Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, April 3 to 4, 2004

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, April 3 to 4, 2004
Start: 2004-04-03T15:54
End: 2004-04-04T19:00
Location: Texas

April 3 to 4, 2004 · NWS MAF · 40 events in 9 counties and zones

22 hail, 11 flash flood, 4 tornado, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $3.2 million
Crop damage: $2.5 million
Events: 40

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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Apr 3, 2:06 PM CST, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 3, 2:06 PM CST, 1 hour 48 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX...CORRECTION TO SPELLING
205 PM CST SAT APR  3 2004

.SHORT TERM...
CLOSED UPPER LOW CONTINUES TO PINWHEEL OVER SOUTHERN ARIZONA EARLY
THIS AFTERNOON...WITH ONLY LITTLE EAST/SOUTHEAST MOVEMENT NOTED IN
WATER VAPOR IMAGERY.  FRONTAL BOUNDARY DRAPED NORTHWEST/SOUTHEAST
ACROSS THE CWA...JUST EAST OF THE PECOS RIVER.  LOW LEVEL MOISTURE
PLENTIFUL MOST LOCATIONS AS SURFACE DEWPOINTS VARY FROM THE LOWER
50S ACROSS SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO TO THE LOWER 60S OVER THE LOWER
TRANS PECOS.  SOME LOWER DEWPOINTS NOTED ALONG AND EAST OF THE RIO
GRANDE RIVER VALLEY...AND FURTHER NORTH OVER THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.

AWAITING THE NEXT IN A SERIES OF SHORTWAVE TROUGHS TO EJECT NORTH/
NORTHEAST OVER THE AREA IN ADVANCE OF LARGE CUTOFF LOW OVER
ARIZONA.  LOCATIONS ALONG AND WEST OF A DAVIS MOUNTAINS/BIG BEND
LINE RECEIVING THE LION/S SHARE OF INSOLATION TODAY AND DO NOT
EXPECT RIBBON OF CLOUD COVER THAT/S PARALLELING FRONTAL BOUNDARY TO
DIMINISH MUCH MORE THAN IT HAS SO FAR.  THEREFORE...BEST INSTABILITY
WILL EXIST OVER SUNNY LOCATIONS.  EXPECT SYNOPTIC SCALE LIFT TO
IMPINGE UPON WESTERN REACHES OF THE CWA IN EARNEST BY 04/00Z.  THIS
WILL COINCIDE WITH AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE...SBCAPES OF 1500 TO 2000
J/KG AND SFC LI/S OF -3 TO 04 C...IN ADDITION TO H7 TO H5 LAPSE
RATES ROUND 7.5 C/KM AND 0 TO 6 KM BULK SHEAR ON THE ORDER OF 40 TO
50 KT.  IN SHORT...EXPECTING SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS TO BE
SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL THE PRIMARY THREAT.  HOWEVER...LIFT AND SHEAR
APPEAR GREAT ENOUGH FOR DAMAGING WINDS TO BE OF CONCERN...IF NOT AN
ISOLATED TORNADO.  THE SEVERE THREAT WILL DIMINISH SLOWLY SINCE LOSS
OF HEATING/INSTABILITY WILL BE OFFSET SOMEWHAT BY DEEP LAYER LIFT
AND COLD TEMPERATURES ALOFT.

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE UPPER TRANS PECOS AND SOUTHEAST NEW
MEXICO PLAINS WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT OVERNIGHT.  PW VALUES ARE NEAR 1
INCH...AND DO NOT THINK THERE WILL BE MUCH OF A DROPOFF UNTIL THE
WESTERN SIDE OF THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS.  NOT ONLY WILL THUNDERSTORMS
PRODUCE ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAINFALL PER HOUR...BUT WE COULD SEE
TRAINING OF CELLS...ESPECIALLY THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT UNDER
STRONGLY DIFFLUENT FLOW ALOFT.  WILL EXPAND THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH
FURTHER SOUTH TO INCLUDE PECOS...JEFF DAVIS...AND BREWSTER
COUNTIES...IN ADDITION TO CULBERSON COUNTY AND THE GUADALUPE
MOUNTAINS FOR POSTERITY...IF NOT COHESIVENESS.

