A strong cold front and associated tight surface pressure gradient resulted in strong northeast winds funneling through Guadalupe Pass.
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 strong cold front and associated tight surface pressure gradient resulted in strong northeast winds funneling through Guadalupe Pass.
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 Feb 1, 5:06 AM MST, 3 hours 14 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
606 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011
.DISCUSSION...
CONCERNS IN THE SHORT TERM PORTION OF THE FORECAST REMAIN CENTERED
ON THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THIS MORNING
ALONG WITH BITTERLY COLD AIR AND FALLING WIND CHILLS. LIGHT
RETURNS CONTINUE ON THE KMAF RADAR THIS MORNING FOR AREAS
GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 10. THE SHORT RANGE MODELS
SUGGEST MID-LEVEL DRYING/SUBSIDENCE MOVING IN FROM THE WEST WILL
LIMIT SNOW POTENTIAL THIS MORNING. WE AGREE WITH THIS SCENARIO AND
HAVE OPTED TO SHORTEN THE DURATION OF THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
AS WELL AS PULL UPTON AND REAGAN COUNTIES FROM THE ADVISORY.
ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO 1 INCH REMAIN POSSIBLE ACROSS
SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...THE PERMIAN BASIN AND WESTERN LOW ROLLING
PLAINS...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF A CARLSBAD TO BIG SPRING TO
COLORADO CITY LINE. THIS POTENTIAL ALONG WITH PREVIOUS SNOWFALL
WILL WARRANT A CONTINUATION OF THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL
15Z.
OTHERWISE...BITTERLY COLD AIR WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD OVER THE
REGION AND WITH GUSTY NORTH WINDS...WIND CHILLS WILL CONTINUE TO
FALL TODAY. WE HAVE CONTINUED THE WIND CHILL WARNING FOR THE
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE DAVIS AND APACHE
MOUNTAINS. WIND CHILL ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE REGION AND WILL OPT TO INCLUDE TERRELL COUNTY AS
WELL.
ATTENTION WILL THEN TURN TOWARD THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME SIGNIFICANT
SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT INTO
WEDNESDAY MORNING. ADDITIONAL SHORTWAVE ACTIVITY WILL SERVE TO
STRENGTHEN THE TROUGH CURRENTLY OVER THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES.
ADDITIONAL MOISTURE AND LIFT WILL MOVE INTO THE GUADALUPE
MOUNTAINS AFTER MIDNIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING AND BASED ON
THE LATEST MODEL QPF AND FAVORABLE SNOW RATIOS...WE HAVE ISSUED A
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.
SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. THIS UPPER TROUGH
COULD ALSO SPREAD SOME LIGHT SNOWFALL ACROSS THE PLAINS OF WEST
TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...MAINLY ALONG AND NORTH OF
INTERSTATE 20. AT THIS TIME... SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO
REMAIN UNDER ONE INCH.
WELL BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN IN THE FORECAST THROUGH
THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK WEEK...WITH MODERATING TEMPERATURES THIS
WEEKEND. ANOTHER ROUND OF COLD AIR LOOKS TO ARRIVE EARLY NEXT WEEK
ACCORDING TO THE LATEST MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BIG SPRING TX 21 6 18 8 / 60 20 10 20
CARLSBAD NM 25 10 21 8 / 60 40 20 20
DRYDEN TX 41 15 30 18 / 10 10 10 0
FORT STOCKTON TX 28 9 22 13 / 20 10 10 20
GUADALUPE PASS TX 23 1 12 6 / 60 60 60 20
HOBBS NM 20 6 16 9 / 60 30 20 20
MARFA TX 38 1 21 1 / 20 20 10 20
MIDLAND INTL AIRPORT TX 23 8 19 9 / 60 20 10 20
ODESSA TX 22 9 18 11 / 60 20 10 20
WINK TX 28 12 21 11 / 50 20 20 20
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM MST
WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... CENTRAL LEA COUNTY...
EDDY COUNTY PLAINS...NORTHERN LEA COUNTY...SOUTHERN LEA
COUNTY.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM MST THIS MORNING FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES... CENTRAL LEA COUNTY...EDDY COUNTY
PLAINS...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY COUNTY...NORTHERN LEA
COUNTY...SOUTHERN LEA COUNTY.
WIND CHILL WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM MST WEDNESDAY
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY
COUNTY.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY
COUNTY.
