Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2019

Tornado Warning 31, NWS Midland/Odessa, TX

May 20, 2019Ector County, Midland County, Texas

NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued this tornado warning at May 20, 2019, 5:30 PM CDT for Ector County, Midland County, Texas. It was in force for 30 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 20, 2019, 5:30 PM CDT (22:30 UTC)
Expired: May 20, 2019, 6:00 PM CDT
In force: 30 min
Issued by: NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.75 in

Counties Ector County, TX, Midland County, TX

The radar

The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 20 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:32 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 20, 5:30 PM CDT	TORNADO	7 Ne Pleasant Farms, TX
May 20, 5:40 PM CDT	TORNADO	10 S Midland In`Ternati, TX

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 0 minutes after it went out.

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 20, 12:36 PM CDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Midland Regional, TX (KMAF), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 21 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: 2582 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -77 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 799 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 261 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 330 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 4.7
Supercell composite: 24.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

021 
WFUS54 KMAF 202230
TORMAF
TXC135-329-202300-
/O.NEW.KMAF.TO.W.0031.190520T2230Z-190520T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
530 PM CDT Mon May 20 2019

The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Ector County in western Texas...
  Southwestern Midland County in western Texas...

* Until 600 PM CDT.
    
* At 530 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 10 miles southeast of Odessa, moving northeast at 25
  mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and golf 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.

* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  southeastern Ector and southwestern Midland Counties, including the
  following locations... Skywest Airport.

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 3167 10232 3177 10237 3194 10213 3177 10198
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 234DEG 22KT 3176 10226 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

10

2 follow-up statements

155 
WWUS54 KMAF 202238
SVSMAF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
538 PM CDT Mon May 20 2019

TXC135-329-202300-
/O.CON.KMAF.TO.W.0031.000000T0000Z-190520T2300Z/
Ector TX-Midland TX-
538 PM CDT Mon May 20 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN ECTOR AND SOUTHWESTERN MIDLAND COUNTIES...
        
At 537 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located 11 miles southeast of
Odessa, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and golf ball size hail.

SOURCE...Video and multiple public reports confirmed tornado.

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...
Skywest Airport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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 3167 10232 3177 10237 3194 10213 3177 10198
TIME...MOT...LOC 2237Z 252DEG 18KT 3177 10222 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

10

698 
WWUS54 KMAF 202249
SVSMAF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
549 PM CDT Mon May 20 2019

TXC135-202259-
/O.CAN.KMAF.TO.W.0031.000000T0000Z-190520T2300Z/
Ector TX-
549 PM CDT Mon May 20 2019

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN ECTOR COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for western Texas.

LAT...LON 3173 10224 3178 10225 3189 10208 3177 10198
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 246DEG 17KT 3178 10217 

$$

TXC329-202300-
/O.CON.KMAF.TO.W.0031.000000T0000Z-190520T2300Z/
Midland TX-
549 PM CDT Mon May 20 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN MIDLAND COUNTY...
    
At 549 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 11 miles south of Midland International Air and Space
Port, or 13 miles southeast of Odessa, moving northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and golf 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...
Skywest Airport.

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 3173 10224 3178 10225 3189 10208 3177 10198
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 246DEG 17KT 3178 10217 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

10

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 20, 2:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 20, 2:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
245 PM CDT Mon May 20 2019

.DISCUSSION...

WV imagery shows the upper trough approaching the Four corners area,
leaving West texas and Southeast New Mexico under very progressive
SW flow aloft.  At the sfc, a sfc trough over far west Texas has
resulted in a surge of Gulf moisture into the region, w/the 70F
isodrosotherm edging into our ern counties, making it feel more like
east Texas than west, and banking the dryline up against the higher
terrain.  The approach/arrival of the trough will result in
increasing winds over much of the area this afternoon/night, and
we've extended the warning in the Guadalupes/Delawares into Tue
evening as a secondary trough approaches. KMAF VWP shows a 25kt LLJ
right off the deck, and this is forecast to increase to 60+kts after
dark. Needless to say, parameters for severe wx later today are
impressive.  KMAF 18Z sounding shows mucapes in excess of 4600 J/kg,
mid-lvl lapse rates of over 7C/km, deep lyr shear of 50kts, and 0-
1km SRH of 54 m2/s2. Already, convection is developing over the
South Plains, w/a tor watch in effect for our NE six counties. Hi-
res models call for a first round of supercells this afternoon,
w/very large hail and a tornado or two, then more of a squall
line/QLCS developing late this evening as the Pac front arrives,
w/damaging winds becoming the main hazard.

Tue/Wed should be convective down days, w/post-frontal temps well-
below normal Tue, then rebounding to above-normal Wed under
continuing SW flow aloft as the secondary trough digs to CA/NV/AZ by
00Z Thu.  Wed night, another sfc trough develops out west, resulting
in a surge of Gulf moisture return similar to last night's.  This
will sharpen up the dryline out west, w/a chance of convection
developing along and east of this feature as shortwaves round the
base of the trough and move into the area.  Thu, the trough ejects
into the upper Midwest, to be replaced by a tertiary trough over the
SW CONUS.  Chances look even better for convection Thu night, when
long-range models hint at developing a MCS over the Wrn Low Rolling
Plains.  Fri/Sat, a slight chance of convection will remain along
the dryline, w/long-range models hinting at the ridge over the Gulf
Coast states slipping under the trough and shifting to the wrn
CONUS.  This will result in temps climbing to above-normal by
Memorial Day.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Big Spring                     57  80  57  91 /  80   0   0  10
Carlsbad                       52  80  54  92 /   0   0   0   0
Dryden                         63  90  63  94 /  20   0   0  10
Fort Stockton                  56  84  58  94 /  10   0   0   0
Guadalupe Pass                 47  74  55  87 /   0   0   0   0
Hobbs                          49  78  52  89 /  10   0   0   0
Marfa                          48  81  48  92 /   0   0   0   0
Midland Intl Airport           56  81  57  92 /  50   0   0  10
Odessa                         56  81  57  92 /  50   0   0  10
Wink                           55  84  54  95 /  10   0   0   0

&&

.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...Wind Advisory until 3 AM MDT Tuesday for Central Lea County-
     Northern Lea County-Southern Lea County.

