The passing of an upper level trough to the north of the region resulted in high winds across West Texas.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The passing of an upper level trough to the north of the region resulted in high winds across West Texas.
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 Dec 17, 9:52 PM MST, 2 hours 8 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
1052 PM CST MON DEC 17 2012
.DISCUSSION...
SEE 06Z TAF DISCUSSION BELOW.
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HRS. SOUTH WINDS
AT 10 TO 15 KTS UNDER MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES.
&&
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 229 PM CST MON DEC 17 2012/
DISCUSSION...
ANOTHER BREEZY DAY UNDER SUNNY SKIES THIS AFTERNOON HOWEVER SPEEDS
ARE MUCH LOWER THAN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT
WILL BECOME MORE WESTERLY TUESDAY AS THE WEAK UPPER RIDGE SHIFTS
EASTWARD OVER THE REGION. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL RETURN AS A SURFACE
TROUGH DEVELOPS LEE OF THE ROCKIES AHEAD OF THE NEXT UPPER LEVEL
TROUGH. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM TO NEAR RECORD VALUES TUESDAY
AFTERNOON WITH READINGS GENERALLY IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S.
ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED DURING THE AFTERNOON
HOURS AS HUMIDITIES DECREASE. PLEASE SEE THE FIRE WEATHER SECTION
BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS.
THE AFOREMENTIONED UPPER TROUGH WILL MOVE EAST THROUGH THE ROCKIES
ON WEDNESDAY. INCREASED FLOW AROUND THE BASE OF THE TROUGH WILL
AIDE IN ELEVATED WESTERLY WINDS AT THE SURFACE THROUGHOUT THE DAY
WEDNESDAY. MEANWHILE...THE SURFACE TROUGH WILL STRENGTHEN OVER THE
TX/OK PANHANDLES AND CONTRIBUTE TO HIGHER WIND SPEEDS AS WELL. A
HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE GUADALUPE AND DAVIS MOUNTAIN
REGIONS WEDNESDAY AND DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND ADD THE SURROUNDING
PLAINS TO THE WATCH. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF 40 TO 60 MPH WITH
GUSTS UP TO 70 TO 80 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THE MOUNTAIN REGIONS
WHILE SURROUNDING AREAS REACH 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 TO
60 MPH.
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION WEDNESDAY AND SHIFT WINDS
TO THE NORTHWEST. FOR NOW...THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE
NORTHWEST ZONES BY LATE AFTERNOON SO MOST LOCATIONS WILL HAVE A
CHANCE TO WARM TO AT LEAST TO THE MID TO UPPER 60S. NORTHWEST WINDS
WILL BE RELATIVELY STRONG BEHIND THE FRONT THEN DECREASE
SIGNIFICANTLY AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES INTO THE AREA
OVERNIGHT. MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL FILTER INTO THE REGION AND
MOST LOCATIONS WILL BE IN THE 20S BY THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
THURSDAY. COOLER TEMPERATURES WILL LINGER THURSDAY AND AFTERNOON HIGH
TEMPERATURES ARE ONLY EXPECTED TO REACH THE LOW 50S. UNFORTUNATELY
NO PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED WITH THIS SYSTEM.
WEAK RIDGING WILL SET UP ONCE AGAIN TOWARD THE END OF THE WORK WEEK
AND SOUTHERLY WINDS RETURN TO THE REGION AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE
MOVES EAST. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL REBOUND TO ABOVE NORMAL READINGS
BY SATURDAY.
FIRE WEATHER...
WV IMAGERY SHOWS NW FLOW ALOFT ON THE BACKSIDE OF AN UPPER TROUGH
ENTERING THE MS VALLEY...BUT EXPECT THIS TO TRANSITION TO SW OVER
THE NEXT 24 HRS AS THE NEXT SYSTEM DIGS THRU CA. TUESDAY...WINDS
BEGIN INCREASING AS A SFC TROUGH BEGINS STRENGTHENING IN THE LEE OF
THE ROCKIES. HOWEVER...MODEL SOUNDINGS DIFFER AS TO HOW DEEP MIXING
WILL BE TUESDAY AFTERNOON...W/THE NAM MIXING FURTHER THAN THE GFS.
ALSO...MODELS HINT THAT THE TIMING/PLACEMENT OF THE HIGHER WINDS IN
THE EAST WILL NOT NECESSARILY COINCIDE W/LOWER RH/S SOUTH.
