Hail — Colfax, New Mexico

2024-07-09 · near Ute Park, Colfax, New Mexico

Event narrative

A severe thunderstorm dropped quarter size hail in Ute Park.

Wider weather episode

A strong upper level high pressure remained over southern California and Nevada with higher moisture across central and eastern NM. Strong daytime heating resulted in the development of showers and storms across the higher terrain of central New Mexico around midday July 9th with storms slowly drifting to the southeast. Storms over the Sacramento Mountains dropped 1 to 2 inches of rain on the South Fork and Salt Fire burn scars around Ruidoso. This resulted in catastrophic burn scar flash flooding and debris flows in the Rio Ruidoso, NM48, and U.S. Highway 70 from Alto east to Ruidoso Downs. The runoff and debris flow caused the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood to quickly spike to 11.65 feet in the mid afternoon. A landspout was also observed in the upper canyon area west of downtown Ruidoso. Neighborhoods west of downtown Ruidoso were evacuated and 64 swift water rescues were conducted. Storms exited east of Ruidoso late in the afternoon with flash flooding subsiding in the evening. Elsewhere in the state, isolated severe storms produced quarter size hail at Chamizal in Socorro County and a mile east of Ute Park in Colfax County. Storms across central and eastern New Mexico dissipated overnight. Another round of storms developed across the central mountain chain midday July 10th. Multiple rounds of training storms over the Sacramento Mountains dropped a half inch to two inches across the Ruidoso area including the South Fork and Salt Fire burn scars. This resulted in a second consecutive day of catastrophic flash flooding, debris flows and road collapses in the same areas of Ruidoso. Several swift water rescues were conducted again along U.S. Highway 70. The Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood spiked to a record level of 12.51 feet from the runoff and debris flow off the burn scars. Storms and high flows in area creeks and streams across Ruidoso slowly decreased during the evening hours. Elsewhere, storms caused high wind gusts at the Little Burro mesonet on the White Sand Missile Range and at the Dunken Mesonet on the White Sands Missile Range. Storms across the state dissipated shortly after sunset. Another round of diurnal storms developed during the afternoon and evening hours on July 11th. Outflow winds from thunderstorms resulted in roof damage to a residence in Little Water in west central San Juan County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.5600, -105.1000)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1182650. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.