Hail, Winkler
- When
- March 18, 9:45 PM CST to 9:55 PM CST
- Where
- Winkler County, Kermit
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 31.850, -103.080
Tornado and Hail in Texas, March 18 to 19, 2012
A big, upper level low was just west of the area near the four corners region of the United States. There was a surface trough across Southeast New Mexico and far West Texas with a retreating dryline across the Permian Basin and the lower Trans Pecos.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 3
- Property damage
- $1.0 million
- 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.
A big, upper level low was just west of the area near the four corners region of the United States. There was a surface trough across Southeast New Mexico and far West Texas with a retreating dryline across the Permian Basin and the lower Trans Pecos. A Pacific front moved through the area after sunset. The collision of the front with the dryline along with good shear and instability provided a ripe environment for severe thunderstorm development. A line of convection developed, and the storms went on to produce a tornado near Gardendale, TX and severe hail across the Permian Basin.
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 Mar 18, 8:44 PM CST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 18, 8:44 PM CST, 1 hour 1 minute before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
944 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012
.UPDATE...
EXPIRATION OF WIND ADVISORY.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
UPDATED THE ZONES FOR THE EXPIRATION OF THE WIND ADVISORY. THE
HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE GUADALUPE AND DAVIS MOUNTAINS REMAINS IN
EFFECT TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. LEFT CHANCE POPS IN TONIGHT AS
REDEVELOPMENT STILL POSSIBLE... IF STORMS GET GOING COULD HAVE A FEW
BECOME SEVERE.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BIG SPRING TX 54 67 41 59 / 40 20 10 10
CARLSBAD NM 49 65 36 58 / 10 10 10 10
DRYDEN TX 58 81 49 66 / 30 10 10 0
FORT STOCKTON TX 52 70 42 58 / 20 10 10 10
GUADALUPE PASS TX 38 54 30 48 / 10 20 20 10
HOBBS NM 43 61 35 58 / 10 10 10 10
MARFA TX 43 63 28 50 / 10 10 10 10
MIDLAND INTL AIRPORT TX 47 68 39 59 / 40 10 10 10
ODESSA TX 49 68 41 59 / 30 10 10 10
WINK TX 48 68 40 62 / 10 10 10 10
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MDT MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY COUNTY.
TX...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 10 PM CDT /9 PM MDT/ MONDAY FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES... DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA...GUADALUPE
MOUNTAINS.
&&
99/99Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 18, 8:49 PM CST, 56 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 949 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-200300- 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- 949 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 /849 PM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012/ 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 TONIGHT ALONG AND EAST OF A HOBBS TO MARATHON LINE. IF STORMS DEVELOP A FEW COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND THE MAIN THREATS. A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE GUADALUPE AND DAVIS MOUNTAINS TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT MONDAY FOR THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS ABOVE 6000 FEET. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION REMAINS POSSIBLE LATE 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
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Mar 18, 4:07 PM CST, 5 hours 38 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 507 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 TXZ047-052-182230- HOWARD-BORDEN- 507 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AN INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORM AFFECTING NORTHWESTERN HOWARD AND SOUTH CENTRAL BORDEN COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT... ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT... AN INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FAIRVIEW AT 507 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... GUSTY WINDS... HAIL... HEAVY RAIN... AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE. &&
Special weather statement, Mar 18, 4:22 PM CST, 5 hours 23 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 522 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 TXZ051-182245- MARTIN- 522 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS AFFECTING CENTRAL MARTIN COUNTY UNTIL 545 PM CDT... A THUNDERSTORM WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WAS LOCATED 7 MILES WEST OF COURTNEY AT 522 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... SEEK SHELTER IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION. &&
Special weather statement, Mar 18, 5:09 PM CST, 4 hours 36 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 609 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 TXZ046-051-190000- DAWSON-MARTIN- 609 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING NORTH CENTRAL MARTIN AND SOUTH CENTRAL DAWSON COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM CDT... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 4 MILES WEST OF BUFORD AT 609 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. 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. 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, Mar 18, 6:11 PM CST, 3 hours 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 711 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 TXZ046-047-190045- DAWSON-BORDEN- 711 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING NORTHEASTERN DAWSON AND NORTHERN BORDEN COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM CDT... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MESQUITE AT 711 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. 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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT SUNDAY EVENING FOR PORTIONS WEST TEXAS. &&
Special weather statement, Mar 18, 9:07 PM CST, 38 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 1007 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 NMZ033-034-TXZ045-050-058>060-067-190330- GAINES-LOVING-WARD-WINKLER-ANDREWS-SOUTHERN LEA COUNTY- CENTRAL LEA COUNTY-REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS- 1007 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AN INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORM AFFECTING CENTRAL REEVES...SOUTHEASTERN LEA...SOUTHEASTERN LOVING... WESTERN ANDREWS...WESTERN GAINES...WESTERN WARD AND WINKLER COUNTIES UNTIL 1030 PM CDT/930 PM MDT/... INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED 14 MILES NORTH OF JAL AT 1007 PM CDT/907 PM MDT/...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... GUSTY WINDS... HAIL... HEAVY RAIN... AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE. &&
Special weather statement, Mar 18, 9:41 PM CST, 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 1041 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 TXZ067-068-190445- CRANE-WARD- 1041 PM CDT SUN MAR 18 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING EASTERN WARD AND NORTHWESTERN CRANE COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 PM CDT... A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED FROM 6 MILES NORTH OF PYOTE TO 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PYOTE AT 1041 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 30 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. &&
The radar
The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:43 UTC.
