An upper level disturbance moved over the area, and a lingering frontal boundary was across parts of southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin.  Upper level lift associated with an area of intense winds aloft moved over the region.  There was good wind shear, moisture, and instability across West Texas and southeast New Mexico.  Two other boundaries were moving toward the area and possibly collided with the initial boundary.  These conditions combined to create good lift in the atmosphere which resulted in widespread thunderstorms with large hail across southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin.  The wind shear created spin in the atmosphere which allowed for tornadoes to develop in the Permian Basin and southeast New Mexico.

Hail in LEA, NEW MEXICO
From 17-SEP-16 18:45:00 to 17-SEP-16 18:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: JAL
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 3.50M
Reported by: Public

A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced tennis ball sized hail in Jal.  The hail caused widespread damage to homes and vehicles.  The cost of damage is a rough estimate.

Hail in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 17-SEP-16 15:00:00 to 17-SEP-16 15:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: ARTESIA
Magnitude: 2.75 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A thunderstorm moved across Eddy County and produced baseball sized hail from the Artesia Airport to two miles south of Artesia.  There were two head injuries reported due to the hail between 4 and 4:30 pm MDT.

Hail in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 17-SEP-16 15:17:00 to 17-SEP-16 15:22:00 (MST-7)
Location: ARTESIA
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Public

A thunderstorm moved across Eddy County and produced baseball sized hail in Artesia.  The Artesia Airport Manager reported extensive damage to vehicles and hangars.  There was also widespread damage to cars and homes in Artesia.  The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Hail in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 17-SEP-16 15:15:00 to 17-SEP-16 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: ARTESIA ARPT
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Public

Hail in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 17-SEP-16 15:15:00 to 17-SEP-16 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: ARTESIA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 17-SEP-16 15:17:00 to 17-SEP-16 15:22:00 (MST-7)
Location: ARTESIA
Magnitude: 2.50 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 17-SEP-16 15:17:00 to 17-SEP-16 15:22:00 (MST-7)
Location: ARTESIA ARPT
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 17-SEP-16 15:21:00 to 17-SEP-16 15:26:00 (MST-7)
Location: ILLINOIS CAMP
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 1.00K
Reported by: Public

A thunderstorm moved across Eddy County and produced baseball sized hail about one mile west of Artesia.  There was a broken windshield on a car and a broken window in  a house.  The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Hail in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 17-SEP-16 15:30:00 to 17-SEP-16 15:35:00 (MST-7)
Location: ARTESIA
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 1.50K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A thunderstorm moved across Eddy County and produced tennis ball sized hail in Artesia.  The hail dented a car and damaged some trees.  The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Hail in LEA, NEW MEXICO
From 17-SEP-16 18:45:00 to 17-SEP-16 18:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: JAL
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 4.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced golf ball sized hail in Jal.  The hail broke windows in buildings in Jal.  The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Hail in LEA, NEW MEXICO
From 17-SEP-16 18:45:00 to 17-SEP-16 18:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: TEAGUE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.50K
Reported by: Public

A thunderstorm moved across Lea County and produced golf ball sized hail ten miles north of Jal.  A motorist reported that hail broke the windshield on a car.  The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Tornado in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 17-SEP-16 15:50:00 to 17-SEP-16 15:53:00 (MST-7)
Location: CARLSBAD
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A supercell thunderstorm moved southeast across Eddy County and produced a weak tornado approximately 17 miles north northeast of Carlsbad, NM.  Eyewitness reports from a storm spotter in the area indicate the tornado began around 5:50 pm CDT and lasted only a few minutes.  This tornado, rated an EF0, touched down in open fields and no damage was reported.