The upper level trough responsible for severe weather across the area on the 14th continued to impact New Mexico through the 15th. Abundant moisture and instability associated with southeasterly upslope flow and strong upper level dynamics generated an extended period of severe weather across the eastern plains. Severe thunderstorms from late on the 14th persisted past midnight before diminishing before sunrise. A powerful storm that moved south of Melrose just after midnight produced one of the best radar signatures of a tornado forecasters have ever observed in eastern New Mexico. A nearby resident reported a loud roaring sound in the distance. A persistent storm with torrential rainfall amounts over four inches in eastern San Miguel County produced flash flooding along Atarque Creek through sunrise. Storms fired up quickly again by late morning and moved east across the plains. A funnel cloud was observed just after the noon hour near Vaughn. Another storm that moved east across Lincoln County dumped nickel to quarter size hail in the area around Tinnie, Picacho, and Dunken. A tornado and golf ball size hail was then spotted from this storm over rural ranch lands to the northeast of Dunken. Many other storms that impacted eastern New Mexico generated hail, torrential rainfall, and gusty winds throughout the afternoon.

Funnel Cloud in TORRANCE, NEW MEXICO
From 15-SEP-16 11:45:00 to 15-SEP-16 11:48:00 (MST-7)
Location: ENCINO
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

COOP observer reported a funnel cloud that may have touched down, but was difficult to tell in the distance.

Hail in CHAVES, NEW MEXICO
From 15-SEP-16 14:00:00 to 15-SEP-16 14:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: FLYING H RANCH
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Severe hail peaked out at golf ball size. No damage reported.

Hail in CHAVES, NEW MEXICO
From 15-SEP-16 15:55:00 to 15-SEP-16 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: FLYING H RANCH
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Nickel size hail.

Hail in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 15-SEP-16 12:06:00 to 15-SEP-16 12:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: ARABELA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Nickel size hail eight miles north of Tinnie.

Flash Flood in SAN MIGUEL, NEW MEXICO
From 15-SEP-16 02:00:00 to 15-SEP-16 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: BELL RANCH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Ranchers reported water in creek rose 15 feet and was the highest they have observed in over 50 years. Precipitation gauges on the property measured 1.93 inches, 3.95 inches, and 4.15 inches from training thunderstorms. Several areas along the creek were out of bank and flooding nearby pasture. Several low water crossings were washed out.

Hail in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 15-SEP-16 12:42:00 to 15-SEP-16 12:45:00 (MST-7)
Location: SUNSET
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Nickel to quarter size hail.

Funnel Cloud in CHAVES, NEW MEXICO
From 15-SEP-16 13:15:00 to 15-SEP-16 13:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: DUNKEN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Funnel cloud reported by local media along U.S. Highway 82 and Picacho Road.

Funnel Cloud in GUADALUPE, NEW MEXICO
From 15-SEP-16 10:45:00 to 15-SEP-16 10:47:00 (MST-7)
Location: VAUGHN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Funnel cloud reported via local media on Twitter south of Vaughn.

Hail in CHAVES, NEW MEXICO
From 15-SEP-16 12:36:00 to 15-SEP-16 12:39:00 (MST-7)
Location: FLYING H RANCH
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter size hail.

Tornado in ROOSEVELT, NEW MEXICO
From 14-SEP-16 23:07:00 to 14-SEP-16 23:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: TOLAR
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A nearby resident reported a loud, distant roaring sound over the Melrose Bombing Range where radar indicated very intense rotation. A storm survey of this extremely remote location later revealed a 2000 pound mobile office trailer that was bolted and strapped down was lifted and moved eight to ten inches.

Tornado in CHAVES, NEW MEXICO
From 15-SEP-16 13:10:00 to 15-SEP-16 13:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: FLYING H RANCH
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Public reported a tornado on the ground just north of U.S. Highway 82 near Picacho Road. No damage observed.

Tornado in GUADALUPE, NEW MEXICO
From 15-SEP-16 10:47:00 to 15-SEP-16 10:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: VAUGHN
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A distant tornado was spotted approximately 13 miles south-southwest of Vaughn by the COOP observer near Pedernal. Tornado appeared on the ground for around 3 to 5 minutes with no damage reported.