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El Niño Is Back — and It Could Soak New Mexico This Winter. But Don’t Get Too Comfortable.

Juan Oliveros
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El Niño Is Back — and It Could Soak New Mexico This Winter. But Don’t Get Too Comfortable.

El Niño has officially come to the tropical Pacific after a season of drier La Niña patterns that worsened drought across the Southwest. Forecasters say the phenomenon is already present and is expected to intensify into a moderate or strong weather event — with about a 63 percent chance of becoming a “very strong,” or super, El Niño by the Northern Hemisphere winter.

In a state like New Mexico that is used to the boom-and-bust cycles of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, the change carries both promise and peril.

The Good: A Tilt Toward Wetter Winters and Potential Drought Relief

Historically, El Niño events push the jet stream southward, steering Pacific storm systems toward the southern tier of the United States. In New Mexico, this translates to above-average rainfall during the cool season — roughly October through April — offering a respite to reservoirs, snowpack, and soil moisture.

Stronger events, such as those in 1982-83 or 1997-98, have caused wet periods across the region. With forecasts pointing to a stronger influence, state officials and water managers are closely monitoring for improvements in the Rio Grande, San Juan, and other basins after years of strain.

Ranchers and farmers growing chile, pecans, and other crops could experience reduced irrigation demands and greener rangelands. Eastern New Mexico, in particular, will likely see wetter summer conditions at the onset or strengthening of El Niño, alongside slightly cooler temperatures across the state that might temper extreme heat.

Wildfire risk could be reduced in the short term as vegetation will be healthier. The period can provide a breather for the state’s fire-prone forests and grasslands.

The Risks: Extremes, Flooding and No Guarantees

However, El Niño is no panacea. It is no guarantee of a drought-free winter. Outcomes vary widely depending on the event’s strength, exact positioning, and interactions with other climate patterns. Even a positive seasonal cycle can feature long dry spells punctuated by deluges.

A stronger El Niño raises the possibility of heavy rainfall events. It can increase the possibility of flash flooding, especially when Pacific storms interact with monsoon rain. Post-wildfire wreckage flows and urban flooding in areas with poor drainage remain vulnerable

More extensive climate change complicates the picture. The Southwest is leaning toward hotter and more arid conditions overall, with higher evaporation rates that can sap even heavy rainfall. A very strong El Niño, according to the World Meteorological Organization, could amplify extreme temperatures globally while delivering intense weather shifts in the state.

What Residents and Officials Should Watch

  • Water and Agriculture. Signs of early improvement of snowpack or reservoir inflows could ease restrictions, but planning for variability remains essential.
  • Fire Season. Near-term relief is possible. But quick drying later in the season or in subsequent years could increase risks.
  • Infrastructure. Preparations for winter storms, heavy rains, and flooding in vulnerable canyons and arroyos must be in place.
  • Longer View. Even a beneficial El Niño needs time. A sustained adaptation to a warmer baseline is still critical for New Mexico’s water security and economy.

Meteorologists at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center and the National Weather Service in Albuquerque will provide forecasts monthly. The return of El Niño, at the moment, offers cautious optimism for a drier state — shaped by the knowledge that in a disrupted climate era, no season is average anymore.

Editor: This article draws on current NOAA, WMO and regional climate analyses as of late June 2026.

Albuquerque Installs Public Restrooms at Transit Hubs to Improve Rider Access

Victoria Padilla
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The City of Albuquerque has installed new public restroom facilities at several major transit hubs as part of an effort to improve accessibility, cleanliness, and convenience for public transportation users. Officials said the additions provide an essential service for residents and visitors, especially those who rely on the transit system throughout the day.

According to officials, thousands of riders use the restroom units each week after the city placed them at key transit centers. Designers created the facilities to provide reliable restroom access and foster a more welcoming environment for passengers.

Officials said the lack of public restrooms has been a longstanding concern at many of Albuquerque’s larger transit centers. The builders constructed the new facilities to meet demand for durable, easy‑to‑maintain restrooms that remain accessible during normal operating hours.

The restrooms will benefit transit employees, visitors, and others who spend extended periods at transit centers, in addition to serving commuters. The project is part of the city’s broader efforts to improve public infrastructure and enhance services at transit hubs.

According to officials, the restroom units include several safety and sanitation features. City crews conduct regular inspections and maintenance, ensuring that the facilities remain clean and operational.

“Public restrooms may seem like a small thing, but they make a big difference in how people experience our city,” Department of Municipal Development Director Jennifer Turner said.

