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Otero County, CO hail & severe wind history

145 storm reports on file for Otero County between 2010-05-18 and 2024-10-20 — 87 hail and 58 severe thunderstorm wind. That averages 9.7 reports a year, and Jun is the busiest month.

Hail reports

5.8 per year

Largest hail

teacup size · 2023-07-05

Strongest gust

90 mph

78 kt · 2014-07-15

Reported damage

$56K

property + crop, as filed

Storm days

distinct days with a report

Busiest year

2010

28 reports

Search every Otero County report

Filter the full record below — pick a year, narrow to a month, or drag the hail-size slider to see only the storms big enough to dent a roof (1" and up is the usual threshold insurers care about).

Event type

Year

Month

Min hail size: any

Search place or date

145 of 145 reports match.

Reports by month for the current filter — the shape of Otero County’s storm season.

Date	Type	Size / gust	Nearest location	Report detail
2024-10-20 21:23	Wind	51 kt 59 mph	0 mi N of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	Surface observations from KLHX.
2024-07-03 03:00	Wind	50 kt 58 mph	.76 mi WNW of Manzanola	Four transmission power poles along US50 just west of Manzanola blown down. Numerous trees down in Otero county. Time based on radar.
2024-07-03 04:04	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of Cheraw	One inch measured hail was reported.
2024-07-03 15:15	Wind	58 kt 67 mph	4.29 mi SSW of Fowler	Mesonet station fw4234 at Fowler reported 67mph wind gust.
2024-06-14 15:47	Wind	63 kt 72 mph	0 mi N of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	ASOS at the La Junta Airport reported wind gusts from a severe thunderstorm, which measured 63 kts.
2024-06-14 16:00	Wind	50 kt 58 mph	0 mi N of Cheraw	A trained spotter reported an 8 inch live tree limb blown off. Another dead tree was also blown down. 3/4 inch hail also occurred.
2024-05-30 18:30	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of La Junta	Trained spotter reported mostly pea size hail, with quarter size mixed in.
2024-05-18 19:53	Wind	64 kt 74 mph	0 mi N of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	Measured via the ASOS station (KLHX) airport.
2024-05-03 19:09	Wind	57 kt 66 mph	0 mi N of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	La Junta airport.
2023-10-01 01:59	Wind	56 kt 64 mph	1.49 mi SSW of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2023-08-28 21:21	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	0 mi N of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2023-08-05 15:59	Hail	1.75" golf ball	0 mi N of Fowler	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2023-07-20 15:42	Hail	1.75" golf ball	1.63 mi E of Fowler	No narrative filed · source: Public
2023-07-20 15:45	Hail	1" quarter	3.82 mi SSE of Manzanola	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2023-07-08 18:08	Hail	1" quarter	.88 mi NW of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2023-07-08 18:15	Hail	1.5" ping pong	4.18 mi N of Swink	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2023-07-08 18:21	Hail	1.5" ping pong	.69 mi S of Swink	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2023-07-05 20:30	Hail	3" teacup	4.46 mi SSE of Manzanola	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2023-07-05 20:37	Hail	1" quarter	1.77 mi WNW of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2023-07-05 20:42	Wind	69 kt 79 mph	0 mi N of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2023-07-05 20:54	Hail	3" teacup	.69 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Law Enforcement
2023-07-04 16:14	Hail	1" quarter	1.29 mi ESE of Higbee	No narrative filed · source: Public
2023-05-29 21:13	Wind	51 kt 59 mph	0 mi N of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	Reported by La Junta surface observations.
2023-05-26 15:33	Hail	1" quarter	1.63 mi W of North La Junta	Reported from a trained spotter.
2022-08-07 14:34	Hail	1.25" half dollar	4.89 mi E of Cheraw	No narrative filed · source: Storm Chaser
2022-08-06 17:05	Wind	50 kt 58 mph	.88 mi NW of La Junta	Blown down power poll.
2022-08-06 17:05	Wind	50 kt 58 mph	4.87 mi S of Rocky Ford	Two power poles blow over.
2022-08-06 17:07	Wind	76 kt 87 mph	.88 mi NE of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2022-08-06 17:11	Wind	50 kt 58 mph	.88 mi NW of La Junta	Blown down power pole.
2022-07-06 19:10	Hail	1" quarter	4.46 mi SSE of Manzanola	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2022-07-06 19:30	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	1.09 mi E of Rocky Ford	Otero county sheriffs office reported numerous trees down across the county.
2022-07-06 19:39	Wind	66 kt 76 mph	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2022-07-06 19:51	Wind	53 kt 61 mph	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2022-06-30 16:12	Wind	54 kt 62 mph	0 mi N of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	La Junta airport measured a wind gust of 62 mph with a severe thunderstorm.
2022-06-07 15:20	Hail	1.75" golf ball	4.9 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: Public
2022-05-16 17:46	Wind	56 kt 64 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: Mesonet
2021-09-14 17:14	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2021-09-14 17:25	Wind	50 kt 58 mph	0 mi N of La Junta	Downed tree branches were reported across La Junta.
2021-06-19 17:12	Wind	57 kt 66 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2021-05-29 20:51	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Law Enforcement
2021-05-02 14:30	Wind	50 kt 58 mph	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2021-05-02 14:53	Wind	53 kt 61 mph	0 mi N of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	La Junta airport.
