A broad upper level storm system approaching from the west and strong winds just above the surface combined to produce high winds in the Guadalupe Mountains.
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 broad upper level storm system approaching from the west and strong winds just above the surface combined to produce high winds in the Guadalupe Mountains.
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 21, 12:07 PM MST, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
207 PM CDT WED MAY 21 2008
.DISCUSSION...
HIGH CLOUDS REMAINING IN PLACE ACRS W TX WHICH SEEMS TO DELAYED
INCREASED WINDS AND SLOWED TEMP INCREASE SOME. STILL EXPECT THAT
WINDS WILL MAKE A LATE DAY RUN AND THEN REMAIN UP INTO THE NIGHT AS
LOW LEVEL JET DEVELOPS. BROAD MID LEVEL TROF WILL REMAIN ACRS DESERT
SW INTO THUR RESULTING IN CONTINUATION OF SW 7H-5H FLOW. ASSOCD
DRYLINE WILL BE REFLECTED AT THE SFC. AS ASSOCD SFC LOW MOVES E-SE
AND MID LEVEL FLOW INCREASES AND EWD POSITION OF DRYLINE WILL BE
FAVORED AND DRY AIR WILL ENCOMPASS ALL OF THE CWFA. 85H-7H THERMAL
RIDGE WILL BE OVERHEAD ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE A FEW DEGREES COOLER.
EXPECT LOW LEVEL DOWNSLOPE COMPONENT WILL BE BETTER/MORE WIDESPREAD
AND WE/LL BE ABLE TO SEE A FEW DEGREES WARMING THERE...SO STILL HOT.
MEAN LAYER 85H-7H WIND NEAR 25-30KTS WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR A WINDY
DAY AND WILL CONTINUE WITH HIGH WIND WATCH IN THE GDP MTNS. MID
LEVEL FLOW WILL BACK SOME INTO FRIDAY PM AND DRYLINE WILL PROBABLY
NOT BE AS FAR E AS THURSDAY. 12C AT 7H WILL STILL PROVIDE FORMIDABLE
CAP AND WILL KEEP FCST DRY. 28C AT 85H WILL STILL TRANSLATE INTO
M90S TEMPS ACRS PB. WILL STILL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH BREEZY/WINDY
CONDITIONS INTO FRI. BACKED FLOW WILL FAVOR RETREATING DRYLINE FRI
NGHT/SAT AM. IT WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR MSTR TO WORK
E AND WITH 7H TEMPS COOLING EXPECT THAT ISOLD DRYLINE STORMS WILL BE
POSSIBLE SAT PM...TEMPS STILL IN THE 90S. 85H-7H FLOW WEAKENS
SUN...BUT STILL ENUF OF A LOW LEVEL FOCUS FOR ISOLD TSTMS TO FORM
ALONG. ECMWF IS MORE OPTIMISTIC WRT DEVELOPING PRECIP MON THAN GFS
BUT WITH SOME INDICATION OF SHRTWV IN SW FLOW THE GENERAL PATTERN
SEEMS FAVORABLE. MEANWHILE FRONTAL BOUNDARY IN THE PANHANDLE TUE AM
MAKE SINK S...DEPENDING ON AMOUNT OF CONVECTION THAT FORMS ALONG
IT...SO WILL KEEP POPS IN THE FCST. 5H ANTICYCLONE WILL ATTEMPT TO
BUILD WED.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
FIRE WX CONCERNS REMAIN HIGH THROUGH FRI. CRITICAL FIRE WX CONDITIONS
ATTEMPTING TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON WITH WIDESPREAD TEMPS IN THE
U90S TO L100S...RH NEAR 10 PCT...SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 20 MPH ACRS THE
PLAINS. CONDITIONS WILL BE SLOW TO IMPROVE THIS EVENING AS HOT
TEMPS CONTRIBUTE TO SLOWLY INCREASING RH/S AND 02Z RFW EXPIRATION
LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. MOS GUIDANCE IS PERSISTENT IN BRINGING WINDS
ABOVE 20 MPH ACRS THE CWFA TMW AS MEAN LAYER 85H-7H WIND 25-30KTS
DEVELOPS AS MID LEVEL TROF BROADENS EWD. IT WILL BE A LITTLE
COOLER THUR BUT DRYLINE WILL BE E AND RH/S SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM
NEARING 5-10 PCT. TO AVOID CONFUSION WITH THIS AFTERNOONS WARNING
WILL LEAVE AS WATCH FOR THUR BUT HAVE HIGH CONFIDENCE IT WILL BE
UPGRADED TO WARNING. MIXED SIGNALS IN OMEGA FIELDS WITH WRT TO
LIFT/SUBSIDENCE AND ATTP EXPECT THAT LIFT MAY BRIEFLY DELAY ONSET
OF WINDS. ATTP WILL KEEP FIRE WX CONCERNS ELEVATED FRI BUT
TEMPORAL CONCERNS FOR WINDS 20 MPH OR HIER PRECLUDE ISSUANCE OF
WATCH. FIRE WX CONCERNS SLOWLY DECREASE INTO THE WEEKEND/EARLY
NEXT WEEK AS HIER DWPNTS ARE ABLE TO WORK FARTHER W.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BIG SPRING TX 66 96 66 93 / 10 10 10 10
CARLSBAD NM 65 93 62 90 / 10 0 0 0
DRYDEN TX 68 98 69 97 / 10 10 10 10
FORT STOCKTON TX 66 98 65 95 / 10 10 10 10
GUADALUPE PASS TX 59 88 56 79 / 10 0 0 0
HOBBS NM 65 92 58 92 / 10 0 10 0
MARFA TX 53 89 51 85 / 10 0 10 0
