Hail, Lea
- When
- May 31, 4:58 PM MST to 5:03 PM MST
- Where
- Lea County, 3.21 mi ENE of Lovington
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Amateur Radio
- Coordinates
- 32.950, -103.300
The hail covered the ground.
Hail in New Mexico, May 31, 2011
A warm front draped across the region and orographic lift combined with a passing mid to upper level shortwave trough to produce thunderstorms across southeast New Mexico and the Davis Mountains of west Texas. Very steep mid level lapse rates, moderate instability and sufficient deep layer shear resulted in very large hail reports.
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
- 5
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 warm front draped across the region and orographic lift combined with a passing mid to upper level shortwave trough to produce thunderstorms across southeast New Mexico and the Davis Mountains of west Texas. Very steep mid level lapse rates, moderate instability and sufficient deep layer shear resulted in very large hail reports.
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 31, 4:31 PM MST, 27 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 31, 4:31 PM MST, 27 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 631 PM CDT TUE MAY 31 2011 .DISCUSSION... THE LATEST AVIATION DISCUSSION IS BELOW. && .AVIATION... ASIDE FROM SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME OF WHICH COULD PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...AFFECTING ALL BUT FORT STOCKTON TONIGHT...MVFR CEILINGS COULD ALSO IMPINGE UPON MOST TAF SITES LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY MORNING. SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL BE 15 TO 20KT AT TIMES OVERNIGHT AT MOST TAF SITES...AND AGAIN DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY. 67 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 513 PM CDT TUE MAY 31 2011/ UPDATE... UPDATE TO INCLUDE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #409. NO OTHER CHANGES AT THIS TIME. 67 PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 328 PM CDT TUE MAY 31 2011/ DISCUSSION... SURFACE ANALYSIS FROM EARLIER THIS MORNING REVEALED A COLD FRONT FROM SOUTH OF GUADALUPE PASS TO NEAR ANDREWS AND LAMESA. AS OF EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...THIS COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO RETREAT NORTHWARD AS A WARM FRONT AND IS NOW LOCATED FROM NEAR SEMINOLE TO NEAR SPUR. ELSEWHERE...INCREASING EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS IN THE LOW LEVELS WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE WESTWARD INTO THE TRANS PECOS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS. WITH THE INCREASE IN MOISTURE AS NOTED ABOVE...ALONG WITH DAYTIME HEATING...A RETREATING BOUNDARY AND SOME MINOR SHORTWAVE TROUGHS EMBEDDED IN THE SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT...CONVECTION REMAINS POSSIBLE ACROSS A GOOD PORTION OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND MOST OF WEST TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE FIRST AREA FAVORED FOR CONVECTION WILL BE ACROSS THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS WHERE STEEP MID- LEVEL LAPSE RATES AND OROGRAPHIC LIFT WILL AID CONVECTION. WE HAVE INCREASED POPS ACROSS THIS REGION THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. THE OTHER AREA WILL BE ACROSS SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND THE NORTHERN PERMIAN BASIN...WHERE THE ABOVE MENTIONED WARM FROM WILL RESIDE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. RAIN CHANCES HAVE BEEN RAISED SLIGHTLY ACROSS THESE AREAS. WE COULD ALSO SEE A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND THE NORTHERN PERMIAN BASIN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN CONCERNS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. ANY STORM THAT MANAGES TO DEVELOP MID AND LOW-LEVEL ROTATION AND TRACKS CLOSE TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED BOUNDARY WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED CAREFULLY FOR TORNADO DEVELOPMENT. ON WEDNESDAY...THE FOCUS FOR CONVECTION WILL QUICKLY SHIFT WEST INTO THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS. THERE ARE STILL GOOD INDICATIONS THAT CONVECTION WILL DEVELOP ACROSS FAR WEST TEXAS INTO SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WE HAVE INCREASED RAIN CHANCES ACROSS THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND IF LATER MODEL RUNS REMAIN CONSISTENT... HIGHER POPS MAY BE NECESSARY. THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK WEEK...THE FOCUS FOR CONVECTION WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY SHIFT WEST INTO THE HIGHER TERRAIN. TEMPERATURES WILL SLOWLY BE ON THE INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA...BUT SHOULD MANAGE TO STAY ONLY A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE FLOW ALOFT CONTINUES TO REMAIN VERY WEAK THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEKEND...AND PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL REMAIN LOW...WHILE TEMPERATURES REMAIN A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...NONE. TX...NONE. