Hail, Eddy
- When
- May 16, 5:51 PM MST to 5:55 PM MST
- Where
- Eddy County, 2 mi S of Carlsbad
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 32.391, -104.230
Hail in New Mexico, May 16, 2019
An upper level ridge was over the Southern Plains with an upper level trough over the west coast. An upper level disturbance moved over southeast New Mexico and West Texas.
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
- 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 MAF wrote it up.
An upper level ridge was over the Southern Plains with an upper level trough over the west coast. An upper level disturbance moved over southeast New Mexico and West Texas. A dryline developed across the area with good moisture to the east of the dryline. Good wind shear and instability were present. These conditions resulted in thunderstorms that produced hail in southeast New Mexico.
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 16, 4:33 PM MST, 1 hour 18 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 16, 4:33 PM MST, 1 hour 18 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
633 PM CDT Thu May 16 2019
.DISCUSSION...
See 00Z Aviation discussion below.
&&
.AVIATION...
Main aviation concerns for this cycle include isolated
thunderstorms over southeastern NM at issuance time and the
potential for low stratus tonight. Storms will impact CNM for part
of the first hour of the period before shifting eastward. Current
expectation is that these will decrease in number as solar heating
is lost before reaching HOB. On the stratus front, still going
with MVFR conditions at MAF and HOB, although with HOB potentially
staying just west of the stratus, have raised ceilings there above
fuel alternate levels. Secondary concern is the potential for
thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon. Current thinking is that any
storms that develop before 00z should be east of MAF and FST.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 231 PM CDT Thu May 16 2019/
DISCUSSION...
Upper level ridging is over the Southern Plains with an upper level
trough over the west coast. South to southeast winds are across the
area bringing in good low-level moisture. Temperatures are expected
to be a little warmer today then yesterday with warmer 850 mb
temperatures. Good CAPE and shear are expected for this afternoon,
but upper level lift will be lacking since the previously mentioned
trough is too far west. However, there is a chance of some strong to
severe storms today, mainly along the higher terrain.
The upper trough to the west will move further east on Friday with
upper lift over the area increasing. Strong winds from the upper
trough will move over the area and may result in high winds in the
Guadalupe Mountains where a High Wind Watch is in effect for Friday.
A well defined dryline is expected to develop Friday afternoon
across the Permian Basin and Lower Trans Pecos. CAPE values of over
3 kJ/kg will be present east of the dryline and 0 to 6 km bulk shear
values will be around 50 kts areawide Friday afternoon and evening.
These conditions will allow for a chance of severe storms Friday
afternoon through Friday night. The best chance for thunderstorms
will be late Friday evening into Friday night as the dryline
retreats westward. Heavy rain will be possible with these storms.
The upper trough will move over the central part of the country on
Saturday with the dryline pushing east of the CWA by the afternoon
hours. Temperatures will be a little cooler on Saturday with cooler
850 mph temperatures across the area. Surface winds become southerly
again on Sunday with a surface trough developing along and west of
the Upper Trans Pecos. This will result in temperatures warming back
up into the 80s and 90s across most of the area. Another upper
trough will begin moving over the region on Monday with a dryline
developing across the area. This will result in an increased chance
of storms Sunday night through Monday night. The upper trough will
move over the Central Plains on Tuesday with a Pacific front moving
into the CWA resulting in cooler temperatures. Temperatures warm
back up on Wednesday as south to southwest surface winds return to
the area. An upper ridge begins to build over the southeastern U.S.
on Thursday with slightly above normal temperatures.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Big Spring 67 89 63 85 / 20 20 70 10
Carlsbad 60 87 55 84 / 30 0 10 0
Dryden 72 89 69 94 / 20 20 50 10
Fort Stockton 67 89 62 86 / 20 20 40 0
Guadalupe Pass 59 76 53 75 / 20 0 0 0
Hobbs 61 85 54 79 / 20 10 20 0
Marfa 56 85 50 78 / 30 10 10 0
Midland Intl Airport 68 90 63 85 / 20 20 60 10
Odessa 68 90 62 85 / 20 10 60 0
Wink 66 90 57 87 / 20 10 40 0
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...High Wind Watch from Friday morning through Friday evening for
Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County.
TX...High Wind Watch from Friday morning through Friday evening for
Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains.
