Hail — Lea, New Mexico

2016-09-17 · near Jal, Lea, New Mexico

Event narrative

A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced tennis ball sized hail in Jal. The hail caused widespread damage to homes and vehicles. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.

Wider weather episode

An upper level disturbance moved over the area, and a lingering frontal boundary was across parts of southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin. Upper level lift associated with an area of intense winds aloft moved over the region. There was good wind shear, moisture, and instability across West Texas and southeast New Mexico. Two other boundaries were moving toward the area and possibly collided with the initial boundary. These conditions combined to create good lift in the atmosphere which resulted in widespread thunderstorms with large hail across southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin. The wind shear created spin in the atmosphere which allowed for tornadoes to develop in the Permian Basin and southeast New Mexico.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.1200, -103.1800)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 659501. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.