News · Insurance & risk
El Paso Storms: Hail and Strong Winds Friday to Saturday
El Paso storms with hail, strong winds and flash flooding are possible Friday and Saturday in West Texas and New Mexico. What truckers on I-10 should do.
Questions about how this affects your trucks? Talk to a licensed agent who ran his own authority.
What happened
El Paso storms are coming back this weekend. The National Weather Service (NWS) in El Paso says showers and thunderstorms are likely through Saturday. Some stronger storms could bring flash flooding, damaging winds and large hail.
On Friday afternoon, scattered storms should form mostly from Deming, New Mexico, east. Some could turn severe. The NWS says the strongest storms could bring wind gusts over 50 mph.
For El Paso, the NWS forecast shows a 60% chance of rain Friday and 80% Friday night. Saturday stays at 60%, and it gets cooler.
The Storm Prediction Center (the NWS office that tracks severe storms) put parts of New Mexico under a Slight risk on Friday. That is level 2 of 5. Hail is the main threat. Some hail could be 2 inches or bigger. Damaging gusts are also possible in southern New Mexico and far West Texas.
The weather moves east over the weekend. NWS Midland says storms in southeast New Mexico and far West Texas are most likely Saturday afternoon and evening. A few could be severe, with large hail and damaging wind. Heavy rain could cause local flash flooding. NWS Lubbock says storms reach the Caprock this weekend and spread early next week.
What it means for owner-operators
This hits busy freight roads. I-10 runs from El Paso to Las Cruces and on to the west. I-25 runs north through New Mexico. I-20 crosses the Permian Basin.
Hail can crack windshields, dent hoods and tear trailer roofs. A torn roof can let water ruin your cargo. Strong gusts can push a light or empty trailer across the lane. Flash floods can cover a road in minutes.
Any damage means downtime. A truck in the shop is a truck that is not earning.
What to do next
- Check the radar before you roll. Look at weather.gov and DriveTexas.org before each leg.
- Do not drive into hail. If you see it ahead, find a safe place to stop, like a truck stop canopy or overpass exit area. Never stop in a travel lane.
- Turn around at flooded roads. You cannot see how deep the water is or if the road is gone.
- Running empty? Be careful in gusts. Slow down or wait it out.
- Take photos of any damage right away. Photos and dates help if you need to file a claim.
- Know your coverage. Physical damage and cargo coverage work differently. Our guide on trucking insurance coverage explains each one.
Questions about your coverage before the storms hit? Call or text TCZ Insurance Agency at 956-526-6727.
Original report
Written by TCZ Insurance Agency in our own words. Read the original for the full story.