Hail, Gaines
- When
- May 14, 2:20 PM CST to 2:30 PM CST
- Where
- Gaines County, 1.38 mi S of Seminole
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 32.700, -102.650
Tornado and Hail in Texas, May 14, 2008
Thunderstorm activity was mainly confined to the northern Permian Basin and extreme southeastern New Mexico. A slowly moving cold front oriented east to west along this region provided sufficient atmospheric lift for the development of thunderstorms.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $30,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 5
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.
Thunderstorm activity was mainly confined to the northern Permian Basin and extreme southeastern New Mexico. A slowly moving cold front oriented east to west along this region provided sufficient atmospheric lift for the development of thunderstorms. Several funnel clouds were reported across the region. As supercells emerged, one storm produced a short lived tornado near Interstate 20 and was photographed by a storm chaser. Most storms in the afternoon traveled eastward at a brisk pace and produced hail along with gusty winds.
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 May 14, 12:28 PM CST, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 14, 12:28 PM CST, 1 hour 52 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
128 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008
.UPDATE...
UPDATED TEXT PRODUCTS OUT SHORTLY FOR TORNADO WATCH 320 VALID
UNTIL 15/0000 UTC WITH GRAPHICAL/NDFD PRODUCTS OUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1232 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008/
AVIATION...
WEAK COLD FRONT BISECTING PB AND LOOKS TO BE LOOSING ITS SWD
MOMENTUM AND WILL OPT TO BRING SW WINDS BACK INTO MAF TAF BRIEFLY
BEFORE FRONT MOVES BACK S OVERNIGHT WITH MVFR CISG BACK INTO
HOB/MAF/INK BTWN 06Z-09Z.
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 921 AM CDT WED MAY 14 2008/
UPDATE...
HAVE MADE SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THE WIND FORECAST FOR
CULBERSON COUNTY AND THE VAN HORN AREA BEHIND THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY ON
THURSDAY EVENING INTO FRIDAY. OTHER THAN THAT...NO OTHER
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THIS UPDATE.
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...NONE.
TX...RED FLAG WARNING FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...BIG BEND AREA...
DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA...MARFA PLATEAU...PECOS...
PRESIDIO VALLEY...REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS...
TERRELL...VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR.
&&
70Hazardous weather outlook, May 14, 2:09 PM CST, 11 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 309 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-152015- 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- 309 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008 /209 PM MDT WED MAY 14 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SCATTERED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ACROSS SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...THE PERMIAN BASIN...AND THE WESTERN LOW ROLLING PLAINS. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT FOR THESE LOCATIONS. BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS WILL BE POSSIBLE...ALONG WITH HAIL...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH....AND ISOLATED HEAVY RAINFALL RATES. FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST WEST OF THE PECOS RIVER THROUGH 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING. SUSTAINED WEST WINDS NEAR 20 MPH AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES NEAR OR LESS THAN 15 % WILL BE POSSIBLE. A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR AREAS WEST OF THE PECOS RIVER IN WEST TEXAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS...AND STORM SPOTTERS SHOULD MONITOR THIS SITUATION AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER APPROACH YOUR AREA. SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY THROUGH THIS EVENING...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PERMIAN BASIN. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL TELEVISION AND OR RADIO STATIONS FOR STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE SEVERE WEATHER AFFECTING THE REGION. 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
Special weather statement, May 14, 11:01 AM CST, 3 hours 19 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 1201 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008 NMZ028-141730- EDDY COUNTY PLAINS- 1101 AM MDT WED MAY 14 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT... THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR NORTHEASTERN EDDY COUNTY. A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 18 MILES WEST OF LOCO HILLS AT 1101 AM MDT...MOVING EAST AT 18 MPH AND A SECOND STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NORTHEAST OF LOCO HILLS MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN...HAIL...GUSTS TO 50 MPH...HEAVY RAIN.
