Worst weather misses populated areas

CLOVIS — Eastern New Mexico saw plenty in the way of warnings, and some residents reported damage, but it appeared early Tuesday evening the area had escaped tornadoes in its most populated areas.

A tornado watch from the National Weather Service was in effect in Curry, Roosevelt and Quay counties until 10 p.m. Tuesday, but a tornado warning was issued until 6 p.m. when a thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was detected near St. Vrain at 5:13 p.m.

According to the NWS:

• The warning was extended until 6:30 p.m. when a tornado touchdown from the same storm cell was confirmed 9 miles northeast of Ranchvale around 5:55 p.m., and heading northeast at 30 mph.

• The weather had the potential for damaging winds, hail up to 2 inches and the possibility of an isolated tornado.

• There were reports of golf-ball sized hail at Curry Roads L and 16 with damage to house windows and car windshields. Reports varied between quarter- and lemon-sized hail at Cannon Air Force Base housing areas.

• A warning was also issued for the Floyd community earlier in the afternoon.

At 4:45 p.m., Eastern New Mexico University warned subscribers via its text notification system that a tornado was in the vicinity and to avoid windows. An all-clear was posted about 35 minutes later.

NSW Meteorologist Chuck Jones said at 7:45 p.m. Monday, a brief tornado touchdown was reported 16 miles southwest of Tucumcari on County Road 43 near Quay. He said the tornado was on the ground for a short period of time but no additional information about the touchdown was available. The storm that produced this tornado also had reports of golfball-sized hail and high wind gust, Jones added.

He said another tornado was reported on the ground 6:15 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday, 6 miles northeast of Roy in Harding County. He said a large storm system pulled up deep moisture from the surface from northern Baja, California, and the Gulf of Mexico that resulted in the outbreak of severe thunderstorms across Eastern New Mexico.

Quay County Sheriff Russell Shafer said no damage had been reported from the Monday night storms.

In tornado conditions, Roosevelt County Emergency Management Director Keith Wattenbarger recommended paying close attention to the weather and having a plan for shelter in the worst-case scenario.

“The biggest thing is to make sure they continue to track the weather, that they have a plan to do what they’re going to do,” he said. “If you’re out on the road, get to low ground. If you’re in a house, get to the most interior portion of your house and stay as low as possible.”