Animas, NM Hail Storm – September 2025

Animas, NM saw a concluded severe hail storm on September 23, 2025, with verified hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter. The storm was tied to one NWS alert and affected the Animas metro area in the early evening.

What Happened

The storm developed in the warning area during the evening hours and produced a single confirmed hail pulse. The alert was issued at 6:41 PM MDT, with dual-polarization radar confidence supporting hail up to 1.5 inches. No additional alerts were included in this storm report.

The hail threat was short-lived but strong enough to meet severe criteria. Radar-derived confidence and the confirmed stone size align on the same event window, which keeps the report limited to one zone and one primary hail core. The storm is no longer active.

Damage Assessment

Hail at 1.5 inches can break windows, dent metal panels, and bruise exterior finishes. Vehicles in open lots are at risk. Roof impacts depend on slope, material, age, and prior wear, but this size often produces visible loss on asphalt shingles, soft metals, and accessory structures.

Check for impact marks on vents, gutters, downspouts, skylights, and ridge caps. On flat or low-slope systems, look for punctures, membrane scuffs, and displaced edge metal. Screens, patio covers, and fence tops often show the first visible signs of impact in a storm of this size.

Field crews should separate cosmetic issues from functional ones. Photograph every face of the structure before cleanup begins. Note the time of inspection, the side of the building receiving the heaviest exposure, and any concentration of hits on north, west, or windward surfaces. Interior leaks can lag the hail by hours, so attic and ceiling checks should follow roof and exterior review.

On single-zone events like this, the most useful field work comes from tight documentation. Capture the hail size next to a ruler or coin only if the evidence is still available. Record gutter crush, shingle granule loss, cracked plastics, and metal deformation with clear angles and location tags. Keep notes on neighboring properties if the pattern changes across a short distance.

What Contractors Should Know

Plan for moderate roof and exterior inspections in the Animas area after a 1.5-inch hail event. Prioritize steep-slope shingles, soft metal trim, HVAC fins, and skylight assemblies. On older roofs, even limited strike counts can expose pre-existing wear. On newer roofs, look for concentrated impact patterns rather than broad surface damage.

Use the storm window from late afternoon into early evening when scheduling canvass work. Start with the core exposure path near the warning area and move outward only after confirming the local pattern. Pair roof observations with collateral checks on gutters, window screens, siding edges, and vehicle lots. In a single-zone storm, isolated heavy impact can hide in one block and fade quickly outside it.