New Mexico, 1999

Flash Flooding and Hail in New Mexico, May 28 to 29, 1999

May 28 to 29, 1999 · NWS MAF · 7 events in 2 counties and zones

A large area of multicell storms moved eastward into the region from the Sacramento Mountains. Eventually an MCS developed that caused widespread flooding over Southeast New Mexico.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
7

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.

A large area of multicell storms moved eastward into the region from the Sacramento Mountains. Eventually an MCS developed that caused widespread flooding over Southeast New Mexico. The MCS continued into West Texas in the early morning hours of the 29th.

The radar

The Holloman AFB radar (KHDX), 166 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:26 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail, 3 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Eddy

When
May 28, 8:24 PM MST
Where
Eddy County, 4 mi W of Lakewood
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
32.630, -104.430

Flash Flood, Eddy

When
May 28, 8:30 PM MST to 10:00 PM MST
Where
Eddy County, North Portion
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
32.472, -104.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads in and around Artesia were flooded.

Hail, Eddy

When
May 28, 8:33 PM MST
Where
Eddy County, 7 mi SW of Lakewood
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
32.570, -104.450

Hail, Eddy

When
May 28, 8:40 PM MST
Where
Eddy County, 5 mi SW of Carlsbad
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
32.370, -104.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Eddy

When
May 28, 8:51 PM MST
Where
Eddy County, (Cnm)carlsbad Arpt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
32.330, -104.270

Flash Flood, Eddy

When
May 28, 9:00 PM MST to 11:00 PM MST
Where
Eddy County, Central Portion
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
32.472, -104.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash flooding was widespread in Carlsbad. Water was reported 1-2 feet deep in some parts of the city. On State Highway 137, 7-8 cars stalled in the high water.

Flash Flood, Lea

When
May 28, 10:45 PM MST to May 29, 12:30 AM MST
Where
Lea County, South Portion
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
32.792, -103.412 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several Roads around Jal were flooded.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
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 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, May 1999

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: 5697357, 5697361, 5697358, 5697360, 5697362, 5697359, 5697425.