.LONG TERM...
A COUPLE OF MORE DAYS OF SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL EXPECTED IN THE COUNTY
WARNING AREA AS STRONG UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE/DIFFLUENCE OCCUR WITH
JETLETS ROTATING NORTHEASTWARD OUT OF THE NEARLY STATIONARY UPPER
LOW CENTERED IN THE DESERT SOUTHWEST. A NEARLY STATIONARY SURFACE
FRONT WILL ALSO BE POSITIONED NEAR THE PECOS RIVER TO FOCUS LOW LEVEL
CONVERGENCE. WIND SHEAR WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR STRONG TO SEVERE
STORMS...PARTICULARLY ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHWEST TEXAS SOUTH OF THE
STATIONARY FRONT WHERE BETTER HEATING IS EXPECTED. WILL
CONTINUE TO MENTION HEAVY RAINFALL SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT MANY
AREAS. THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE
REISSUED/RECONFIGURED SUNDAY AND/OR SUNDAY NIGHT BASED ON LATEST
TRENDS. WILL GO WITH HIGH POPS AGAIN MONDAY AS THE UPPER LOW BEGINS
TO TAKE A NOTICEABLE TURN TO THE EAST...PUSHED EAST AS THE NEXT
PACIFIC TROUGH MOVES ONSHORE.

THE NEW GFS IS SLIGHTLY SLOWER WITH THE EASTWARD PUSH OF THE UPPER
LOW ACROSS THE TEXAS PANHANDLE ON TUESDAY BUT POPS SHOULD BE
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN PREVIOUS DAYS AS BEST UPPER FORCING AND LOW
LEVEL CONVERGENCE WILL HAVE MOVED EAST OF THE REGION. LOOKS
REASONABLE TO RETAIN AT LEAST THE ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED POPS
TUESDAY ALONG WITH SIGNIFICANT WARMING.

WILL MAKE FEW CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED FORECAST WEDNESDAY AND BEYOND.
WILL GO DRY WEDNESDAY BEHIND THE UPPER LOW BEFORE THE NEXT NORTHERN
STREAM SYSTEM SENDS A COLD FRONT SOUTH INTO THE REGION THURSDAY.
AT LEAST SLIGHT POPS WARRANTED THURSDAY AS INSTABILITY AND LOW LEVEL
CONVERGENCE COMBINE WITH AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH/LOW ACROSS THE
SOUTHWEST UNTIED STATES. SLIGHT POPS WILL CONTINUE FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY WITH THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF THE UPPER TROUGH AND A
MOIST UNSTABLE UPSLOPE FLOW DEVELOPING.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BIG SPRING TX             48  61  47  63 /  60  70  70  70
CARLSBAD NM               49  58  43  65 /  80  80  80  60
DRYDEN TX                 60  69  56  70 /  60  60  60  60
FORT STOCKTON TX          54  65  49  66 /  80  70  70  60
GUADALUPE PASS TX         44  57  41  62 /  80  70  70  60
HOBBS NM                  47  59  43  64 /  80  80  80  60
MARFA TX                  48  66  43  69 /  80  60  60  50
MIDLAND INTL AIRPORT TX   48  63  48  64 /  70  80  80  70
ODESSA TX                 48  64  48  64 /  80  80  80  60
WINK TX                   52  67  50  72 /  80  80  80  60

&&

.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT WESTERN PERMIAN BASIN...TRANS PECOS
     DAVIS AND GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...AND BREWSTER COUNTY TXZ258-
     057>060-067-074-075-081.
NM...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO NMZ027>029-
     NMZ033-034.

&&

12/67

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 3, 2:30 PM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
230 PM CST SAT APR 3 2004

NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075-
079>082-258-041000-
ANDREWS-BIG BEND AREA-BORDEN-CENTRAL LEA COUNTY-CRANE-
DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA-DAWSON-ECTOR-EDDY COUNTY PLAINS-GAINES-
GLASSCOCK-GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS-GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY COUNTY-
HOWARD-LOVING-MARFA PLATEAU-MARTIN-MIDLAND-MITCHELL-
NORTHERN LEA COUNTY-PECOS-PRESIDIO VALLEY-REAGAN-
REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS-SCURRY-SOUTHERN LEA COUNTY-
TERRELL-UPTON-VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR-WARD-WINKLER-
230 PM CST (130 AM MST) SAT APR 3 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEASTERN
NEW MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER PORTIONS
OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
LOCATIONS GENERALLY WEST OF THE PECOS RIVER WILL BE THE MOST LIKELY
TO EXPERIENCE THESE STRONGER STORMS.  THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE
STORMS WILL BE LARGE HAIL...HOWEVER DAMAGING WINDS OR AN ISOLATED
TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT.

