Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2019

Tornado Warning 29, NWS Midland/Odessa, TX

May 17, 2019Pecos County, Texas

NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued this tornado warning at May 17, 2019, 6:57 PM CDT for Pecos County, Texas. It was in force for 48 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: May 17, 2019, 6:57 PM CDT (23:57 UTC)
Expired: May 17, 2019, 7:45 PM CDT
In force: 48 min
Issued by: NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 2.0 in

County Pecos County, TX

The radar

The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 123 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:58 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 17, 6:59 PM CDT	HAIL 1.75	Iraan, TX
May 17, 7:05 PM CDT	HAIL 2.5	Iraan, TX

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 17, 3:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Midland Regional, TX (KMAF), launched 12:00Z, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 123 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 746 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -394 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1491 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 200 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 241 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: -0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

027 
WFUS54 KMAF 172357
TORMAF
TXC371-180045-
/O.NEW.KMAF.TO.W.0029.190517T2357Z-190518T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
657 PM CDT Fri May 17 2019

The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Pecos County in southwestern Texas...

* Until 745 PM CDT.
    
* At 656 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 15 miles northwest of Sheffield, moving east at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and hail up to two inches in diameter.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  east central Pecos County, including the following locations...
  Iraan and Iraan Municipal Airport.

This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 297 and 325.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3075 10230 3090 10228 3096 10196 3096 10195
      3095 10193 3093 10192 3092 10188 3089 10189
      3086 10185 3083 10185 3080 10183 3076 10184
      3074 10181
TIME...MOT...LOC 2356Z 263DEG 21KT 3086 10200 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...2.00IN

$$

24

3 follow-up statements

309 
WWUS54 KMAF 180005
SVSMAF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
705 PM CDT Fri May 17 2019

TXC371-180045-
/O.CON.KMAF.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-190518T0045Z/
Pecos TX-
705 PM CDT Fri May 17 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL PECOS COUNTY...
    
At 703 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located near Iraan, moving east at 25 mph. At 659 PM CDT, golf 
ball size hail was reported by the Iraan fire department.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Iraan and Iraan Municipal Airport. 

This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 297 and 325.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3075 10230 3090 10228 3096 10196 3096 10195
      3095 10193 3093 10192 3092 10188 3089 10189
      3086 10185 3083 10185 3080 10183 3076 10184
      3074 10181
TIME...MOT...LOC 0003Z 263DEG 21KT 3087 10195 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...2.00IN

$$

24

351 
WWUS54 KMAF 180009
SVSMAF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
709 PM CDT Fri May 17 2019

TXC371-180045-
/O.CON.KMAF.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-190518T0045Z/
Pecos TX-
709 PM CDT Fri May 17 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL PECOS COUNTY...
    
At 705 PM CDT, tennis ball size hail was reported in Iraan from a 
severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado.  This storm was 
centered 13 miles northwest of Sheffield, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and tennis ball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Iraan and Iraan Municipal Airport. 

This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 297 and 325.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3075 10230 3090 10228 3096 10196 3096 10195
      3095 10193 3093 10192 3092 10188 3089 10189
      3086 10185 3083 10185 3080 10183 3076 10184
      3074 10181
TIME...MOT...LOC 0006Z 263DEG 21KT 3087 10193 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...2.50IN

$$

819 
WWUS54 KMAF 180035
SVSMAF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
735 PM CDT Fri May 17 2019

TXC371-180045-
/O.CON.KMAF.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-190518T0045Z/
Pecos TX-
735 PM CDT Fri May 17 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT FOR EASTERN
PECOS COUNTY...
    
At 734 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located 14 miles north of Sheffield, moving east at 25 mph. This 
storm is moving along I-10 and will create very dangerous driving 
conditions.

HAZARD...Tornado and baseball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Iraan and Iraan Municipal Airport. 

