A back door front pushed southwestward into far west Texas while an upper level low was dropping southward into eastern Arizona. A veering vertical shear profile with sufficient low level moisture and instability led to 2 supercells forming in the El Paso area. These storms were prolific hail producers. The second supercell produced extensive golfball to possibly tennis ball size hail over a large area of commerce. The damage estimate of $150 million makes this easily the most costly hailstorm in the NWS El Paso County Warning Area since records began.

Hail in EL PASO, TEXAS
From 16-SEP-09 16:15:00 to 16-SEP-09 16:45:00 (MST-7)
Location: SOCORRO
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 20.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The supercell continued southeastward along I-10 for several miles. According to TxDOT, hundreds of vehicles along the interstate and other highways suffered extensive damage.

Hail in EL PASO, TEXAS
From 16-SEP-09 14:29:00 to 16-SEP-09 14:35:00 (MST-7)
Location: NEWMAN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Nickel to quarter size hail fell at Hueco Tanks State Park.

Hail in EL PASO, TEXAS
From 16-SEP-09 14:40:00 to 16-SEP-09 14:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: NEWMAN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Golfball size hail fell south of Hueco Tanks State Park. This was the first of two supercells in El Paso County this day, but it remained over mainly a sparsely populated area.

Hail in EL PASO, TEXAS
From 16-SEP-09 14:49:00 to 16-SEP-09 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: BIGGS AFB
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in EL PASO, TEXAS
From 16-SEP-09 15:08:00 to 16-SEP-09 15:15:00 (MST-7)
Location: EL PASO
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in EL PASO, TEXAS
From 16-SEP-09 15:17:00 to 16-SEP-09 15:25:00 (MST-7)
Location: (ELP)EL PASO INTL AR
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Hail in EL PASO, TEXAS
From 16-SEP-09 15:35:00 to 16-SEP-09 15:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: (ELP)EL PASO INTL AR
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 20.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Numerous skylights and automobiles were damaged from ping pong ball size hail.

Hail in EL PASO, TEXAS
From 16-SEP-09 15:50:00 to 16-SEP-09 16:05:00 (MST-7)
Location: SOCORRO
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 100.00M
Reported by: Newspaper

Far east El Paso was hardest hit by this second supercell, with extensive golfball to possibly tennis ball size hail falling for 20 minutes. Thousands of automobiles were damaged, with several dealerships suffering much loss. Skylights were destroyed, roofs damaged and windows broken on thousands of buildings. Several injuries were reported from hailstones as well.

Hail in EL PASO, TEXAS
From 16-SEP-09 16:01:00 to 16-SEP-09 16:15:00 (MST-7)
Location: SOCORRO
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 10.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The supercell continued southeastward and dropped golfball size hail on El Paso's lower valley area.