Alert archive / New Mexico / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Midland/Odessa, TX

May 21, 1991Chaves County, New Mexico

NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued this tornado warning at May 21, 1991, 6:30 PM MDT for Chaves County, New Mexico. It was in force for 60 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 21, 1991, 6:30 PM MDT (00:30 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 1991, 7:30 PM MDT
In force
60 min
Issued by
NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Chaves County, NM

The nearest sounding before it

El Paso Intl Airport, TX (KELP), launched 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 251 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, El Paso Intl Airport, TX at 00:00Z on 1991-05-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 430 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, El Paso Intl Airport, TX at 00:00Z on 1991-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 24 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
430 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-117 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1873 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
24 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
91 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KROW 220030
TORROW
NMC005-220130-

BULLETIN...EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ROSWELL NM
630 PM MDT TUE MAY 21 1991

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ROSWELL HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 730 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE...

IN SOUTHEAST NEW MEXCIO...

                  CHAVES  COUNTY

AT 625 PM MDT A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED BY AN AIRCRAFT PILOT 30 
MILES NORTHWEST OF THE ROSWELL AIRPORT AND WAS MOVING NORTEAST AT 20
TO 25 MILES AN HOUR.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS SEVERE STORM GO TO A BASEMENT SHELTER
OR A CENTRAL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. ABANDON CARS AND
MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR STORM DAMAGE CALL YOUR LOCA-L LAW ENFORCE-
MENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NEAREST NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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, May 21, 1:41 PM MDT, 4 hours 49 minutes before
TXZ007-008-010>018-024-034-050>054-NMZ013-212040-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
230 PM CDT TUE MAY 21 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND
    FAR WEST TEXAS UNTIL 800 PM CDT TONIGHT...

AT 225 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED THAT ISOLATED LIGHT RAINSHOWERS
WERE BOUND BY A LINE FROM LUBBOCK TEXAS...TO NEAR ROSWELL NEW MEXICO
...TO TUCCUMCARI NEW MEXICO. THEY WERE MOVINGP NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES
AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, May 21, 2:26 PM MDT, 4 hours 4 minutes before
TXZ007-008-010>018-024-034-050>054-NMZ013-212040-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
326 PM CDT TUE MAY 21 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND
    FAR WEST TEXAS UNTIL 800 PM CDT TONIGHT...

AT 325 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO PRECIPITATION
WITHIN 125 MILES OF MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. ISOLATED RAIN-
SHOWERS WERE LOCATED SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST OF TUCCUMCARI NEW MEXICO...
AND TO THE WEST OF CARLSBAD CAVERNS NEW MEXICO.

TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OFTEN PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...STRONG
WINDS...CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL THAT MAY CAUSE
FLOODING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATION FOR FURTHER BULLETINS...AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 21, 3:41 PM MDT, 2 hours 49 minutes before
TXZ007-008-010>018-024-034-050>054-NMZ013-212240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
440 PM CDT TUE MAY 21 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND
    FAR WEST TEXAS UNTIL 800 PM CDT TONIGHT...

AT 325 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO PRECIPITATION
WITHIN 125 MILES OF MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. ISOLATED THUNDER-
STORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR RAGLAND AND DUNKEN NEW MEXICO AND EAST OF
EL PASO. THE STORM EAST OF EL PASO HAD PRODUCED 1 INCH HAIL IN EL PASO
AT AROUND 208 PM MDT.

TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OFTEN PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...STRONG
WINDS...CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL THAT MAKY CAUSE
FLOODING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATION FOR FURTHER BULLETINS...AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 21, 3:44 PM MDT, 2 hours 46 minutes before
TXZ007-008-010>018-024-034-050>054-NMZ013-212240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
444 PM CDT TUE MAY 21 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND
    FAR WEST TEXAS UNTIL 800 PM CDT TONIGHT...

AT 425 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO PRECIPITATION
WITHIN 125 MILES OF MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. ISOLATED THUNDER-
STORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR RAGLAND AND DUNKEN NEW MEXICO AND EAST OF
EL PASO. THE STORM EAST OF EL PASO HAD PRODUCED 1 INCH HAIL IN EL PASO
AT AROUND 208 PM MDT.

TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OFTEN PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...STRONG
WINDS...CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL THAT MAY CAUSE
FLOODING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATION FOR FURTHER BULLETINS...AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 21, 4:39 PM MDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before
TXZ007-008-010>018-024-034-050>054-NMZ013-212340-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
539 PM CDT TUE MAY 21 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND
    FAR WEST TEXAS UNTIL 800 PM CDT TONIGHT...

AT 525 PM CDT...A RAIN SHOWER HAD DEVELOPED NEAR KENT.

ELSEWHERE...AN AREA OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM SAN
JON NEW MEXICO TO NEAR EL PASO.
STORM MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OFTEN PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...STRONG
WINDS...CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL THAT MAY CAUSE
FLOODING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATION FOR FURTHER BULLETINS...AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, May 21, 5:29 PM MDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
TXZ007-008-010>018-024-034-050>054-NMZ013-220040-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
629 PM CDT TUE MAY 21 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND
    FAR WEST TEXAS UNTIL 800 PM CDT TONIGHT...

AT 625 PM CDT...THE RAINSHOWER NEAR KENT HAD DISSIPATED.

ELSEWHERE...AN AREA OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM NORTH
OF DUNLAP NEW MEXICO TO 50 MILES NORTHWEST OF SIERRA BLANCA.
MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OFTEN PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...STRONG
WINDS...CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL THAT MAY CAUSE
FLOODING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATION FOR FURTHER BULLETINS...AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 21, 6:43 PM MDTTornado WarningMAFEddy62 min
May 21, 7:15 PM MDTTornado WarningMAFEddy60 min
May 21, 7:57 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningMAFEddy2 hr
May 21, 8:15 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMAFEddy60 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in New Mexico, 1991Every tornado warning in 1991Tornadoes in 1991

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.