A backdoor cold front tracked south and west through New Mexico early on May 28, 2021, which reinforced low-level moisture across much of eastern and central portions of the state. Upslope flow aided in the early onset of afternoon thunderstorms across the higher terrain, and these thunderstorms then tracked east to southeast onto the plains. With plenty of instability and shear, these storms quickly intensified through the afternoon and evening hours. Large hail was the main hazard with numerous reports of hail ranging from 2 to 3 inches. A variety of weather hazards particularly impacted southeast New Mexico with large hail and severe winds resulting in property damage and minor street flooding in Portales and Clovis disrupting traffic. A couple tornadoes and landspouts were also reported, but did not do any damage.

Hail in QUAY, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 15:06:00 to 28-MAY-21 15:15:00 (MST-7)
Location: PALOMAS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A trained spotter reported 1 inch hail along Interstate 40 from a severe thunderstorm that tracked southeastward over the area.

Hail in TORRANCE, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 14:50:00 to 28-MAY-21 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: ENCINO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A COOP observer near Encino reported 1 inch hail from a severe thunderstorm tracking eastward through the area.

Hail in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 14:20:00 to 28-MAY-21 14:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: (4CR)CORONA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Nickel size hail was reported from a slow-moving strong thunderstorm near Corona. The thunderstorm produced 2 inches of hail accumulation along U.S. Highway 247 east of Corona, but no impacts are known.

Tornado in COLFAX, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 13:01:00 to 28-MAY-21 13:04:00 (MST-7)
Location: MAXWELL
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A severe thunderstorm near Maxwell produced twin tornadoes. One tornado was a mesocyclonic tornado while the second tornado was a landspout. No damage was reported.

Hail in UNION, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 13:40:00 to 28-MAY-21 14:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: CAPULIN
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A COOP observer near Capulin reported 1 inch to 1.5 inch hail from a severe thunderstorm moving eastward through the area. The hail accumulated to about an inch at their location. The observer also reported that the glass of their greenhouse was broken and the hail tore holes in their plastic gutter. Damages are estimated for the property damage to the greenhouse and gutters.

Hail in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 15:12:00 to 28-MAY-21 15:25:00 (MST-7)
Location: (4CR)CORONA
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter southeast of Corona reported a mixture of pea size to ping pong size hail as a severe thunderstorm tracked southeastward through the area.

Hail in GUADALUPE, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 15:45:00 to 28-MAY-21 15:55:00 (MST-7)
Location: VAUGHN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported penny size hail from a strong thunderstorm tracking eastward near Vaughn.

Hail in GUADALUPE, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 14:38:00 to 28-MAY-21 14:45:00 (MST-7)
Location: DAHLIA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter near Milagro reported penny to quarter size hail from a severe thunderstorm tracking southeastward through the area.

Hail in CURRY, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 17:52:00 to 28-MAY-21 17:55:00 (MST-7)
Location: CLOVIS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm near Clovis produced 1 inch hail as it tracked eastward through the area.

Thunderstorm Wind in CURRY, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 18:00:00 to 28-MAY-21 18:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: CLOVIS
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Estimated 60 to 70 mph winds from a severe thunderstorm moving eastward through Clovis downed power lines southeast of the area. Torrential rainfall also resulted in minor street flooding which caused traffic to be diverted for a short time period during the evening. Damages are estimated for the downed power lines.

Hail in CHAVES, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 17:38:00 to 28-MAY-21 17:59:00 (MST-7)
Location: DEXTER
Magnitude: 3.00 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Storm chasers and trained spotters reported very large hail ranging from one to three inches from a severe thunderstorm near Midway. The largest hailstones reported were 3 inches along U.S. Highway 285 which broke an unknown number of vehicle windshields. The strong inflow and outflow winds from the thunderstorm also produced low visibility from dust in the area. Damages are estimated for the unknown amount of broken windshields.

Hail in CHAVES, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 17:40:00 to 28-MAY-21 17:45:00 (MST-7)
Location: (ROW)ROSWELL IND AIRPORT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

One inch hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm near Roswell.