ALSO...RFTI LIMITS CRITICAL CRITERIA TO THE GUADALUPES...ADJACENT
PLAINS...AND THE DAVIS MTNS. THUS...WE/LL SCALE BACK THE
WATCH...AND LET THE MID SHIFT MAKE THE CALL. WEDNESDAY...THINGS GET
A LITTLE DICIER AS THE UPPER TROUGH PASSES THRU SE NM/WEST TEXAS.
MODELS ARE FAIRLY SIMILAR ON TIMING...AND FORECAST SOUNDINGS MIX OUT
TO AROUND 725MB...WHERE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40KTS ARE FORECAST. THE
ONLY LIMITING FACTOR WILL BE RH/S...WHICH ARE FORECAST RIGHT AROUND
15 PCT FOR MOST OF THE AREA. BEING THIS FAR OUT...AND FOR PRODUCT
BREVITY...WE/LL SHOTGUN A WATCH ACROSS ALL ZONES...AND NARROW IT
DOWN IN SUBSEQUENT SHIFTS.
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS
NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ...SOUTHEAST PLAINS/BLM ROSWELL/LNZ.
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY
AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS
NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ...SOUTHEAST PLAINS/BLM ROSWELL/LNZ.
HIGH WIND WATCH FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... CENTRAL LEA COUNTY...EDDY COUNTY
PLAINS...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY COUNTY...NORTHERN LEA
COUNTY...SOUTHERN LEA COUNTY.
TX...FIRE WEATHER WATCH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...
ANDREWS...BIG BEND AREA...BORDEN...CRANE...DAVIS/APACHE
MOUNTAINS AREA...DAWSON...ECTOR...GAINES...GLASSCOCK...
GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...HOWARD...LOVING...MARFA PLATEAU...
MARTIN...MIDLAND...MITCHELL...PECOS...PRESIDIO VALLEY...
REAGAN...REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS...SCURRY...
TERRELL...UPTON...VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR...WARD...
WINKLER.
FIRE WEATHER WATCH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES...
DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...VAN
HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR.
HIGH WIND WATCH FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... ANDREWS...DAVIS/APACHE
MOUNTAINS AREA...GAINES...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...LOVING...
REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS...VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY
54 CORRIDOR.
&&
29HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 121 PM CST MON DEC 17 2012 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-181930- 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- 121 PM CST MON DEC 17 2012 /1221 PM MST MON DEC 17 2012/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NEAR RECORD TEMPERATURES TUESDAY AFTERNOON WILL COMBINE WITH PERSISTENT BREEZY CONDITIONS OVER THE AREA TO POSSIBLY PRODUCE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS...VAN HORN AND THE HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR...AND DAVIS AND APACHE MOUNTAINS. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THESE AREAS TUESDAY AFTERNOON. VERY WINDY CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR AREAWIDE WEDNESDAY. A HIGH WIND WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE GUADALUPE AND DAVIS MOUNTAINS. SOME OF THE ADJACENT LOWLANDS MAY ALSO SEE STRONG WINDS...IF NOT MORE LOCATIONS FURTHER EAST. BLOWING DUST COULD ALSO PRESENT PROBLEMS DUE TO LOW VISIBILITIES TO THE EAST OF OPEN FIELDS. THESE WINDS...COMBINED WITH LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND HIGH FIRE DANGER...MAY RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. 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 44
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An extensive period of strong winds affected the higher elevations of the Guadalupe Mountains. Wind speeds were sustained at 40-50 mph while gusts over 80 mph occurred.
Strong westerly winds of 40-50 mph sustained and gusts as high as 61 mph lasted through much of the day in Guadalupe Pass due to a passing upper level trough.
Strong westerly winds affected Guadalupe Pass.
Strong westerly winds affected the Guadalupe Mountains.
Strong westerly winds of 40-50 mph sustained and gusts over 80 mph affected the Guadalupe Mountains.
McDonald Observatory had strong westerly winds around 40 mph and gusts over 60 mph.
Strong westerly winds of 40-50 mph sustained, and gusts over 60 mph, affected portions of West Texas.
Strong westerly winds of 40-45 mph sustained, and gusts near 60 mph, affected portions of West Texas.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, December 2012
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: 420023, 420012, 420026, 420021, 420016, 420020, 420017, 420018.