Hail in Taos County, New Mexico

Hail up to the size of pennies near Lama.

The center of upper level high pressure that was centered over the Permian Basin for several days drifted west into southern New Mexico on the 18th. A weak disturbance in northwest flow aloft over northeastern New Mexico and low level southeasterly flow set the stage for scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Several of these storms were strong to severe and produced heavy rainfall, high winds, and large hail. The first storms developed over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains before moving southeast across the eastern plains. A powerful thunderstorm that moved across the Philmont Scout Ranch downed two large trees and dropped nickel size hail. This storm went on to produce a 70 mph wind gust near Maxwell. Another flash flood struck the Ute Park burn scar resulting in the closure of U.S. Highway 64. Thunderstorms moved across the eastern plains well into the evening. Torrential rainfall produced flash flooding around Clovis shortly before midnight that led to a few homes being flooded.