New Mexico, 1997

Hail and Damaging Winds in New Mexico, June 11, 1997

June 11, 1997 · NWS MAF · 5 events in 2 counties and zones

These storms formed in the Sacramento Mountains and moved to the east into rich moisture. The storms were originally multicell clusters, but as the storms moved into Lea County southward development briefly developed an HP Supercell that crossed over Jal.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$203,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MAF wrote it up.

These storms formed in the Sacramento Mountains and moved to the east into rich moisture. The storms were originally multicell clusters, but as the storms moved into Lea County southward development briefly developed an HP Supercell that crossed over Jal. RFD winds from this southern-most cell caused damage south of Jal.

The radar

The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 151 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:38 UTC.

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Event by event

3 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Eddy

When
June 11, 2:40 PM MST
Where
Eddy County, 31 mi ESE of Carlsbad
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.250, -103.750

Hail, Lea

When
June 11, 2:40 PM MST to 2:42 PM MST
Where
Lea County, 33 mi WSW of Eunice
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.250, -103.670

Golfball size hail was reported along the Eddy/Lea County line on State Highway 128.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lea

When
June 11, 3:45 PM MST
Where
Lea County, 1 mi SSE of Lovington
Property damage
$200,000
Coordinates
32.920, -103.350

A large warehouse suffered heavy damage from microburst winds. The event was very localized as the manager of the warehouse was in an adjacent building and did not notice any extreme winds. No one was in the warehouse when it was hit by the winds. The manager was alerted to a problem when the alarm for the sprinkler system for the warehouse was activated. The winds blew out parts of the west and east walls as well as damaged much of the roof. This storm moved rapidly to the ENE and joined in the line that formed in West Texas.

Hail, Lea

When
June 11, 3:50 PM MST
Where
Lea County, Jal
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
32.120, -103.180

Thunderstorm Wind, Lea

When
June 11, 4:06 PM MST
Where
Lea County, 2 mi S of Jal
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
32.080, -103.180

A carport was picked up and thrown by downbursting winds from an HP Supercell RFD. Also a large, but dead, elm tree was uprooted.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Mexico in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, June 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5611619, 5611787, 5611679, 5611620, 5611621.