Return flow set up across eastern New Mexico on May 23, 2022, helping to usher in beneficial low-level moisture. As the dryline sharpened across the eastern plains, a destabilizing atmosphere led to developing thunderstorms by mid-afternoon.
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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.
The episode as NWS ABQ wrote it up.
Return flow set up across eastern New Mexico on May 23, 2022, helping to usher in beneficial low-level moisture. As the dryline sharpened across the eastern plains, a destabilizing atmosphere led to developing thunderstorms by mid-afternoon. As these thunderstorms tracked through the eastern plains, they intensified and became severe along the New Mexico and Texas border. The main hazard with these storms was hail, particularly in Curry and Roosevelt counties where multiple spotters reported at least one inch in diameter hail. Heavy rain was also common with these thunderstorms as rain totals were around one to two inches. With such a dry and parched surface though, only minor street ponding in Clovis was reported.
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 Albuquerque, NM wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 23, 2:53 PM MST, 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 353 PM MDT Mon May 23 2022 ...STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE OVER THE EASTERN PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... .SYNOPSIS... Strong to severe storms will be a concern this afternoon through the late evening across the far eastern plains, with showers and storms persisting into the overnight hours. The main threats will be large hail and damaging winds, although a brief tornado or two cannot be ruled out. An upper level system coupled with a backdoor cold front will keep the threat for precipitation in the forecast through Tuesday and Tuesday night across the east. Cooler readings are anticipated with even snow showers expected over the northern mountains, with snow levels dropping as low as 9,000 feet. A few inches of snow can be expected on the mountain peaks with minimal impacts for the mountain passes. Meanwhile, strong winds and low humidity will create critical fire weather conditions for Tuesday afternoon across western and central New Mexico. Quiet weather is expected for Wednesday and Thursday. Unfortunately, strong winds, above normal readings and hazardous fire weather conditions will redevelop for Friday into the upcoming weekend. && .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT)... Moisture is on the increase across the east this afternoon, and will continue through tonight. Showers and thunderstorms will develop soon and they could turn severe on the eastern plains through about midnight. Another upper level disturbance will deepen as it moves into NM tonight and departs late Tuesday. Showers and a few storms will continue later tonight, even expanding into the Rio Grande Valley and western high terrain. It will be cold enough for snow tonight on the higher mountain peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. There will be another round of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday into Tuesday night in the northern mountains and east. Just a few strong to potentially severe storms on the East Central Plains. A different story in the west tomorrow as dry, very warm air, and breezy to windy and unstable conditions will cause critical fire weather behavior, and a few wind advisories may be needed. Tuesday will cooler, especially in the east. CHJ LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY)... Wednesday will favor northwest flow for the entire CWA as the upr level system shifts eastward. One potential forecast challenge is whether a deformation band of moisture/pcpn impacts the northeast quadrant of the state early on Wednesday. Both the GFS and ECMWF deterministic agree with this possibility, especially if the closed low departs slower than advertised. Otherwise, it should be rather quiet for the remainder of the area with just a few afternoon gusts from the Four Corners into the central highlands, and possibly the northeast plains closer to the tighter surface pressure gradient. An upper level ridge will invade the region for Thurs with 500hPa heights still progged to be around 1.0 to 1.5 standard deviations above normal. High temperatures will respond accordingly with most areas 5 to 10 degrees above average. Fast upper level flow will start making its way into the West Coast on Friday, shifting the ridge east of the CWA by the afternoon. As this happens, 700hPa winds increase into the 25-35kt range by late afternoon with weak leeside cyclogenesis in southeast CO/northeast NM. Based on the latest probabilistic guidance, most locations will remain below advisory criteria. Upper level trough will dig southward for the upcoming weekend over the Pacific and northern Rockies. Winds aloft over NM will further strengthen and impact a broader chunk of the CWFA. A deeper leeside surface low will develop in southeast CO (988-991mb), supporting a tighter surface gradient in the northeast plains. Surface winds are expected to increase with compressional heating allowing a few sites in the eastern plains to approach the century mark - which may be at daily record levels. Longwave trough remains parked over the western U.S. for Sunday, with much of the moisture and energy staying north of New Mexico. Latest cluster analysis offers two primary solutions for the trough on Monday. The majority of the clusters offer a slow translation eastward, allowing for below normal heights with strong winds remaining in place. A percentage of GFS and Canadian members suggest a more progressive translation that allows for above normal heights migrating back into southwestern U.S. DPorter && .FIRE WEATHER... Moisture is increasing across eastern NM this afternoon and will continue to do so through tonight. Showers and thunderstorms will develop shortly in the east, and will linger through the night. Strong to severe storms could impact the eastern plains through midnight. The west will be dry and cooler tonight with the passage of a cold front. Another disturbance will approach late tonight and cross during