EF1 tornado in Curry County, New Mexico

Three large power transmission poles were snapped and toppled to the ground, no less than three center pivot irrigation sections were flipped over or destroyed, several sections of range land fencing were damaged, and dozens of small yucca plants were uprooted. The tornado missed a nearby residence by only 300 yards and barely missed the nearby Palla West Dairy. Damage amounts are estimated for utility and property losses.

An upper level low pressure system that moved slowly northeast from Arizona into New Mexico on December 27, 2019 produced light to moderate mountain snow with valley rain. A couple strong thunderstorms with small hail and heavy rain also developed over eastern New Mexico with this system. One of these thunderstorms developed into a supercell and produced an exceptionally rare tornado over rural north-central Curry County near the Palla West Dairy. This was the latest confirmed tornado on record for the state of New Mexico. A second upper level low pressure system developed over the region in the wake of this first system on December 28, 2019. The second system was accompanied by a back door cold front over eastern New Mexico. Heavier mountain snow impacted the northern and western high terrain with much colder temperatures and very difficult travel conditions. Snowfall amounts ranged from 12 to 20 inches over the northern mountains with lighter amounts of two to six inches over the lower terrain of northern and western New Mexico. Numerous motor vehicle accidents were reported along Interstate 40 between Gallup and Grants as well as along U.S. Highway 285 north of Santa Fe. The extent of any injuries or damage to vehicles was unavailable from New Mexico State Police.