Baseball-sized and golf ball-sized hail hammered much of southeastern New Mexico for hours Monday night, and hail measuring more than 4 inches in diameter -- the size of softballs -- destroyed the side of a home in Whites City, southwest of Carlsbad, KOAT-TV reported.

The hail started falling in Lincoln County early Monday afternoon, where people were forced to run for cover in parking lots and on streets, and the storm caused hazardous driving conditions, Action 7 News reported.

Hail smashed windows on dozens of homes and cars in Lincoln, Chaves, Eddy and Lea counties, according to KOAT.

A tornado warning was issued in the early afternoon for south-central Lincoln County that lasted until 2 p.m. Monday.

A tornado was reported to have touched down later in the afternoon in Chaves County.

More showers and thunderstorms could fall on the southeast again today, KOAT reported.