Zia Pueblo, NM Hail Storm – July 2025

What Happened

A severe hail storm moved through the Zia Pueblo, NM area on July 12, 2025, with spotter-verified reports reaching 1.75 inches in the early evening. The storm produced four NWS alerts between 5:32 PM MDT and 6:36 PM MDT, with the strongest reading arriving at 6:00 PM MDT.

The first alert at 5:32 PM MDT carried a 1-inch hail signal from dual-polarization radar. By 6:00 PM MDT, radar and spotter verification supported 1.75-inch hail. Another verified alert followed at 6:28 PM MDT with 1.5-inch hail, then a final 1-inch radar-based alert at 6:36 PM MDT as the storm continued east.

Field reports around the same time show a broader hail and runoff corridor across north-central New Mexico. At 6:05 PM MDT, a spotter reported golf ball sized hail along Cedar Crest. At 6:25 PM MDT, another spotter in Edgewood reported 1-inch and 1.25-inch hail. A separate 6:00 PM MDT report documented a 300-pound wood chipper carried downstream in Arroyo de San Antonio until it lodged in a tree.

The storm also produced water and debris impacts near Tijeras. A 6:15 PM MDT report described Tijeras Arroyo flowing out of banks near Tijeras, with flood water moving down hillsides around Tijeras, Tablazon, and Zuzax. Hail, rocks, mud, and debris covered parts of SR-333.

Damage Assessment

The ground reports point to a storm that produced more than a brief hail burst. At 6:15 PM MDT, a spotter described nickel-size hail piled 6 to 8 inches deep with widespread damage to vegetation, homes, and vehicles. That report came from the same general storm corridor that later included hail near Cedar Crest and Edgewood, along with runoff and debris problems farther east.

The 6:00 PM MDT wood chipper report is a clear indicator of runoff strength in the storm path. The machine, estimated at 300 pounds, moved downstream in normally dry Arroyo de San Antonio before catching in a tree. Nearby, flood water was reported crossing roads and pushing debris through low areas south of I-40 near the Zuzax exit.

The damage picture is mixed. Hail impacts were strongest in pockets where spotters reported larger stones and accumulation, while the flood-related reports suggest the storm also stressed drainage channels and secondary roads. SR-333 saw hail, rocks, mud, and debris on the roadway. That combination points to a field response that may need both exterior inspections and drainage checks.

For contractors, the first pass should focus on roof slopes, soft metal, vents, and exterior trim in the reported hail corridor. The reports include both quarter-sized to golf ball sized hail and smaller hail with deep accumulation, so impact marks may be uneven from one block or drainage basin to the next. Vehicles parked outdoors, window screens, and skylight assemblies are also likely inspection points.

Drainage-adjacent properties deserve attention as well. The flood reports near Tijeras, Tablazon, Zuzax, and along SR-333 show water and debris movement tied to the same storm cycle. Inspect downspouts, culverts, low crossings, and slope-facing lots where runoff could have carried hail, mud, and vegetation into structures or access points.