EF0 tornado in Lincoln County, New Mexico

A storm chaser reported a tornado moving southeast from a severe thunderstorm north-northeast of Arabela. No damage was reported.

A backdoor cold front tracked south and west through New Mexico early on May 28, 2021, which reinforced low-level moisture across much of eastern and central portions of the state. Upslope flow aided in the early onset of afternoon thunderstorms across the higher terrain, and these thunderstorms then tracked east to southeast onto the plains. With plenty of instability and shear, these storms quickly intensified through the afternoon and evening hours. Large hail was the main hazard with numerous reports of hail ranging from 2 to 3 inches. A variety of weather hazards particularly impacted southeast New Mexico with large hail and severe winds resulting in property damage and minor street flooding in Portales and Clovis disrupting traffic. A couple tornadoes and landspouts were also reported, but did not do any damage.