2020-08-16 17:42	Hail	1" quarter	4.46 mi SSE of Manzanola	Trained spotter reported large hail, 1 inch.
2020-07-15 17:38	Wind	51 kt 59 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	La Junta Municipal Airport.
2020-07-15 17:44	Wind	60 kt 69 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	La Junta Municipal Airport.
2019-08-21 21:22	Hail	1" quarter	2.58 mi ESE of Rocky Ford	A report from CoCoRaHS relayed one inch hail was the largest stone found but that it also hailed for 20 straight minutes.
2019-07-29 19:28	Wind	53 kt 61 mph	0 mi N of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2019-07-27 18:07	Wind	50 kt 58 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	La Junta Airport recorded a 58 MPH wind gust from a thunderstorm.
2019-07-20 17:58	Wind	57 kt 66 mph	0 mi N of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	A 66 MPH gust was recorded at La Junta Airport.
2019-06-21 19:03	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	0 mi N of Fowler	Public reported medium tree limbs down and dime size hail.
2019-06-21 19:04	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	.69 mi N of Fowler	Trained spotter reported 60 MPH wind gust at their house.
2019-06-21 19:44	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	Thunderstorm outflow winds produced a 70 MPH wind gust at the La Junta Airport.
2019-06-18 15:38	Hail	0.88" nickel	0 mi N of Fowler	Television media relayed report of nickel hail in Fowler.
2019-06-18 16:00	Hail	0.88" nickel	3.82 mi SSE of Manzanola	Nickel hail and heavy rain reported.
2019-06-18 16:06	Hail	0.88" nickel	6.01 mi SW of Rocky Ford	Storm chaser reported nickel hail.
2019-06-17 17:06	Wind	57 kt 66 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	A 66 MPH wind gust measured at La Junta airport.
2019-06-15 15:45	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	2 mi N of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	Public reported several 6 inch tree branches snapped off tree by thunderstorm winds near Cheraw, CO.
2018-07-29 21:30	Hail	2" hen egg	0 mi N of Fowler	No narrative filed · source: Public
2018-07-29 21:33	Hail	2" hen egg	0 mi N of Fowler	No narrative filed · source: Broadcast Media
2018-07-29 21:35	Hail	1.25" half dollar	0 mi N of Fowler	No narrative filed · source: Public
2017-09-23 07:30	Hail	0.88" nickel	0 mi N of Cheraw	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2017-08-10 17:48	Hail	1" quarter	.88 mi NE of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2017-08-10 17:51	Hail	1.25" half dollar	2.14 mi NNE of Swink	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2017-08-10 18:04	Hail	1.5" ping pong	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: COOP Observer
2017-08-10 18:10	Hail	1.75" golf ball	2.14 mi SSW of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2017-08-05 20:35	Hail	0.88" nickel	2.58 mi WNW of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Public
2017-07-26 19:36	Hail	2" hen egg	2.14 mi SW of Higbee	Wind driven, large hail broke windows and destroyed crops in and around Higbee.
2017-06-03 13:26	Hail	0.75" penny	.54 mi E of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2017-05-27 15:23	Hail	1.75" golf ball	.54 mi W of Cheraw	No narrative filed · source: Public
2017-05-10 15:05	Hail	1.75" golf ball	9 mi SW of Higbee	No narrative filed · source: Public
2017-05-09 13:56	Hail	1" quarter	2.14 mi SE of Manzanola	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2017-05-08 16:00	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of Fowler	No narrative filed · source: Public
2017-05-08 17:45	Hail	0.88" nickel	3.87 mi W of Manzanola	No narrative filed · source: Public
2017-05-08 17:58	Hail	0.75" penny	5.63 mi S of Manzanola	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2016-07-28 19:27	Wind	58 kt 67 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2016-07-24 17:48	Wind	55 kt 63 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2016-07-23 19:14	Wind	51 kt 59 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2016-06-25 17:25	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2016-06-12 18:53	Hail	1" quarter	2.14 mi SE of Manzanola	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2016-06-12 19:07	Hail	1" quarter	3.82 mi NNW of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2016-06-12 19:08	Hail	1.75" golf ball	1.09 mi W of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2016-06-12 19:23	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	4.18 mi N of Swink	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2016-06-12 19:25	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of North La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Public
2016-06-12 19:29	Hail	0.88" nickel	4.9 mi W of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Public
2016-06-12 19:34	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2016-06-12 19:37	Wind	65 kt 75 mph	2.77 mi ESE of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	A microburst flipped over a 30-foot trailer home and killed the male occupant.
2016-06-12 20:12	Hail	1.75" golf ball	3.55 mi ESE of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: Public
2016-05-31 21:31	Wind	62 kt 71 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2016-05-26 14:15	Hail	0.75" penny	1.09 mi W of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2016-05-26 14:26	Hail	1" quarter	1.77 mi ENE of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2016-05-26 14:26	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	1.77 mi ENE of Rocky Ford	One foot diameter branches ripped off a tree.
2015-08-17 17:15	Hail	0.75" penny	1.77 mi WNW of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2015-08-17 17:43	Hail	0.88" nickel	1.29 mi WSW of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2015-08-07 14:53	Hail	1" quarter	2.58 mi ESE of North La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Public