Special weather statement, May 14, 12:44 PM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 144 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008 NMZ033-034-141915- CENTRAL LEA COUNTY-SOUTHERN LEA COUNTY- 1244 PM MDT WED MAY 14 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT... THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR EAST CENTRAL LEA COUNTY. AN INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER EUNICE AT 1244 PM MDT...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. AS THIS THUNDERSTORM INCREASES...SEVERE WEATHER MAY DEVELOP RAPIDLY. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM MDT WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS. PEOPLE IN EAST CENTRAL LEA COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR WARNINGS AND REMAIN ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Special weather statement, May 14, 1:21 PM CST, 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 221 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008 TXZ045-141945- GAINES- 221 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT... THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR SOUTHWESTERN GAINES COUNTY. AN INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 23 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SEMINOLE AT 221 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. AS THIS THUNDERSTORM INCREASES...SEVERE WEATHER MAY DEVELOP RAPIDLY. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS. SEEK SHELTER IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION.
Special weather statement, May 14, 1:37 PM CST, 43 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 237 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008 TXZ045-050-142000- GAINES-ANDREWS- 237 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT... THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL ANDREWS AND SOUTHEASTERN GAINES COUNTIES. AN INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER FLOREY AT 237 PM CDT... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. AS THIS THUNDERSTORM INCREASES...SEVERE WEATHER MAY DEVELOP RAPIDLY. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS. PEOPLE IN NORTH CENTRAL ANDREWS AND SOUTHEASTERN GAINES COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR WARNINGS AND REMAIN ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Special weather statement, May 14, 2:10 PM CST, 10 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 310 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008 TXZ051-142045- MARTIN- 310 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT... THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR NORTHERN MARTIN COUNTY. AN INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BUFORD AT 310 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. AS THIS THUNDERSTORM INCREASES...SEVERE WEATHER MAY DEVELOP RAPIDLY. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS. GUSTY WINDS... HAIL... HEAVY RAIN... AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE.
Local storm report, May 14, 2:19 PM CST, 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
319 PM CDT WED MAY 14 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0225 PM HAIL 17 NE MCDONALD 33.31N 103.11W
05/14/2008 E0.88 INCH LEA NM TRAINED SPOTTER
NICKEL SIZED HAIL REPORTED 17 MILES NE OF MCDONALD.
&&
CDANIELSThe radar
The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 95 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:18 UTC.
Event by event
3 hail, 1 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Howard
- When
- May 14, 3:08 PM CST to 3:30 PM CST
- Where
- Howard County, 5 mi NNE of Knott to 11 mi NE of Knott
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 32.467, -101.617
Nickel to quarter sized hail fell northeast of Knott.
Tornado, Mitchell
- When
- May 14, 4:05 PM CST to 4:10 PM CST
- Where
- Mitchell County, 3 mi W of Westbrook to 1 mi WNW of Westbrook
- Rating
- EF0
- Path length
- 2.11 mi
- Path width
- 50 yd
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 32.350, -101.071
Law enforcement reported a tornado one mile north of I-20 near mile marker 204. A trained spotter e-mailed a picture of this tornado for further confirmation. Tree damage was reported north of I-20.
Thunderstorm Wind, Mitchell
- When
- May 14, 4:13 PM CST to 4:18 PM CST
- Where
- Mitchell County, 0.58 mi W of Colorado City
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 32.400, -100.860
Strong thunderstorm winds from a previously tornadic supercell snapped a power pole and damaged a metal barn.
Hail, Mitchell
- When
- May 14, 4:15 PM CST to 4:25 PM CST
- Where
- Mitchell County, 0.58 mi W of Colorado City
- Measured
- 2.75 in hail
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 32.400, -100.860
Golfball to baseball sized hail fell in Colorado City.
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Louisiana, May 14 to 16, 2008
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, May 14 to 15, 2008
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Mississippi, May 14 to 15, 2008
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 14, 2008
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 14 to 15, 2008
- Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in Louisiana, May 14, 2008
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Louisiana, May 14 to 15, 2008
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, May 14, 2008
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 14, 2008
- Damaging Winds in Texas, May 14 to 15, 2008
- Damaging Winds in Texas, May 14, 2008
- Flash Flood in Arkansas, May 14, 2008
More
Every storm in Texas in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2008Warnings in Texas, May 2008
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: 91814, 91815, 91845, 91858, 91816.