The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued a tornado warning at 2:39 p.m. MDT Thursday for southwestern Sandoval County, northeastern Cibola County and east-central McKinley County in New Mexico, in effect until 3:15 p.m. MDT¹.

At 2:39 p.m. MDT, NWS said a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was near Cebolletita, about 12 miles north of Laguna Pueblo, moving northeast at 40 mph¹.

The agency said the hazard was a tornado, based on radar-indicated rotation, and listed possible impacts including dangerous flying debris, damage or destruction of mobile homes, damage to roofs, windows and vehicles, and likely tree damage¹.

Locations named in the warning included Marquez, Cebolletita, Seboyeta, Bibo, Paguate and Encinal¹.

NWS told people to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a well-built building away from windows, and said those outdoors, in a mobile home or in a vehicle should get to the closest substantial shelter¹.

Earlier Thursday, Albuquerque station KOAT reported a tornado watch for parts of western New Mexico through the evening, including Cibola and McKinley counties, citing the Storm Prediction Center².

Whether a tornado touched down, and whether there was damage in the warning area, was not established in the NWS alert or in the KOAT watch report^1,2.

Sources

1. National Weather ServiceTornado Warning issued October 22 at 2:39PM MDT until October 22 at 3:15PM MDT by NWS Albuquerque NMOct 22, 4:39 PM
2. KOATTornado watch issued for parts of western New MexicoOct 22, 4:20 PM

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