LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - A severe storm moving over southern New Mexico brought with it hail, torents of rain and a tornado.

The tornado touched down briefly near Interstate 10 around 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, said National Weather Service spokesman John Fausett. No injuries were reported.

"We've seen lots of visuals on it," Fausett said. "...It was classic, it's like you're in the Midwest."

Fausett said that instead of evolving from a dust devil, the tornado descended directly from the thunderstorm. The Weather Service receives reports of tornadoes at least once a year, but Fausett said the last time a tornado like Wednesday's was sighted near Las Cruces was in October 2000.

State police shut down I-10 between Las Cruces and Deming around 3:45 p.m., and reopened it 45 minutes later. Las Cruces police reported minor flooding but no street closures.

Dona Ana County spokesman Jess Williams said officials urged residents to stay indoors and some Las Cruces schools were locked down until the tornado warning expired.

"There was so much traffic congestion with the rain that the buses couldn't get through," he said.