Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 1986

Flash Flood Warning 33, NWS Midland/Odessa, TX

October 4, 1986Crane County, Upton County, Texas

NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued this flash flood warning at Oct 4, 1986, 10:04 PM CDT for Crane County, Upton County, Texas. It was in force for 4 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 4, 1986, 10:04 PM CDT (03:04 UTC)
Expired
Oct 5, 1986, 2:00 AM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
Area
Whole counties

Counties Crane County, TX, Upton County, TX

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Midland Regional, TX (KMAF), launched 00:00Z, 3.1 hours before the alert went out and 62 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Midland Regional, TX at 00:00Z on 1986-10-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Midland Regional, TX at 00:00Z on 1986-10-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 256 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
578 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
256 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
193 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAAOO KMAF 050304
FFWMAF
TXC103-371-389-461-050700-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
1004 PM CDT SAT OCT  4 1986
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL  200 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:
 
IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS
          ..SOUTHERN CRANE..NORTHERN PECOS..EASTERN REEVES
          ..WESTERN UPTON

AT 1000PM CDT RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW HEAVY RAINS FROM OVER WESTERN
PECOS AND EASTERN REEVES COUNTY UP TO SOUTHERN CRANE AND WESTERN
UPTON COUNTIES. THE RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT
15 MILES AN HOUR.
 
SATELLITE ALSO SHOWED THAT THUNDERSTORMS STRETCHED BACK INTO THE BIG
BEND COUNTRY AND OLD MEXICO WITH HEAVY RAINS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE A
NORTHEAST TRECK FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS OVER THE WARNED AREA.
 
MOST DEATHS IN FLASH FLOODING OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES, DIPS, OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM, EVEN A SMALL ONE,
ON FOOT.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 4, 4:42 PM CDT, 5 hours 22 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
445 PM CDT SAT OCT 4 1986

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PERMIAN BASIN PORTIONS
OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND PORTION OF THE CONCHO VALLEY...

..A FALSH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR UPTON COUNTY UNTIL 710 PM CDT..
..A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR GLASSCOCK COUNTY UNTIL 600 PM CDT...

AT 427PM CDT..NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS..SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN..CONTINUED
OVER PARTS OF THE SOUTH PLAINS..PERMIAN BASIN AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS IN AN 80
MILE WIDE AREA FROM GUTHRIE TO SOUTH OF ALPINE. THE HEAVIEST STORMS WERE
20 MILES NORTHEAST AND 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MIDLAND AND FROM JUST WEST
OF MCCAMEY TO 30 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FORT STOCKTON.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS..SOME HEAVY..DOTTED PARTS OF THE CONCHO VALLEY AND
BIG BEND AREA.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 10 MILES AN HOUR.
DURING THE PAST HOUR..US HIGHWAY 305 AND FARM ROAD 1901 WAS CLOSED TO DUE
RISING WATER SOUTH OF MCCAMEY. WATER IS ALSO RUNNING OVER THE US 305
BRIDGE THAT CROSSES THE PECOS RIVER.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA RADIO WEATHER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, Oct 4, 5:39 PM CDT, 4 hours 25 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
540 PM CDT SAT OCT 4 1986

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH PLAINS..PERMIAN BASIN
..PARTS OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND PARTS OF THE CONCHO VALLEY...

..A FALSH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR UPTON COUNTY UNTIL 710 PM CDT..
..A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR GLASSCOCK COUNTY UNTIL 600 PM CDT...

AT 525 PM CDT..SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS..SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN..REMAINED
OVER PARTS OF THE SOUTH PLAINS..PERMIAN BASIN AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS FROM
DICKENS TO RUIDOSA TEXAS AND EXTENDED EAST TO THE CONCHO VALLEY. THE
HEAVIEST STORMS WERE NEAR STANTON AND 25 MILES WEST OF MCCAMEY. MOVEMENT
WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

SINCE THIS MORNING..MCCAMEY HAS RECIEVED 8.55 INCHES OF RAIN AND THE
THREAT OF ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL IS VERY LIKELY.

PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
Special weather statement, Oct 4, 6:40 PM CDT, 3 hours 24 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
640 PM CDT SAT OCT 4 1986

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH PLAINS..PERMIAN BASIN
   ..PARTS OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND PARTS OF THE CONCHO VALLEY...

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR UPTON COUNTY UNTIL 710 PM CDT..
...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CRANE & WESTERN PECOS COUNTIES
   UNTIL 1015 PM CDT...

AT 626 PM CDT..WIDESPREAD RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS..SOME WITH VERY
HEAVY RAIN..CONTINUED OVER MUCH OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS..PERMIAN BASIN..PARTS
OF THE CONCHO VALLEY AND SOUTH PLAINS. THE AREA WAS BETWEEN CLAIREMONT..
EDEN..BIG BEND REGION AND MARFA. THE HEAVIEST RAIN 5WAS JUST SOUTH OF
ODESSA AND 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FORT STOCKTON.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
Special weather statement, Oct 4, 7:38 PM CDT, 2 hours 26 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
740 PM CDT SAT OCT 4 1986

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH PLAINS..PERMIAN BASIN
   ..PARTS OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND PARTS OF THE CONCHO VALLEY...
...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CRANE AND WESTERN PECOS
   COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 PM CDT...

AT 728 PM CDT..WIDESPREAD RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS..SOME WITH VERY
HEAVY RAIN..CONTINUED OVER MUCH OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND PERMIAN BASIN FROM
SOUTH OF LAMESA TO VAN HORN AND EXTENDED TO THE RIO GRANDE RIVER NEAR
LANTRY. THE HEAVIEST RAIN WAS 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FORT STOCKTON AND
JUST SOUTH OF SHEFFIELD. OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERSi WERE SCATTERED
OVER PARTS OF THE SOUTH PLAINS AND CONCHO VALLEY FROM POST TO SOUTH OF
SAN ANGELO.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
Special weather statement, Oct 4, 8:36 PM CDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
837 PM CDT SAT OCT 4 1986

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH PLAINS..PERMIAN BASIN
   ..PARTS OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND PARTS OF THE CONCHO VALLEY...
...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CRANE AND WESTERN PECOS
   COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 PM CDT...

AT 828 PM CDT..ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH
WIDESPREAD RAIN REMAINED OVER MOST OF THE PERMIAN BASIN AND SOUTHWEST
TEXAS FROM ANDREWS TO VAN HORN AND EXTENDED TO THE RIO GRANDE RIVER NEAR
LANTRY. THE HEAVIEST RAIN WAS JUST SOUTHEAST OF FORT STOCKTON. SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSHOWERS WERE ALSO SCATTERED OVER PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH PLAINS
AND CONCHO VALLEY FROM POST TO SOUTHEAST OF SAN ANGELO.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
Special weather statement, Oct 4, 9:42 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
942 PM CDT SAT OCT 4 1986

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PERMIAN BASI AND PARTS OF
   SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND PARTS OF THE CONCHO VALLEY...
...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CRANE AND WESTERN PECOS
   COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 PM CDT...

AT 931 PM CDT..ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS..SOME VERY HEAVY..ALONG WITH
WIDESPREAD RAIN REMAINED OVER MOST OF THE PERMIAN BASIN..SOUTHWEST
TEXAS AND PARTS OF THE CONCHO VALLEY IN A 200 MILE WIDE AREA FROM
SWEETWATER TO THE BIG BEND AREA. THE HEAVIEST STORM WAS 10 MILES
NORTHWEST OF BAKERFIELD.

MOVEMENT WAS GENERALLY TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 4, 10:04 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMAFPecos, Reeves4 hr
Oct 5, 10:10 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningMAFUpton4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 1986Every flash flood warning in 1986

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.