A strong upper low was over Arizona with the associated upper trough beginning to move over West Texas and southeast New Mexico providing lift. Plentiful moisture was across the area as well as good wind shear. Instability was kept lower across most of the area for much of the day due to persistent cloud cover, but the cloud cover cleared out across western portions of the area later in the day which increased instability. Low cloud bases were present and there was rotational spin in the atmosphere. These conditions resulted in severe thunderstorms with large hail, strong winds, and tornadoes.

Hail in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-MAR-19 17:11:00 to 12-MAR-19 17:18:00 (MST-7)
Location: LOVING
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 1.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A thunderstorm moved across Eddy County and produced golfball sized hail in Loving. The hail cracked a windshield and dented a vehicle. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Thunderstorm Wind in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-MAR-19 17:01:00 to 12-MAR-19 17:01:00 (MST-7)
Location: CARLSBAD
Magnitude: 66.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

A thunderstorm moved across Eddy County and produced a 76 mph wind gust in Carlsbad.

Thunderstorm Wind in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-MAR-19 17:01:00 to 12-MAR-19 17:02:00 (MST-7)
Location: (CNM)CARLSBAD ARPT
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A thunderstorm moved across Eddy County and produced wind damage near Carlsbad. Power lines were knocked down on Sierra Vista Drive next to Carlsbad Airport. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Hail in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-MAR-19 17:03:00 to 12-MAR-19 17:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: CARLSBAD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-MAR-19 16:45:00 to 12-MAR-19 16:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: CARLSBAD
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Hail in LEA, NEW MEXICO
From 12-MAR-19 18:16:00 to 12-MAR-19 18:21:00 (MST-7)
Location: BUCKEYE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Tornado in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 12-MAR-19 17:08:00 to 12-MAR-19 17:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: MALAGA
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A thunderstorm moved across Eddy County and produced a tornado south of Malaga. Based on radar imagery, the tornado appeared to develop just west of U.S. Highway 285, approximately two to three miles south of Malaga and progressed northeast.  The exact path could not be determined during a survey due to the tornado���s containment within private lands, without roads to access the potential path. With insufficient
ground information, the wooden electric power poles along Highway 285 were the only
damage indicators available to assess tornado intensity. Based on radar information, it
appears the Malaga tornado formed at approximately 6:08 pm MDT, just southwest of the power poles on Highway 285 and lifted around 6:30 pm MDT (nearly crossing NM
Highway 128, 3 miles east of junction with NM Highway 31) covering a distance of 15 miles. Damaged power poles along Highway 285 were located slightly further south than was indicated on radar, 3.75 miles to 4.05 miles south of Malaga. This was used as a starting point. With the tornado crossing the power poles at approximately a 45-
degree angle, the width of the tornado was estimated at a half mile. Approximately ten power poles that were damaged to some degree as the tornado crossed Highway 285. The observed damage is consistent with damage of an EF2 tornado, with winds estimated at approximately 112 mph. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.