Albuquerque also continues to invest in other transit amenities. City leaders say access to basic services, like restrooms, can improve the overall rider experience and encourage greater use of public transportation.

Transit advocates described restroom access as an important quality-of-life issue for passengers. They said the facilities address a practical need while making transit centers more accommodating for residents and visitors.

City officials said they will continue monitoring the performance of the restroom facilities and may consider additional improvements in the future. Riders need to keep the restrooms clean and report maintenance concerns through the city’s customer service channels.

NMAA Approves New Transfer Rule for Student-Athletes

Victoria Padilla
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The New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) has approved a significant change to its transfer rules. This change paves the way for student-athletes to gain greater flexibility when changing schools. The decision follows months of discussion among athletic administrators, school officials, and association leaders across the state.

NMAA’s governing bodies have approved changes to their bylaws regarding eligibility. These changes allow one-time transfers for students previously restricted from transferring due to Athletic Eligibility Restrictions. The amendments will change how schools and the NMAA treat students who have already transferred. This signals an important shift in how New Mexico schools manage student-athlete transfers.

As stated by NMAA staff, the revised regulation aims to provide students and families with more options. It also aims to enhance safeguards against improper recruitment and excessive influence. Should a student change schools under the new policy, the NMAA will permit immediate varsity eligibility. This applies if they meet the conditions specified by the Association.

Supporters of the change believe the new rule reflects how student-athletes experience today’s world. They say it gives families flexibility if they want to transfer to another school for academic, personal, or athletic reasons. Supporters also say it provides the same amount of oversight over the transfer process as before. However, it now allows for more flexibility.

In contrast, some school administrators and athletic leaders are concerned about how this change will impact competitive balance in sports. Therefore, they warn that schools must closely monitor the implementation of this new rule. They emphasize that student-athletes must transfer for legitimate reasons and that schools must continue following current recruitment regulations.

The rule change comes as high school athletic organizations across the country continue to review transfer policies and eligibility standards. NMAA leaders said the updated bylaw seeks to balance student opportunities with fairness in interscholastic competition.

Association officials expect the revised transfer policy to affect student-athletes beginning with the upcoming school year. Schools throughout New Mexico will receive guidance on implementing the new eligibility standards and ensuring compliance with association regulations.

Field Expeditions Return to WNMU Marine Biology Program, Expanding Hands-On Learning

Gregg Morgan
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Field Expeditions Return to WNMU Marine Biology Program, Expanding Hands-On Learning

Western New Mexico University has revived its flagship hands-on regional expeditions, strengthening its marine studies program through field-based learning that gives students firsthand experience with climate change and coastal ecosystems.

Students recently returned from a four-day field expedition to San Diego, where they used the Pacific coast as a living laboratory to study the local effects of climate change.

The annual April excursion is a cornerstone of the field curriculum offered by the Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences. This year’s expedition also serves as preparation for a more rigorous voyage to Sonora, Mexico, scheduled for June.

The regional excursions are co-led by biology professor Manda Jost and assistant biology professor Caleb Loughran. The program provides students with direct exposure to coastal ecosystems and field research techniques.

During the San Diego trip, students camped at Sweetwater Regional Park in Bonita. They conducted biodiversity surveys at Sunset Cliffs, Point Loma, and the La Jolla tide pools. The June marine biology course marks the return of the international field expeditions for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The expeditions can serve as a professional rite of passage,” Jost said. “Long before reaching the coast, students are fully immersed in the logistics of fieldwork, showing up hours in advance to remove van seats, organize field kitchen kits, and secure delicate laboratory gear to roof racks. Once on-site, they manage everything from base camp assembly to shared cooking rotations.”

How the San Diego Trip Went

Students begin days at sunrise with field sessions, tide pooling, swimming, snorkeling, or hiking to collect ecosystem data WNMU reports. They rest during a midday siesta at the peak of the day’s heat. They then transition to afternoon data logging, daily quizzes and lectures, and finish with a second field session at dusk.

Students use dive slates while snorkeling to document marine life. They sketch the precise body shapes and fin positions of fish for later identification.

“We very quickly create an experience where, if you intend to become a professional biologist, and you’re going on field trips, you have to do these kinds of things,” Jost said. “A van’s not going to pull up and say, ‘Hop in.’ You need to prepare the gear in advance and be part of a team. Once you get out in the middle of nowhere, you can’t just run back and grab something you forgot.”

