Alert archive / New Mexico / Flash Flood Warnings in 1994

Flash Flood Warning 20, NWS Midland/Odessa, TX

May 26, 1994Lea County, New Mexico

NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued this flash flood warning at May 26, 1994, 6:46 PM MDT for Lea County, New Mexico. It was in force for 119 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 26, 1994, 6:46 PM MDT (00:46 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 1994, 8:45 PM MDT
In force
119 min
Issued by
NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
Area
Whole counties

County Lea County, NM

The nearest sounding before it

Midland Regional, TX (KMAF), launched 00:00Z, 0.8 hours before the alert went out and 147 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 1994-05-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 225 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, Midland Regional, TX at 00:00Z on 1994-05-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 8 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
225 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-99 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
984 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
62 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
8 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
215 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KMAF 270047
FFWMAF
NMC025-270245-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
746 PM CDT (646 PM MDT) THU MAY 26 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIDLAND HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  945 PM CDT (845 PM MDT)
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO
 
   ...LEA COUNTY
 
AT 740 PM CDT...REPORTS FROM SKYWARN SPOTTERS INDICATE STREET FLOODING
IS OCCURRING IN THE HOBBS AREA. ALSO REPORTS OF GOLFBALL SIZED AND GUST
TO 60 MILES AN HOUR HAVE ALSO BEEN RECEIVED FROM HOBBS. THE STORM
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS IS MOVING TOWARDS GAINES COUNTY. RESIDENTS OF
GAINES COUNTY...ESPECIALLY THOSE OF WESTERN PARTS...SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATSAFETY ACTIONS.
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT.  MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS 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.  TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.
 
 
 
&

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, May 26, 3:30 PM MDT, 3 hours 16 minutes before
TXZ045>047-050>052-058>063-067>069-075-082-NMZ029-262245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
430 PM CDT THU MAY 26 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...THE
   PERMIAN BASIN AND TRANS PECOS OF WEST TEXAS UNTIL 10:00 PM CDT...
...A TORNADO WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CHAVES COUNTY NEW MEXICO UNTIL
   515 PM CDT...

AT 425 PM  CDT...AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
AND SMALL HAIL COVERED MUCH OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO. THE
HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE EAST OF BIG SPRING AND NORTHWEST OF CARLSBAD.
THUNDERSTORMS...WITH HEAVY RAIN...WERE LOCATED WEST OF LUBBOCK. MOVEMENT
WAS EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR
LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

STAY ALERT FOR RAPID CHANGES IN YOUR LOCAL WEATHER...STAY TUNED TO NOAA
WEATHER RADIO ...YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATION FOR UPDATED
INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, May 26, 3:36 PM MDT, 3 hours 10 minutes before
TXZ045>047-050>052-058>063-067>069-075-082-NMZ029-262245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
430 PM CDT THU MAY 26 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...THE
   PERMIAN BASIN AND TRANS PECOS OF WEST TEXAS UNTIL 10:00 PM CDT...
...A TORNADO WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR CHAVES COUNTY NEW MEXICO UNTIL
   515 PM CDT...

AT 425 PM  CDT...AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
AND SMALL HAIL COVERED MUCH OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO. THE
HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE EAST OF BIG SPRING AND NORTHWEST OF CARLSBAD.
THUNDERSTORMS...WITH HEAVY RAIN...WERE LOCATED WEST OF LUBBOCK. MOVEMENT
WAS EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR
LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

STAY ALERT FOR RAPID CHANGES IN YOUR LOCAL WEATHER...STZAY TUNED TO NOAA
WEATHER RADIO ...YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATION FOR UPDATED
INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, May 26, 4:30 PM MDT, 2 hours 16 minutes before
TXZ045>047-050>052-058>063-067>069-075-082-NMZ029-262345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
530 PM CDT THU MAY 26 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...THE
   PERMIAN BASIN AND TRANS PECOS OF WEST TEXAS UNTIL 10:00 PM CDT...
...A TORNADO WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR EDDIE COUNTY NEW MEXICO UNTIL
   600 PM CDT...

AT 525 PM  CDT...AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
AND SMALL HAIL COVERED MUCH OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO. THE
HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE EAST OF BIG SPRING AND WEST OF LUBBOCK.
THUNDERSTORMS...WITH HEAVY RAIN...WERE LOCATED NEAR CARLSBAD. MOVEMENT
WAS EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR
LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
STAY ALERT FOR RAPID CHANGES IN YOUR LOCAL WEATHER...STAY TUNED TO NOAA
WEATHER RADIO ...YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATION FOR UPDATED
INFORMATION.

WWUS35KABQ-&
Special weather statement, May 26, 4:37 PM MDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
TXZ045>047-050>052-058>063-067>069-075-082-NMZ029-262345-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
530 PM CDT THU MAY 26 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...THE
   PERMIAN BASIN AND TRANS PECOS OF WEST TEXAS UNTIL 10:00 PM CDT...
...A TORNADO WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR EDDIE COUNTY NEW MEXICO UNTIL
   600 PM CDT...

AT 525 PM  CDT...AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
AND SMALL HAIL COVERED MUCH OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO. THE
HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE EAST OF BIG SPRING AND WEST OF LUBBOCK.
THUNDERSTORMS...WITH HEAVY RAIN...WERE LOCATED NEAR CARLSBAD. MOVEMENT
WAS EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR
LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
STAY ALERT FOR RAPID CHANGES IN YOUR LOCAL WEATHER...STAY TUNED TO NOAA
WEATHER RADIO ...YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATION FOR UPDATED
INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, May 26, 5:34 PM MDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
TXZ045>047-050>052-058>063-067>069-075-082-NMZ029-270045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
634 PM CDT THU MAY 26 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...THE
   PERMIAN BASIN AND TRANS PECOS OF WEST TEXAS UNTIL 10:00 PM CDT...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR LEE COUNTY NEW MEXICO
   UNTIL 730 PM CDT...

AT 625 PM  CDT...AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
AND SMALL HAIL COVERED MUCH OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO. THE
HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE SOUTH OF HOBBS TO NORTHWEST OF LUBBOCK.
MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR
LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

STAY ALERT FOR RAPID CHANGES IN YOUR LOCAL WEATHER...STAY TUNED TO NOAA

WEATHER RADIO ...YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATION FOR UPDATED
INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, May 26, 5:37 PM MDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before
TXZ045>047-050>052-058>063-067>069-075-082-NMZ029-270045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND TX
634 PM CDT THU MAY 26 1994

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...THE
   PERMIAN BASIN AND TRANS PECOS OF WEST TEXAS UNTIL 10:00 PM CDT...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR LEE COUNTY NEW MEXICO
   UNTIL 730 PM CDT...

AT 625 PM  CDT...AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
AND SMALL HAIL COVERED MUCH OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO. THE
HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE SOUTH OF HOBBS TO NORTHWEST OF LUBBOCK.
MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR
LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

STAY ALERT FOR RAPID CHANGES IN YOUR LOCAL WEATHER...STAY TUNED TO NOAA

WEATHER RADIO ...YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATION FOR UPDATED
INFORMATION.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 26, 6:21 PM MDTTornado WarningMAFLea69 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in New Mexico, 1994Every flash flood warning in 1994

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.