This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 308 and 324.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3075 10211 3093 10209 3096 10196 3096 10195
      3095 10193 3093 10192 3092 10188 3089 10189
      3086 10185 3083 10185 3080 10183 3076 10184
      3074 10181
TIME...MOT...LOC 0034Z 263DEG 21KT 3089 10174 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...2.75IN

$$

29

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.

NWS Midland/Odessa, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 17, 6:27 PM CDT, 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 17, 6:27 PM CDT, 30 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
627 PM CDT Fri May 17 2019

.DISCUSSION...

&&

.AVIATION...
Have ongoing storms moving up from the south... these are strong
to severe... included mention at FST and MAF. Expect additional
storm development overnight as dryline retreats.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 245 PM CDT Fri May 17 2019/

DISCUSSION...

WV imagery shows an upper, closed trough over ID/NV/UT, leaving West
Texas and Southeast New Mexico under continuing progressive SW flow
aloft.  At the sfc, leeside sfc troughing on the Front Range has
induced westerly sfc flow out west, and the dryline has begun mixing
east.  At 16Z it ran N-S just east of the Texas/NM border before
bowing west into the Davis Mtns.  Currently, the Td at KMAF is
63F....more like June than mid-May.

Just east of the dryline, mesoanalysis shows an elongated bullseye
of 4000 J/kg sbcape, w/no cap.  All short-range models--HRRR, Texas
Tech WRF, NAM12--develop a classic Pecos supercell at around 21Z.
Mid-lvl lapse rates of around 7C/km or better will pose a large hail
threat, whereas 0-1km SRH is forecast to ramp up to above 100 m2/s2
after dark, so an isolated tornado can't be ruled out.  This
convection is forecast to develop north/south along the dryline
overnight, affecting mainly the upper CO Rvr valley, SE Permian
Basin, and ern Stockton Plateau.  Models develop quite a bit of QPF
in these areas, so a flash flood threat will exist, as well.

A Pac front will shunt the dryline east Saturday, bringing temps
down to below-normal and giving further convection a day off.
Sunday, temps ramp back up to above-normal as brief dirty ridging
sets in between systems.  The secondary trough is forecast to make
landfall on the upper CA coast Sunday.  A sfc trough running N-S
from SE CO to West Texas will result in a surge of return moisture,
w/the dryline sharpening up against the higher terrain by 06Z
Monday, before westerlies begin pushing it east.  Deep-lyr shear and
continued steep lapse rates mean another bout of severe convection.

In the extended forecast, long-range models develop an upper ridge
over the SE CONUS, and a large trough over the western CONUS.
However, models exhibit significant differences in the placement and
evolution of these features that far out, so we'll keep POPs minimal
into the weekend.  Temps look to remain near- to above-normal during
this time.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Big Spring                     63  85  55  90 /  60  10   0   0
Carlsbad                       57  83  53  90 /   0   0   0   0
Dryden                         69  92  63  93 /  40   0   0   0
Fort Stockton                  62  85  58  91 /  40   0   0   0
Guadalupe Pass                 54  75  55  84 /   0   0   0   0
Hobbs                          56  81  51  87 /  10   0   0   0
Marfa                          52  79  48  87 /  10   0   0   0
Midland Intl Airport           62  85  56  90 /  50   0   0   0
Odessa                         62  85  56  90 /  40   0   0   0
Wink                           59  86  54  92 /  20   0   0   0

&&

.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...High Wind Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for Guadalupe
     Mountains of Eddy County.

TX...High Wind Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for Guadalupe
     Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, May 17, 1:13 PM CDT, 5 hours 44 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
113 PM CDT Fri May 17 2019

NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-059>063-067>070-075-082-
270>282-181815-
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-Loving-Winkler-
Ector-Midland-Glasscock-Ward-Crane-Upton-Reagan-Pecos-Terrell-
Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains-
Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor-Eastern Culberson County-
Reeves County Plains-Chinati Mountains-Marfa Plateau-Davis Mountains-
Davis Mountains Foothills-Central Brewster County-Chisos Basin-
Presidio Valley-Lower Brewster County-
113 PM CDT Fri May 17 2019 /1213 PM MDT Fri May 17 2019/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast New
Mexico, southwest Texas, and western Texas.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected late this afternoon, but
especially tonight across portions of the Permian Basin and the
Lower Trans Pecos/Stockton Plateau. All severe weather hazards will
be possible, including large to very large hail, damaging winds,
frequent lightning, heavy rainfall,and a few tornadoes.

