New Mexico, 1997

Hail and Damaging Wind in New Mexico, June 4, 1997

June 4, 1997 · NWS MAF · 3 events in 1 county or zone

An upper level ridge over the area that had suppressed thunderstorm activity over the previous two days, weaken slightly, and with a moist upslope flow into the Sacramento Mountains, thunderstorms developed. An upper level flow from the north-northwest brought the storms into the plains where dew points were in the lower 60s.

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
$600,000
Crop damage
$100,000
Events
3

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.

An upper level ridge over the area that had suppressed thunderstorm activity over the previous two days, weaken slightly, and with a moist upslope flow into the Sacramento Mountains, thunderstorms developed. An upper level flow from the north-northwest brought the storms into the plains where dew points were in the lower 60s. Thunderstorms intensified over the Carlsbad and Loving areas then quickly diminished just after 900 pm MDT.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Eddy

When
June 4, 7:35 PM MST
Where
Eddy County, 9 mi SSW of Carlsbad
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
32.300, -104.300

Hail, Eddy

When
June 4, 7:45 PM MST
Where
Eddy County, 2 mi SE of Loving
Measured
1.75 in hail
Crop damage
$100,000
Coordinates
32.270, -104.080

Farms southeast of Loving were hit hard with cotton and oats being destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Eddy

When
June 4, 7:45 PM MST
Where
Eddy County, Loving to Malaga
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Property damage
$600,000
Coordinates
32.280, -104.100

Very intense severe thunderstorm pummelled Loving, especially the southeast part of town, with hail up to golfball size and 60-65 mph winds. Numerous windows were broken out of homes by the fast-moving hail. Also, tree damage ranged from being uprooted to losing large branches, to being stripped of all their leaves. A few power poles were blown down as well. The damage covered about a 10 city block area. One mobile home was considered totaled by an insurance company. The storm moved southeast but weakened as it approached Malaga.

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: 5611369, 5611370, 5611371.