Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2008
Flash Flood Warning 37, NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued this flash flood warning at Aug 16, 2008, 11:20 AM CDT for Ector County, Texas. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 16, 2008, 11:20 AM CDT (16:20 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 16, 2008, 2:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Ector County, TX
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Midland Regional, TX (KMAF), launched 12:00Z, 4.3 hours before the alert went out and 29 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 634 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -74 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1038 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 134 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 203 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.4
- Supercell composite
- 4.8
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WGUS54 KMAF 161620 FFWMAF TXC135-161915- /O.NEW.KMAF.FF.W.0037.080816T1620Z-080816T1915Z/ /00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED FLASH FLOOD WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 1120 AM CDT SAT AUG 16 2008 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIDLAND HAS ISSUED A * FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR... CENTRAL ECTOR COUNTY IN WEST TEXAS... * UNTIL 215 PM CDT * AT 1116 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS CONTINUED TO MONITOR ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS PERSISTENTLY DEVELOPING OVER ECTOR COUNTY. MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THESE SHOWERS AND STORMS WAS RESULTING IN ODESSA...AND SURROUNDING AREAS. * LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ODESSA...WEST ODESSA...PENWELL...NORTH COWDEN...GOLDSMITH AND GARDENDALE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IS EXPECTED WHICH COULD INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING IN THE WARNED AREA. DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO PLAY IN STORM RUNOFF. CULVERTS...DITCHES... STORM DRAINS...SWOLLEN CREEKS AND ALL OTHER AREAS WHERE RAPID WATER FLOW IS OBSERVED ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. CHILDREN CAN BE EASILY SWEPT AWAY AND DROWN IN MOMENTS. STORM RUNOFF CAN ALSO CONTAIN DANGEROUS CHEMICALS THAT MAY BE HARMFUL IF CONTACTED OR SWALLOWED. LAT...LON 3206 10263 3206 10231 3168 10231 3168 10262 $$
1 follow-up statement
000 WGUS74 KMAF 161727 FFSMAF FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 1227 PM CDT SAT AUG 16 2008 TXC135-161915- /O.CON.KMAF.FF.W.0037.000000T0000Z-080816T1915Z/ /00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ ECTOR- 1227 PM CDT SAT AUG 16 2008 ...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL ECTOR COUNTY... AT 1145 AM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED FORTY SECOND STREET AND DIXIE...AND EIGHTH AND CUSTER WERE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER. AT 1221 PM CDT...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO DEVELOP OVER ECTOR COUNTY...AND MOVE NORTHEAST AROUND 15 MPH. THEREFORE...ADDITIONAL MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL...AND FLASH FLOODING IN ODESSA IS LIKELY. LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ODESSA... WEST ODESSA...PENWELL...NORTH COWDEN...GOLDSMITH AND GARDENDALE. FLASH FLOODING OF CREEKS AND STREAMS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES...LOW WATER CROSSINGS...AND LOW LYING FARMLAND IS LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE ACROSS FLOODED ROADS. LAT...LON 3206 10263 3206 10231 3168 10231 3168 10262 $$
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.
NWS Midland/Odessa, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 16, 6:28 AM CDT, 4 hours 52 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 16, 6:28 AM CDT, 4 hours 52 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
628 AM CDT SAT AUG 16 2008
.DISCUSSION...
&&
.AVIATION...
COMPLEX OF STORMS CONTINUE TO ROTATE ACROSS SE NM AND N PERMIAN
BASIN AS OF 11Z. HAVE MENTION OF STORMS IN ALL TAFS. SOUTHERN EXTENT
OF LINE OF STORMS DEVELOPING BEHIND AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY. STORMS
HAVE HAD VERY HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH AT TIMES.
EXPECT THIS LINE OF STORMS TO MOVE ACROSS AREA THIS MORNING AND
POSSIBLY REDEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 428 AM CDT SAT AUG 16 2008/
DISCUSSION...
