Hail and Damaging Wind in New Mexico, April 11, 2009

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in New Mexico, April 11, 2009
Start: 2009-04-11T13:56
End: 2009-04-11T16:33
Location: New Mexico

April 11, 2009 · NWS MAF · 12 events in 1 county or zone

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

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.

On April 11, 2009, a surface high northeast of the region resulted in easterly upslope flow over most of the CWA. Meanwhile, a mid to upper level low near Southern California approached the area from the west. Although the deepest moisture was confined to the Gulf Coast (due to the previously mentioned surface high) there was enough moisture convergence along a stalled surface boundary and dryline. Most unstable CAPE values along these features of 1000 j/kg and 0-6 km bulk shear magnitudes of 60 kt allowed for severe storms to develop as the dynamics neared the area during the late afternoon and early evening hours. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued from 1520-2300 local.

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 Apr 11, 1:38 PM MST, 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 11, 1:38 PM MST, 18 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
338 PM CDT SAT APR 11 2009

.DISCUSSION...
FOCUS FOR THE SHORT TERM FORECAST WILL CONCENTRATE ON INCREASING
SEVERE POTENTIAL ACROSS WEST AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS...AND FAR SOUTHEAST
NEW MEXICO LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 11 PM CDT...OR 10
PM MDT FOR MUCH OF THE PERMIAN BASIN...THE SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO
PLAINS...AND THE TRANS PECOS REGION.

REGIONAL WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A WELL DEFINED UPPER LEVEL LOW
SPINNING NEAR THE AZ/NM BORDER THIS AFTERNOON. LIFT WITHIN THE
SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AHEAD OF THIS FEATURE IS CURRENTLY SPREADING
ACROSS SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO. REGIONAL RADAR
IMAGERY SHOWS ELEVATED SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING FROM FAR
WEST TEXAS TO THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND NORTHWARD THROUGH THE EDDY
COUNTY PLAINS. SCATTERED AND MORE INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS ARE STARTING
TO DEVELOP FROM ROUGHLY NORTHERN LEA COUNTY...SOUTHWARD TO THE TRANS
PECOS REGION WITHIN THE AXIS OF BETTER LOW LEVEL DEWPOINTS (IN THE
MID TO UPPER 40S F) AND INSTABILITY (MUCAPE APPROACHING 1000 J/KG).
THE OPPORTUNITY EXISTS FOR SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ACROSS
FAR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...THE PERMIAN BASIN AND THE TRANS PECOS
REGION THIS AFTERNOON...WITHIN THE AFOREMENTIONED INSTABILITY/MOIST
AXIS AND ALSO GIVEN FAVORABLE DEEP LAYER SHEAR PROFILES UNDERNEATH
AN APPROACHING MID LEVEL JET MAX. THE PRIMARY SEVERE HAZARDS THIS
AFTERNOON WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. HOWEVER...ISOLATED
TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE.

THUNDERSTORMS THEN LOOK TO ORGANIZE INTO A CONVECTIVE COMPLEX THIS
EVENING AND TRANSLATE EASTWARD ACROSS THE PERMIAN BASIN/TRANS PECOS
REGION. WE HAVE ORIENTED THE HIGHEST GRIDDED POPS (80-90 PCT) ACROSS
THE PERMIAN BASIN THIS EVENING...TAPERED TO SLIGHT CHANCE ACROSS THE
WESTERN CWFA. THE CONVECTIVE COMPLEX LOOKS TO EXIT OUR FORECAST AREA
NOT TOO LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT...SO POPS WILL QUICKLY TAPER PAST THEN.

THE UPPER LEVEL LOW IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE TEXAS PANHANDLE SUNDAY.
MODELS INDICATE SOME RESIDUAL MID LEVEL MOISTURE AND STEEP LAPSE
RATES LOCATED FROM LEA COUNTY THROUGH THE NORTHERN PERMIAN BASIN ON
THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THIS FEATURE SUNDAY...SO HAVE OPTED TO INCLUDE
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THESE LOCATIONS. ALSO OF CONCERN SUNDAY
WILL BE INCREASING WESTERLY WINDS ACROSS THE CWFA AS THE ASSOCIATED
DEEP SURFACE LOW MOVES EASTWARD ACROSS THE ROLLING PLAINS. THE
STRONGEST WINDS LOOK TO IMPACT THE GUADALUPE...DELAWARE AND DAVIS
MOUNTAINS AND THE VAN HORN/HWY 54 CORRIDOR...WHERE A HIGH WIND WATCH
HAS BEEN POSTED SUNDAY. A WIND ADVISORY MAY ALSO BE NEEDED ACROSS
THE SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS...THE TRANS PECOS REGION AND THE
MARFA PLATEAU. FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS WILL ALSO INCREASE ACROSS AREAS
SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 10...ADDITIONAL FIRE WEATHER DETAILS ARE
PROVIDED IN THE SECTION BELOW.

NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE MADE BEYOND SUNDAY. THE UPPER LOW WILL
PULL WELL NORTHEAST OF THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...WITH
NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT IN ITS WAKE. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE
REGION LATE SUNDAY EVENING/EARLY MONDAY MORNING. SHORTWAVE RIDGING
WILL DEVELOP TUESDAY...WITH WARMER TEMPERATURES EXPECTED. STILL SOME
DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN MODEL SOLUTIONS DURING THE MIDDLE TO LATE WEEK
TIME FRAME...THE EUROPEAN MODEL STILL INDICATES AN UPPER LOW MOVING
ACROSS NEW MEXICO THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...WITH CONVECTION DEVELOPING
AHEAD OF IT ACROSS AREAS EAST OF THE PECOS RIVER. THE GFS IS STILL
TRENDING FARTHER NORTH WITH THE SYSTEM...AND FARTHER EAST WITH THE
CONVECTION. LEFT THE FORECAST DRY FOR NOW...BUT BEARS WATCHING WITH
LATER MODEL RUNS. /21/

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
A BRIEF PERIOD OF CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS IS EXPECTED TO
OCCUR OVER THE PRESIDIO VALLEY AND BIG BEND REGION THIS AFTERNOON
AND EARLY THIS EVENING WHERE SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WILL
COINCIDE WITH RH/S OF 10 TO 15 PERCENT.  SINCE THE DURATION OF THESE
CONDITIONS IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE THREE HOURS OR MORE...A RED FLAG
WARNING WILL NOT BE ISSUED.  SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER THE PERMIAN BASIN AND
POINTS EAST THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  A PACIFIC COLD FRONT WILL
MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TONIGHT WITH SOUTHEAST WINDS TURNING TO THE
WEST BEHIND IT.  RECOVERY WILL BE FAIR TO GOOD GENERALLY WEST OF THE
PECOS RIVER...AND GOOD OR BETTER TO THE EAST.

WIND SPEEDS WILL RISE TO 20 TO 30 MPH AREAWIDE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
MINIMUM AFTERNOON RH/S SUNDAY WILL DROP TO 10 TO 15 PERCENT OVER THE
PRESIDIO VALLEY...BIG BEND REGION...STOCKTON PLATEAU AND LOWER TRANS
PECOS.  WILL ISSUE A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR THESE AREAS SUNDAY
AFTERNOON.  MINIMUM AFTERNOON RH/S WILL REMAIN ABOVE 15 PERCENT OVER
THE REST OF THE AREA.  EVEN STRONGER WINDS ARE EXPECTED IN THE
GUADALUPE AND DAVIS MOUNTAINS...AND THE VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54
CORRIDOR.  WINDS SHOULD SUBSIDE AFTER 13/00Z.  RECOVERY SUNDAY NIGHT
WILL BE POOR TO FAIR WEST OF THE PECOS RIVER...AND GOOD OR BETTER TO
THE EAST.

MINIMUM AFTERNOON RH/S MONDAY WILL BE 10 TO 15 PERCENT AGAIN OVER
THE PRESIDIO VALLEY AND BIG BEND REGION...BUT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED AS WIND SPEEDS IN THESE AREAS ARE NOT
EXPECTED TO BE 20 MPH OR GREATER.  MINIMUM AFTERNOON RH/S WILL
GENERALLY STAY ABOVE 15 PERCENT NORTH AND EAST ACROSS THE REST OF
THE AREA.  RECOVERY MONDAY NIGHT WILL BE FAIR TO GOOD ALONG AND EAST
OF THE PECOS RIVER...BUT POOR TO FAIR TO THE WEST.  CRITICAL FIRE
WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD OCCUR TUESDAY AFTERNOON OVER THE HIGHER
TERRAIN OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS. /67/

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BIG SPRING TX              49  73  45  73  /  90  10  10   0
CARLSBAD NM                44  73  42  75  /  20  10  10   0
DRYDEN TX                  54  82  49  80  /  40   0   0   0
FORT STOCKTON TX           52  76  47  77  /  40   0   0   0
GUADALUPE PASS TX          42  64  43  71  /  10  10  10   0
HOBBS NM                   44  71  42  74  /  50  10  10   0
MARFA TX                   40  68  34  73  /  20   0   0   0
MIDLAND INTL AIRPORT TX    49  73  43  74  /  80  10  10   0
ODESSA TX                  49  73  44  74  /  80  10  10   0
WINK TX                    49  77  43  77  /  40  10  10   0

&&

.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...HIGH WIND WATCH FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY COUNTY.

