Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 49, NWS Midland/Odessa, TX

May 31, 2026Brewster County, Texas

NWS Midland/Odessa, TX issued this flash flood warning at May 31, 2026, 5:18 PM CDT for Brewster 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
May 31, 2026, 5:18 PM CDT (22:18 UTC)
Expired
May 31, 2026, 8:15 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Brewster 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

Del Rio, TX (KDRT), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 253 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, Del Rio, TX at 12:00Z on 2026-05-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1558 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, Del Rio, TX at 12:00Z on 2026-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 50 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1558 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-313 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
880 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
50 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
61 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

218 
WGUS54 KMAF 312218
FFWMAF
TXC043-010115-
/O.NEW.KMAF.FF.W.0049.260531T2218Z-260601T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
518 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  West Central Brewster County in southwestern Texas...

* Until 815 PM CDT.

* At 518 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
           drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Santiago Peak, Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area and
  Elephant Mountain.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3012 10342 3011 10353 3007 10359 3005 10360
      2997 10361 2997 10360 2992 10360 2992 10359
      2980 10356 2972 10350 2969 10344 2966 10332
      2967 10318 2972 10310 2983 10302 2991 10301
      2995 10302 3009 10313 3012 10319 3014 10339

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

29
1 follow-up statement
304 
WGUS74 KMAF 312313
FFSMAF

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
613 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

TXC043-010115-
/O.CON.KMAF.FF.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260601T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Brewster TX-
613 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR WEST CENTRAL BREWSTER COUNTY...

At 613 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible in
the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
         highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
         drainage and low-lying areas.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Santiago Peak, Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area and
  Elephant Mountain.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3012 10342 3011 10353 3007 10359 3005 10360
      2997 10361 2997 10360 2992 10360 2992 10359
      2980 10356 2972 10350 2969 10344 2966 10332
      2967 10318 2972 10310 2983 10302 2991 10301
      2995 10302 3009 10313 3012 10319 3014 10339

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

95

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 May 31, 1:32 PM CDT, 3 hours 46 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 128 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
  • There is a marginal (level 1/5) risk for severe thunderstorms from the Permian Basin to the Big Bend this afternoon and evening. Strong and gusty winds are the main threat but there may be a few storms with large hail as well.
  • Highs today reach the upper 90s to low 100s, which could cause heat stress for those doing outdoor activities. Widespread highs in the mid-to-upper 90s stick around Monday as well.
  • Cooler and wetter weather returns Tuesday and remains through the end of next week.
Area forecast discussion, May 31, 1:32 PM CDT, 3 hours 46 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
132 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 128 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

- There is a marginal (level 1/5) risk for severe thunderstorms
  from the Permian Basin to the Big Bend this afternoon and
  evening. Strong and gusty winds are the main threat but there
  may be a few storms with large hail as well.

- Highs today reach the upper 90s to low 100s, which could cause
  heat stress for those doing outdoor activities. Widespread highs
  in the mid-to-upper 90s stick around Monday as well.

- Cooler and wetter weather returns Tuesday and remains through
  the end of next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Monday night)
Issued at 128 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

WV imagery this afternoon shows a negatively-tilted upper trough
over northeast Wyoming, and continuing to eject NNE towards Canada.
An upper ridge is present over the central CONUS, leaving West Texas
and Southeast New Mexico under southwest flow aloft.  Thicknesses
will peak today, resulting in perhaps the warmest day this forecast
as highs plateau some 7-9 F above climatology.  To the southwest, a
shortwave moving through Sonora will cross the river this afternoon,
bringing a chance of convection through mainly West Texas this
afternoon/early evening.  While deep-lyr shear is rather tepid,
forecast soundings do show a dry subcloud layer and dcapes in excess
of 1000 J/kg, suggesting damaging wind gusts will be possible.  In
addition, mid-lvl lapse rates of 7-9 C/km will also pose a large
hail threat.

This activity should diminish after sundown.  Skies will scatter out
overnight, but the LLJ will keep the boundary layer mixed, and
overnight minimums should be similar to this morning's, if not a
skosh warmer.

Monday, the upper ridge develops east into the MS Valley, and local
thicknesses decrease a bit as a result.  This should shave a couple
of degrees off afternoon, highs, but it'll still be warm.  Afternoon
convection will again be possible, mainly west of the Pecos, but
storms look more isolated in nature, and not as strong as today.

Monday night, convection is forecast to diminish shortly after
sundown.  The LLJ will advect abundant Gulf moisture into the area,
yielding overnight lows a couple of degrees warmer than what's
expect tonight.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tuesday through Saturday)
Issued at 128 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

Tuesday marks the beginning of another pattern change that brings
cooler and wetter weather to southeast New Mexico and west Texas. An
upper-level trough develops out west and slowly makes it way towards
our area through the remainder of the week. Shower and thunderstorm
coverage increases across westernmost portions of our area beginning
Tuesday afternoon and evening. By Wednesday, the trough begins to
dig into Baja California and move towards northern Mexico. As this
occurs, rain chances increase areawide. Widespread rain chances at
or above 50% continue through at least the end of the work week. By
that time, the trough begins to move across portions of our area and
eject off to the northeast. As a result, rain chances start to
decrease over the weekend (more so in the 10-30% range) and become
more confined to easternmost parts of the area and in the higher
terrain. Throughout this week, rich moisture will set up across the
region. Model guidance indicates precipitable water values will be
anywhere between 1.0-1.5 inches areawide, which is above the 90th
percentile for this time of year (nearing daily record territory on
some days). As a result, flash flooding is expected to be the
biggest threat this week, particularly for urban and low-lying
areas. While a couple of storms may become strong to severe, dense
cloud cover and relatively weak wind shear will be limiting factors
for that concern. The dense cloud cover will also keep temperatures
below normal for early June. While highs Tuesday manage to stay in
the upper 80s and low-to-mid 90s (near normal), temperatures in the
upper 70s and low-to-mid 80s can be expected the rest of the week.
By the weekend, highs begin to tick back up closer to normal again
as the trough makes its departure.

Sprang

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1038 AM CDT Sun May 31 2026

VFR conditions will prevail next 24 hours, except in areas of
direct convection, which will affect KFST and, to a lesser extent,
KINK/KPEQ. Cu bases this afternoon will range from 7-13 kft AGL.
Forecast sounding redevelop cu near the end of the forecast period
invof KHOB, w/bases ~ 4.5 kft AGL.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Big Spring               70  97  70  93 /  30   0   0  10
Carlsbad                 66  99  68  93 /  10  20  20  40
Dryden                   71  96  72  93 /  10   0   0  10
Fort Stockton            68  97  69  93 /  20  20  10  20
Guadalupe Pass           66  89  66  84 /  10  20  20  50
Hobbs                    64  96  65  90 /  10  20  20  20
Marfa                    56  92  57  89 /  10  30  20  60
Midland Intl Airport     68  96  70  91 /  30   0  10  10
Odessa                   69  96  70  91 /  20   0  10  10
Wink                     68  98  70  93 /  20  10  10  20

&&

.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...None.
NM...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...99
LONG TERM....13
AVIATION...99

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 31, 4:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMAFBrewster50 min
May 31, 4:46 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMAFPecos44 min
May 31, 5:19 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMAFPecos3 hr
May 31, 5:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMAFBrewster39 min
May 31, 6:55 PM CDTDust Storm AdvisoryMAFCulberson95 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

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.