Hail — Sandoval, New Mexico

2021-05-31 · near Rio Rancho, Sandoval, New Mexico

Event narrative

Multiple observers near Rio Rancho reported 1 inch hail from a severe thunderstorm moving eastward through the area.

Wider weather episode

A stalled low pressure system remained to the southwest of New Mexico while an anomalously moist air mass also stayed in place on May 31, 2021. With sufficient instability and shear, showers and thunderstorms developed early in the day thanks to an additional upper-level disturbance. The heavy rain that fell over south central and southeast New Mexico the previous day provided a saturated ground that was ripe for more flash flooding. Early morning storms over Chaves County produced heavy rainfall of an additional three to five inches that resulted in flash flooding from Roswell southward to Lake Arthur. The major flash flooding resulted in multiple feet of water along U.S. Highway 285 as well as low water crossings and arroyos that were breached. Heavy rain also fell in the Albuquerque area with several inches of water being reported on roadways on the west side of the metro which resulted in several stalled cars as well as flooded homes and garages.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.2500, -106.6500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 953283. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.