Storm brings hail, winds to region

Hail, high winds, even one report of a funnel cloud near Floyd, reminded eastern New Mexico on Monday night that it's still storm season.

And there was rain. Glorious rain.

"I've heard discussion from folks saying the damage was worth it just to get the moisture," said Roosevelt County ag agent Patrick Kircher.

"I can't tell you how many people told me they just sat on the porch and watched it rain."

Much of the region enjoyed its first significant rainfall since April 14. Clovis recorded just .05 of an inch of moisture in all of May and only trace amounts of rain in June before Monday.

Rainfall totals were as high as 8/10ths of an inch just east of Clovis and south of Texico. Portales saw about a quarter-inch of moisture, while Melrose had about 4/10ths of an inch.

Not every acre of the region had a good time. The National Weather Service reported 89 mph wind gusts with ping-pong-ball size hail and only a trace of moisture about 8 miles south/southeast of Portales.

And several areas in Roosevelt County reported tennis-ball and golf-ball sized hail, likely resulting in roof damage to homes and barns and pockmarked vehicles.

But Kircher said most of the wheat crop has already been harvested. And while there may have been some damage to corn and cotton crops recently planted, most welcomed the storms.

"Our water quality has gotten so poor, we've got to have rain to help dilute and flush out our groundwater," Kircher said. "You'll see everything respond to this, from field crops to gardens and lawns."

Curry County was mostly spared from the hail and received some of the better rainfall totals, officials said.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Technician Troy Marshall provided these rainfall totals:

• .61 of an inch at Cannon Air Force Base

• .56 at Clovis Municipal Airport

• .75 at Ned Houk Park

• .70 two miles north of Portair

• .27 one mile southwest of Portales

The KVII-TV weather station reported .92 of an inch fell in Farwell.

Marshall said most of the hail across Roosevelt County hit around 8:30 p.m. Monday.

He said the funnel cloud reported north of Floyd did not produce a tornado.

Today's chances of rain fall to about 20 percent, Marshall said, with high temperatures in the mid-80s.