THE PRIMARY FOCUS FOR THIS FORECAST WILL BE ON A VERY GOOD CHANCE
OF RAIN ACROSS MUCH OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO
THROUGH THIS WEEKEND. EARLY THIS MORNING...WATER VAPOR IMAGERY
CONTINUED TO SHOW A CLOSED UPPER LEVEL LOW SLOWLY SPINNING IN THE
VICINITY OF NORTHWESTERN COLORADO/SOUTHERN WYOMING. SOUTH OF THIS
FEATURE...SEVERAL SHORTWAVE TROUGHS EMBEDDED WITHIN THE
NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WERE MOVING ACROSS NEW MEXICO AND WEST
TEXAS. REGIONAL RADAR IMAGERY AT 4 AM CDT SHOWED A LARGE COMPLEX
OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT EXTENDED FROM THE TEXAS
PANHANDLE...SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE SOUTH PLAINS...AND SOUTHWESTWARD
THROUGH THE SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO PLAINS. SOME VERY HEAVY RAINS
WERE EMBEDDED WITHIN THIS COMPLEX...PARTICULARLY FROM LUBBOCK...TO
NEAR PLAINS AND TATUM...TO NEAR MALJAMAR. ADDITIONAL SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING ACROSS THE NORTHERN BASIN AND
WESTERN LOW ROLLING PLAINS.
WE EXPECT THIS COMPLEX TO CONTINUE TO WORKING SLOWLY EAST/SOUTHEAST
THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ALONG THE FIRST SHORTWAVE TROUGH
WITHIN THE NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. HAVE INCREASED POPS TO NEAR
CATEGORICAL TODAY...PARTICULARLY FOR THIS MORNING ACROSS NORTHERN
PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO AND THE NORTHERN PERMIAN
BASIN. THE COMBINATION OF ADDITIONAL EMBEDDED SHORTWAVES...A
SLOW MOVING FRONTAL BOUNDARY...SEVERAL OLD OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES...
AND THE PRESENCE OF A VERY MOIST 850-500 MB LAYER AND ASSOCIATED
PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES BETWEEN 1.5 AND 1.75 INCHES SHOULD
SUPPORT ADDITIONAL SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT TODAY AND
TONIGHT...WITH THE BEST CHANCES DRAWN GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF
INTERSTATE 10 THIS AFTERNOON. WE HAVE EXPANDED HIGHER POPS FARTHER
SOUTH TONIGHT AS THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY APPROACHES THE SOUTHERN
ZONES...ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL EMBEDDED SHORTWAVES. LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE... PARTICULARLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF
OF THE CWA...WHERE TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS BETWEEN 1 AND 2
INCHES...WITH SOME LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE. WE
WILL EXTEND THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE GUADALUPE MTNS...THE
SOUTHEAST NM PLAINS...THE UPPER TRANS PECOS REGION...AND THE
PERMIAN BASIN THROUGH LATE TONIGHT/EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. THE
EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER AND AREAS OF RAIN SHOULD ALLOW FOR MUCH
COOLER HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY.
THE UPPER LEVEL LOW IS EXPECTED TO MOVE TOWARD SOUTHEASTERN
COLORADO DURING THE DAY SUNDAY. NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL
CONTINUE ACROSS WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO SOUTH OF
THIS FEATURE. RAIN CHANCES STILL LOOK VERY GOOD SUNDAY AND SUNDAY
NIGHT...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS...IN THE REGION
OF MOST FAVORED LIFT. LATER SHIFTS MAY WANT TO CONSIDER EXTENDING
AND/OR EXPANDING THE WATCH ACROSS PORTIONS OF OUR AREA SUNDAY.
TEMPERATURES SHOULD REMAIN BELOW NORMAL SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
THE UPPER LEVEL LOW IS EXPECTED TO BE CENTERED IN THE VICINITY OF
THE TEXAS PANHANDLE MONDAY...BEFORE MOVING SLOWLY SOUTHEAST TOWARD
THE RED RIVER VALLEY BY TUESDAY. HAVE KEPT POPS IN THE CHANCE
CATEGORY MONDAY...BUT THINK THEY WILL BEGIN TO TAPER OFF SOME BY
TUESDAY AS THE BETTER MOISTURE AND LIFT WILL BEGIN TO MOVE EAST OF
OUR FORECAST AREA. THE UPPER LOW IS PROGGED TO OPEN UP AND EJECT
NORTHEAST TOWARD THE MIDWESTERN STATES LATE IN THE WEEK. THIS
SHOULD RESULT IN A WARMING AND DRYING TREND. STILL CANNOT RULE OUT
ISOLATED/WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE
AREA LATE IN THE PERIOD...PARTICULARLY IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN.
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY COUNTY.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...
CENTRAL LEA COUNTY...EDDY COUNTY PLAINS...NORTHERN LEA
COUNTY...SOUTHERN LEA COUNTY.
TX...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES... ANDREWS...CRANE...ECTOR...GLASSCOCK...GUADALUPE
MOUNTAINS...HOWARD...LOVING...MARTIN...MIDLAND...MITCHELL...