TX...WIND CHILL ADVISORY FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON CST WEDNESDAY
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... ANDREWS...BIG BEND AREA...
BORDEN...CRANE...DAWSON...ECTOR...GAINES...GLASSCOCK...
HOWARD...LOVING...MARFA PLATEAU...MARTIN...MIDLAND...
MITCHELL...PECOS...REAGAN...REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS
PECOS...SCURRY...TERRELL...UPTON...VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54
CORRIDOR...WARD...WINKLER.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 AM MST THIS MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 AM MST WEDNESDAY
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 9 AM CST /8 AM MST/ THIS MORNING
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... ANDREWS...BORDEN...DAWSON...
ECTOR...GAINES...GLASSCOCK...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...HOWARD...
LOVING...MARTIN...MIDLAND...MITCHELL...SCURRY...WINKLER.
WIND CHILL WARNING FROM 9 PM CST /8 PM MST/ THIS EVENING TO NOON
CST /11 AM MST/ WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...
DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS.
&&
06/78HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 433 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-021045- 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- 433 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011 /333 AM MST TUE FEB 1 2011/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM THIS MORNING FOR PORTIONS OF THE PERMIAN BASIN...WESTERN LOW ROLLING PLAINS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO. ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE SIGNIFICANT PRECIP HAS ENDED ACROSS THE REGION...VERY LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE AND SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO RESULT IN SOME SLICK ROADWAYS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR ELEVATED SURFACE SUCH AS BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES...AND FOR LOCATIONS THAT RECEIVED MORE PRECIPITATION. HIGH WINDS ARE AGAIN EXPECTED IN THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF CULBERSON COUNTY TONIGHT. NORTHEASTERLY WINDS THROUGH GUADALUPE PASS WILL INCREASE TO AROUND 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 TO 65 MPH LATE TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. IN ADDITION...VERY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL COMBINE WITH BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS TO PRODUCE BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILL VALUES ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. NEGATIVE TEENS AND SINGLE DIGITS ARE EXPECTED FOR MOST LOCATIONS...WITH NEGATIVE 20S POSSIBLE IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. A WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS...WHILE A WIND CHILL WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE DAVIS AND GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SNOW WILL BE LIKELY IN THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS BEGINNING LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION OF 4 TO 6 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS. A WINTER STORM WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THIS AREA. SNOW WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE DELAWARE MOUNTAINS AND PORTIONS OF THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS...WHERE TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD REMAIN BELOW 2 INCHES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ALTHOUGH SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED...LOCAL INTEREST SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION...AND BE PREPARED FOR BITTER COLD TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. 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
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 327 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-012130- 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- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...QUEEN...ARTESIA...CARLSBAD... CARLSBAD CAVERNS NP...TATUM...HOBBS...LOVINGTON...EUNICE...JAL... SEMINOLE...LAMESA...GAIL...SNYDER...ANDREWS...STANTON... BIG SPRING...COLORADO CITY...VAN HORN...PECOS...MENTONE... RED BLUFF LAKE...KERMIT...ODESSA...MIDLAND...GARDEN CITY... MONAHANS...CRANE...MCCAMEY...RANKIN...BIG LAKE...ALPINE... FORT DAVIS...FORT STOCKTON...PRESIDIO...MARFA...BIG BEND NP... MARATHON...SANDERSON...