Hail, Lea
- When
- May 25, 2:18 PM MST to 2:25 PM MST
- Where
- Lea County, 0.69 mi N of Tatum
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 33.260, -103.320
Hail and Damaging Wind in New Mexico, May 25, 2008
Southwest upper level flow was in place over west Texas and southeast New Mexico in advance of a broad upper level trough located over the western United states. Meanwhile, an upper level ridge of high pressure was centered across Louisiana.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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.
Southwest upper level flow was in place over west Texas and southeast New Mexico in advance of a broad upper level trough located over the western United states. Meanwhile, an upper level ridge of high pressure was centered across Louisiana. The primary focusing mechanism for thunderstorm initiation over the area was the dryline. The atmosphere became increasingly unstable east of this boundary as temperatures warmed and lapse rates steepened. The combination of instability along with a shallow layer of dry air near the surface set the stage for a primarily damaging wind threat.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Midland/Odessa, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 25, 1:58 PM MST, 20 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 25, 1:58 PM MST, 20 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
358 PM CDT SUN MAY 25 2008
.UPDATE...
STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED ALONG THE DRYLINE
FROM NEAR HALFWAY IN LEA COUNTY SOUTHWARD TO PRESIDIO...THE PECOS
AWOS /KPEQ/ REPORTED GUSTS TO 50KT AND LARGE HAIL REPORTED JUST
NORTHWEST OF PECOS OVER THE PAST HOUR. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
IS IN EFFECT FOR AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF A LAMESA TO MIDLAND TO
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT. THE MAIN THUNDERSTORM
THREAT THIS EVENING IS LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...HOWEVER A
BRIEF TORNADO MAY ALSO OCCUR OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 255 PM CDT SUN MAY 25 2008/
DISCUSSION...
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST EACH DAY AND EVENING
THROUGH AT LEAST MID WEEK AS A SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT AND A
SURFACE DRYLINE WILL BE COLLOCATED. THE SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL
EXIST BETWEEN A RETROGRADING WEST COAST LOW AND A WESTWARD BUILDING
RIDGE ACROSS THE LOWER GULF COAST. VERY INTENSE AFTERNOON HEATING
ALONG THE DRYLINE COMBINED WITH MID LEVEL MOISTURE AND WEAK SHORTWAVES
IN THE UPPER FLOW WILL BE IN PLACE TO GENERATE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF WEST TEXAS AND LEA COUNTY NEW MEXICO.
STORMS THROUGH TUESDAY WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME
SEVERE GIVEN FORECAST 0-6 KILOMETER SHEAR VALUES OF 25 TO 30 KNOTS
AND SURFACE CAPE VALUES OF 1000-2000 J/KG.
A NORTHERN STREAM TROUGH ACROSS EASTERN CANADA AND THE GREAT LAKES
REGION WILL SEND A COLD FRONT SOUTHWARD LATE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
WENT WITH ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WEDNESDAY DUE TO INSTABILITY ALONG THE LOW LEVEL CONVERGENT FRONT.
THE FRONT SHOULD KNOCK BACK TEMPERATURES TOWARDS MORE NORMAL VALUES
ON WEDNESDAY. BY NEXT THURSDAY A FLAT RIDGE IS FORECAST TO BE IN
PLACE ACROSS MEXICO. MODEL OUTPUT IS MAINLY DRY BUT THINK CONVECTION
NOT OUT OF QUESTION ACROSS PARTICULARLY THE OROGRAPHICALLY FAVORED
HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS IN VERY INTENSE AFTERNOON
HEATING. LATER FORECASTS WILL NEED TO MONITOR.
FIRE WEATHER...
WENT AHEAD AND HOISTED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR TOMORROW. DRYLINE
SHARPENS UP QUITE A BIT AND MOVES EAST OUT OF NEW MEXICO TOMORROW
AFTERNOON BRINGING VERY LOW HUMIDITIES ONCE AGAIN. THE BIG QUESTION
IS HOW STRONG THE WINDS WILL BE. THEY WILL BE MARGINAL AND WILL
PROBABLY HAVE DIFFICULTY REACHING THE 3 HOUR REQUIREMENT...HOWEVER
IT IS TOO DRY OUT THERE TO RISK THESE MARGINAL CASES AND FEEL IT
DESERVES A WATCH. MID SHIFT CAN LOOK AT THIS AREA ONCE AGAIN AND SEE
IF IT NEEDS AN UPGRADE TO A WARNING. THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WILL SEE
THE STRONGEST WINDS.
ELSEWHERE WINDS WILL BE GUSTY EAST OF THE DRYLINE...BUT ABUNDANT
MOISTURE WILL KEEP THE MIN RH IN THE 20S AND 30S. EXPECT VERY GOOD
TO EXCELLENT OVERNIGHT MOISTURE RECOVERY ALL AREAS WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT PLAINS WHERE POOR
TO DECENT MOISTURE RECOVERY IS EXPECTED.