MIDLAND INTL AIRPORT TX 69 96 64 95 / 10 10 10 10
ODESSA TX 69 96 65 93 / 10 10 10 10
WINK TX 69 101 63 100 / 10 0 10 10
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM 12 PM TO 8 PM MDT THURSDAY FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ...
SOUTHEAST PLAINS/BLM ROSWELL/LNZ.
RED FLAG WARNING FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS
NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ...SOUTHEAST PLAINS/BLM ROSWELL/LNZ.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF
EDDY COUNTY.
HIGH WIND WATCH FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT THURSDAY FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY COUNTY.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...EDDY COUNTY PLAINS...NORTHERN LEA
COUNTY.
TX...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM 1 PM CDT /12 PM MDT/ TO 9 PM CDT /8 PM
MDT/ THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...ANDREWS...BIG BEND
AREA...BORDEN...CRANE...DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA...
DAWSON...ECTOR...GAINES...GLASSCOCK...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...
HOWARD...LOVING...MARFA PLATEAU...MARTIN...MIDLAND...
MITCHELL...PECOS...PRESIDIO VALLEY...REAGAN...REEVES COUNTY
AND UPPER TRANS PECOS...SCURRY...TERRELL...UPTON...VAN HORN
AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR...WARD...WINKLER.
RED FLAG WARNING FROM 2 PM CDT /1 PM MDT/ THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM
CDT /8 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...
ANDREWS...BORDEN...CRANE...DAWSON...ECTOR...GAINES...
GLASSCOCK...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...HOWARD...LOVING...
MARTIN...MIDLAND...MITCHELL...REAGAN...REEVES COUNTY AND
UPPER TRANS PECOS...SCURRY...UPTON...VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY
54 CORRIDOR...WARD...WINKLER.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM MDT THIS
EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS.
HIGH WIND WATCH FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM MDT THURSDAY FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 125 PM CDT WED MAY 21 2008 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-221830- 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- 125 PM CDT WED MAY 21 2008 /1225 PM MDT WED MAY 21 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO INCLUDING THE PERMIAN BASIN...UPPER TRANS PECOS...THE VAN HORN CORRIDOR AND THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS. THIS...COMBINED WITH EXTREMELY DRY CONDITIONS...HAS RESULTED IN A RED FLAG WARNING BEING ISSUED FOR THESE AREAS. WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH FROM THE SOUTHWEST WILL BE POSSIBLE LATER TODAY. THIS WILL ENHANCE THE FIRE DANGER THREAT FURTHERMORE...RESULTING IN EXTREMELY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. HIGH WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP IN THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOUTHWEST AND WEST WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH MAY BE POSSIBLE. PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO MAY ALSO EXPERIENCE STRONG WINDS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS AREA CAN EXPECT SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY WINDS WILL INCREASE THURSDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO. DRY CONDITIONS WILL ALSO BE PRESENT. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL REMAIN LESS THAN 15 PERCENT...AND SINGLE DIGIT VALUES WILL NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS WILL EXPERIENCE STRONG WEST SOUTHWEST WINDS TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH MAY BE POSSIBLE. A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION 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
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong winds through the Guadalupe Mountains produced a peak gust of 71 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2008
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: 107879.