Hail in Union County, New Mexico

A severe storm dropped ping pong size hail in southwest Union County.

An anomalously strong upper low from the west over AZ resulted in shower activity across western NM on October 18th resulting in some high wind gusts across parts of western and central NM. As the upper low remained nearly stationary over AZ heading into October 19th, it helped pull up abundant moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into eastern NM producing widespread strong to severe storms over portions of the eastern plains, mainly south of I-25. Bands of showers and thunderstorms first produced very heavy rainfall over a long twelve to eighteen hour period totaling 2 to 6 inches over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon burn scar. Thankfully there were only reports of nuisance flooding in this area on October 19th. Storms developing along the highlands late on the afternoon and evening of the 19th organized into a line over eastern portions of Lincoln County and western portions of Chaves County. This line of storms shifted eastward over the Pecos River Valley during the evening of the 19th producing historically high rainfall. The as of this date all-time record daily maximum rainfall amount at Roswell of 5.78 inches was recorded, with numerous other mesonet and public weather stations recording 4 to 9 inches in Roswell. Fatal flash flooding resulted in Roswell with reports of flooding inundating homes forcing people to their attics and rooftops, and vehicles being stranded and washed away. The Chaves County Sheriff recorded a video of himself being stranded on his vehicle alongside two other individuals in flood waters after trying to respond to an incident. River flooding was observed along the Rio Felix and Pecos River in Chaves County. This river flooding washed out NM Highway 2 in Hagerman along the Rio Felix. The Pecos River reached 20.34 feet at the Lake Arthur gage, which was minor stage before receding. The Chaves County Emergency Manager reported that flooding did not recede until Monday morning on October 22nd in Roswell. Another round of severe storms with damaging wind gusts and large hail impacted northeast NM during the evening and early overnight hours of October 20th before the storm system exited the state.

Key Impacts: Flash flooding, hail, thunderstorm wind gusts.