Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, April 11, 2012

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, April 11, 2012
Start: 2012-04-11T14:13
End: 2012-04-11T20:40
Location: Texas

April 11, 2012 · NWS MAF · 7 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: $4,000
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.

An upper level ridge axis was located over Southeast New Mexico and far West Texas with plentiful moisture as far west as the Guadalupe Mountains. A couple shortwaves moved across the area and lapse rates were steep, so there was sufficient lift and instability for severe thunderstorms to develop. Storms initially formed in the Davis Mountains and moved northward into the Trans Pecos, and additional storms developed across Southeast New Mexico.

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 Apr 11, 1:39 PM CST, 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 11, 1:39 PM CST, 34 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
239 PM CDT WED APR 11 2012

.DISCUSSION...

LATEST SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS GOOD RETURN FLOW BACKING LOW-LEVEL
MOISTURE UP ONTO THE HIGHER TERRAIN AND BEYOND...UNDER VARIABLE
MID/HIGH LEVEL CLOUDINESS.  A SUBTLE SHORTWAVE CAME THRU EARLIER
TODAY...SPAWNING ISOLATED -SHRA ACROSS THE AREA...AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUBSIDENCE IT IT/S WAKE.  THE REGION HAS OTHERWISE
BEEN STRUGGLING ALL DAY TO ERODE THE CAP...NOTED ON KMAF 12Z RAOB.
ON WV IMAGERY...A SHORTWAVE WAS MOVING INTO E CENTRAL NM...W/ANOTHER
APPROACHING THE PRESIDIO VALLEY FROM THE SW.  MODELS ARE IN
RELATIVELY GOOD AGREEMENT PICKING UP ON THESE...ESPECIALLY THE NRN
SHORTWAVE.  KMAF 88D SHOWS DIURNAL CONVECTION ALREADY DEVELOPING IN
THE DAVIS MTNS...AND THIS SHOULD DEVELOP FURTHER INTO THE AFTERNOON
AS THE SRN SHORTWAVE CROSSES THE RIVER.  KMAF RAOB SHOWS VERY STEEP
MID-LVL LR/S...AND SUGGESTS HAIL/DAMAGING WINDS WILL AGAIN BE SEVERE
CONCERNS.  THIS WILL BE EXACERBATED BY A NAM-ADVERTISED 45+ LLJ
DEVELOPING THIS EVENING OVER THE EASTERN ZONES.  CONSIDERING THE
PAST FEW DAY/S ACTIVITY...WE/LL MAKE A MENTION OF HAIL/WINDS IN THE
GRIDS.  W/THE PATH OF THE SHORTWAVES...BEST CHANCES OF RAINFALL LOOK
TO BE NORTH AND SOUTH OF KMAF THIS EVENING...NATCH.

THURSDAY...WEST COAST TROUGH EJECTS UP INTO WY/MT...SHUNTING THE
RIDGE TO THE EAST AND PUTTING THE AREA UNDER NW FLOW
ALOFT...REINTRODUCING FIRE WX THREATS.  SEE FIRE WX DISCUSSION
BELOW.  MODELS SHARPEN UP A DRYLINE OVER THE SE CWA...W/BOTH THE
NAM/GFS BRINGING A SHORTWAVE INTO THE LOWER TRANS PECOS THURSDAY
AFTERNOON FOR ISOLATED CONVECTION.  BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON...A
SECONDARY UPPER TROUGH MAKES LANDFALL ON THE CENTRAL CA COAST AND
DIGS TO THE 4 CORNERS BY 06Z SUNDAY.  LEESIDE TROUGHING WILL KEEP
THE DRYLINE CONFINED TO THE EASTERN FRINGES OF THE FA...BEFORE A PAC
FRONT PUSHES IT COMPLETELY EAST OF THE AREA INTO THE EXTENDED.
WE/LL KEEP A SLIGHT CHANCE OF CONVECTION IN FOR FROPA...AND DRY
GRIDS AFTER SAT NIGHT.  BIGGEST CHANGES IN THE EXTENDED HAVE BEEN TO
CONTINUE TRENDING COOLER.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

