Roswell, NM Hail Storm – May 2026

A severe hail storm tracked across Roswell, NM on May 25, 2026, producing 1.29-inch stones and prompting multiple radar-detected hail alerts into the late evening. The event progressed from a mid‑evening radar echo to a late-night hail core that generated a spotter-verified half‑dollar report in central Roswell.

What Happened

The first NWS alert tied to this storm appeared in the early evening and included a dual-polarization radar hail estimate of roughly 1.19 inches at 6:49 PM MDT. The storm redeveloped over the metro later in the evening. At 11:39 PM MDT dual-polarization radar again showed strong hail echoes with an estimated 1.25-inch signature. One minute later, at 11:40 PM MDT, an observer filed a local storm report noting half-dollar size hail approximately three blocks from the Roswell Fire Department; the report is spotter-verified. A third NWS alert followed shortly after midnight on May 26 at 12:03 AM MDT and was issued as a warning area without a radar hail estimate.

Radar returns show the highest echo intensity concentrated over central Roswell and extending south-southeast for a short distance. The spotter location falls inside the late-evening radar hail core. The event concluded before the pre-dawn hours, with radar reflectivity and hail signatures diminishing after the 12:03 AM MDT warning.

Damage Assessment

Ground-truth reports for this storm are limited to the spotter-verified half-dollar observation near the Roswell Fire Department at 11:40 PM MDT. That localized report aligns with the late-evening radar hail core that passed over central Roswell. No additional local storm reports or observer notes were recorded for other Roswell neighborhoods in the supplied logs.

Observed impacts are therefore concentrated in the three‑block area surrounding the fire station. Effects consistent with half-dollar size stones include surface pockmarks on untreated soft metals, minor dents to vehicle body panels, and concentrated shingle granule loss on windward roof slopes. Businesses and residences immediately adjacent to the spotter location should expect the highest incidence of these surface-level impacts. Properties outside the direct radar core show fewer ground reports, but scattered exposure remains possible along the storm's south-southeast track through the metro.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize inspections within and immediately around the three-block radius reported near the Roswell Fire Department. Start with aerial and ground photos of roof fields, ridge lines, and windward eaves. Photograph HVAC condenser tops, metal coping, skylights, and any exposed signage. Use a measurable reference in photos to document stone size and distribution.

For roofing, check for granule loss concentrated on windward planes, hail pockmarks on asphalt shingles, and deformation of metal flashings. Note that half-dollar size stones commonly produce cosmetic shingle damage and localized granule depletion. Record GPS-tagged photos and note the vehicle parking locations for any dented panels. Where glazing or vinyl is present, inspect for microcracks and weep hole clogging.