Applying Field Data to Future Research

Officials said this year’s San Diego expedition provided a critical, sobering lesson in modern marine ecology. Faculty and students observed a dramatic decline in biological diversity across the intertidal zones compared to previous years. Jost attributed the change to El Niño conditions, which raised local water temperatures by at least five degrees above normal.

The department plans to integrate these observations into its expanding long-term data sets. Jost said marine biology courses must focus on how changing oceanic temperatures alter food webs and organism distribution patterns.

The California fieldwork will be tested almost immediately in a four-week course. Students will then complete a two-week wilderness camping research expedition in the Gulf of California in Sonora, Mexico.

The Mexico trip offers an intense, remote survival experience, according to WNMU. Students must haul water, food, and shade structures to a rugged desert beach up to two hours from the nearest medical facilities. Faculty leaders are trained Red Cross lifeguards and wilderness first responders. They manage the risks in the isolated environment, Jost said, adding that “student safety is our priority.”

Students say this course is the toughest they’ve ever faced — and the most rewarding, Jost said. “They come home as field biologists who worked for it.”

APS Student Finishes Third in State Civics Bee

Gregg Morgan
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APS Student Finishes Third in State Civics Bee

A student from Albuquerque Public Schools recently raised the district’s banner by winning a state contest.

Eisenhower Middle School student Eliza Sprinkle earned third place at the New Mexico State Civics Bee competition. The event was held on June 13 at Berna Facio Professional Development Center in Albuquerque.

The competition brought together top students from across the state, according to APS. 

Sprinkle advanced to Round 3, which involved public speaking and a question-and-answer segment with judges. She took home a $250 check after securing third place. 

The New Mexico Chamber of Commerce Foundation and APS partnered to hold the event.

About the National Civics Bee

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation organizes the National Civics Bee as an annual initiative. It invites students in grades 6-8 to explore civics and create a change in their communities. 

Finalists not only vie for prizes in the competition. They also develop their writing, public speaking, and civic knowledge while building connections with peers. 

Students submit a four-paragraph essay to qualify for the Civics Bee. The write-up outlines a community issue, proposes solutions, and connects the idea to the values that shaped the country. 

Judges across the nation review the essays. They then select 20 to compete in regional competitions.

Sprinkle qualified for the Regional Civics Bee competition with an essay on driver safety and the license renewal quiz. She competed alongside three other APS students at regionals and finished second. 

Armed and Dangerous: Santa Fe Police Launch Search for 2 Suspects After a Mall Shooting

Ruben Reyes
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Armed and Dangerous: Santa Fe Police Launch Search for 2 Suspects After a Mall Shooting

Santa Fe police are searching for two suspects after a shooting at Santa Fe Place Mall left a man with a gunshot wound to the leg.

Officers responded to the mall at about 3:54 p.m. on June 20 after the Santa Fe Regional Emergency Communications Center received several reports of a shooting.

Police said the shooting occurred inside the mall but away from the main shopping areas frequented by customers. Responders brought the victim to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his left leg.

Authorities said two male suspects fled the mall on foot before the officers arrived. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office assisted Santa Fe police in searching the area.

Investigators described the suspected shooter as wearing a black T-shirt with a face design on the front and black shorts. The police recovered one spent shell casing and one projectile at the scene.

The suspects remained at large as of Sunday, and the investigation is ongoing. Police said the mall stays open and continues its normal business operations.

Authorities warned the public to stay away from the suspects. They considered the suspects armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Santa Fe Police Department at 505-428-3710 or call 911 in an emergency.

The Nightmare is Over for Deer Canyon Residents. Evacuations Lifted After Lightning-Sparked Wildfire.

Ruben Reyes
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The Nightmare is Over for Deer Canyon Residents. Evacuations Lifted After Lightning-Sparked Wildfire.

A wildfire in Torrance County continued to grow Sunday, keeping dozens of residents on standby for possible evacuations.

Officials said the Deer Canyon Fire, located south of Mountainair, had burned 117 acres. The fire started Saturday afternoon, prompting evacuation orders for some residents in the area.

Among those forced to leave was Deer Canyon resident Vincent Versage, who said uncertainty about the fate of his home has weighed heavily on him. “You just hope that when you get to your home that it is still standing,” Versage said. “We just finished building two years ago, so overcoming that huge hurdle would be difficult if it were totally decimated and we had to rebuild again.”

Versage said he evacuated with his RV and truck. He has since been clearing them of combustible materials as firefighters work to contain the blaze. “It’s a minor inconvenience,” Versage said.