the day Tuesday, keeping showers and thunderstorms going in the north and east, with wet snow on the high northern mountain peaks. But the west will be dry and breezy to windy, leading to critical fire weather conditions. the Fire Weather Watch has been Upgraded to a Red Flag Warning Tuesday. We get a break Wednesday and Thursday with dry and warmer conditions, and not too much wind. Critical fire weather conditions will be spotty at best, thanks to a building ridge of high pressure over the state. But storms passing to our north Friday through the weekend will bring a return to strong winds, very warm temperatures, breezy to windy conditions, and an unstable atmosphere will cause concern for critical fire weather conditions. CHJ && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE Thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon along a dryline across eastern NM. Some of these storms may become strong to severe with frequent lightning, large hail, and damaging winds. Highest confidence for TAF site impacts will be KTCC and KROW. A backdoor cold front then begins to move into northeast NM around 00Z, resulting in a northeasterly wind shift across the plains. This boundary along with outflow from this afternoon's thunderstorms should aid in keeping shower and thunderstorm activity continuing east of the central mountain chain through late this evening and overnight, including KLVS and KTCC. Otherwise, breezy to windy conditions develop across west and central NM, and an Airport Weather Warning is possible for KABQ. Winds mostly diminish tonight. CHJ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Farmington...................... 39 73 39 79 / 10 0 0 0 Dulce........................... 32 67 27 76 / 20 20 5 0 Cuba............................ 35 65 34 73 / 20 10 5 0 Gallup.......................... 32 69 35 79 / 30 0 0 0 El Morro........................ 36 65 39 76 / 20 0 0 0 Grants.......................... 32 70 33 78 / 20 0 0 0 Quemado......................... 39 69 40 77 / 10 0 0 0 Magdalena....................... 45 71 43 79 / 10 5 0 0 Datil........................... 41 68 40 76 / 10 0 0 0 Reserve......................... 33 79 35 86 / 10 0 0 0 Glenwood........................ 47 85 51 90 / 10 0 0 0 Chama........................... 29 58 25 69 / 20 40 10 0 Los Alamos...................... 42 60 40 72 / 30 20 10 0 Pecos........................... 38 62 35 73 / 30 30 5 10 Cerro/Questa.................... 34 53 32 66 / 40 60 10 0 Red River....................... 30 50 26 61 / 50 70 20 5 Angel Fire...................... 26 48 22 62 / 50 70 10 10 Taos............................ 35 58 30 71 / 30 50 10 5 Mora............................ 32 55 30 69 / 40 60 10 10 Espanola........................ 43 67 40 79 / 30 30 10 0 Santa Fe........................ 41 61 39 73 / 30 20 5 5 Santa Fe Airport................ 39 65 36 75 / 20 20 5 0 Albuquerque Foothills........... 49 73 45 81 / 20 5 5 0 Albuquerque Heights............. 47 74 43 82 / 20 5 5 0 Albuquerque Valley.............. 46 76 42 84 / 20 5 5 0 Albuquerque West Mesa........... 47 74 44 82 / 20 10 5 0 Belen........................... 45 77 40 84 / 10 5 0 0 Bernalillo...................... 45 75 42 84 / 20 10 5 0 Bosque Farms.................... 43 76 39 83 / 10 5 0 0 Corrales........................ 46 76 42 84 / 20 10 5 0 Los Lunas....................... 45 76 41 83 / 10 5 0 0 Placitas........................ 47 69 44 78 / 20 10 5 0 Rio Rancho...................... 46 74 43 82 / 20 10 5 0 Socorro......................... 49 80 46 87 / 10 5 0 0 Sandia Park/Cedar Crest......... 44 64 41 72 / 20 10 5 0 Tijeras......................... 43 68 40 76 / 20 10 5 0 Edgewood........................ 40 69 35 77 / 20 10 5 0 Moriarty/Estancia............... 36 70 31 77 / 20 10 5 0 Clines Corners.................. 37 62 33 71 / 30 20 5 5 Mountainair..................... 41 69 36 75 / 20 5 5 0 Gran Quivira.................... 42 70 37 76 / 20 5 5 0 Carrizozo....................... 49 75 44 80 / 20 5 5 0 Ruidoso......................... 45 69 40 73 / 20 10 5 0 Capulin......................... 36 44 32 63 / 70 70 30 10 Raton........................... 38 52 32 70 / 60 70 20 10 Springer........................ 41 54 33 71 / 50 70 20 10 Las Vegas....................... 37 55 33 70 / 30 50 10 10 Clayton......................... 43 51 37 68 / 70 60 20 10 Roy............................. 43 55 37 70 / 50 60 20 5 Conchas......................... 48 64 40 75 / 50 50 10 5 Santa Rosa...................... 47 65 40 75 / 50 40 5 5 Tucumcari....................... 48 64 41 76 / 70 40 10 10 Clovis.......................... 50 65 40 72 / 80 20 10 10 Portales........................ 51 70 40 75 / 80 20 10 10 Fort Sumner..................... 50 70 41 77 / 60 30 10 5 Roswell......................... 55 79 47 82 / 30 10 5 5 Picacho......................... 48 76 41 78 / 30 10 5 5 Elk............................. 45 78 39 80 / 20 10 0 5 && .ABQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning from 1 PM to 8 PM MDT Tuesday for the following zones... NMZ101-105-106-109. && 40/46
The Cannon AFB radar (KFDX), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:07 UTC.
10 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter east-northeast of Portair reported quarter size hail from a severe thunderstorm.
A member of the public near Clovis reported penny size hail from a severe thunderstorm.
A member of the public near Clovis reported quarter size hail from a severe thunderstorm.
A member of the public reported penny size hail near Clovis.
A member of the public reported quarter size hail that was covering the ground northeast of Clovis.
A member of the public reported quarter size hail near Causey.
A trained spotter reported half dollar size hail with a severe thunderstorm in Clovis.
A member of the public reported golf ball size hail near Rogers.
The Fire Department near Texico reported quarter inch hail from a severe thunderstorm.
A member of the public near Clayton estimated quarter size hail from a severe thunderstorm.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, May 2022
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: 1015648, 1015649, 1015650, 1015957, 1015652, 1015653, 1018834, 1015654, 1015655, 1015656.