DUE TO COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE...THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL.  FLASH
FLOODING WILL BE A CONCERN...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE UPPER TRANS PECOS
AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS WHERE HEAVY RAIN FELL FRIDAY NIGHT
AND A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE SUNDAY ACROSS MOST OF THE
OUTLOOK AREA.  ALTHOUGH THE ATMOSPHERE WILL NOT BE AS UNSTABLE AS
SATURDAY...A FEW STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE LARGE
HAIL AS COLD TEMPERATURES ALOFT PERSIST OVER THE OUTLOOK AREA.

CONTINUED AVAILABILITY OF MOISTURE AND EXPECTED WIDESPREAD AREAL
COVERAGE OF PRECIPITATION WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL
SUNDAY.  FLASH FLOODING WILL AGAIN BE A GOOD POSSIBILITY AS MOST
LOCATIONS WILL HAVE WET TO SATURATED GROUND.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS...STORM
SPOTTER GROUPS...AND OTHER INTERESTED CONCERNS SHOULD MONITOR THIS
SITUATION AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN
YOUR AREA.

The radar

The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 102 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:51 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

22 hail, 11 flash flood, 4 tornado, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Gaines

When: April 3, 3:54 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Gaines County, 22 mi W of Seminole
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.750, -102.700

Thunderstorms developed over Lea County, New Mexico during Saturday afternoon on April 3rd. The most notable of these thunderstorms was a supercell thunderstorm that developed near Eunice, NM at 336 PM CST and moved northeast into Gaines County. This storm moved very slowly northeast across the western portions of Gaines County. Due to the storm's very slow propagation, large hail and heavy rainfall lingered over U.S Highway 62/180 from 3:54 pm to 5 pm CST. This resulted in up to 1 1/2 feet of hail accumulation and the closing of U.S. Highway 62/180.

Hail, Reeves

When: April 3, 4:22 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 20 mi SW of Toyah
Measured: 4.25 in hail
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.417, -103.483

Hail, Reeves

When: April 3, 4:40 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 20 mi SW of Toyah
Measured: 3 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.323, -103.693 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Presidio

When: April 3, 4:50 PM CST to 4:57 PM CST
Where: Presidio County, 10 mi E of Presidio
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.000, -104.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Jeff Davis

When: April 3, 5:05 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Jeff Davis County, 35 mi NW of Ft Davis
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.583, -103.883

Flooding was reported along Highway 118, 2.5 miles south the Interstate 10.

Hail, Jeff Davis

When: April 3, 5:08 PM CST
Where: Jeff Davis County, 36 mi NW of Ft Davis
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.716, -104.140 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Reeves

When: April 3, 5:08 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 15 mi W of Toyah
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.323, -103.693 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Brewster

When: April 3, 5:25 PM CST to 5:47 PM CST
Where: Brewster County, Lajitas
Measured: 4.5 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 32.717, -103.033

Supercell thunderstorms moving northeast into the extreme southwest portion of Brewster County produced grapefruit to softball size hail for 22 minutes. Reports indicated that the softball size hail occurred around 530 pm CST.

Hail, Gaines

When: April 3, 5:35 PM CST to 5:42 PM CST
Where: Gaines County, 20 mi W of Seminole
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.117, -104.017

Nickel to baseball size hail was reported covering the ground at the intersection of U.S. Highway 62/180 and Farm to Market Road 331.

Hail, Presidio

When: April 3, 5:47 PM CST
Where: Presidio County, 20 mi SW of Marfa
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.550, -104.200

Hail, Presidio

When: April 3, 5:50 PM CST
Where: Presidio County, 25 mi SE of Redford
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 30.000, -104.240 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tennis ball size hail resulted in car and camper damage in extreme southern portions of Presidio County.

Hail, Jeff Davis

When: April 3, 5:55 PM CST to 6:15 PM CST
Where: Jeff Davis County, Valentine
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.950, -104.317

Hail, Reeves

When: April 3, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 6 mi W of Toyah
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.317, -104.033

Hail, Gaines

When: April 3, 6:22 PM CST
Where: Gaines County, 4 mi NW of Seminole
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 31.150, -103.633

Flash Flood, Gaines

When: April 3, 6:35 PM CST to April 4, 3:30 PM CST
Where: Gaines County, Seminole
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.741, -102.635 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorms that began on the afternoon of April 3rd continued into the afternoon of April 4th. This resulted in flooding across the western half of Gaines County. The flooding was also compounded by additional flooding caused by the melting of over one foot of hail in the western portions of the county. Many roads were closed due to flooding, including State Highway 214 between Seminole and Denver City and U.S. Highway 62/180 between Seminole and Hobbs. Flooding was reported at the intersection of County Road 331 and U.S. Highway 180 at Seminole Draw, along County Road 308 near Farm to Market Road 181, and along County Road 347 near the state line. Water five to six feet deep was reported four to five miles north of U.S. Highway 62/180 on Farm to Market Road 1757.