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 11:31 AM MST, 5 hours 27 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 131 PM CDT TUE MAY 31 2011 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-011845- 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- 131 PM CDT TUE MAY 31 2011 /1231 PM MDT TUE MAY 31 2011/ 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 OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS THE WESTERN LOW ROLLING PLAINS...PERMIAN BASIN...TRANS PECOS...DAVIS AND GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...AND THE SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS. BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND STRONG WIND GUSTS WILL ACCOMPANY THE THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE...WITH LARGE HAIL BEING THE MAIN THREAT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY EVENING OVER THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS. BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL...AND STRONG WIND GUSTS WILL ACCOMPANY THESE THUNDERSTORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING ACROSS THE PERMIAN BASIN...SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS...AND THE UPPER TRANS PECOS. 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 31, 3:24 PM MST, 1 hour 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 524 PM CDT TUE MAY 31 2011 TXZ057-074-080-312315- VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR-DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA- MARFA PLATEAU- 524 PM CDT TUE MAY 31 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS AFFECTING CENTRAL JEFF DAVIS AND SOUTH CENTRAL CULBERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM CDT... A THUNDERSTORM WITH NICKEL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS TO 55 MPH WAS LOCATED 16 MILES SOUTH OF PLATEAU AT 524 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... IN ADDITION TO HAIL AND STRONG WINDS... DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER... YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER NOW. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS. &&
Special weather statement, May 31, 4:02 PM MST, 56 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 602 PM CDT TUE MAY 31 2011 NMZ029-033-312330- NORTHERN LEA COUNTY-CENTRAL LEA COUNTY- 502 PM MDT TUE MAY 31 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING CENTRAL LEA COUNTY UNTIL 530 PM MDT... AT 501 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE MONITORING AN INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORM LOCATED 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LOVINGTON AT 501 PM MDT. OTHER STORMS WERE DEVELOPING NEAR MCDONALD...AND BETWEEN MALJAMAR AND BUCKEYE. MOVEMENT IS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY TO NICKEL SIZED HAIL...STRONG WIND GUSTS AROUND 50 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES AND HEAVY RAIN. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER INDOORS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM MDT TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS. &&
Special weather statement, May 31, 4:14 PM MST, 44 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 614 PM CDT TUE MAY 31 2011 TXZ080-312345- MARFA PLATEAU- 614 PM CDT TUE MAY 31 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING NORTHEASTERN PRESIDIO COUNTY UNTIL 645 PM CDT... ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 3 MILES EAST OF MARFA AT 614 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... SEEK SHELTER IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS. &&
Special weather statement, May 31, 4:40 PM MST, 18 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 640 PM CDT TUE MAY 31 2011 TXZ080-010015- MARFA PLATEAU- 640 PM CDT TUE MAY 31 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS AFFECTING NORTH CENTRAL PRESIDIO COUNTY UNTIL 715 PM CDT... A THUNDERSTORM WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTH OF RYAN AT 640 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT TUESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS. &&
The radar
The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 153 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:57 UTC.
Event by event
5 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Lea
- When
- May 31, 5:19 PM MST to 5:24 PM MST
- Where
- Lea County, 8.78 mi NNW of Knowles
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 32.950, -103.130
Hail, Lea
- When
- May 31, 5:25 PM MST to 5:30 PM MST
- Where
- Lea County, 4.51 mi NW of Knowles
- Measured
- 2.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 32.880, -103.130
Hail, Lea
- When
- May 31, 5:36 PM MST to 5:46 PM MST
- Where
- Lea County, 5.79 mi NW of Knowles
- Measured
- 2.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 32.880, -103.160
The hail covered the ground.
Hail, Lea
- When
- May 31, 5:59 PM MST to 6:04 PM MST
- Where
- Lea County, 0.9 mi SE of Knowles
- Measured
- 2 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 32.820, -103.070
What these are
- 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
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, May 31, 2011
- Tornado and Hail in Michigan, May 31, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, May 31, 2011
- High Wind in North Dakota, May 31, 2011
- High Wind in California, May 31, 2011
- Hail in New Mexico, May 31, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, May 31, 2011
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Lake Superior, May 31, 2011
- Drought in Florida, May 31, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Washington, May 31, 2011
- Hail in Texas, May 31, 2011
- Hail in Missouri, May 31, 2011
More
Every storm in New Mexico in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, May 2011
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: 315442, 315443, 315444, 315445, 315446.