Plentiful moisture came in from the Pacific Ocean across southeast New Mexico and far West Texas, and this moisture was limited further east due to a mid-level ridge that was approaching the Southern Plains. Several upper level disturbances moved over the region providing a continuous supply of lift.
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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.
Plentiful moisture came in from the Pacific Ocean across southeast New Mexico and far West Texas, and this moisture was limited further east due to a mid-level ridge that was approaching the Southern Plains. Several upper level disturbances moved over the region providing a continuous supply of lift. This lift and good moisture supply along with the upper level flow allowed for heavy rain to move over the same areas contributing to flash flooding across southeast New Mexico and the Guadalupe Mountains in 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 Sep 12, 4:29 AM MST, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 629 AM CDT Thu Sep 12 2013 .DISCUSSION... See aviation discussion below. && .AVIATION... Moderate to heavy rain has caused MVFR CIGs to form at CNM this morning. This cloud deck will rise after a few hours and become VFR later this morning. Other MVFR CIGs have develop southeast of MAF, but should not make it to MAF or any other TAF sites which will remain VFR. Hennig && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 419 AM CDT Thu Sep 12 2013/ DISCUSSION... Heavy rain and flooding continued this morning across the Guadalupe Mountains and most of Eddy County. Upper level difluence and numerous S/W's along with an axis of moisture streaming in from the Pacific have all led to several inches of rain over the past two days. This moist axis will slowly shift west today as the mid- level ridge that has given us a break from the heat moves back over the Southern Plains. Will retain higher PoPs out west and keep most other areas dry. Flood products will continue to be issued throughout the day for parts of Eddy County as water makes its way through the streams and arroyos toward the Pecos River. With the drier air comes warmer temperatures which should rebound back to normal values over the next several days. The only exception will be the parts of southeast New Mexico which received the most rain so will go a few degrees below guidance for these locations. A weak backdoor cold front will slide south entering northern parts of the Permian Basin late Friday. Moisture convergence during during peak heating should lead to a few showers and thunderstorms along the front. This front will stall across the area Saturday and become a focus for more scattered convection. Beyond this weekend, the upper ridge will break down, possibly allowing abundant moisture to once again spread across the area. This type of pattern would suggest better rain chances, but will continue with slight chance PoPs in the extended for now as we await better model consistency. && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...NONE. TX...NONE. && 10
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 541 AM CDT THU SEP 12 2013 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-131045- 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- 541 AM CDT THU SEP 12 2013 /441 AM MDT THU SEP 12 2013/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE IN EDDY AND NORTHERN CULBERSON COUNTIES THIS MORNING. URBAN FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE IN CARLSBAD AND ARTESIA...AND LOW WATER CROSSINGS AT STREAMS AND ARROYOS WILL BE FLOODED IN WESTERN PORTIONS OF EDDY COUNTY THIS MORNING. CONDITIONS SHOULD IMPROVE THIS AFTERNOON AS THE RAIN DIMINISHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THE PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED BUT LOCAL INTEREST SHOULD STAY ABREAST TO THE LATEST FORECAST. 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
The Holloman AFB radar (KHDX), 172 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:22 UTC.
5 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rain moved across Eddy County and produced flash flooding around eleven miles northwest of Carlsbad. Water was reported to be eight feet deep on Highway 137. The cost of damage is a rough estimate since no damage was reported.
Heavy rain moved across Eddy County and produced flash flooding about three miles east of Queen. Canyons were flooded. One to five feet of water was reported to be over the low water crossing at Last Chance/Wagon Trail. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate since no damage was reported.
Heavy rain moved across Eddy County and produced flash flooding about five miles northwest of Carlsbad. There was a flooded vehicle near the Pecos River. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
Heavy rain moved across Eddy County and produced flash flooding three miles south of Lakewood. Sixty people were evacuated from SKP Campground due to the flash flooding. No damage was reported so the cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
Heavy rain moved across Eddy County and produced flash flooding five miles northwest of Carlsbad. Water was up to two feet deep over Callaway Drive, and this section of the road was closed. There was no damage reported so the cost of damage is a rough estimate.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, September 2013
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: 476175, 476188, 476177, 476189, 476190.