The New Mexico Forestry Division said the Deer Canyon fire started from lightning and grew to 117 acres. “So we saw some increase in fire activity today under the extremely dry, extremely warm temperatures that we’re continuing to see,” said Emery Veilleux, Communications Coordinator, NM Forestry Division.

Veillux also confirmed there are no structures.

Tunner Inn and RV Park, along with other businesses, offered a place for Deer Canyon residents, including Chuck Dinsdale. According to him, he had never seen a fire like this in the last 12 years. He recognized it was real because he could read the wind shifts, and the Mesa nearby caused the directions to change in a way he understood, Dinsdale said.

Officials have lifted evacuations, but residents remain cautious.

Residents are now making their way back home. But they must show proof of residency. The community holds the set status, meaning residents should be ready to go home at a moment’s notice.

CNM is Future-Proofing Its Campus, One Geothermal Loop At A Time

Juan Oliveros
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CNM is Future-Proofing Its Campus, One Geothermal Loop At A Time

Central New Mexico Community College is tapping the energy beneath the earth to cut energy use and boost sustainability on its campuses — one geothermal loop at a time.

New Mexico’s largest community college has installed geothermal heat pump systems in three buildings across its Rio Rancho, Westside, and Main Campus in Albuquerque. The systems provide steady all-year-round comfort, keeping temperatures at 72 degrees even during large events at Smith Brasher Hall.

CNM uses the buildings as “living laboratories,” with instructional signage explaining geothermal technology, daylighting, water reuse, and recycling to students, faculty, and visitors. The college requires all facilities, new or renovated, to meet at least the standards of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification.

Rio Rancho was built in 2011. It earned LEED Gold and is one of New Mexico’s largest higher education buildings to achieve the distinction. CNM’s Westside Campus, completed in 2013, achieved LEED Silver. CNM redesigned Smith Brasher Hall in 2017 into an all‑electric LEED Gold facility.

Adopting geothermal technology has challenges. CNM grappled with the absence of local contractors to do the work and continues to train staff to manage building automation and HVAC controls. The college solved the gap by offering courses in geothermal system operation and maintenance.

Despite early hurdles, CNM officials say the investment will pay off. “We build our buildings to last 50 years,” said Marvin Martinez, Physical Plant Executive Director. “These geothermal heat pump systems will operate throughout the buildings’ lifetimes, which will make a huge difference for the college.”

Mountains That Claim Planes: New Mexico’s Deadly Aviation Legacy, From 1955’s Sandia Horror to This Year’s Fatal MedEvac Crash

Juan Oliveros
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Mountains That Claim Planes: New Mexico’s Deadly Aviation Legacy, From 1955’s Sandia Horror to This Year’s Fatal MedEvac Crash

The Sandia Mountains rise like a jagged wall east of Albuquerque, postcard‑perfect in daylight but perilous in shadow. Pilots have long learned that beauty can become something else entirely for aviation: clouds, darkness, and sudden winds transform the range into a barrier that has claimed aircraft and lives.

Trans World Airlines Flight 260 on February 19, 1955, climbed out of Albuquerque’s airport bound for Santa Fe—a short hop expected to take nearly half an hour. Aboard the Martin 4-0-4 airliner were 13 passengers and three crew members. Only minutes after liftoff, in wintry conditions with low clouds, the plane slammed into a granite cliff in the Sandias. All 16 onboard perished. It remains to this day the deadliest commercial aviation disaster in New Mexico history.

Investigators later pointed to navigational error and possible instrument issues compounded by the terrain and weather. The incident, recalled by Albuquerque Historical Society Board Member Terry Owen, was a grim early chapter in a pattern that has echoed across the state’s rugged landscape for decades.

A Persistent Risk in Rugged Country

New Mexico’s vast skies, high-elevation airports, sudden weather shifts and mountainous regions — including the Sandia Mountains, Capitans and more — have created challenges for aviators over the years. Commercial airline travel remains statistically one of the safest ways to fly. But general aviation, medical transport, and flights in remote or difficult territory face significantly higher risks. Military training flights during World War II added hundreds of incidents to the historical tally.

In his research paper, Geoarchaeology of WWII Aircraft in New Mexico, USA, Adrian Hunt wrote: Several crashes occurred in mountainous terrain throughout New Mexico.

