Texas, 2006

Drought in Texas, September 1 to 30, 2006

September 1 to 30, 2006 · NWS MAF · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Despite copious amounts of rainfall received in August, drought conditions persisted across portions of west Texas during September. Because of the rainfall, however, the 2005-2006 Texas fire season was declared over on September 18th after a record-breaking 515 days of fire-fighting.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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 happened

The episode as NWS MAF wrote it up.

Despite copious amounts of rainfall received in August, drought conditions persisted across portions of west Texas during September. Because of the rainfall, however, the 2005-2006 Texas fire season was declared over on September 18th after a record-breaking 515 days of fire-fighting. The U.S. Drought Monitor officially indicated D2 (severe) drought conditions across the Marfa and Stockton Plateaus as well as southeastern portions of the Davis Mountains. D1 (moderate) and D0 (abnormally dry) conditions existed across the remainder of west Texas and southeastern New Mexico. Additional agricultural losses were not noted during the month of September.

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 Aug 31, 4:25 PM CST, 7 hours 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 4:25 PM CST, 7 hours 35 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
525 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2006

.UPDATE...
HAVE UPDATED THE GRIDS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE CONVECTION NOW MOVING ACROSS
THE WESTERN PERMIAN BASIN. TEXT PRODUCTS GOOD TO GO...GRAPHICS AND
TEXT TO FOLLOW. ALSO RECEIVED A REPORT OF A TROPICAL FUNNEL NEAR
SEAGRAVES. WILL ISSUE A SPS DISCUSSING THESE PHENOMENA.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... (ISSUED 315 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2006)

SHORT TERM...
EARLY AFTERNOON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS PLENTIFUL SUBTROPICAL
MOISTURE IN PLACE ACROSS WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO. A
COUPLE OF SHORTWAVE IMPULSES ARE MOVING ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO
AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS...AND THESE FEATURES HAVE COMBINED WITH
AFTERNOON HEATING AND INSTABILITY AND THE AVAILABLE MOISTURE TO
PRODUCE SCATTERED CONVECTION ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO
PLAINS...THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS...AND THE
ADJACENT UPPER TRANS PECOS REGION EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.

WILL MAINTAIN 20-30 PCT POPS TONIGHT ACROSS AREAS MAINLY WEST OF A
SEMINOLE...MIDLAND...SANDERSON LINE...WITH HIGHEST CHANCES ACROSS
THE ABOVE MENTIONED LOCATIONS. THINK MOST CONVECTION WILL BE ON THE
WANE AFTER SUNSET...BUT KEPT OVERNIGHT POPS AS A 12 HOUR GRID FOR
NOW. OTHERWISE...LOOKING FOR SIMILAR LOWS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA
WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN THE OVERALL PATTERN ANTICIPATED. MINOR EDITS
WERE MADE TO OVERNIGHT DEWPOINT...WIND...AND QPF GRIDS.

LONG TERM...
THE MAIN CONCERN IN THE LONG TERM PORTION OF THE FORECAST WILL BE
THE EXPECTED RAINFALL AND COOLER TEMPERATURES THIS WEEKEND AND
INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. BEYOND EARLY NEXT WEEK...RAINFALL CHANCES
APPEAR TO SLOWLY DECREASE WHILE SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES
WILL REMAIN IN THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST.

MORNING UPPER MAPS ALONG WITH THE LATEST WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOW
SHORTWAVE MID-LEVEL RIDGING IN PLACE ACROSS WEST TEXAS AND
SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO. SATELLITE IMAGERY ALSO SHOWS TROPICAL
MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE JOHN MOVING NORTH...AHEAD OF
MODEL RH PROGS...INTO WESTERN MEXICO. A DEEP MID AND UPPER LEVEL
TROUGH IS ALSO NOTED OVER THE NORTHERN ROCKIES. THE ABOVE
MENTIONED RIDGE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FRIDAY AS THE TROUGH
CURRENTLY OVER THE NORTHERN ROCKIES TRANSLATES EAST ACROSS THE
HIGH PLAINS. SURFACE ANTICYCLOGENESIS IN THE WAKE OF THE HIGH
PLAINS TROUGH WILL DRIVE A COLD FRONT INTO WEST TEXAS AND
SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SATURDAY
MORNING. THE COMBINATION OF THE COLD FRONT ALONG WITH AN INCREASE
IN MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTH WILL LEAD TO A GOOD CHANCE OF RAINFALL
ACROSS SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND THE NORTHERN PERMIAN BASIN FRIDAY
NIGHT...THEN SPREADING SOUTH ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE REGION ON
SATURDAY. THE CURRENT SHORT RANGE MODELS AGREE ENOUGH TO WARRANT
AN INCREASE IN POPS FOR SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AS MID AND HIGH
LEVEL MOISTURE CONTINUES TO INCREASE AND LOW-LEVEL UPSLOPE FLOW
ENSUES. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CONCERN GIVEN THE
AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE MOISTURE AND WEAK WINDS ALOFT. WE WILL MENTION
THIS IN THE UPCOMING HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. RAIN CHANCES WILL
BEGIN TO DECREASE BY MONDAY. A WEST TO EAST ORIENTED MID-LEVEL
THETA-E RIDGE ALONG WITH OROGRAPHIC LIFT ACROSS THE BIG BEND
REGION ARGUES FOR ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IN THE MENTIONED REGION. WE
HAVE OPTED TO INCREASE POPS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK ACROSS
THIS AREA. AS FOR TEMPERATURES...THE ANTICIPATED CLOUD COVER AND
EASTERLY SURFACE WINDS WILL ACT TO KEEP TEMPERATURES FROM RISING
MUCH AND WE HAVE GENERALLY FOLLOWED THE MEX MOS GUIDANCE.