2015-08-07 14:57	Hail	0.88" nickel	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Law Enforcement
2015-05-09 14:36	Hail	1" quarter	.54 mi E of Swink	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2015-05-08 17:15	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2015-05-08 17:24	Hail	1.5" ping pong	.88 mi SE of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2014-08-22 15:24	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	0 mi N of Fowler	Several tree limbs with diameters up to 3 inches were downed.
2014-07-16 17:14	Hail	1" quarter	1.77 mi WNW of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2014-07-15 02:00	Wind	78 kt 90 mph	2.13 mi WSW of Fowler	A hay barn was severely damaged on County Road 1.
2014-07-15 02:02	Wind	74 kt 85 mph	1.51 mi S of Fowler	Power poles and lines were taken down on County Road 3 south of Fowler.
2014-06-22 16:01	Wind	63 kt 72 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2014-06-05 19:28	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of Manzanola	No narrative filed · source: Public
2013-06-23 18:31	Hail	1.75" golf ball	0 mi N of Rocky Ford	Hail ranged in size from quarters to golf balls.
2013-06-23 18:40	Hail	2.75" baseball	0 mi N of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Public
2013-06-17 16:35	Wind	60 kt 69 mph	.69 mi S of North La Junta	Severe storm wind gusts caused gas station sign and overhang damage. In addition, trees snapped and uprooted in the City of La Junta while airport hangers were damaged at the La Junta airport.
2013-06-13 14:30	Wind	57 kt 66 mph	.54 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2012-09-27 17:08	Hail	1.75" golf ball	.08 mi ESE of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2012-09-27 17:22	Hail	1.5" ping pong	2.28 mi WNW of Swink	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2012-09-27 17:40	Hail	1.75" golf ball	.19 mi W of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Law Enforcement
2011-08-11 17:15	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	2.17 mi E of Manzanola	Fourteen power poles were knocked down between County Roads 13.5 and 14.
2011-07-27 16:10	Wind	65 kt 75 mph	7.61 mi N of Timpas	A severe storm produced damaging winds. Large tree limbs were brought down. Decking was damaged. The roof to a cattle barn was lofted several hundred feet and ended up in the High Line Canal.
2011-07-21 16:17	Wind	56 kt 64 mph	.54 mi E of La Junta	No known damage.
2011-07-21 16:24	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2011-06-01 14:23	Hail	0.88" nickel	2.58 mi ESE of North La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Public
2011-05-18 18:48	Hail	1" quarter	.54 mi W of Fowler	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-07-22 17:53	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	4.84 mi N of Higbee	Winds broke three inch tree branches.
2010-07-19 20:07	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	1.09 mi W of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2010-07-18 16:42	Wind	53 kt 61 mph	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2010-07-18 16:53	Wind	58 kt 67 mph	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: ASOS
2010-07-06 16:00	Hail	1.25" half dollar	9.04 mi SW of Higbee	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-06-12 19:13	Hail	1.75" golf ball	8.15 mi SW of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-06-12 19:16	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of Manzanola	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-06-11 16:20	Hail	0.88" nickel	0 mi N of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-06-11 16:21	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-06-11 16:23	Hail	1.75" golf ball	4.84 mi S of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Public
2010-06-11 16:27	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Public
2010-06-11 16:40	Hail	1.5" ping pong	1.09 mi W of Cheraw	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-06-11 16:42	Hail	1.75" golf ball	0 mi N of Cheraw	No narrative filed · source: Public
2010-06-11 16:46	Hail	2.5" tennis ball	0 mi N of Cheraw	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-06-11 16:55	Hail	1.75" golf ball	2.17 mi E of Cheraw	No narrative filed · source: Public
2010-06-11 17:14	Hail	1.75" golf ball	.69 mi S of Swink	No narrative filed · source: Law Enforcement
2010-06-11 17:18	Hail	2.75" baseball	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Law Enforcement
2010-06-11 17:24	Hail	2" hen egg	.69 mi S of North La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-06-11 17:26	Hail	2" hen egg	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-06-11 17:30	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of North La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-06-11 17:30	Hail	2.75" baseball	7.21 mi E of (Lhx)La Junta Arpt	No narrative filed · source: Public
2010-06-11 17:35	Hail	1.5" ping pong	.69 mi S of North La Junta	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-05-19 14:22	Hail	0.75" penny	0 mi N of Fowler	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-05-19 14:29	Hail	0.88" nickel	.54 mi W of Fowler	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-05-18 16:52	Hail	1" quarter	2.34 mi NNW of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed · source: Public
2010-05-18 17:25	Hail	1.75" golf ball	2.72 mi E of Cheraw	No narrative filed · source: Public
2010-05-18 17:25	Hail	0.88" nickel	2.17 mi E of Cheraw	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2010-05-18 17:25	Hail	0.88" nickel	0 mi N of Cheraw	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter

