Hail in Texas, May 17 to 21, 2010

Name: Hail in Texas, May 17 to 21, 2010
Start: 2010-05-17T14:40
End: 2010-05-21T20:15
Location: Texas

May 17 to 21, 2010 · NWS MAF · 10 events in 5 counties and zones

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $45,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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.

A cold front located across the Red River and South Plains pushed southward into the western Low Rolling Plains and Texas Permian Basin. With abundant low level moisture in place across the area, isolated severe thunderstorms developed along this boundary across the central and eastern portions of the Texas Permian Basin during the late afternoon hours as an upper level disturbance passed overhead. Scattered thunderstorms also developed during the afternoon and evening over the mountains of southwest Texas and the adjacent plains. Some of these storms became severe.

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 17, 2:07 PM CST, 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 17, 2:07 PM CST, 33 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
307 PM CDT MON MAY 17 2010

.DISCUSSION...
FRONT/OUTFLOW BOUNDARY IS MOVING SOUTH INTO THE PERMIAN BASIN THIS
AFTERNOON. CONVECTION WAS SLOW TO DEVELOP WEST EARLIER DUE TO
COOLER SURFACE TEMPS FROM LINGERING CLOUDS...BUT THIS IS NO LONGER
THE CASE AS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MANAGED TO DEVELOP IN HOWARD
AND MITCHELL COUNTIES. IN ADDITION...THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING
IN THE MOUNTAINS THANKS TO DEWPOINTS APPROACHING 60. SHEAR VALUES
SUPPORT SUPERCELLS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY
THREATS. CANNOT RULE OUT THE TORNADO THREAT IF A THUNDERSTORMS
MANAGES TO STAY ANCHORED ON THE FRONT BISECTING THE BASIN BUT THIS
MAY BE DIFFICULT AS THE ORIENTATION OF THE FRONT DOES NOT MATCH
WELL WITH EXPECTED STORM MOVEMENT. THUNDERSTORMS MAY NOT LAST LONG
INTO THIS EVENING UNLESS AN MCS FORMS...MAINLY FROM THE CONVECTION
IN THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS...AND ROLLS SOUTHEAST OVERNIGHT.

TOMORROW WILL SEE A CONTINUED THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WITH
SLIGHTLY INCREASED SHEAR VALUES AND A DRYLINE TO FORCE CONVECTION
ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO AND THE PERMIAN BASIN. THE
REMAINDER OF THE WEEK WILL BE DRY WITH INCREASING TEMPS. A WEAK
FRONT ON THURSDAY WILL DO LITTLE TO COOL THINGS OFF WITH ABOVE
NORMAL TEMPS REMAINING.

HENNIG

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BIG SPRING TX              65  85  67  90  /  40  30  30  10
CARLSBAD NM                58  92  57  92  /  60  10  10  10
DRYDEN TX                  68  91  67  93  /  60  20  20  10
FORT STOCKTON TX           65  92  65  94  /  60  30  20  10
GUADALUPE PASS TX          59  87  60  85  /  30  10   0   0
HOBBS NM                   60  91  62  90  /  40  30  20  10
MARFA TX                   56  88  50  88  /  30  20  10   0
MIDLAND INTL AIRPORT TX    62  87  65  91  /  50  30  20  10
ODESSA TX                  63  87  66  90  /  50  30  20  10
WINK TX                    65  97  65  98  /  40  30  20  10

&&

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

&&

44/10

Hazardous weather outlook, May 17, 2:05 PM CST, 35 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
305 PM CDT MON MAY 17 2010

NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075-
079>082-258-182015-
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-
305 PM CDT MON MAY 17 2010 /205 PM MDT MON MAY 17 2010/

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT ACROSS THE
PERMIAN BASIN...THE SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS...THE TRANS PECOS
REGION...THE GUADALUPE AND DAVIS MOUNTAINS...AND THE BIG BEND
REGION. SOME THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN SEVERE
WEATHER HAZARDS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE...WHICH
COULD LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST NEW
MEXICO PLAINS...THE PERMIAN BASIN...AND THE TRANS PECOS REGION
TUESDAY. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE ACROSS THESE
LOCATIONS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN MAY
LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS...STORM
SPOTTER GROUPS...AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD BE PREPARED
FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

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 17, 12:12 PM CST, 2 hours 28 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
112 PM CDT MON MAY 17 2010

TXZ074-171900-
DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA-
112 PM CDT MON MAY 17 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS
AFFECTING NORTHEASTERN JEFF DAVIS COUNTY UNTIL 200 PM CDT...

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WAS LOCATED
FROM NORTH CENTRAL JEFF DAVIS COUNTY TO EAST CENTRAL JEFF DAVIS
COUNTY AT 112 PM CDT...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF SEVERE WEATHER IS OBSERVED...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST
OFFICE IN MIDLAND.

&&

Special weather statement, May 17, 1:54 PM CST, 46 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
254 PM CDT MON MAY 17 2010

TXZ052-053-063-172030-
HOWARD-MITCHELL-GLASSCOCK-
254 PM CDT MON MAY 17 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS
AFFECTING NORTHEASTERN GLASSCOCK...SOUTHEASTERN HOWARD AND
SOUTHWESTERN MITCHELL COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM CDT...

A THUNDERSTORM WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WAS LOCATED OVER EAST
CENTRAL GLASSCOCK COUNTY AT 254 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO HAIL AND STRONG WINDS...DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU
ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. SEEK SAFE SHELTER NOW.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT
MONDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS. A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT
MONDAY EVENING FOR WEST TEXAS.

&&

The radar

The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 224 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:41 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Brewster

When: May 17, 2:40 PM CST to 2:43 PM CST
Where: Brewster County, 1.38 mi ESE of Alpine
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.360, -103.650

Hail, Brewster

When: May 17, 3:00 PM CST to 3:05 PM CST
Where: Brewster County, 8.4 mi SSE of Alpine
Measured: 3 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.260, -103.610

Hail, Brewster

When: May 17, 3:10 PM CST to 3:12 PM CST
Where: Brewster County, 12.44 mi S of Alpine
Measured: 4.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.190, -103.670

Hail, Culberson

When: May 17, 3:10 PM CST to 3:15 PM CST
Where: Culberson County, 2.16 mi SSW of Plateau
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.040, -104.560

Hail, Brewster

When: May 17, 3:12 PM CST to 3:17 PM CST
Where: Brewster County, 8.29 mi S of Alpine
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 30.250, -103.670

Hail, Reeves

When: May 17, 3:27 PM CST to 3:30 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 5.84 mi NW of Arno
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.710, -103.700

Hail, Brewster

When: May 17, 3:28 PM CST to 3:35 PM CST
Where: Brewster County, 8.29 mi S of Alpine
Measured: 4.25 in hail
Property damage: $45,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 30.250, -103.670

Several windows and skylights were broken by the hail on one home. In addition, two more homes received roof and window damage. One vehicle also reported damage.

Hail, Loving

When: May 17, 3:30 PM CST to 3:35 PM CST
Where: Loving County, 0.69 mi N of Mentone
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 31.710, -103.600

Hail, Loving

When: May 17, 4:00 PM CST to 4:10 PM CST
Where: Loving County, 14.73 mi E of Red Bluff Res
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.910, -103.670

Hail, Ward

When: May 21, 8:10 PM CST to 8:15 PM CST
Where: Ward County, 1.37 mi ENE of Grandfalls
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.340, -102.850

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, May 2010

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: 231423, 231424, 231425, 232546, 231426, 232552, 232545, 232553, 232554, 232560.