&&Hazardous weather outlook, May 16, 12:05 PM MST, 5 hours 46 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 205 PM CDT Thu May 16 2019 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-059>063-067>070-075-082- 270>282-171915- 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-Loving-Winkler- Ector-Midland-Glasscock-Ward-Crane-Upton-Reagan-Pecos-Terrell- Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains- Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor-Eastern Culberson County- Reeves County Plains-Chinati Mountains-Marfa Plateau-Davis Mountains- Davis Mountains Foothills-Central Brewster County-Chisos Basin- Presidio Valley-Lower Brewster County- 205 PM CDT Thu May 16 2019 /105 PM MDT Thu May 16 2019/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas, and western Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and overnight. Any storms that do develop will be accompanied by frequent lightning, small hail, gusty winds, and brief, heavy rainfall. A storm or two could become severe, and capable of producing large hail and damaging winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday There is an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms Friday afternoon and night. Any severe storms will be capable of producing large hail and a few tornadoes. Strong westerly winds are possible in the Guadalupe Mountains Friday. A High Wind Watch is in effect. There is also an increased probability of severe thunderstorms Monday and Monday evening across the central and eastern Permian Basin. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be necessary this afternoon or evening. 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... https://weather.gov/midland 44
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 16, 4:24 PM MST, 1 hour 27 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 524 PM MDT Thu May 16 2019 NMZ028-170000- Eddy County Plains NM- 524 PM MDT Thu May 16 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL EDDY COUNTY UNTIL 600 PM MDT... At 523 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Carlsbad, moving northeast at 25 mph. Penny size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Carlsbad, Brantley Lake State Park, Avalon, Carlsbad North, Lake Avalon, Otis, Cavern City Air Terminal and Living Desert State Park. LAT...LON 3222 10433 3248 10447 3278 10417 3245 10390 TIME...MOT...LOC 2323Z 232DEG 20KT 3235 10433
Special weather statement, May 16, 5:15 PM MST, 36 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
715 PM CDT Thu May 16 2019
TXZ276>278-170100-
Marfa Plateau TX-Davis Mountains TX-Davis Mountains Foothills TX-
715 PM CDT Thu May 16 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL BREWSTER AND
NORTHEASTERN PRESIDIO COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT...
At 715 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 18
miles south of Marfa, moving northeast at 25 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Alpine, Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport and Paisano Pass.
LAT...LON 3008 10402 3043 10366 3023 10346 3020 10346
3015 10356 3016 10356 3014 10357 3015 10360
3013 10359 3013 10360 3016 10361 3016 10363
3014 10363 3015 10362 3011 10362 2996 10391
TIME...MOT...LOC 0015Z 231DEG 20KT 3005 10392
FergusonSpecial weather statement, May 16, 5:47 PM MST, 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
647 PM MDT Thu May 16 2019
NMZ029-170115-
Northern Lea County NM-
647 PM MDT Thu May 16 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN LEA COUNTY UNTIL 715
PM MDT...
At 647 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles west of Caprock, or 31 miles west of Tatum, moving northeast at
50 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Caprock.
LAT...LON 3335 10377 3340 10377 3340 10372 3357 10372
3357 10343
TIME...MOT...LOC 0047Z 228DEG 42KT 3338 10384
FergusonThe radar
The Holloman AFB radar (KHDX), 193 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:47 UTC.
Event by event
4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Eddy
- When
- May 16, 6:07 PM MST to 6:12 PM MST
- Where
- Eddy County, 3.38 mi S of Carlsbad
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 32.371, -104.231
A thunderstorm produced mostly quarter sized hail and a few golf ball sized hail stones at the La Quinta Inn and Suites on Highway 62 south of Carlsbad.
Hail, Eddy
- When
- May 16, 6:07 PM MST to 6:12 PM MST
- Where
- Eddy County, Otis
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 32.350, -104.170
Hail, Eddy
- When
- May 16, 7:00 PM MST to 7:05 PM MST
- Where
- Eddy County, 7 mi NW of Carlsbad
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 32.492, -104.315
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
- Tornadoes and Hail in Nebraska, May 16 to 17, 2019
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Ohio, May 16 to 17, 2019
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Illinois, May 16, 2019
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, May 16 to 17, 2019
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Indiana, May 16, 2019
- Debris Flow and Flooding in Washington, May 16 to 17, 2019
- Flash Flood and Hail in Iowa, May 16, 2019
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Indiana, May 16, 2019
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Illinois, May 16 to 17, 2019
- Flash Flood and High Wind in California, May 16, 2019
- Damaging Wind in Idaho, May 16, 2019
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Illinois, May 16, 2019
More
Every storm in New Mexico in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, May 2019
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: 817502, 817503, 817504, 817505.