Tornado and Hail in Texas, October 21, 2010

Name: Tornado and Hail in Texas, October 21, 2010
Start: 2010-10-21T14:08
End: 2010-10-21T18:00
Location: Texas

October 21, 2010 · NWS MAF · 7 events in 5 counties and zones

Upper level lift was present over the area due to an approaching low. The upper level support combined with lift and instability at the surface along a dryline across the western Permian Basin.

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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.

Upper level lift was present over the area due to an approaching low. The upper level support combined with lift and instability at the surface along a dryline across the western Permian Basin. Sufficient heating and moisture ahead of this dryline allowed thunderstorms to develop. These storms produced severe hail and a tornado across the Trans Pecos region and Permian Basin of west Texas.

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 Oct 21, 2:01 PM CST, 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 21, 2:01 PM CST, 7 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 21, 12:19 PM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
119 PM CDT THU OCT 21 2010

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-
119 PM CDT THU OCT 21 2010 /1219 PM MDT THU OCT 21 2010/

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG AND EAST OF A
MALJAMAR TO PECOS TO MARATHON LINE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING
WINDS...HEAVY RAINFALL AND LOCALIZED FLOODING THE PRIMARY
THREATS.  A TORNADO OR TWO WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TO THE WEST OF A MALJAMAR
TO PECOS TO MARATHON LINE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  SOME OF
THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS OVER 50 MPH AND BRIEF HEAVY
RAINFALL...BUT SHOULD GENERALLY STAY BELOW SEVERE LIMITS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

WINDY CONDITIONS AND ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES MONDAY COULD LEAD
TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON.

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, Oct 21, 9:15 AM CST, 4 hours 53 minutes before

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Local storm report, Oct 21, 9:48 AM CST, 4 hours 20 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Oct 21, 9:48 AM CST, 4 hours 20 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
1048 AM CDT THU OCT 21 2010

NMZ029-211600-
NORTHERN LEA COUNTY-
948 AM MDT THU OCT 21 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING
NORTHEASTERN LEA COUNTY UNTIL 1000 AM MDT...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER NORTHEASTERN LEA COUNTY AT 947
AM MDT...MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH...UP TO NICKEL SIZED HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

&&

Special weather statement, Oct 21, 1:19 PM CST, 49 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
219 PM CDT THU OCT 21 2010

TXZ067-075-211945-
WARD-PECOS-
219 PM CDT THU OCT 21 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING
NORTH CENTRAL PECOS AND SOUTHEASTERN WARD COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM
CDT...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GRANDFALLS AT
219 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

GUSTY WINDS... HAIL... HEAVY RAIN... AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE
POSSIBLE.

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, Oct 21, 1:46 PM CST, 22 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
246 PM CDT THU OCT 21 2010

TXZ075-212015-
PECOS-
246 PM CDT THU OCT 21 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING
NORTH CENTRAL PECOS COUNTY UNTIL 315 PM CDT...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER CENTRAL PECOS COUNTY AT 246 PM
CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT. IF SEVERE WEATHER IS
OBSERVED OR A WARNING IS ISSUED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY IN A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR
ROOM.

GUSTY WINDS... HAIL... HEAVY RAIN... AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE
POSSIBLE.

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

[NO.NE.YES] A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000
PM CDT THURSDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS.

&&

The radar

The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:06 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Pecos

When: October 21, 2:08 PM CST to 2:25 PM CST
Where: Pecos County, 9.6 mi SE of Coyanosa to 9.19 mi W of Baldridge
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.066, -102.892

Hail, Pecos

When: October 21, 3:40 PM CST to 3:45 PM CST
Where: Pecos County, 7.83 mi NW of Girvin
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.168, -102.464

A severe storm produced quarter hail 5-10 miles north of Girvin on FM11. The hail covered the road 1 inch deep.

Hail, Ward

When: October 21, 3:43 PM CST to 3:50 PM CST
Where: Ward County, 0.84 mi ESE of Royalty
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.366, -102.866

Hail, Upton

When: October 21, 4:45 PM CST to 4:50 PM CST
Where: Upton County, 2 mi W of Rankin Arpt
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 31.225, -101.983

Hail, Gaines

When: October 21, 4:45 PM CST to 4:50 PM CST
Where: Gaines County, 5.94 mi S of Seagraves
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 32.845, -102.566

Tornado, Upton

When: October 21, 4:48 PM CST to 4:50 PM CST
Where: Upton County, 1.95 mi SSW of Rankin Arpt to 1.56 mi S of Rankin Arpt
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.78 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.206, -101.968

Several brief touchdowns were reported near Rankin, TX along US Highway 67. The tornado only lasted about two minutes and did not produce any damage along its short path. The path length and width of this tornado were estimated according to spotter reports.

Hail, Andrews

When: October 21, 5:45 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Andrews County, 5.7 mi ESE of Frankel City
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 32.342, -102.694

Quarter sized hail occurred just west of the intersection of FM 3901 and SH 176. Cotton crop damage was reported, but the acreage was unknown.

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.

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 The tornado archive for Texas, 2010 Warnings in Texas, October 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 263535, 263537, 263536, 263538, 263539, 265465, 264486.