EF2 Tornado — Roosevelt, New Mexico

2019-05-26 · near Dora, Roosevelt, New Mexico

Event narrative

The NWS surveyed damage from a strong tornado that impacted parts of southern Roosevelt County during the early evening of Sunday, May 26, 2019. The tornado lasted nearly 30 minutes and tracked about 10 miles over predominately rural ranch/farmland in southern Roosevelt County. No injuries were reported. Two known properties were impacted: one 4 miles southeast of Dora and another approximately 5 miles east-northeast of Dora. Additionally, considerable damage to electrical infrastructure was noted including ten consecutive power poles snapped several feet above the ground 1-2 miles east of Rogers on the north side of NM 237. Farther southwest, several high voltage power poles/structures were partially collapsed and associated lines downed 2-3 miles south-southeast of Dora. A well-built hay barn that was originally an early 20th century church was completely destroyed. A power pole was snapped 12 feet above the ground, lofted at least 10 feet and driven into the ground 100 yards away. Partial ground scouring was noted along State Road 114 where the tornado crossed near Roosevelt County Rd. M. Based on assessed damage, wind speeds were estimated to be in the 120-130 mph range. Damage estimates are estimated for residential and infrastructure.

Wider weather episode

A potent upper level storm system approaching New Mexico from the west interacted with deep moisture and very unstable conditions along a sharp dryline over eastern New Mexico on May 26, 2019. Dry showers and thunderstorms with strong downburst winds first developed along the Continental Divide by late morning before marching east into the Rio Grande Valley through the afternoon. Several locations within the Rio Grande Valley reported wind gusts in excess of 60 mph, including Los Lunas, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos. Wind damage was also reported as this activity moved across the central mountain chain into the Estancia Valley. Meanwhile, showers and thunderstorms fired up along the dryline in eastern New Mexico then quickly became severe with large hail, high winds, and several tornados. A violent supercell thunderstorm that moved through Union County during the late afternoon produced at least two tornadoes and three inch hail. Severe thunderstorms then evolved into a quasi-linear convective system over the Caprock region and resulted in a large area of high winds and large hail. Several more tornadoes developed along the southern edge of this line, including a spectacular wedge tornado near Dora. In addition to all the severe thunderstorms that impacted the region, many areas outside of thunderstorm activity in central and western New Mexico also reported strong southwest winds with gusts of 50 to 60 mph.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 816292. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.