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT MONDAY FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ...
SOUTHEAST PLAINS/BLM ROSWELL/LNZ.
TX...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT MONDAY FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS.
&&
99/99Hazardous weather outlook, May 25, 12:50 PM MST, 1 hour 28 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 250 PM CDT SUN MAY 25 2008 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-262000- GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY COUNTY-EDDY COUNTY PLAINS- NORTHERN LEA COUNTY-CENTRAL LEA COUNTY-SOUTHERN LEA COUNTY-GAINES- DAWSON-BORDEN-SCURRY-ANDREWS-MARTIN-HOWARD-MITCHELL- VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR- REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS-LOVING-WINKLER-ECTOR-MIDLAND- GLASSCOCK-WARD-CRANE-UPTON-REAGAN-DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA- PECOS-PRESIDIO VALLEY-MARFA PLATEAU-BIG BEND AREA-TERRELL- GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS- 250 PM CDT SUN MAY 25 2008 /150 PM MDT SUN MAY 25 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS EVENING ACROSS MOST OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO. THE GREATEST CHANCE OF STORMS WILL BE ALONG AN ALPINE TO SEMINOLE LINE WITH LOWER CHANCES ELSEWHERE. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND THE GREATEST THREATS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE...WITH FLASH FLOODING MORE OF A CONCERN FOR THOSE AREAS THAT RECEIVED HEAVY RAIN SATURDAY NIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALONG AND EAST OF HOBBS...KERMIT...TO FORT STOCKTON LINE. A FEW OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND THE PRIMARY THREATS. IN ADDITION...VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND BREEZY CONDITIONS IN THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT PLAINS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO COULD CREATE DANGER FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO MONDAY EVENING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS ACROSS THE AREA SHOULD MONITOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF POTENTIALLY SEVERE WEATHER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE POSSIBLE BEGINNING THIS AFTERNOON GENERALLY ALONG AND EAST OF A LOVINGTON...KENT...TO ALPINE LINE. THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES... AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN MIDLAND CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT /LOWER CASE/ HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/MIDLAND
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 25, 12:34 PM MST, 1 hour 44 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 234 PM CDT SUN MAY 25 2008 TXZ058-059-067-252000- LOVING-WARD-REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS- 234 PM CDT SUN MAY 25 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT... THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR CENTRAL REEVES...NORTHWESTERN WARD AND SOUTHERN LOVING COUNTIES. A THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH WAS LOCATED 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF PECOS AT 234 PM CDT...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH. HAIL TO ONE HALF INCH AND WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. PEOPLE IN CENTRAL REEVES...NORTHWESTERN WARD AND SOUTHERN LOVING COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF MENTONE AND PECOS...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR WARNINGS AND REMAIN ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS. SEEK SHELTER IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION.
Local storm report, May 25, 1:26 PM MST, 52 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
326 PM CDT SUN MAY 25 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0322 PM HAIL 8 NW PECOS 31.49N 103.59W
05/25/2008 E0.75 INCH REEVES TX TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
CDANIELSLocal storm report, May 25, 1:47 PM MST, 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
347 PM CDT SUN MAY 25 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0325 PM TSTM WND GST PECOS 31.41N 103.50W
05/25/2008 M0 MPH REEVES TX ASOS
PECOS ASOS REPORTED A 50 KNOT WIND GUST.
&&
CDANIELSSpecial weather statement, May 25, 2:12 PM MST, 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 412 PM CDT SUN MAY 25 2008 TXZ080-252145- MARFA PLATEAU- 412 PM CDT SUN MAY 25 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT... THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR EAST CENTRAL PRESIDIO COUNTY. AN INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER CENTRAL PRESIDIO COUNTY AT 412 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 22 MPH. AS THIS THUNDERSTORM INCREASES...SEVERE WEATHER MAY DEVELOP RAPIDLY WITH LARGE HAIL AND HIGH WINDS POSSIBLE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT MONDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS.
The radar
The Lubbock radar (KLBB), 146 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:15 UTC.
Event by event
1 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Lea
- When
- May 25, 2:18 PM MST to 2:20 PM MST
- Where
- Lea County, Tatum
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 33.250, -103.320
A trained spotter measured the wind gust and no damage was reported.
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
- Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, May 25, 2008
- Tornadoes and Hail in Minnesota, May 25, 2008
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Iowa, May 25 to 26, 2008
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 25, 2008
- Tornadoes and Hail in Wisconsin, May 25, 2008
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Kansas, May 25, 2008
- Tornado and Hail in Wisconsin, May 25, 2008
- Dust Storm and Hail in Texas, May 25, 2008
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Missouri, May 25 to 26, 2008
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Nebraska, May 25, 2008
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, May 25, 2008
- Hail and Lightning Strike in Wisconsin, May 25, 2008
More
Every storm in New Mexico in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, May 2008
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: 91872, 91873.