Continued strong mid level winds in the wake of a passing upper trough resulted in 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.
Continued strong mid level winds in the wake of a passing upper trough resulted in 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 19, 10:47 PM MST, 5 hours 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
1247 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011
.DISCUSSION...
&&
.AVIATION...
LINE OF STORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS PERMIAN BASIN. HAVE
INCLUDED TEMPO TSRA FOR MAF THROUGH 08Z. ONCE THIS MOVES EAST WILL
HAVE VFR CONDITIONS WITH A BRISK WEST WIND.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1229 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011/
UPDATE...
QUICK UPDATE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 311.
DISCUSSION...
THUNDERSTORMS ARE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING ALONG A COLD FRONT/DRYLINE
LATE TONIGHT FROM NEAR GAIL SOUTHWEST THROUGH MARTIN COUNTY.
ACTIVITY IS ALSO BEING OBSERVED ALOFT ACROSS PORTIONS OF MIDLAND
AND ECTOR COUNTY. AS STRONG LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ADVECTION AND
CONVERGENCE CONTINUES ALONG THE BOUNDARIES...ADDITIONAL
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SOUTHWESTWARD THROUGH THE
PERMIAN BASIN. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR
BORDEN...SCURRY...MARTIN...HOWARD...GLASSCOCK...AND MITCHELL
COUNTIES UNTIL 600 AM CDT THIS MORNING. THE ZONES WILL BE SENT
SHORTLY.
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...RED FLAG WARNING FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM MDT FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ...SOUTHEAST
PLAINS/BLM ROSWELL/LNZ.
HIGH WIND WATCH FROM 9 AM MDT FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR
THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY COUNTY.
TX...RED FLAG WARNING FROM 11 AM CDT /10 AM MDT/ THIS MORNING TO 9 PM
CDT /8 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...
ANDREWS...BORDEN...CRANE...DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA...
DAWSON...ECTOR...GAINES...GLASSCOCK...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...
HOWARD...LOVING...MARFA PLATEAU...MARTIN...MIDLAND...
MITCHELL...PECOS...REAGAN...REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS
PECOS...SCURRY...UPTON...VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR...
WARD...WINKLER.
HIGH WIND WATCH FROM 9 AM MDT FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR
THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 723 PM CDT THU MAY 19 2011 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-210030- 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- 723 PM CDT THU MAY 19 2011 /623 PM MDT THU MAY 19 2011/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN LOW ROLLING PLAINS...PERMIAN BASIN AND THE LOWER TRANS PECOS REGION TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND EAST OF A GAIL...BIG SPRING... MCCAMEY...SANDERSON LINE. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...IN ADDITION TO FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS AND MUCH OF WEST TEXAS AGAIN FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THESE LOCATIONS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. STRONG WESTERLY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH...WITH A FEW GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE IN THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AGAIN FRIDAY. A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN PERMIAN BASIN AND THE LOWER TRANS PECOS REGION LATER THIS EVENING OR TONIGHT. 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 116 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 TXZ051-052-062-200645- HOWARD-MARTIN-MIDLAND- 116 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING NORTHERN MIDLAND...SOUTHERN MARTIN AND WESTERN HOWARD COUNTIES UNTIL 145 AM CDT... STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED 7 MILES NORTH OF MIDLAND AND OVER THE CITY OF MIDLAND AT 115 AM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS NEAR 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. 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 600 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR WEST TEXAS. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 126 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 TXZ047-048-052-053-200700- HOWARD-MITCHELL-SCURRY-BORDEN- 126 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING NORTHERN HOWARD...NORTHWESTERN MITCHELL...SOUTHEASTERN BORDEN AND WESTERN SCURRY COUNTIES UNTIL 200 AM CDT... A STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF LAKE J.B. THOMAS...2 MILES NORTHEAST OF LUTHER...AND 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FAIRVIEW AT 125 AM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS NEAR 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. 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 600 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR WEST TEXAS. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 204 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 TXZ052-053-200745- HOWARD-MITCHELL- 204 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING NORTHEASTERN HOWARD AND NORTHWESTERN MITCHELL COUNTIES UNTIL 245 AM CDT... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST OF CUTHBERT AT 203 AM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THIS STORM MAY STRENGTHEN OVER THE NEXT HALF HOUR. THIS STORM MAY PASS NEAR WESTBROOK. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... GUSTY WINDS... HAIL... HEAVY RAIN... AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR WEST TEXAS. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 211 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 TXZ069-200800- UPTON- 211 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING UPTON COUNTY UNTIL 300 AM CDT... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF RANKIN AT 211 AM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THIS STORM MAY STRENGTHEN OVER THE NEXT HALF HOUR. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... GUSTY WINDS... HAIL... HEAVY RAIN... AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR WEST TEXAS. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 217 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 TXZ062-200800- MIDLAND- 217 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING MIDLAND COUNTY UNTIL 300 AM CDT... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF COTTON FLAT AT 217 AM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... GUSTY WINDS... HAIL... HEAVY RAIN... AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR WEST TEXAS. &&
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 319 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 TXZ062-063-069-070-200900- GLASSCOCK-MIDLAND-REAGAN-UPTON- 319 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING GLASSCOCK...NORTHEASTERN UPTON...NORTHWESTERN REAGAN AND SOUTHEASTERN MIDLAND COUNTIES UNTIL 400 AM CDT... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 11 MILES NORTH OF BIGBY CORNER AT 319 AM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... GUSTY WINDS... HAIL... HEAVY RAIN... AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 AM CDT FRIDAY MORNING FOR WEST TEXAS. &&
3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several hours of sustained westerly winds over 40 mph occurred in the Guadalupe Mountains.
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, May 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: 307804, 307805, 307806.