Thunderstorm Wind in CURRY, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 18:08:00 to 28-MAY-21 18:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: (CVN)CLOVIS MUNI AIRPORT
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

An AWOS station in Clovis measured a 66 mph wind gust from a severe thunderstorm moving eastward through the area.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHAVES, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 18:12:00 to 28-MAY-21 18:22:00 (MST-7)
Location: HAGERMAN
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter near Hagerman reported a snapped power pole along Morgan Road west of New Mexico State Road 2 as the result of a severe thunderstorm. Damages are estimated for the loss of the power pole.

Hail in QUAY, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 03:08:00 to 28-MAY-21 03:28:00 (MST-7)
Location: FORREST
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

An early morning severe thunderstorm near Ragland produced a mixture of quarter to golf ball size hail.

Hail in ROOSEVELT, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 17:41:00 to 28-MAY-21 18:01:00 (MST-7)
Location: PORTALES
Magnitude: 1.75 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Numerous observers reported large hail ranging from 1 inch to 1.75 inches from a severe thunderstorm near Portales. The thunderstorm also produced torrential rainfall that caused minor street flooding in Portales. Damages are unknown.

Thunderstorm Wind in ROOSEVELT, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 17:49:00 to 28-MAY-21 17:53:00 (MST-7)
Location: PORTALES
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A member of the public in Portales estimated 65 mph wind gusts from a severe thunderstorm moving eastward through the area.

Hail in QUAY, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 15:55:00 to 28-MAY-21 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: QUAY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported 1 inch hail as they were driving along U.S. Highway 209 near Quay.

Thunderstorm Wind in DE BACA, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 16:20:00 to 28-MAY-21 16:22:00 (MST-7)
Location: FT SUMNER
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter near Fort Sumner measured a 58 mph wind gust along the outflow boundary of a severe thunderstorm. The spotter also reported pea size hail.

Tornado in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 16:36:00 to 28-MAY-21 16:38:00 (MST-7)
Location: ARABELA
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

A storm chaser reported a tornado moving southeast from a severe thunderstorm north-northeast of Arabela. No damage was reported.

Hail in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 16:59:00 to 28-MAY-21 17:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: PINE LODGE
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

A severe thunderstorm north of Arabela began producing 1 inch hail which grew as the thunderstorm intensified. A storm chaser reported a maximum hail size of 2 inches from the severe thunderstorm.

Hail in CHAVES, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 17:25:00 to 28-MAY-21 17:40:00 (MST-7)
Location: ROSWELL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

A storm chaser reported 1 inch hail from a severe thunderstorm near Roswell. The slow-moving thunderstorm produced sufficient hail to partially cover U.S. Highway 380, but no impacts were reported.

Hail in CHAVES, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 17:47:00 to 28-MAY-21 18:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: (ROW)ROSWELL IND AIRPORT
Magnitude: 3.00 
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Multiple sources reported very large hail from a severe thunderstorm in the Dexter area. The largest hailstones reported were 3 inches in diameter which broke numerous windshields along U.S. Highway 285. Damages are estimated for the unknown amount of broken windshields.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHAVES, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 17:40:00 to 28-MAY-21 17:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: DEXTER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

A severe thunderstorm near Dexter produced very strong winds that caused thunderstorm damage in the area. A storm chaser reported that the severe winds bent a power pole along U.S. Highway 285. Damages are estimated for the loss of the power pole.

Flash Flood in LINCOLN, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 13:45:00 to 28-MAY-21 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: (4CR)CORONA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility southeast of Corona measured 5.77 inches of rainfall is a short period of time which caused flash flooding in the area with unpaved roadways washed out. The extent of the damages is unknown.

Hail in SAN MIGUEL, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 12:36:00 to 28-MAY-21 12:42:00 (MST-7)
Location: ILFIELD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A CoCoRaHS observer near San Ysidro reported 1 inch hail from a severe thunderstorm.

Tornado in COLFAX, NEW MEXICO
From 28-MAY-21 13:01:00 to 28-MAY-21 13:04:00 (MST-7)
Location: MAXWELL
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A severe thunderstorm near Maxwell produced twin tornadoes. One tornado was a mesocyclonic tornado while the second tornado was a landspout. No damage was reported.