&&

.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...NONE.
TX...NONE.

&&

54/70
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 31, 4:41 PM CST, 7 hours 19 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
541 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2006

NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075-
079>082-258-011200-
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-
VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR-
REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS-LOVING-WINKLER-ECTOR-MIDLAND-
GLASSCOCK-WARD-CRANE-UPTON-REAGAN-DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA-
PECOS-PRESIDIO VALLEY-MARFA PLATEAU-BIG BEND AREA-TERRELL-
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS-
541 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2006 /441 PM MDT THU AUG 31 2006/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW
MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...ARE
EXPECTED THIS EVENING OVER THE PERMIAN BASIN AND WESTERN LOW
ROLLING PLAINS OF WEST TEXAS. OTHER MORE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY IS FORECAST THIS EVENING OVER THE BIG BEND AND LOWER
TRANS PECOS REGIONS OF WEST TEXAS AND OVER MUCH OF SOUTHEASTERN
NEW MEXICO. RAINFALL RATES OVER AN INCH PER HOUR WILL RESULT IN
LOCALIZED FLOODING OF ARROYOS...DRAWS...AND OTHER LOW LYING
AREAS. URBAN AREAS RECEIVING HEAVY RAINFALL CAN EXPECT FLOODING
OF UNDERPASSES AND OTHER POORLY DRAINED AREAS. IN ADDITION...
WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND DEADLY LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED IN AND
NEAR ANY THUNDERSTORM. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TO
DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY
AFTERNOON FROM THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE DAVIS
MOUNTAINS AND BIG BEND REGION. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD PRODUCE
HEAVY RAINFALL...SO FLOODING OF ARROYOS...DRAWS...AND OTHER LOW
LYING AREAS WILL BE POSSIBLE...AS WILL ELEVATED FLOWS ALONG THE
RIO GRANDE.

THE CHANCE OF RAIN WILL INCREASE ACROSS ALL AREAS FRIDAY NIGHT
THROUGH SUNDAY AS ANOTHER COLD FRONT AFFECTS THE REGION. HEAVY RAINS
WILL AGAIN BE A CONCERN...ESPECIALLY FOR AREAS THAT HAVE RECEIVED
HEAVY RAINFALL IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

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 /LOWER CASE/
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/MIDLAND

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 31, 8:15 PM CST, 3 hours 45 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
915 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2006

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

0730 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MIDLAND                 32.00N 102.08W
08/31/2006                   MIDLAND            TX   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ROADS BARRICADED ALONG SCHARBAUER CHANNEL AND MIDLAND
            DRIVE AT ANETTA.

0730 PM     FLASH FLOOD      MIDLAND                 32.00N 102.08W
08/31/2006                   MIDLAND            TX   EMERGENCY MNGR

            4 INCHES OF WATER AT THE INTERSECTION OF MIDLAND AND
            ILLINOIS.

0643 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 NW MIDLAND            32.07N 102.16W
08/31/2006  M0 MPH           MIDLAND            TX   NWS EMPLOYEE

            60 MPH WIND GUST.

0704 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MIDLAND                 32.00N 102.08W
08/31/2006                   MIDLAND            TX   PUBLIC

            MULTPILE TREES DOWN AT MIDKIFF AND LOUISIANA RESIDENCE.
            LARGEST TRUNKS 12 INCHES AND 16 INCHES IN DIAMETER. ONE
            TREE FELL ON A CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. 300 POUND TENT-LIKE
            STRUCTURE BOLTED TO THE GROUND WAS BLOWN COMPLETELY OFF
            THE FOUNDATION.

0540 PM     FLASH FLOOD      WINK                    31.76N 103.15W
08/31/2006                   WINKLER            TX   PUBLIC

            ENTRANC EROAD TO THE AIRPORT UNDER 6 INCHES OF WATER.

0715 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 W GOLDSMITH           31.98N 102.70W
08/31/2006                   ECTOR              TX   PUBLIC

            2 FEET OF WATER ON FM 181 IN NORTHERN ECTOR COUNTY.

0805 PM     FLASH FLOOD      ODESSA                  31.85N 102.37W
08/31/2006                   ECTOR              TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FLOODING AT I-20 SERVICE ROAD AND GRANDVIEW. WATER
            FLOWING ACROSS THE ROAD DEEP ENOUGH TO IMPEDE TRAFFIC.

0315 PM     FLASH FLOOD      LOVINGTON               32.95N 103.35W
08/31/2006                   LEA                NM   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            6 TO 8 INCHES OF WATER ON THE ROADS IN LOVINGTON.

&&

DMARSALE

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Davis / Apache Mountains Area

When
September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Davis / Apache Mountains Area forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought, Marfa Plateau

When
September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Marfa Plateau forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought, Pecos

When
September 1, 12:00 AM CST to September 30, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Pecos forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
30.781, -102.724 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, September 2006

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: 5535051, 5535052, 5535089.