A High Wind Warning is in effect for the Guadalupe and Delaware
Mountains through early this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

There is an increased probability of severe thunderstorms Monday and
Monday evening across the central and eastern Permian Basin.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be necessary late this afternoon into
tonight.

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...
https://weather.gov/midland

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 17, 4:01 PM CDT, 2 hours 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
401 PM CDT FRI MAY 17 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0354 PM     HAIL             8 E FORT STOCKTON       30.89N 102.75W
05/17/2019  E1.00 INCH       Pecos              TX   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            HAIL REPORTED ON I-10 AT MILE MARKER 267 BY LOCAL
            EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

&&

AGARCIA

Local storm report, May 17, 4:09 PM CDT, 2 hours 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
409 PM CDT FRI MAY 17 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0405 PM     HAIL             8 E FORT STOCKTON       30.89N 102.75W
05/17/2019  E1.75 INCH       Pecos              TX   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HAIL WAS REPORTED ON I-10 AT MILE MARKER 267 BY LOCAL
            EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

&&

AGARCIA

Local storm report, May 17, 4:31 PM CDT, 2 hours 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
431 PM CDT FRI MAY 17 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0422 PM     HAIL             14 E FORT STOCKTON      30.89N 102.65W
05/17/2019  E1.00 INCH       Pecos              TX   NWS EMPLOYEE

            HAIL WAS REPORTED AT THE INTERSECTION OF I-10 AND HWY 67.

&&

AGARCIA

Local storm report, May 17, 4:43 PM CDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
443 PM CDT FRI MAY 17 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0430 PM     HAIL             15 E FORT STOCKTON      30.89N 102.63W
05/17/2019  E2.50 INCH       Pecos              TX   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HAIL WAS REPORTED ON I-10 BETWEEN MILE MARKER 274 AND
            276.

&&

AGARCIA

Local storm report, May 17, 5:11 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
511 PM CDT FRI MAY 17 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0448 PM     TORNADO          10 W BAKERSFIELD        30.89N 102.47W
05/17/2019                   Pecos              TX   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORTED TORNADO JUST SOUTH OF I-10 AT
            APPROXIMATELY MILE MARKER 285.

&&

AGARCIA

Local storm report, May 17, 6:29 PM CDT, 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
629 PM CDT FRI MAY 17 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0626 PM     HAIL             12 W IRAAN              30.91N 102.10W
05/17/2019  E1.50 INCH       Pecos              TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

AGARCIA

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 16, 7:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MAF	Presidio	45 min
May 16, 7:47 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MAF		28 min
May 16, 8:18 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MAF		12 min
May 17, 3:56 AM CDT	High Wind Warning	MAF	Culberson	17 hr
May 17, 3:38 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MAF	Pecos	52 min
May 17, 3:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Crane, Pecos, Upton	53 min
May 17, 4:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Crane, Pecos, Upton	66 min
May 17, 4:49 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	MAF	Pecos	41 min
May 17, 5:25 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MAF	Crane, Pecos	3 hr
May 17, 5:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MAF	Pecos	48 min
May 17, 5:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Crane, Pecos, Upton	62 min
May 17, 6:15 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MAF	Pecos	45 min
May 17, 6:19 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MAF	Pecos	3 hr
May 17, 6:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Crane, Ector, Midland, Upton	56 min
May 17, 6:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Crane, Pecos, Upton	61 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 2019 Every tornado warning in 2019 Tornadoes in 2019

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.