MOISTURE IS HOLDING AS FAR W AS THE MTNS THIS AFTERNOON AND AS SUCH
THERE MAY STILL BE SOME LIGHTNING TO DEAL WITH IN THE MTNS TOO...BUT
MOST STORMS WILL BE E OF THE MTNS. EXCEPTION WILL BE THE IN THE DAVIS
MTNS AND CHISOS MTNS WHERE THERE IS STILL A GOOD CHANCE FOR STORMS
THRU THE EVENING. FIRE WX CONCERNS INCREASE THURSDAY IN GDP MTNS AND
SE NM PLAINS AS THE DRYLINE WILL MOVE E LEAVING DRY W WINDS IN ITS
WAKE. RF CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING MORE LIKELY BLO 6000 FT IN THE GDP
MTNS...BUT IN THE SE NM PLAINS CONDITIONS LOOK TO BE MORE LOCAL IN
SCALE. AS SUCH WILL OPT FOR A FIRE WX WATCH MAINLY BELOW 6000 FT FOR
THURSDAY IN THE GDP MTNS. MORE OF THE SAME FRI AS DRY AIR PUSHES
EVEN A LITTLE FARTHER E. BY SATURDAY STRONGER WINDS ARE DEEPER IN
THE ATMOSPHERE AND DRYLINE MOVES A LITTLE FARTHER EAST YET. 85H
THERMAL RIDGE WILL BE IN PLACE TOO. GREEN-UP WILL MITIGATE FIRE
DANGER SOME ACRS THE PB THOUGH...SO ATTM JUST NOTING INCREASED FIRE
WX CONCERNS FARTHER E THRU SAT.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BIG SPRING TX              59  86  60  86  /  50  10  10  10
CARLSBAD NM                55  82  50  82  /  10   0  10   0
DRYDEN TX                  63  85  63  84  /  50  10  10  10
FORT STOCKTON TX           58  84  59  88  /  30  10  10  10
GUADALUPE PASS TX          50  74  49  76  /  10   0   0   0
HOBBS NM                   54  81  52  82  /  30   0  10   0
MARFA TX                   46  78  43  78  /  10   0   0  10
MIDLAND INTL AIRPORT TX    61  87  59  87  /  40  10  10  10
ODESSA TX                  63  86  62  85  /  40  10  10  10
WINK TX                    61  88  59  89  /  20  10  10   0

&&

.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...FIRE WEATHER WATCH THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...
     GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ.

TX...FIRE WEATHER WATCH THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...
     GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS.

&&

49/44

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 11, 12:53 PM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
153 PM CDT WED APR 11 2012

NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075-
079>082-258-121900-
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-
153 PM CDT WED APR 11 2012 /1253 PM MDT WED APR 11 2012/

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 INTO THE EVENING ACROSS WEST TEXAS AND
SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO. STORMS WILL BE MOST FAVORED OVER SOUTHEAST NEW
MEXICO...THE LOWER TRANS PECOS...AND THE PERMIAN BASIN. THERE IS A
SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND THE
MAIN CONCERNS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING
ACROSS THE EASTERN PERMIAN BASIN AND LOWER TRANS PECOS. LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WIND WILL BE POSSIBLE.

FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS ACROSS THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS ESPECIALLY
BELOW 6000 FT WITH WEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH AND RH/S AROUND OR
JUST BELOW 15 PERCENT. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS ACROSS SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND
WEST TEXAS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION THIS AFTERNOON OR 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, Apr 11, 12:58 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
158 PM CDT WED APR 11 2012

TXZ058-074-111930-
DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA-REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS-
158 PM CDT WED APR 11 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR A STRONG THUNDERSTORM AFFECTING
NORTH CENTRAL JEFF DAVIS AND SOUTHWESTERN REEVES COUNTIES UNTIL 230
PM CDT...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER NORTH CENTRAL JEFF DAVIS
COUNTY AT 157 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

Special weather statement, Apr 11, 1:31 PM CST, 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
231 PM CDT WED APR 11 2012

TXZ058-074-112000-
DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA-REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS-
231 PM CDT WED APR 11 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM ACROSS SOUTHWEST REEVES COUNTY THROUGH 300 PM
CDT...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER SOUTHWEST REEVES COUNTY JUST
OF SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 10 AND 20 SPLIT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5
MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

The radar

The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 181 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:12 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Reeves

When: April 11, 2:13 PM CST to 2:23 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, Balmorhea
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.980, -103.730

Hail, Reeves

When: April 11, 2:15 PM CST to 2:45 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 4 mi E of Balmorhea
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.980, -103.662

Hail, Reeves

When: April 11, 2:28 PM CST to 2:38 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, Balmorhea
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.980, -103.730

A thunderstorm moved over Reeves County and produced one inch hail in Balmorhea. The hail was reported to be an inch deep, and it lasted for ten minutes.

Hail, Culberson

When: April 11, 3:45 PM CST to 3:55 PM CST
Where: Culberson County, 24.72 mi NNE of Kent
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.410, -104.090

A thunderstorm moved over Culberson County and produced tennis ball sized hail 35 miles west of Pecos. Winds of up to 60 mph were also reported with this storm.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pecos

When: April 11, 5:25 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where: Pecos County, 16 mi WSW of Ft Stockton
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 30.791, -103.119

A thunderstorm moved over Pecos County and produced hail and wind damage. The storm knocked leaves off of mesquite trees, and a shed was blown over due to strong winds. The cost for the damage to the shed is a rough estimate.

Hail, Winkler

When: April 11, 7:55 PM CST to 8:05 PM CST
Where: Winkler County, Kermit
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.850, -103.080

A thunderstorm moved over Winkler County and produced one inch hail over Kermit. A pickup truck was dented on the east side of Kermit. The cost of the damage to the truck is a rough estimate.

Hail, Ward

When: April 11, 8:30 PM CST to 8:40 PM CST
Where: Ward County, 3 mi SE of Grandfalls
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.299, -102.834

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, April 2012

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: 370208, 370210, 370209, 370205, 370211, 370207, 370206.