New Mexico, 2015

Flash Flooding and Hail in New Mexico, October 7, 2015

October 7, 2015 · NWS ABQ · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

The slow-moving upper level low pressure system that produced severe weather and flooding on the 4th and 5th delivered a deluge to eastern New Mexico on the 7th. A deep tap of tropical moisture surged northeast ahead the upper low and resulted in an extensive area of thunderstorms with torrential rainfall over southeastern New Mexico.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

The slow-moving upper level low pressure system that produced severe weather and flooding on the 4th and 5th delivered a deluge to eastern New Mexico on the 7th. A deep tap of tropical moisture surged northeast ahead the upper low and resulted in an extensive area of thunderstorms with torrential rainfall over southeastern New Mexico. The heaviest rain impacted the area around Clovis and Portales where upwards of 2 to 4 inches were reported. Several streets and state highways were closed due to flood waters.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Hail, Roosevelt

When
October 7, 2:33 PM MST to 2:39 PM MST
Where
Roosevelt County, 13.08 mi SE of Tolar
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.300, -103.790

Nickel size hail near Tolar.

Flash Flood, Curry

When
October 7, 5:00 PM MST to 6:15 PM MST
Where
Curry County, 3.91 mi NNE of (Cvs)cannon Afb to 1.74 mi NW of Clovis
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.432, -103.292

Fourteenth street closed near Dennis Chaves Lake.

Flash Flood, Curry

When
October 7, 5:30 PM MST to 6:15 PM MST
Where
Curry County, 1.14 mi W of Clovis to 2.08 mi SSW of Clovis
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.410, -103.220

One mile stretch of U.S. Highway 60/84 closed due to flooding.

Flash Flood, Roosevelt

When
October 7, 5:30 PM MST to 6:15 PM MST
Where
Roosevelt County, 1.7 mi NW of Portales to 1.19 mi WSW of Portales
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
34.196, -103.353

Water up to car doors on South Avenue K.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Mexico in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, October 2015

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 598310, 598311, 598312, 598313.