As of this Saturday evening update to the afternoon desk, October 24, 2026 (approximately 9:14 PM PDT / 12:14 AM EDT / 0414Z October 25), the national picture remains a Quiet Pulse. The Storm Prediction Center Day 1 Convective Outlook holds a Marginal Risk of severe thunderstorms across portions of central and southern New Mexico and far west Texas. Isolated severe wind, hail, and a tornado remain possible this evening as storms continue but instability decreases with nocturnal cooling. Severe Thunderstorm Watch 697 is valid until 0400Z October 25 (9 PM PDT). The Weather Prediction Center holds a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall over portions of West Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. No tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning is in effect on the U.S. coast or Gulf of America.
Tropical: None · Severe: Marginal · Flood: Slight
What Changed
- Compared with this morning’s pulse table (quiet-pulse-2026-10-24-morning: Severe: Marginal · Flood: Slight · Tropical: None): the latest SPC Day 1 Convective Outlook (0100 UTC October 25 / 8:07 PM CDT Saturday, October 24, 2026, valid 250100Z–251200Z) confirms a MARGINAL RISK of severe thunderstorms across portions of central and southern New Mexico and far west Texas. Isolated severe wind/hail and a tornado remain possible this evening; the environment is becoming less conducive with nocturnal cooling.
- Severe Thunderstorm Watch 697 (issued ~2055Z October 24 for NM TX) remains valid until 0400Z October 25. Status reports indicate the severe weather threat continues in portions of central/southeast New Mexico and far west Texas. Primary residual threats are isolated large hail and severe gusts as storms congeal.
- WPC Day 1 Excessive Rainfall Outlook (updated 0102 UTC Sunday October 25, valid 01Z–12Z Oct 25) holds a SLIGHT RISK for portions of West Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado into far western Kansas. Highest totals 1.5–3 inches possible. No Moderate or above. Active Flash Flood Warnings continue in El Paso/Hudspeth County TX and Bernalillo/Santa Fe area NM on saturated soils.
- No tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning on the U.S. coast or Gulf of America. Atlantic basin remains quiet. Eastern Pacific hurricane activity (Vance) is well south of Mexico with no U.S. land threat.
- Severe lane holds at Marginal. Flood lane holds at Slight. Quiet Pulse criteria met. Primary residual ticket is isolated hail/wind and flash-flood runoff in New Mexico and far west Texas.
Live Status
SPC Day 1 lists a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) of severe thunderstorms for central and southern New Mexico and far west Texas. Showers and thunderstorms continue across the Southwest this evening. The most intense cells are across Far West Texas north into central New Mexico, where radar suggests large hail and severe gusts remain possible. The 00 UTC Albuquerque sounding showed MUCAPE around 900 J/kg that is peaking and will weaken with low-level stabilization. Congealing storms and decreasing buoyancy lead to an increasingly sporadic severe threat overnight.
Watch 697 covers the core area in NM and TX until 9 PM PDT. Local NWS offices continue Flash Flood Warnings in southeastern El Paso County and western Hudspeth County TX (until ~1:30 AM MDT in some segments) and in Bernalillo, northwestern Torrance, and southwestern Santa Fe Counties NM (until ~11:15 PM MDT), with observed heavy rain of 1–3 inches and road impacts including I-40 segments.
WPC maintains the Slight Risk of excessive rainfall. Rainfall rates of 1–1.5 inches per hour possible in the highest zones, capable of flash flooding in urban areas, roads, small streams, narrow canyons, and burn scars, especially where prior rainfall has saturated soils. No Moderate or higher ERO.
Hotspots
- Central New Mexico (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho corridor): Marginal severe residual and WPC Slight. Ongoing convection with isolated hail/wind possible into the evening. Flash Flood Warnings active in sensitive terrain and urban areas on saturated soils. I-40 segments impacted.
- Far west Texas and El Paso / Hudspeth County: Marginal severe overlap. Flash Flood Warnings for southeastern El Paso and western Hudspeth. Storms moving northeast. Urban runoff risk under the Slight ERO.
- Southeastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico: WPC Slight Risk for excessive rainfall. Residual upslope and training potential. Lower severe threat. Sensitivity from earlier activity this week.
Just-Hit
Flash Flood Warnings remain active or recently extended in southeastern El Paso County and western Hudspeth County TX, and in Bernalillo, northwestern Torrance, and southwestern Santa Fe Counties NM. Observed rainfall 1–3 inches in spots with flash flooding of creeks, urban areas, and highways. No confirmed significant tornado reports at this desk time. Localized flooding and residual wind/hail impacts ongoing in the Southwest corridor.
Pulse Table
| Lane | Status | Notes (as of ~9:14 PM PDT / 0414Z Oct 25 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical | None | No tropical cyclones in the Atlantic. Hurricane Vance (EPAC) far south of Mexico. No U.S. coastal or Gulf watches or warnings. |
| Severe | Marginal | SPC Day 1 Marginal Risk over central/southern NM and far west TX. Watch 697 until 0400Z. Isolated hail/wind/tornado possible this evening. Threat decreasing overnight. |
| Flood | Slight | WPC Day 1 Slight Risk for portions of NM, southern CO, and far west TX. 1.5–3″ possible. Active FFWs. Residual sensitivity. No Moderate or higher. |
Restoration Read
Residual restoration ticket is isolated hail and wind damage to roofs, vehicles, siding, and trees across central and southern New Mexico and far west Texas under the Marginal Risk and closing Watch 697. Secondary ticket is localized flash flooding and rapid runoff in urban corridors (El Paso, Albuquerque), small streams, canyons, and burn scars on already saturated soils. No widespread catastrophic damage expected; threats diminish overnight.
What This Is Not
This is a Quiet Pulse. No SPC Slight or higher severe risk remains on the latest Day 1 outlook. No WPC Moderate or higher excessive rainfall. No tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning on the U.S. coast or Gulf of America. This desk summarizes public products from the SPC, WPC, NWS, and NHC. It is not an official warning.
Looking Ahead
Sunday (Day 2): SPC outlooks a Marginal Risk of severe thunderstorms continuing from southern/eastern New Mexico into far west Texas for isolated large hail. WPC maintains some excessive rainfall potential as the upper low progresses. The organized severe window closes overnight tonight. Monitor local NWS offices for any lingering warnings.
Rising Queries
Trends unreachable.
Sources
Official products: Storm Prediction Center (Day 1 Outlook 0100Z Oct 25, Watch 697), Weather Prediction Center (Day 1 Excessive Rainfall Outlook), National Weather Service (watches, warnings, flood statements), National Hurricane Center (Atlantic quiet; Hurricane Vance Eastern Pacific). Morning desk: quiet-pulse-2026-10-24-morning.
Informational only — not an official weather warning. Always check weather.gov for local forecasts and warnings. Turn around, don’t drown.
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