Worst storm days in Otero County

Date	Reports that day	Largest hail	Peak gust
2010-06-11	15	2.75" (baseball)	—
2016-06-12	9	1.75" (golf ball)	75 mph
2023-07-05	4	3" (teacup)	79 mph
2017-08-10	4	1.75" (golf ball)	—
2010-05-18	4	1.75" (golf ball)	—
2022-07-06	4	1" (quarter)	76 mph
2022-08-06	4	—	87 mph
2018-07-29	3	2" (hen egg)	—
2012-09-27	3	1.75" (golf ball)	—
2023-07-08	3	1.5" (ping pong ball)	—

Reports by year

Report counts are driven partly by how many people were around to report a storm, so recent years tend to look busier than the early 2010s. Treat the trend as a reporting trend, not purely a weather trend.

Notable large-hail events (2" and up)

Date	Size	Near	What was reported
2023-07-05	3" teacup	4.46 mi SSE of Manzanola	No narrative filed
2023-07-05	3" teacup	.69 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed
2018-07-29	2" hen egg	0 mi N of Fowler	No narrative filed
2018-07-29	2" hen egg	0 mi N of Fowler	No narrative filed
2017-07-26	2" hen egg	2.14 mi SW of Higbee	Wind driven, large hail broke windows and destroyed crops in and around Higbee.
2013-06-23	2.75" baseball	0 mi N of Rocky Ford	No narrative filed
2010-06-11	2.5" tennis ball	0 mi N of Cheraw	No narrative filed
2010-06-11	2.75" baseball	0 mi N of La Junta	No narrative filed

When does hail hit Otero County?

Across 15 years of records, June produced the most reports (48), followed by the months either side of it. Monthly totals:

Month	Reports	Share
January	0	0.0%
February	0	0.0%
March	0	0.0%
April	0	0.0%
May	29	20.0%
June	48	33.1%
July	40	27.6%
August	20	13.8%
September	6	4.1%
October	2	1.4%
November	0	0.0%
December	0	0.0%

Nearby counties in Colorado

El Paso County (1,114)Weld County (725)Yuma County (704)Kit Carson County (612)Washington County (421)Logan County (415)Arapahoe County (378)Elbert County (354)Cheyenne County (338)Lincoln County (335)Adams County (307)Pueblo County (303)

See all 61 Colorado counties →

About these numbers

Every row above is a report filed with the National Weather Service and archived in the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (FIPS 8089). Reports are eyewitness, trained-spotter and damage-survey observations, so they cluster near roads and towns and miss storms over empty country. Hail sizes are estimates. Damage figures are preliminary as filed and are never revised in this archive. Use this page for background, not for an insurance claim, a legal filing, or a roof assessment — for those, get the official record from NOAA directly.