TX...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING
     FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... BIG BEND AREA...MARFA PLATEAU...
     PECOS...PRESIDIO VALLEY...TERRELL.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES... BORDEN...CRANE...ECTOR...GLASSCOCK...HOWARD...
     MARTIN...MIDLAND...MITCHELL...PECOS...REAGAN...SCURRY...
     TERRELL...UPTON...WARD...WINKLER.

     HIGH WIND WATCH FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES... DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA...
     GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR.

&&

67/21

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 11, 12:36 PM MST, 1 hour 20 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
236 PM CDT SAT APR 11 2009

NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075-
079>082-258-121945-
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-
236 PM CDT SAT APR 11 2009 /136 PM MDT SAT APR 11 2009/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW
MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHEAST
NEW MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND MUCH OF WEST TEXAS
THROUGH TONIGHT.  THESE STORMS WILL BE MOST LIKELY DURING THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...
GENERALLY ALONG AND EAST OF AN ARTESIA...MARFA AND BIG BEND LINE.
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS...HOWEVER
AN ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.  SOME OF THE
STORMS COULD PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOCALIZED
FLASH FLOODING.  SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED ACROSS
THE PERMIAN BASIN AND STOCKTON PLATEAU...SO A WIND ADVISORY IS IN
EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

STRONG WEST WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 60 MPH COULD
AFFECT THE GUADALUPE AND DAVIS MOUNTAINS SUNDAY AFTERNOON...IN
ADDITION TO THE VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR.  A HIGH WIND WATCH
HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THESE AREAS...AND MOTORISTS SHOULD KEEP ABREAST
OF THE LATEST FORECASTS IF TRAVELING THROUGH THESE AREAS SUNDAY.

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR GENERALLY
ALONG AND SOUTH OF A CANDELARIA...MARFA...FORT STOCKTON LINE SUNDAY
AFTERNOON.  LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WESTERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH
COULD PRODUCE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FIRE GROWTH AND SPREAD IN
THESE AREAS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANGERS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO
AND WEST TEXAS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.  SPOTTER
ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED.

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

The radar

The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 124 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:56 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 hail, 1 funnel cloud, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lea

When: April 11, 1:56 PM MST to 1:57 PM MST
Where: Lea County, 1.81 mi N of Hobbs
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 32.726, -103.135

The duration of the hail was estimated for this event.

Hail, Lea

When: April 11, 1:58 PM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where: Lea County, 0.83 mi N of Hobbs
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.712, -103.128

Hail, Lea

When: April 11, 2:00 PM MST to 2:05 PM MST
Where: Lea County, 0.69 mi S of Lovington
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.920, -103.350

The duration of the hail was estimated for this event.

Hail, Lea

When: April 11, 2:00 PM MST to 2:05 PM MST
Where: Lea County, 1.38 mi N of Lovington
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.950, -103.350

The duration of the hail was estimated for this event.

Funnel Cloud, Lea

When: April 11, 2:00 PM MST to 2:04 PM MST
Where: Lea County, 2 mi W of Lovington Arpt
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.950, -103.434

It is unknown whether or not a tornado actually developed.

Hail, Lea

When: April 11, 2:15 PM MST to 2:17 PM MST
Where: Lea County, 10.71 mi ESE of Caprock
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.329, -103.545

Golf ball size hail was reported along US 380 about 10 miles west of Tatum, NM. The hail was covering the road and the person who made the report lost control of her van. The individual was not injured. The time of the event was estimated according to the report and radar.

Hail, Lea

When: April 11, 2:30 PM MST to 2:31 PM MST
Where: Lea County, 7 mi SSE of Hobbs
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 32.606, -103.084

The duration of the hail was estimated for this event.

Hail, Lea

When: April 11, 3:15 PM MST to 3:17 PM MST
Where: Lea County, Eunice
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 32.430, -103.150

The duration of the hail was estimated for this event.

Hail, Lea

When: April 11, 3:22 PM MST to 3:24 PM MST
Where: Lea County, 0.77 mi N of Hobbs
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 32.711, -103.128

The duration of the hail was estimated for this event.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lea

When: April 11, 3:22 PM MST to 3:23 PM MST
Where: Lea County, 1 mi NNW of Hobbs
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 32.714, -103.136

An amateur radio operator reported an estimated gust near 60 to 75 mph. No damage was reported.

Hail, Lea

When: April 11, 3:53 PM MST to 3:55 PM MST
Where: Lea County, 4.5 mi E of Eunice
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.430, -103.073

The time and location were adjusted for this event according to radar. The original report time was after the storm had passed.

Hail, Lea

When: April 11, 4:30 PM MST to 4:33 PM MST
Where: Lea County, Eunice
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.430, -103.150

The duration of the hail was estimated for this event.

What these are

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

Every storm in New Mexico in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in New Mexico, April 2009

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: 164262, 164263, 164256, 164257, 166321, 164261, 164267, 164269, 164268, 167564, 167603, 164273.