New Mexico Entertainment

View of Northwestern area from Sandia Peak

The Sandia Mountains receive nearly half of their total annual precipitation from summer thunderstorms. During the summer, southeast winds bring moist air from the Gulf of Mexico into New Mexico and push the moisture up the mountains. As the air rises, it cools, and the moisture condenses into clouds, forming thunderstorms. Most of them form over the mountains during the afternoon before drifting out over valleys. While
they are an important source of moisture, summer thunderstorms have negative effects. They can produce flash floods and dangerous lightning. New Mexico leads the nation in per capita deaths due to lightning.

March 2000

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Sandia Mountains Tramway Photo Page