     High Wind Warning until 10 PM MDT Tuesday for Guadalupe
     Mountains of Eddy County.

     High Wind Warning until 3 AM MDT Tuesday for Eddy County Plains.

TX...Wind Advisory until 4 AM CDT Tuesday for Andrews-Borden-Crane-
     Dawson-Ector-Gaines-Glasscock-Howard-Loving-Marfa Plateau-
     Martin-Midland-Mitchell-Pecos-Reagan-Reeves County Plains-
     Scurry-Terrell-Upton-Ward-Winkler.

     High Wind Warning until 10 PM MDT Tuesday for Guadalupe
     Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains.

     High Wind Warning until 4 AM CDT Tuesday for Davis Mountains-
     Davis Mountains Foothills-Eastern Culberson County-Van Horn
     and Highway 54 Corridor.

&&

12/44

Hazardous weather outlook, May 20, 1:04 PM CDT, 4 hours 26 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
104 PM CDT Mon May 20 2019

NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-059>063-067>070-075-082-
270>282-211815-
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-
104 PM CDT Mon May 20 2019 /1204 PM MDT Mon May 20 2019/

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

A significant severe weather event is likely through tonight,
especially across the Permian Basin and Lower Trans Pecos. Very
large to giant hail will be possible, along with tornadoes, some
of which could be significant, and damaging winds. The greatest
risk for significant severe weather through tonight will be across
the eastern Permian Basin and the western Low Rolling Plains. Flash
flooding will also be possible especially across the eastern Permian
Basin.

High winds are expected through tonight in the Guadalupe Mountains
and the Eddy County New Mexico Plains extending south into the Davis
Mountains. Winds will also increase across the Permian Basin, Lea
county New Mexico, Marfa Plateau and the Lower Trans Pecos and a
wind advisory is in effect through tonight. Fire weather concerns
are elevated across southeast New Mexico and the Trans Pecos.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Thunderstorms, some severe, will be possible across much of the
area, except the mountains, during the afternoon and evening hours
Wednesday through Sunday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is recommended. City, county and state resources
may be in high demand.

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 20, 2:55 PM CDT, 2 hours 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
255 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2019

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

0249 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 S PINE SPRINGS        31.82N 104.81W
05/20/2019  M62 MPH          Culberson          TX   ASOS

&&

SCOTT.KLEEBAUER

Local storm report, May 20, 3:43 PM CDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
343 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2019

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

0335 PM     HAIL             4 S SAND                32.64N 102.18W
05/20/2019  E1.00 INCH       Dawson             TX   PUBLIC

&&

AGARCIA

Local storm report, May 20, 3:59 PM CDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
359 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2019

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

0349 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST PINE SPRINGS            31.89N 104.81W
05/20/2019  M70 MPH          CULBERSON          TX   ASOS

&&

CMR

Local storm report, May 20, 4:50 PM CDT, 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
450 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2019

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

0440 PM     HAIL             4 N ODESSA              31.91N 102.37W
05/20/2019  E1.00 INCH       Ector              TX   PUBLIC

&&

AGARCIA

Local storm report, May 20, 5:06 PM CDT, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
506 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2019

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

0443 PM     HAIL             ODESSA                  31.85N 102.37W
05/20/2019  E1.00 INCH       ECTOR              TX   PUBLIC

            ON UTPB CAMPUS

&&

CMR

Local storm report, May 20, 5:22 PM CDT, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
522 PM CDT MON MAY 20 2019

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

0501 PM     HAIL             5 NE ODESSA             31.91N 102.31W
05/20/2019  E1.00 INCH       Ector              TX   PUBLIC

            HAIL WAS REPORTED AT THE INTERSECTION OF FARM TO MARKET
            ROAD 1788 AND STATE HWY 191.

&&

AGARCIA

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 20, 3:31 AM CDT	High Wind Warning	MAF	Brewster, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Reeves	43 hr
May 20, 3:31 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	MAF	Andrews, Borden, Crane, Dawson, Ector, Gaines and 16 more	24 hr
May 20, 2:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Andrews, Dawson, Gaines	79 min
May 20, 4:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Borden, Dawson	25 min
May 20, 4:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Andrews, Crane, Ector, Martin, Midland, Upton	50 min
May 20, 4:52 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MAF	Ector, Midland	3 hr
May 20, 5:05 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MAF	Martin, Midland	3 hr
May 20, 5:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Howard, Martin	67 min
May 20, 5:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Dawson	20 min
May 20, 5:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Borden, Dawson	40 min
May 20, 5:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Crane, Ector, Glasscock, Howard, Martin, Midland and 1 more	52 min
May 20, 5:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Borden, Dawson	47 min
May 20, 6:15 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Glasscock, Howard, Martin, Midland	60 min
May 20, 6:16 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MAF	Upton	29 min
May 20, 6:18 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MAF	Glasscock, Midland	27 min
May 20, 6:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MAF	Crane, Glasscock, Midland, Reagan, Upton	37 min
May 20, 6:44 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MAF	Glasscock, Howard	31 min
May 20, 6:50 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MAF	Glasscock, Midland	25 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.