A deep fetch of moisture surged north and west into New Mexico on May 21, 2018 ahead of an upper level low pressure system approaching from Arizona. The combination of strong afternoon heating and moist instability allowed showers and thunderstorms to develop along the Continental Divide during the mid to late morning hours of the 21st. Hail, high winds, and funnel clouds were reported along the Continental Divide before spreading northeastward into the Rio Grande Valley during the early afternoon. A cluster of thunderstorms that developed just southwest of the Albuquerque Metro Area around 3 pm dumped copious amounts of hail and torrential rainfall across the city. Some parts of Albuquerque reported up to one inch of rain in less than 20 minutes. One woman was killed and five others injured when they were swept away in the urban drainage system designed to carry flood waters. These storms shifted east into the high plains of eastern New Mexico through the late afternoon and evening hours with more widespread severe weather. The Raton area also saw copious amounts of hail and heavy rainfall. Lincoln County was particularly hard hit with large hail up to the size of golf balls. Hail accumulated to at least one foot east of Alto as several severe storms moved over the same area. A funnel cloud was also spotted to the northeast of Ruidoso Downs. Heavy rainfall and small hail spread eastward into the plains through the overnight hours where many parts of eastern New Mexico picked up between one and two inches of rainfall.

Hail in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 18:57:00 to 21-MAY-18 19:07:00 (MST-7)
Location: CORONA FAA AIRPORT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail up to the size of pennies accumulated along U.S. Highway 54 southwest of Corona.

Hail in BERNALILLO, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 14:00:00 to 21-MAY-18 14:03:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALBUQUERQUE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail up to the size of pennies near Indian School Road and Morris Street.

Tornado in TORRANCE, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 18:50:00 to 21-MAY-18 18:51:00 (MST-7)
Location: CEDARVALE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Spotters observed a brief landspout tornado several miles northwest of Corona.

Hail in SOCORRO, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 12:40:00 to 21-MAY-18 12:42:00 (MST-7)
Location: SOCORRO
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Penny size hail and heavy rain reported on the NM Tech campus.

Heavy Rain in BERNALILLO, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 13:30:00 to 21-MAY-18 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALBUQUERQUE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

An intense burst of rainfall dropped a quick one half inch to one inch of rainfall along with abundant hail in the Midtown area of Albuquerque. Six individuals occupying the urban flood control system were swept away. Five individuals were rescued but the sixth succumbed to flood waters.

Funnel Cloud in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 18:50:00 to 21-MAY-18 18:53:00 (MST-7)
Location: RUIDOSO DOWNS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

An observer spotted a funnel cloud with a thunderstorm a few miles northeast of Ruidoso Downs.

Flash Flood in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 20:00:00 to 21-MAY-18 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: ARABELA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Storm chasers reported flash flooding along NM-368 from Escondido Creek.

Thunderstorm Wind in BERNALILLO, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 13:50:00 to 21-MAY-18 13:53:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALBUQUERQUE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A large tree branch was blown down in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque.

Hail in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 18:42:00 to 21-MAY-18 18:52:00 (MST-7)
Location: CORONA FAA AIRPORT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail up to the size of quarters accumulated along U.S. Highway 54 southwest of Corona.

Hail in COLFAX, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 14:00:00 to 21-MAY-18 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: RATON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A series of thunderstorms that moved across the Raton area produced several inches of hail accumulation. Hail size is estimated.

Funnel Cloud in SANDOVAL, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 14:23:00 to 21-MAY-18 14:29:00 (MST-7)
Location: COCHITI PUEBLO
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A funnel cloud was spotted from the Cochiti Golf Club.

Hail in BERNALILLO, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 13:45:00 to 21-MAY-18 13:47:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALBUQUERQUE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Quarter size hail near Candelaria Road and Carlisle Boulevard.

Hail in BERNALILLO, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 13:41:00 to 21-MAY-18 13:43:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALBUQUERQUE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Nickel size hail near Aztec Road and San Mateo Boulevard.

