New Mexico, 1998

Hail in New Mexico, May 26, 1998

May 26, 1998 · NWS ABQ · 8 events in 2 counties and zones

75 inch across open ranch country of Quay County, while the other turned eastward into southern Roosevelt County producing at least three or four funnel clouds and dropping hail over the open range between Kenna and Milnesand.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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 ABQ wrote it up.

A storm which formed over eastern De Baca County split into two separate severe thunderstorms, one producing copious amounts of small hail and other stones to 1.75 inch across open ranch country of Quay County, while the other turned eastward into southern Roosevelt County producing at least three or four funnel clouds and dropping hail over the open range between Kenna and Milnesand.

The radar

The Cannon AFB radar (KFDX), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:08 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 hail, 2 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Funnel Cloud, Roosevelt

When
May 26, 3:35 PM MST
Where
Roosevelt County, 5 mi E of Kenna
Coordinates
34.021, -103.480 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A funnel cloud was reported by Sheriff Deputy.

Funnel Cloud, Roosevelt

When
May 26, 5:01 PM MST
Where
Roosevelt County, 3 mi W of Milnesand
Coordinates
34.021, -103.480 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The public reported 1/2 inch hail and funnel clouds west of Milnesand.

Hail, Quay

When
May 26, 5:06 PM MST
Where
Quay County, 25 mi SW of Tucumcari
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
34.920, -104.050

Hail, Quay

When
May 26, 5:06 PM MST
Where
Quay County, 10 mi E of Tucumcari
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.170, -103.550

Hail, Quay

When
May 26, 5:20 PM MST
Where
Quay County, 8 mi SW of Tucumcari
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.080, -103.830

Hail, Quay

When
May 26, 5:23 PM MST
Where
Quay County, 1 mi W of Tucumcari
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
35.170, -103.750

Hail, Quay

When
May 26, 5:29 PM MST
Where
Quay County, Logan
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
35.370, -103.420

Hail, Quay

When
May 26, 5:35 PM MST
Where
Quay County, Logan
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.370, -103.420

What these are

Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Mexico in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, May 1998

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: 5637081, 5637082, 5637083, 5637084, 5637085, 5637088, 5637086, 5637087.