The state has witnessed dozens of documented crashes over the years; many of these cases involved small aircraft. Causes frequently cited in NTSB investigations nationwide and mirrored in New Mexico include pilot spatial disorientation, controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), weather, mechanical issues, and decision-making under constraints. Night operations and mountainous terrain have complicated these dangers.

A Modern Echo: The 2026 Capitan Mountains Tragedy

Seventy-one years after the TWA crash, another aircraft suffered a similar fate in the darkness.

A Beechcraft King Air C90 operating as a medical transport flight, in the predawn hours of May 14, 2026, lifted off Roswell Air Center bound for Sierra Blanca Regional Airport near Ruidoso. Aboard were two pilots, Keelan Clark and Ali Kawsara, and two flight nurses, Sarah Clark and Jamie Novick. No patients were listed on the manifest.

The plane crashed into the Capitan Mountains, igniting the Seven Cabins Fire in the Lincoln National Forest. All four crew members perished. Preliminary NTSB findings highlighted a confluence of factors: military GPS jamming that caused loss of GPS signals early in the flight. The agency’s preliminary report also mentioned out-of-service weather reporting and instrument approach equipment at the destination; night flight shifting to a visual approach in mountainous terrain; and an impact at approximately 9,950 feet.

“Those they lost more than just coworkers… they were family, caregivers, aviators and friends who dedicated their lives to serving others,” Trans Aero Medevac and Generation Jets said in a joint statement.

The fatal crash underscored ongoing challenges for air ambulance operations, which often fly under tight schedules and in varied conditions to support rural hospitals.

Patterns, Progress and Persistent Challenges

Four other notable incidents have dotted New Mexico’s aviation history. These include TWA Flight 260 in 1955; the Magdalena HC-130P Wing Failure in 1986; the 2007 Southwest Med Evac Crash in Ruidoso; and the F-35 Lightning II Crash near ABQ Sunport in 2024. Albuquerque has ranked among areas with higher volumes of historical crashes in some national datasets. Exact numbers, however, fluctuate with reporting and flight activity.

Aviation safety has advanced dramatically since 1955, with better terrain awareness systems, improved weather data, mandatory training, and technologies such as improved ground proximity warning systems. But New Mexico’s geography — remote airstrips, rapid shifts of mountain weather, and overlapping military airspace — could pose risks for smaller operations.

Victims’ families, first responders, and communities continue to feel the impact long after the debris is cleared. Memorial hikes, a steep climb into the Sandia Mountains, lead to the TWA site, where wreckage still exists as a somber reminder.

Federal investigators have yet to finalize reports on the latest tragedy; a question lingers. Pilots, regulators, and those who rely on New Mexico’s skies may have asked: How many warnings will the state’s mountains need to give before the aviation lessons fully take hold?

Editor: This feature depends on NTSB records, historical accounts, and official statements. Aviation incidents are investigated thoroughly to improve safety for all who fly.

Medical Plane Crashed After Military Signals Jammed GPS, Investigators Say

Juan Oliveros
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Medical Plane Crashed After Military Signals Jammed GPS, Investigators Say

Federal investigators say a medical transport plane that crashed into New Mexico’s Capitan Mountains last month experienced GPS interference linked to military signal jamming. The National Transportation Safety Board has not yet determined, however, whether it caused the accident.

The twin-engine aircraft, based at Roswell Air Center, was flying to Albuquerque shortly after midnight on May 14 when it crashed near Ruidoso, according to a preliminary NTSB report. The plane hit terrain at about 9,950 feet after descending to roughly 9,400 feet during its approach.

All four people onboard were killed. The report listed the medical plane as destroyed. Authorities identified the victims as Generation Jets pilots Keelan Clark and Ali Kawsara and Trans Aero MedEvac flight nurses Sarah Clark and Jamie Novick. They were transporting a patient to Albuquerque.

The aircraft, according to the preliminary report, encountered GPS interference while military signal jamming operations were underway in the area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued notices to pilots warning of possible GPS disruptions associated with scheduled military activity.

Air traffic controllers, during the flight, asked the military to stop the jamming, the report said. After the crew told controllers they had the airport in sight and intended to land visually, controllers authorized the military to resume the operation.

The NTSB said the ill-fated medical plane had to approach the airport in mountainous terrain and darkness when it crashed. Its impact also sparked a wildfire in the Capitan Mountains that burned for weeks.

The agency’s preliminary report details the sequence of events but does not determine a cause. Investigators are continuing to examine the details surrounding the crash. The NTSB will address, if any, the role that GPS interference played in its final report.

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