Tornado, Gaines

When: April 3, 7:05 PM CST
Where: Gaines County, 13 mi SW of Seminole
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 29.283, -103.783

A weak tornado was reported southwest of Seminole.

Tornado, Reeves

When: April 3, 7:17 PM CST to 7:25 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 2 mi NW of Balmorhea
Rating: F0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.717, -103.000

A tornado was observed by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper moving east at ten mph. The tornado moved over rural areas with no damage noted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Reeves

When: April 3, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, Verhalen
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.117, -104.250

Tornado, Reeves

When: April 3, 7:33 PM CST to 7:34 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 4 mi NW of Verhalen
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.883, -102.867

A Department of Public Safety trooper observed the tornado "touch down and then go right back up".

Tornado, Reeves

When: April 3, 7:51 PM CST to 7:52 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 5 mi SW of Pecos
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.583, -104.500

A tornado was reported near the town of Pecos.

Hail, Reeves

When: April 3, 8:02 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, Pecos
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.117, -104.017

Funnel Cloud, Gaines

When: April 3, 8:09 PM CST to 8:35 PM CST
Where: Gaines County, 15 mi SW of Seminole
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 31.317, -103.883

There were several reports of funnel clouds by trained spotters and the general public.

Hail, Reeves

When: April 3, 8:30 PM CST to 8:34 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 15 mi S of Pecos
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.583, -102.800

Hail, Gaines

When: April 3, 8:35 PM CST
Where: Gaines County, 15 mi W of Seminole
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 31.000, -103.750

Hail, Brewster

When: April 3, 10:15 PM CST
Where: Brewster County, 50 mi E of Lajitas
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.812, -103.252 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Seven vehicles received hail damage during the storm.

Flash Flood, Reeves

When: April 3, 10:35 PM CST to April 4, 1:30 AM CST
Where: Reeves County, 10 mi N of Balmorhea
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.117, -103.583

Flooding was reported along Farm to Market Road 2903 between Toyah and Balmorhea, making the road impassable. Farm to Market Road 869 and State Highway 17 were also closed due to flooding.

Hail, Brewster

When: April 4, 1:30 AM CST
Where: Brewster County, 5 mi E of Alpine
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.367, -103.550

Golfball hail was reported by the Sheriff's office.

Flash Flood, Reeves

When: April 4, 2:00 AM CST to 2:30 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, Toyah
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.717, -102.900

Eight to twelve inches of rainfall resulted in the failure of a protective levee near Toyah. With the failure of this dike, three to four feet of water inundated the town of Toyah and prompted the evacuation of the town's residents. While 19 people in the town of 103 elected to stay through the flood event, the remainder of the town's residents were moved to a Red Cross shelter in the nearby community of Pecos. The extensive flooding in Toyah left virtually every home with flood damage. One home was completely destroyed.Flooding lingered until late afternoon on Sunday, April 4th with State Highway 17 and Farm to Market Roads 2903, 869, and 1450 remaining underwater.

Hail, Pecos

When: April 4, 2:30 AM CST
Where: Pecos County, 25 mi W of Ft Stockton
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.781, -102.724 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nickel size hail was reported along Interstate 10 by a Sheriff's Deputy.

Hail, Pecos

When: April 4, 2:35 AM CST
Where: Pecos County, 1 mi SE of Hovey
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.367, -103.583

Golfball sized hail reported by Sheriff's deputy.

Flash Flood, Reeves

When: April 4, 3:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Reeves County, 7 mi WSW of Pecos
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.323, -103.693 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooding was reported along Farm to Market Road 869.

