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Lea County, New Mexico
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1954 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
97
Tornado reports
514
Hail reports
96
Floods since 1996
1,022
All events
2
Deaths
$68.5M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Lea County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 94 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Tornado F3 Tornado
Media replayed a report of a wind turbine fire north of Tatum. This is likely the result of severe wind gusts. Time is estimated from radar. Wind speeds and property damage costs are estimations.
A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced tennis ball sized hail in Jal. The hail caused widespread damage to homes and vehicles. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.
Very large hail caused extensive damage along a swath from near Buckeye to Lovington. Baseball size hail was reported at 16:10 MST just south of Buckeye. An anticyclonic member of a splitting supercell storm rapidly propagated north-northeast towards Lovington. Initial reports of…
This storm moving to the southeast became an HP Supercell as it passed over the city of Hobbs. By the time the storm arrived over the southern parts of town, hail up to tennis ball size was falling along with strong winds. Most of the trees over the southern 1/3 of town were stri…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Lea County Emergency Management relayed a report of seven power lines down south of Monument on State Highway 8. Power lines were also downed near the intersection of Maddox and Pearl Valley Roads. The total time of occurrence is estimated from radar. The cost of damages and the …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured wind gust of 58 mph at WTM 2SW Tatum NM.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A delayed report was received from a storm chaser, with photos showing cars submerged by flood waters in Hobbs. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar, and the cost of damages is also estimated.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency management reported standing water on Highway 18 between Lovington and Hobbs. The total time of occurrence is estimated from radar and from the time of the initial report. No damage was reported.
Hail Hail
Half Dollar Size Hail was reported approximately 3 blocks away from the Fire Department in Lovington. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Tatum West Texas Mesonet site reported a gust of 61 mph.
Hail Hail
A trained spotter reported quarter-sized hail to the east/northeast of Crossroads. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The West Texas Mesonet station near Tatum recorded a 69 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency management reported power outages in Tatum associated with straight-line wind gusts. The time of occurrence and the strength of the wind gust is partially estimated from a Mesonet station recording southwest of town. The cost of damages is also estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Mesonet station FW9688 Jal measured a 59 mph wind gust associated with a convective downburst. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A report was received from the public via MPING of road/street flooding in Hobbs. The total time of occurrence is estimated by radar. No damage was reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The West Texas Mesonet station 5 NW Hobbs NM measured a 69 mph wind gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Mesonet station FW0979 Hobbs measured a 69 mph wind gust. The time of occurrence is partially estimated.
Flood Flood
Lea County Emergency Manager reports minor flooding with less than 6 inches of water covering the road at mile markers 13 and 18 on State Highway 125. The time is estimated by radar. No damage was reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Mesonet station FW9688 Jal recorded a 70 mph wind gust. The time of occurrence is partially estimated by radar.
Hail Hail
A report was received from the public of quarter-size hail southwest of Bledsoe. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Golf ball-size hail was reported by the public on the northwest side of Hobbs. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
A public report was received of ping pong ball-size hail on the north side of Hobbs. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Emergency management sent reports of broken car windows and multiple alarm calls due to golf ball-size hail falling in Hobbs. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar. The cost of damages is also estimated.
Hail Hail
A report of golf ball-size hail in Hobbs was received from the public. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
A video was sent from a member of the public that showed golf ball-size hail near Turner and Grimes streets in Hobbs. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Approximately hen egg-size hail was reported near the intersection of Dal Paso and St. Anne in Hobbs. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
A report was received via mPING of quarter-size hail just northwest of Hobbs. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Pea to quarter-size hail was reported in the city of Hobbs by the public. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Golf ball-size hail was reported by a trained spotter near the junction of NM 529 and US 62. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
A report was received from mPING of half dollar-size hail along US 62 5 miles north of Monument. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Mesonet station 51 2SW Tatum NM measured a 66 mph wind gust.
Hail Hail
Approximately 3 inch hail was reported by the public via social media (some hailstones may have been up to 3.5 inches in diameter). The time of occurrence is estimated by radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Power lines were reported down at mile markers 53-55 on Highway 128 east of Jal. The time of occurrence is estimated by radar.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Roadway and street flooding in/around Tatum was reported by emergency management. The timing is approximated by radar. No damage was reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Mesonet station 51 2SW Tatum recorded a 58 mph wind gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The West Texas Mesonet station 2 miles west/southwest of Tatum reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph.
Hail Hail
A storm chaser reported dime to quarter-size hail.
Hail Hail
A report of quarter-size hail received from mPING. Time is estimated by radar.
Hail Hail
A report of penny-sized hail was received from mPING. The location is approximate, based on radar data.
Hail Hail
A report of penny-sized hail was received from mPING. Time is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
A report of quarter-sized hail was received from mPING. Time is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
A report of penny-sized hail was received from mPING. Time is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
A report of penny-sized hail was received from mPING. Time is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
A trained weather spotter reported quarter sized hail near Jal. Time is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
A trained spotter reported half dollar sized hail 6 miles north of Jal. Time is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
A storm chaser reported half dollar sized hail in downtown Tatum. Time is estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
A storm chaser reported approximately 2-inch-diameter hail about 2.5 miles east of Tatum. The wind and hail broke one of the vehicle's windows. The time is estimated from radar. The property damage cost is an estimation.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 | 0 |
| 2025 | 47 | 0 |
| 2024 | 24 | 2 |
| 2023 | 44 | 2 |
| 2022 | 19 | 0 |
| 2021 | 13 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 23 | 0 |
| 2018 | 11 | 0 |
| 2017 | 22 | 0 |
| 2016 | 18 | 0 |
| 2015 | 24 | 0 |
| 2014 | 25 | 1 |
| 2013 | 28 | 0 |
| 2012 | 27 | 0 |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 |
| 2010 | 17 | 0 |
| 2009 | 29 | 0 |
| 2008 | 14 | 0 |
| 2007 | 46 | 4 |
| 2006 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 44 | 0 |
| 2004 | 50 | 0 |
| 2003 | 10 | 0 |
| 2002 | 33 | 0 |
| 2001 | 11 | 0 |
| 2000 | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 | 31 | 1 |
| 1998 | 28 | 1 |
| 1997 | 35 | 3 |
| 1996 | 33 | 1 |
| 1995 | 36 | 4 |
| 1994 | 12 | 2 |
| 1993 | 10 | 0 |
| 1992 | 31 | 6 |
| 1991 | 29 | 15 |
| 1990 | 6 | 0 |
| 1989 | 17 | 3 |
| 1988 | 12 | 3 |
| 1987 | 17 | 6 |
| 1986 | 2 | 1 |
| 1985 | 4 | 3 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | 13 | 2 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 5 | 2 |
| 1978 | 5 | 1 |
| 1977 | 3 | 2 |
| 1976 | 3 | 0 |
| 1975 | 5 | 1 |
| 1974 | 4 | 0 |
| 1973 | 2 | 1 |
| 1972 | 2 | 1 |
| 1971 | 1 | 1 |
| 1970 | 7 | 5 |
| 1969 | 6 | 1 |
| 1968 | 3 | 1 |
| 1967 | 7 | 0 |
| 1966 | 5 | 4 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | 10 | 2 |
| 1962 | 1 | 1 |
| 1961 | 4 | 2 |
| 1960 | 3 | 2 |
| 1959 | 1 | 1 |
| 1957 | 6 | 3 |
| 1956 | 1 | 1 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954 | 4 | 4 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Lea County, measured to its path.
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