REAGAN...REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS...UPTON...
WARD...WINKLER.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES... BORDEN...DAWSON...GAINES...SCURRY.
&&
21Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 16, 3:37 AM CDT, 7 hours 43 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 337 AM CDT SAT AUG 16 2008 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-170845- GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY COUNTY-EDDY COUNTY PLAINS- NORTHERN LEA COUNTY-CENTRAL LEA COUNTY-SOUTHERN LEA COUNTY-GAINES- DAWSON-BORDEN-SCURRY-ANDREWS-MARTIN-HOWARD-MITCHELL- VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR-REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS- LOVING-WINKLER-ECTOR-MIDLAND-GLASSCOCK-WARD-CRANE-UPTON-REAGAN- DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA-PECOS-PRESIDIO VALLEY-MARFA PLATEAU- BIG BEND AREA-TERRELL-GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS- 337 AM CDT SAT AUG 16 2008 /237 AM MDT SAT AUG 16 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TODAY AND TONIGHT ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO... THE UPPER TRANS PECOS... AND THE PERMIAN BASIN... WITH HEAVY RAINFALL THE PRIMARY CONCERN. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THESE AREAS. THERE IS ALSO A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS... BIG BEND... AND LOWER TRANS PECOS WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FLASH FLOODING WILL REMAIN A HAZARD AS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF RAIN CONTINUES SUNDAY AND MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. THIS PRODUCT...ALONG WITH OTHER WATCHES...WARNINGS...ADVISORIES... AND STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN MIDLAND CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT /LOWER CASE/ HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/MIDLAND
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 5:29 AM CDT, 5 hours 51 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 529 AM CDT SAT AUG 16 2008 TXZ045-046-050-051-161100- GAINES-ANDREWS-DAWSON-MARTIN- 529 AM CDT SAT AUG 16 2008 ...LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHWESTERN PERMIAN BASIN... AT 528 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE MONITORING A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THAT EXTENDED FROM NEAR SEMINOLE...TO NEAR SAND...TO NEAR PUNKIN CENTER AND GRANDVIEW. THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES. THE HEAVY RAINS MAY QUICKLY CAUSE FLOODING OF URBAN AND LOW LYING AREAS. STRONG WINDS SUSTAINED NEAR 40 MPH...WITH A FEW GUSTS NEAR 50 MPH MAY ALSO ACCOMPANY THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS. THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY MOVE INTO NORTHERN ANDREWS AND MARTIN COUNTIES AFTER 500 AM CDT. PEOPLE IN DAWSON...GAINES...NORTHERN ANDREWS...AND NORTHERN MARTIN COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF ANDREWS...LAMESA...SEAGRAVES AND SEMINOLE...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. REMEMBER... IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
Special weather statement, Aug 16, 5:29 AM CDT, 5 hours 51 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 529 AM CDT SAT AUG 16 2008 TXZ045-046-050-051-161100- GAINES-ANDREWS-DAWSON-MARTIN- 529 AM CDT SAT AUG 16 2008 ...LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHWESTERN PERMIAN BASIN... AT 528 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE MONITORING A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THAT EXTENDED FROM NEAR SEMINOLE...TO NEAR SAND...TO NEAR PUNKIN CENTER AND GRANDVIEW. THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES. THE HEAVY RAINS MAY QUICKLY CAUSE FLOODING OF URBAN AND LOW LYING AREAS. STRONG WINDS SUSTAINED NEAR 40 MPH...WITH A FEW GUSTS NEAR 50 MPH MAY ALSO ACCOMPANY THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS. THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY MOVE INTO NORTHERN ANDREWS AND MARTIN COUNTIES AFTER 600 AM CDT. PEOPLE IN DAWSON...GAINES...NORTHERN ANDREWS...AND NORTHERN MARTIN COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF ANDREWS...LAMESA...SEAGRAVES AND SEMINOLE...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. REMEMBER... IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 7:07 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MAF | Crane | 23 min |
| Aug 16, 4:23 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MAF | Gaines | 3 hr |
| Aug 16, 5:22 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MAF | Dawson | 3 hr |
| Aug 16, 5:25 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MAF | Scurry | 3 hr |
| Aug 16, 5:48 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MAF | Borden | 3 hr |
| Aug 16, 6:42 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MAF | Andrews, Howard, Martin | 3 hr |
| Aug 16, 7:45 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MAF | Ector | 3 hr |
| Aug 16, 10:11 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MAF | Midland | 3 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 2008Every flash flood warning in 2008
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.