Hail, Pecos

When: April 4, 3:59 AM CST to 4:15 AM CST
Where: Pecos County, 7 mi SW of Ft Stockton
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $2.5 million
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 30.781, -102.724 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A high precipitation supercell formed in extreme southwestern Pecos County early in the morning on Sunday, April 4th, and moved to the northeast, eventually affecting Fort Stockton. This thunderstorm produced extremely heavy rainfall, very high wind gusts (80 mph estimated), hail up to the size of golfballs, and flooding as it moved across the city of Fort Stockton. Quarter to golfball size hail was reported by the public. The hail lasted for ten minutes and accumulated to three inches deep in some places. The Belding Farms complex southwest of Fort Stockton reported extensive damage totaling approximately $2.5 million to pecan orchards.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pecos

When: April 4, 4:15 AM CST
Where: Pecos County, Ft Stockton
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.781, -102.724 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Pecos

When: April 4, 5:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where: Pecos County, 5 mi ENE of Belding
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.781, -102.724 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorms that moved across Pecos County produced flash flooding over the central and northeastern portions of the county. The Old Alpine Highway (U.S. Highway 67) was closed between Fort Stockton and Belding. Additionally, U.S. Highway 285 between Fort Stockton and Sanderson was closed. During the event, a sheriff deputy's vehicle and a truck stalled in high water. This resulted in two high water rescues. In addition, several homes were flooded on the southeast side of Fort Stockton, and residents were relocated to temporary shelters. The hardest hit areas in the city were the neighborhoods around James Rooney Memorial Park. Comanche Creek, which runs through the park, ran well out of its banks as can be seen in the above photo.

Hail, Jeff Davis

When: April 4, 7:38 AM CST
Where: Jeff Davis County, Ft Davis
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: PARK/FOREST SERVICE
Coordinates: 30.883, -103.283

Flash Flood, Reeves

When: April 4, 9:20 AM CST to 12:30 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, Pecos
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.583, -103.367

Flooding was reported along U.S. Highway 285. Street flooding was also reported in the city of Pecos.

Flash Flood, Ward

When: April 4, 9:27 AM CST to 12:30 PM CST
Where: Ward County, Barstow
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.817, -102.950

A thunderstorm moving out of Pecos County produced flooding over portions of Ward County during the morning of Sunday, April 4th. Several streets were flooded in the town of Barstow. Flooding was also reported at the intersection of Interstate 20 and Farm to Market Road 1219 and along a four mile stretch southward along Farm to Market Road 1219.

Flash Flood, Ector

When: April 4, 12:43 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Ector County, Odessa
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 29.283, -102.950

Thunderstorms produced up to five inches of rain in western portions of Odessa, resulting in flash flooding. Flash flooding was reported in the western and northeast portions of Odessa and also in the town of Gardendale. The flooding finally subsided by late afternoon.

Flash Flood, Andrews

When: April 4, 12:45 PM CST to 2:30 PM CST
Where: Andrews County, 16 mi WNW of Frankel City
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 29.200, -103.883

Flooding was reported at a guardhouse in western Andrews county. Additionally, reports indicated several feet of water on field roads.

Flash Flood, Reeves

When: April 4, 4:30 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 4 mi ENE of Toyah
Property damage: $2.5 million
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates: 31.200, -103.483

A bridge along Interstate 20 just east-northeast of Toyah over the normally dry Salt Draw failed Sunday evening. This failure was the result of fast-moving flood waters originating from previous heavy rainfall over the Davis Mountains. Hydrologists also credited a residual flow of water through the draw from the Toyah dike break early Sunday for contributing to the gradual process that caused the bridge to collapse. Authorities said that advance warning of additional runoff and flooding allowed the interstate to be closed to both eastbound and westbound traffic at the first sign of danger to the bridge. A state official for the Texas Department of Transportation said that 86 feet of roadway in the eastbound lanes fell into the river, and that additional 40-foot segments on each side of the river were also damaged. On the westbound side, one of the upright supports holding the bridge had moved six to eight inches, opening a crack in the roadway. No fatalities were reported with the bridge collapse, however, five indirect fatalities occurred in a multi-vehicle collision along a detour, U.S. Highway 285, south of Pecos.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2004 Warnings in Texas, April 2004

Sources

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: 5392849, 5392850, 5392757, 5392851, 5392758, 5392852, 5392853, 5392854, 5392855, 5392856, 5392759, 5392857, 5392858, 5392761, 5392763, 5392859, 5392860, 5392861, 5392756, 5392862, 5392762, 5392863, 5392864, 5392942, 5392760, 5392943, 5392944, 5392662, 5392663, 5392664, 5392945, 5392665, 5392666, 5392752, 5392753, 5392754, 5392755, 5392848, 5392847, 5392946.