths or a few tenths were noted when it rained. There were exceptions though, and those exceptions typically resulted in flash flooding. Some of the worst flash flooding was observed in Rio Rancho around the Enchanted Hills area on July 5th. On this day, between 2 and 2.25 inches of rain fell between 530 pm and 630 pm. Several roads were flooded and others had mud and rocks washed over them. Several roads were closed, and a couple vehicles were inundated by flood waters. One motorist had to be rescued from their vehicle. A few weeks later, on July 23rd, this area was hit again by heavy rainfall and flash flooding. 

Almost all areas, except across portions of southeast Albuquerque, received around two inches more rainfall during the 2017 Monsoon versus the 2016 Monsoon. However, this additional precipitation didn't fall until the end of September, fast and furiously. 

The highest rainfall totals this season were along the foothills, around Four Hills, and portions of the northeast heights. These latter two areas benefited from heavy rainfall that fell on the night of July 17th. Flash flooding occurred along Academy Road when up to 1.80 inches of rain fell in one hour's time. This same night, around an inch of rain fell over the Four Hills area, though flash flooding did not occur.  The area north of Four Hills received good rainfall again on August 4th, when between 0.75 and 1.5 inches of rain fell. 

For the monsoon as a whole, Corrales seems to be the area that missed out. Around three inches of rainfall was common in this area, which were certainly the lowest totals in the metro area. 

In 2016, 3.09 inches of rain fell at the Albuquerque Sunport.  This is almost two inches shy of the 2015 total and is also well below climatological normals. Not all locations across Albuquerque saw this kind of paltry precipitation, but there were some, and they were scattered across the metro. Some of the obvious areas that saw these lower precipitation totals included portions of the northeast heights and western Rio Rancho. Meanwhile, the light green splotch across the southeast side of Albuquerque north of Four Hills shows where the biggest precipitation totals were this year. Though the seasonal total was above 5.5 inches, between 2 and 2.5 inches of that fell on August 4th, when very heavy rain fell for almost two hours. Fortunately, no significant flooding was observed with those storms. Nearly two inches of rain fell on portions of northwest Albuquerque and portions of southern Rio Rancho during the early evening of July 29th. Then the following day, over an inch of rain fell across south central Albuquerque, near and just south and east of UNM. The intersection at Silver and Yale as well as the Lomas and Carlisle intersection were closed due to flooding on July 30th.

In 2015, most areas saw above normal precipitation. Wetter parts of the Metro included the westside as well as portions of  the foothills. Most areas along and west of the Rio Grande in Bernalillo County received between 5.5 and 7.5 inches of rain as did the foothills. Rio Rancho was among the driest area in the metro with most locales reporting less than 5 inches of rain.

Precipitation amounts for 2014 were very similar to 2015, but different areas saw the greater amounts. Wetter parts of the Albuquerque Metro in 2014 were the UNM area, which was due to between 2.50 and 2.80 inches of rain falling in a two hour period on the night of August 1st. Season totals for the UNM area were between 6 and 7 inches of rain. The foothills were again one of the wetter spots, but interestingly, Rio Rancho was again one of the driest areas.

Using the same scale as above, it is easy to see that the 2013 Monsoon was a wet one. Everyone in the metro area received over 5 inches of rain, and some areas received over 10!  The rain was a welcome sight for many, though in most cases, the rain came faster than what soils could absorb. The enhanced area of precipitation totals, ranging from 10 to 12 inches across the northeast heights, largely stemmed from the back-to-back thunderstorm events on July 26th, where some calendar day totals exceeded 4 to 5 inches. Perhaps more notably, was the week-long stretch of rainfall in September, which accounted for almost half of Albuquerque's Monsoon precipitation. For the Albuquerque Sunport, 3.14 inches of rain was recorded during these 7 days, though some areas in the Foothills and in Rio Rancho received over 5 inches!  Even only using the 3.14 inches at the official station, this was the wettest 7-day stretch since June 1933!

Just five years ago, we thought it would never rain again.  Ok, that's a bit dramatic, but we were desperate for rainfall. In fact, you'll notice that for many areas, the week-long stretch mentioned above in 2013 provided more rainfall than all of the 2012 Monsoon Season for most of the metro area.  In 2012, the Albuquerque Sunport received 3.36 inches for the entire season.  Going back even further, in 2011 the Albuquerque Sunport measured only 1.72 inches.  2011 was the 5th driest Monsoon Season on record.  What a difference a few years makes!

Many people wondered if the 2013 totals would reach the totals from 2006.  Though close, they didn't quite get there. The map to the left shows the precipitation distribution across the metro area from 2006 using the same scale as above.  2006 still ranks as the wettest Monsoon on record, with 9.42 inches measured at the Albuquerque Sunport.

The biggest calendar day rain total during the 2018 Monsoon at the Sunport occurred right at the start of the season on June 16th when 0.83 inches fell. Following behind these days, the highest calendar day totals included 0.62 inches on July 14th, 0.56 inches on July 27th and 0.53 inches on July 26th.