National Weather Service: Tornado north of Alamogordo was an EF1

An EF1 tornado was confirmed to have touched down north of Alamogordo on Tuesday, the National Weather Service in El Paso reported Wednesday.

“Tornadoes can happen at anywhere, anytime,” said Jason Laney, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service. “That’s why it’s best to know how to protect yourself.”

Meteorologists were in the area assessing damage from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Laney confirmed the tornado reached speeds of 100 miles per hour, classifying it as an EF1.

After looking at damage and damage paths, it appears that the storm that struck north of Alamogordo will be classified as an EF1 with estimated wind speeds of 100 to 105 mph. This is still an initial estimate pending a final review. Our full report should be available Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/5nFJfGNWak

— NWS El Paso (@NWSElPaso) June 5, 2019

“My daughter and her two kids were in there,” said Karen King. “I told them God was definitely looking over them.”

The tornado was concentrated on Ruby Lane north of Alamogordo, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage in a matter of minutes.

“I kept telling (my daughter), tornados don’t hit Alamogordo. There are mountains all around,’ King said. “But she kept saying, ‘No mama, this is a tornado.'”

The Alameda Park Zoo was closed Wednesday as staffers work to clean up damaged trees and downed limbs. A spokesperson at the Zoo says no animals were harmed, and no exhibits were damaged.

Click here to help the families affected by the tornado.