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NP...PINE SPRINGS 327 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011 /227 AM MST TUE FEB 1 2011/ ...EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES...BITTERLY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES...AND SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN EXPECTED... A STRONG ARCTIC COLD FRONT MOVED THROUGH WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO LAST NIGHT...WITH BREEZY NORTHEAST WINDS ACCOMPANYING IT. AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM BROUGHT LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOWFALL AND SLEET WITH IT DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SOME LOCATIONS ACROSS THE PERMIAN BASIN AND WESTERN LOW ROLLING PLAINS HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT AN INCH OF SNOW. FOR THE MOST PART...ANY SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION WILL COME TO AN END BEFORE SUNRISE TUESDAY MORNING. HOWEVER...LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS AND THE CONTINUATION OF FALLING TEMPERATURES INTO THE TEENS ACROSS THE PERMIAN BASIN...WESTERN LOW ROLLING PLAINS...AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS MAY RESULT IN SLICK ROADWAYS THROUGH AT LEAST MIDDAY TUESDAY. PATCHY ICE HAS ALREADY BEEN OBSERVED ON ELEVATED SURFACES SUCH AS BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES...INCLUDING LOOP 250 IN MIDLAND. BY LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING...TEMPERATURES WILL DROP INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS ACROSS A MAJORITY OF THE AREA. THIS...COMBINED WITH BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS...WILL RESULT IN WIND CHILL VALUES RANGING FROM THE NEGATIVE TEENS ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND THE NORTHERN PERMIAN BASIN...TO THE NEGATIVE SINGLE DIGITS ELSEWHERE. THE EXCEPTION TO THE PREVIOUS WILL BE IN THE DAVIS AND GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS WHERE DANGEROUS WIND CHILL VALUES IN THE NEGATIVE TWENTIES WILL RESIDE. A WIND CHILL WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING...AND A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OTHER LOCATIONS FOR THE SAME TIME PERIOD. IN ADDITION TO THE VERY COLD TEMPERATURES WEDNESDAY MORNING...ANOTHER UPPER STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE NEAR THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS WEDNESDAY. THE LIFT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL RESULT IN ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL IN THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS. FOUR TO SIX INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE HERE BY EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING...ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. UNSEASONABLY COLD AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN IN PLACE ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA THROUGH FRIDAY...WITH THE COLDEST MAX TEMPERATURES EXPECTED WEDNESDAY NEAR 20 DEGREES OR LOWER FOR A MAJORITY OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO. SLIGHTLY WARMER CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE RIO GRANDE.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 755 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-011530- 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- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...QUEEN...ARTESIA...CARLSBAD... CARLSBAD CAVERNS NP...TATUM...HOBBS...LOVINGTON...EUNICE...JAL... SEMINOLE...LAMESA...GAIL...SNYDER...ANDREWS...STANTON... BIG SPRING...COLORADO CITY...VAN HORN...PECOS...MENTONE... RED BLUFF LAKE...KERMIT...ODESSA...MIDLAND...GARDEN CITY... MONAHANS...CRANE...MCCAMEY...RANKIN...BIG LAKE...ALPINE... FORT DAVIS...FORT STOCKTON...PRESIDIO...MARFA...BIG BEND NP... MARATHON...SANDERSON...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NP...PINE SPRINGS 755 AM CST TUE FEB 1 2011 /655 AM MST TUE FEB 1 2011/ ...ARCTIC AIR HAS MOVED INTO WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO... AS OF 730 AM CST/630 AM MST TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE AREA RANGED FROM AROUND 12 DEGREES AT HOBBS TO 21 AT FORT STOCKTON TO THE 30S ALONG THE RIO GRANDE. COLD NORTH WINDS SUSTAINED AT 20 TO 25 MPH ARE RESULTING IN WIND CHILL READINGS OF MINUS 5 ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO TO AROUND 15 TO 20 ACROSS PARTS OF THE FAR REACHES OF THE TRANS PECOS. THESE WIND CHILLS READING WILL HOLD STEADY IN THIS RANGE THROUGH THE MORNING AND THEN INCREASE SLIGHTLY LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. HOWEVER AS TEMPERATURES FALL EVEN FARTHER THIS EVENING WIND CHILL READINGS WILL DECREASE FALLING TO MINUS 5 TO AROUND MINUS 14 FOR MOST AREAS AND A WIND CHILL ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT TONIGHT. THE EXCEPTION WILL BE THE GUADALUPE PASS AREA WHERE WIND CHILL READING WILL FALL TO AROUND MINUS MINUS 15 TO 30 OVERNIGHT WHERE A WIND CHILL WARNING WILL BE IN EFFECT. LIGHT SNOW IS STILL BE REPORTED IN A FEW PLACES ACROSS THE AREA AND RADAR INDICATES THAT THERE IS AN AREA OF SNOW SHOWERS MOVING EASTWARD FROM THE WEST PERMIAN BASIN TOWARD THE CENTRAL PERMIAN BASIN AND MAY RESULT IN BRIEF MODERATE SNOW WITH ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS REMAINING LESS THAN ONE INCH. ROADS ARE SLICK WITH ICE AND SNOW BUT REPORTS INDICATES IT TO BE PATCHY. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHILE TRAVELING AND TAKE MEASURES AGAINST FROSTBITE IF YOU MUST BE OUTDOORS.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Sustained northeast winds of 40 mph or greater occurred for several hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, February 2011
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: 279323.