A difluent flow in the upper levels, a very tropical air mass in the lower and mid levels, and weak mid-level steering winds all contributed for a flash flood evening in the Permian Basin. Early convection started as several pockets of multicell storms, but later all of the storms formed into an MCS that marched slowly to the east.
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Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MAF wrote it up.
A difluent flow in the upper levels, a very tropical air mass in the lower and mid levels, and weak mid-level steering winds all contributed for a flash flood evening in the Permian Basin. Early convection started as several pockets of multicell storms, but later all of the storms formed into an MCS that marched slowly to the east. A cyclonic circulation developed within the MCS that allowed the southern convection to move fairly quickly to the east, whereas in the comma head of this rotation little eastward progress was made. In parts of Martin County the stratiform precipitation was continuous for over 4 hours.This day saw an air mass rich in tropical moisture with a weak cap. Deep convection started in the late morning. Storms were generally outflow dominated in the afternoon and sent out numerous outflow boundaries. Some of these boundaries may have served as a focus for the organized development later in the evening.
The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:31 UTC.
4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rains covered most of northern and western Ector County. Four feet of water ran across Highway 158 between Goldsmith and Gardendale. Rainfall estimates were in the 2-3 inch range.
These two areas in Martin County both started as multicell clusters, but eventually became part of the MCS that engulfed parts of the Permian Basin. FM 829 near Grady became impassable. Water covered State Highway 349 for a 4-mile stretch just south of the Dawson County line. Both location totalled about 3-4 inches of rain.
The worst flooding in years to strike Midland occurred on this evening as heavy rains swelled Scharbauer Draw out of its banks and into busy roadways. Numerous vehicles were stalled and several people were rescued from the high, fast water. Fortunately no injuries resulted, and almost all of the damage was water damage to vehicles. Some vehicles were almost completely submerged.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, June 1999
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5705941, 5705939, 5705940, 5705942.