Hail history for Otero County, NM

Otero County has 121 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 86 of them 1″ or larger and 7 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on May 24, 1999.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May

Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026

Mark size = measured hail diameter; slivers are events with no recorded size. Amber ≥2″, red ≥2.75″ (baseball class). Denser recent decades partly reflect better reporting, not only more storms.

Recorded events 121 since 1959

1″ or larger 86 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 7 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · May 24, 1999

Read the record honestly: Storm Events contains what was reported to the National Weather Service. Sparse or rural counties under-report, and coverage improved sharply after the mid-1990s — a quiet-looking stretch is not proof nothing fell.

When it hails in Otero County

Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Otero County's peak: May.

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 121 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
September 29, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 13, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
July 12, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 22, 2023	0.75″	Penny
July 15, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 11, 2021	1.75″	Golf ball
July 11, 2021	1.75″	Golf ball
July 11, 2021	1.0″	Quarter

Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Otero County.

From the storm reports

Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).

September 29, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

One inch hail reported 4 miles east of Tularosa.

October 20, 2010 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Bureau of Land Management employee reported baseball sized hail on highway 506 about 1 mile east of Highway US54. Vehicle was damaged due to the hail.

May 28, 2008 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Hail from quarter to golf ball size, with occasional hail stones the size of tennis balls accumulated to about 3 inches in the Tularosa area. The hail was driven by wind gusts up to 80 mph, and broke windows, damaged roofs and sidings to more than 500 homes in Tularosa.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	11	4	5	10	33	43	13

The climb across decades is largely a reporting story: spotter networks, radar, and digital filing pulled far more storms into the record after the 1990s.

Questions about hail in Otero County

Has it ever hailed in Otero County?

Yes — 121 hail events have been recorded for Otero County, NM in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 86 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Otero County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Otero County, NM is September 29, 2025, with 1.0″ (quarter) hail. The database is currently updated through April 2026, so a storm from the last few weeks may not appear yet. To check a specific day, use the did-it-hail date lookup.

What is the largest hail ever recorded in Otero County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on May 24, 1999. Hail that size is destructive-class and typically damages roofs, vehicles, and siding. See how big that really is on the actual-size hail chart.

Does a recorded hail event mean my roof was damaged?

No. This page reports storm records, not damage. Hail size and damage vary block by block within a county, and only an inspection can establish what happened to a specific roof. If you suspect damage, talk to your insurer or a licensed roofer — they can pull the same NOAA records for your claim.

More New Mexico hail history

All 33 New Mexico counties, ranked by recorded hail →

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, public domain, updated monthly by NCEI — this site's copy runs through April 2026. HailHistory reports records; it does not give insurance advice or assess damage.