Hail in BERNALILLO, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 13:42:00 to 21-MAY-18 13:44:00 (MST-7)
Location: CARNUEL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Quarter size hail reported near Menaul Boulevard and Juan Tabo Boulevard.

Hail in CATRON, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 10:05:00 to 21-MAY-18 10:08:00 (MST-7)
Location: DATIL
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Nickel size hail in Datil.

Hail in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 18:52:00 to 21-MAY-18 18:58:00 (MST-7)
Location: (4CR)CORONA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail up to the size of nickels accumulated two inches deep along U.S. Highway 54 southwest of Corona.

Hail in CATRON, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 10:10:00 to 21-MAY-18 10:13:00 (MST-7)
Location: DATIL
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail up to the size of pennies a few miles northwest of Datil.

Tornado in SANDOVAL, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 14:35:00 to 21-MAY-18 14:38:00 (MST-7)
Location: COCHITI PUEBLO
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

An observer spotted a funnel cloud near Bandelier National Monument that briefly made contact with the ground as noted by surface dust swirls.

Hail in SOCORRO, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 11:40:00 to 21-MAY-18 11:44:00 (MST-7)
Location: LAVA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Nickel size hail reported at Kelly Ranch.

Hail in SOCORRO, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 14:00:00 to 21-MAY-18 14:02:00 (MST-7)
Location: MAGDALENA MUNI ARPT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail up to the size of pennies at the National Radio Astronomy Laboratory.

Hail in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 18:26:00 to 21-MAY-18 18:29:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALTO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Quarter size hail north of Alto. Several severe thunderstorms that moved over this area ended up producing at least 12 inches of hail to the east of Alto.

Hail in SANDOVAL, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 13:48:00 to 21-MAY-18 13:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: RIO RANCHO
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Penny size hail near Southern Boulevard and Unser Boulevard.

Thunderstorm Wind in RIO ARRIBA, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 15:15:00 to 21-MAY-18 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: ESPANOLA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Thunderstorm outflow produced a peak wind gust to at least 60 mph. A dust storm along the boundary lowered visibility below one quarter mile.

Hail in BERNALILLO, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 13:50:00 to 21-MAY-18 13:53:00 (MST-7)
Location: ALBUQUERQUE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Penny size hail near Menaul Boulevard and Moon Street.

Funnel Cloud in CATRON, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 10:05:00 to 21-MAY-18 10:07:00 (MST-7)
Location: DATIL
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Local media shared imagery of a funnel cloud near Datil on Twitter.

Tornado in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 19:07:00 to 21-MAY-18 19:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: CORONA FAA AIRPORT
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Spotters observed a wall cloud consolidate into a funnel then touch down to the surface with light debris and dust swirls for three minutes.

Hail in CIBOLA, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 11:30:00 to 21-MAY-18 11:45:00 (MST-7)
Location: GRANTS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Significant hail covering Interstate 40 resulted in motor vehicle crashes between mile markers 76 and 77. Hail size has been estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind in CIBOLA, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 11:45:00 to 21-MAY-18 11:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: GRANTS
Magnitude: 59.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A wind gust up to 68 mph reported at Lookout Ranch.

Hail in TORRANCE, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 16:05:00 to 21-MAY-18 16:09:00 (MST-7)
Location: PROGRESSO
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail up to the size of quarters 11 miles west-northwest of Cedarvale.

Hail in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 19:01:00 to 21-MAY-18 19:04:00 (MST-7)
Location: (4CR)CORONA
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail up to the size of half dollars reported one mile south of Corona.

Hail in BERNALILLO, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 13:53:00 to 21-MAY-18 13:56:00 (MST-7)
Location: CARNUEL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Quarter size hail at Carnuel.

Hail in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 21-MAY-18 17:55:00 to 21-MAY-18 17:58:00 (MST-7)
Location: GLENCOE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hail up to the size of golf balls.