States › New Mexico › Lea County › Hail
Hail in Lea County, New Mexico
514 hail events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Hail.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 514 hail events in Lea County, New Mexico, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 53 years.
May is the busiest month, with 200 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 239 events against 244 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 9.7% of the 5,297 hail events recorded in New Mexico; its 11.7 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
186 of the hail reports with a recorded size were golf-ball size (1.75 inches) or larger; the largest recorded stone was 4.50 inches (grapefruit size).
Compared with New Mexico
| Measure | Lea County | New Mexico | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail events since 1950 | 514 | 5,297 | 424,356 |
| Per 100 square miles | 11.7 | 4.4 | 12.0 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 70.4 | 25.0 | 12.8 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 3 | 29 |
| Busiest month | May | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
32Apr
81May
200Jun
111Jul
14Aug
16Sep
30Oct
22Nov
7Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
NWS hail-size descriptors
- under 1 in
- pea to quarter
- 1–1.74 in
- quarter to golf ball
- 1.75–2.74 in
- golf ball to baseball
- 2.75–3.99 in
- baseball to softball
- 4 in and larger
- softball and larger
Hail size in inches as recorded by NCEI; events without a size are not binned.
Recorded events
The 169 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 514. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 May 2026 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2026 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.75 in | $65K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2025 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2025 | Hail | 3.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2025 | Hail | 2.00 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2025 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.75 in | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2025 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.75 in | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 2024 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 2024 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 2024 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 2024 | Hail | 3.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2024 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2024 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2024 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2024 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2024 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2024 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 2023 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2022 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2022 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2022 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2022 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2022 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2022 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2022 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2022 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2022 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2021 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2021 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2021 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 2019 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 2019 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 2019 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2019 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2019 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2019 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2019 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2019 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2019 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2019 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2019 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2018 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2018 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2018 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2018 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2017 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2017 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2017 | Hail | 2.00 in | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jan 2017 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2016 | Hail | 2.50 in | $3.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2016 | Hail | 1.75 in | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2016 | Hail | 1.75 in | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2016 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2016 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2015 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2015 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2015 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2015 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2015 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2015 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2015 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2015 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2015 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2015 | Hail | 2.00 in | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2015 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2015 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2015 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2015 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2015 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2015 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2014 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2014 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2014 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2013 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2013 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2013 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2013 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2013 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2013 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2013 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2013 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2012 | Hail | 1.75 in | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2012 | Hail | 2.00 in | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2012 | Hail | 1.75 in | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2009 | Hail | 4.25 in | $225K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2008 | Hail | 1.75 in | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2005 | Hail | 2.75 in | $1.3M | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2005 | Hail | 4.50 in | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2005 | Hail | 2.50 in | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2005 | Hail | 1.75 in | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2004 | Hail | 2.50 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2004 | Hail | 1.75 in | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2002 | Hail | 2.75 in | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2002 | Hail | 2.75 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2002 | Hail | 2.00 in | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1997 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | $10K | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1997 | Hail | 2.50 in | $27M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1995 | Hail | 2.50 in | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1995 | Hail | 2.50 in | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1995 | Hail | 0.88 in | $2K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1995 | Hail | 0.75 in | $2K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1994 | Hail | 1.00 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1994 | Hail | 1.75 in | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1993 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | $50 | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1993 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | $50 | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 1993 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | $500 | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many hail events has Lea County had?
514 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of hail became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded hail event in Lea County?
25 May 2026 (Hail, 1.25 in). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging hail event recorded in Lea County?
The hail of 28 May 1997, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $27M.
How does Lea County compare with New Mexico for hail?
11.7 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 514 of the state's 5,297 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 30 Sep 2026. See the methodology, the Hail hub and the county page.