EDDY COUNTY — A tornado touchdown was confirmed about a mile from the community of Hope around 4:05 p.m. Thursday.
Jennifer Armendariz, director of emergency services in Eddy County, said the tornado was seen by local spotters near County Road 1.
Armendariz said the spotters indicated the storm system was headed east.
No injuries and no damages from the tornado have been confirmed but Armendariz said that reports of a building being struck in the area were being investigated.
The storm was monitored by spotters on the ground, Armendariz said.
The National Weather Service’s Midland/Odessa station confirmed that trained spotters reported a funnel cloud forming near Hope around 4 p.m. Thursday.
Meteorologist Collem Rhey said the storm system that generated the funnel cloud weakened quickly and no further funnel formations were expected. A tornado watch was issued following the event until 4:45 p.m. Thursday.
However, a severe thunderstorm alert was issued for Artesia, Atoka, Hope and Dayton around 5 p.m. Hail and winds of up to 60 miles per hour were expected.
The watch was updated and extended until 8 p.m. Thursday.
A second storm tracked by the NWS was also moving East from the Carlsbad Caverns area in Eddy County, prompting a severe thunderstorm warning to be issued. That storm was expected to produce ping-pong sized hail and 70 mile an hour winds by 6 p.m. Thursday.
By Jessica Onsurez, Carlsbad Current-Argus 5:30 p.m. MDT September 15, 2016
“A tornado was confirmed near Hope, N.M. Thursday at 4 p.m.” (Photo: Courtesy Photo)