Event by event
6 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Tornado, Ector
- When
- March 18, 11:28 PM CST to 11:30 PM CST
- Where
- Ector County, 5.15 mi ENE of Gardendale to 5.93 mi ENE of Gardendale
- Rating
- EF2
- Path length
- 1 mi
- Path width
- 40 yd
- Injuries
- 3 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $1.0 million
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 32.028, -102.339
A line of severe thunderstorms moved into Ector County around 11:20 PM CDT March 18th and progressed eastward. At 12:28 AM CDT March 19th, a tornado touched down in the Gardendale community and remained on the ground for two minutes. This tornado produced damage along County Road 30 (Goldenrod Drive) primarily between Chinaberry Avenue and Alfalfa Avenue. As the tornado developed, it moved just south of an RV Park located near the intersection of County Road 30 and China Berry Ave. This resulted in a large camper being toppled by severe northwest winds flowing into the tornado. One minor injury was noted at this location. As the tornado intensified and progressed northeastward, strong inflow winds from the south resulted in a cinder block fence being blown over to the north. Finally, as the tornado crossed County Road 30 (Goldenrod Drive), it reached its peak intensity. This resulted in significant damage to a residential home, along with a 20' x 30' travel trailer and a barn being destroyed. Widespread damage was noted in this area, which also served as a collection point for a great amount of debris from other locations upwind back to the southwest. South of County Road 30, power poles with broken cross members were noted. This was indicative of EF1 tornado damage. However, the tornado intensified after crossing to the north side of County Road 30 (Goldenrod Drive). There was a home that shifted slightly off its foundation. Also, there was significant loss of roof decking and major shingle loss. Some small pieces of debris became projectiles, sticking into the walls of the home. Based on this information, winds for this event were estimated to be 90-110 mph. The Gardendale tornado at its most intense - north of County Road 30 - was rated as a low end EF-2 tornado.
Hail, Martin
- When
- March 19, 12:50 AM CST to 1:00 AM CST
- Where
- Martin County, Lenorah
- Measured
- 2 in hail
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 32.300, -101.870
Hail, Dawson
- When
- March 19, 1:45 AM CST to 1:55 AM CST
- Where
- Dawson County, Ackerly
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Post Office
- Coordinates
- 32.520, -101.720
Hail, Midland
- When
- March 19, 3:20 AM CST to 3:30 AM CST
- Where
- Midland County, 2.41 mi NE of Greenwood
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 32.027, -101.894
Hail, Glasscock
- When
- March 19, 3:45 AM CST to 3:55 AM CST
- Where
- Glasscock County, 14.5 mi N of Garden City
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 32.080, -101.500
Hail, Howard
- When
- March 19, 3:53 AM CST to 4:03 AM CST
- Where
- Howard County, Big Spring
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 32.250, -101.470
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
- Tornadoes and Hail in Nebraska, March 18, 2012
- Wildfire and High Wind in Colorado, March 18 to 19, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, March 18 to 19, 2012
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in New Mexico, March 18 to 20, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Wind in South Dakota, March 18, 2012
- Flooding and Hail in Ohio, March 18, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, March 18 to 19, 2012
- Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, March 18 to 19, 2012
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, March 18 to 20, 2012
- High Wind in Colorado, March 18, 2012
- Hail in Kansas, March 18 to 19, 2012
- High Wind in Nebraska, March 18, 2012
More
Every storm in Texas in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2012Warnings in Texas, March 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: 364121, 364618, 364138, 364139, 364147, 364142, 364148.