A passing upper level trough resulted in high winds in the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas. A strong cold front moved south through the region in its wake and resulted in strong, but isolated northerly winds over portions of the plains of West Texas.
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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.
A passing upper level trough resulted in high winds in the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas. A strong cold front moved south through the region in its wake and resulted in strong, but isolated northerly winds over portions of the plains of 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 Mar 3, 1:00 PM MST, 2 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
200 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2013
.DISCUSSION...
UNSEASONABLY WARM TODAY UNDERNEATH 85H THERMAL RIDGE ALONG WITH DRY
DOWNSLOPE WINDS. 30KT WINDS AT 7H HAVE KICKED WINDS UP IN PARTS OF
THE GDP MTNS AND HIGH WIND WARNING LOOKS GOOD THERE...IN THE LEAST
FAVORED AREAS OF E SLOPES OVERNIGHT THERE IS THE EXPECTATION OF A
LULL IN THE WINDS. LOW DWPNT AIR WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVERNIGHT THUS
FAVORING NEAR SEASONAL LOW TEMPERATURES OF 35-40 ACROSS THE PB. MUCH
OF THE SAME TUE WITH UNSEASONAL WARMTH NEARLY GUARANTEED BY PRESENCE
OF 20C 85H TEMPERATURES AND EVEN A STRONGER DOWNSLOPE WINDS. THERE
WILL BE SOME CLOUDS TONIGHT AND MONDAY WHICH WILL BE AHEAD OF MID
LEVEL SHRTWV TROF AXIS APPROACHING FROM THE NW. SAID SHRTWV TROF
WILL MAINTAIN A BROAD AREA OF SURFACE LOW PRESSURE ACROSS THE PLAINS
WITH REALLY NOT MUCH OF A MSLP GRADIENT. MIXED LAYER WINDS NEAR 25KTS
WILL STILL HAVE COULD CHANCE TO MATERIALIZE ACROSS THE PLAINS. 7H
HEIGHT GRADIENT IS ONLY 50-60M/200NM THUS GIVING SUPPORT TO A 20-30
MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS FCST FOR THE PLAINS. THIS IS IN AGREEMENT
WITH MOS (GFS ON THE HIGH END AND MET ON LOW END). 7H WINDS INCREASE
(40-50KTS) THRU THE DAY SUNDAY AND REMAIN FROM THE W. AS SUCH HIGH
WINDS WILL BE FAVORED IN THE GDP/DAVIS MTNS. WILL UPGRADE WATCH
FOR DAVIS MTNS WITH EMPHASIS ABOVE 6KFT. FOR VAN HORN/MRF AREAS
WILL LEAVE WATCH OUT DUE TO LESS CERTAINTY...ADVISORY MAY BE MORE
APPROPRIATE THERE? THERE WILL BE A BIT OF PHASING OF THE MINOR SHRTWV
TROF AND COLDER/DEEPER MID LEVEL TROF TO THE N EARLY MONDAY EVENING
AND THE ASSOCD COLD FRONT WILL GET A GOOD SHOVE S. FRONT WILL BE
WELL INTO THE PB BY 06Z/TUE AND BRIEFLY POST FRONTAL WINDS WILL NEAR
25 MPH SUSTAINED. AT LEAST PATCHY AREAS OF BLDU WILL BE POSSIBLE
ACROSS PB. STILL TOO MUCH WIND FOR TEMPERATURES TO BOTTOM OUT TUE
AM BUT WITH THE WIND AND TEMPERATURES IN 35-40 RANGE IT WILL FEEL
COLD. HIGHS WILL FALL BACK INTO THE 50S FOR MOST AREAS. COLDER WEDNESDAY
AM TOO WITH LIGHT WINDS AND STILL DRY AIR. 85H TEMPERATURES ABOUT
2-4C WARMER WEDNESDAY SO HIGHS WILL BE INTO L60S ANYWAY. WARMING
TREND CONTINUES INTO THUR/FRI BUT LOW LEVEL MSTR WILL CREEP UP TOO...
ESPECIALLY ERN CWFA AND BY FRIDAY HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE WIDESPREAD
BACK IN THE 70S. MEANWHILE BROAD COLD UPPER LOW WILL MOVE INTO THE
DESERT SW REGION AND ASSOCD 150KT 3H JET WILL NOSE INTO SRN NM/W TX.
FOR NOW INDICATION IS THAT LOW LEVEL MSTR WILL BE LIMITED EARLY FRIDAY
(DWPNTS M40S) BUT HIGH BASED SHRA/TSRA CAN/T BE RULED OUT WITH STEEPENING
MID LEVEL LR/S...EVEN AS EARLY AS FRIDAY EVENING. MSTR WILL HAVE A CHANCE
TO IMPROVE SATURDAY AND GFS/ECMWF ARE IN GOOD THAT CONVECTION WILL BREAK
OUT ALONG A MODEST DRYLINE ACROSS ERN CWFA LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING.
GFS KEEPS MID/UPPER LOW OPEN AND FAR S THAN ECMWF ON SUNDAY. AS SUCH
ECMWF WOULD FAVOR WINDY/DRY CONDITIONS. DUE TO UNCERTAINTY WILL MAKE
ONLY MINOR CHANGES FOR NOW IN THE LATTER PART OF EXTENDED.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
CRITICAL FIRE WX CONDITIONS ARE SLOWLY COMING TOGETHER WITH A FEW SITES
IN THE E REPORTING RF WX. GDP/CNM/ATS ARE ALL AT OR VERY NEAR RF. MORE
CRITICAL FIRE WX AND OVER A LARGER AREA FOR SUNDAY AS UNSEASONAL
WARMTH (15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL)...25KT MIXED LATER WIND IS REALIZED...
AND AS MIN RH/S FALL INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS. FUEL MAPS SOWS THE DRIEST
FUELS TO BE E OF A LINE BIG SPRING TO MARFA...ALTHOUGH 1HR FUELS ARE
CERTAINLY AVAILABLE ACROSS ALL AREAS.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
ANDREWS TX 46 82 36 56 / 0 0 0 0
BIG SPRING TX 47 82 38 56 / 0 0 0 0
CARLSBAD NM 52 85 39 59 / 0 0 0 0
DRYDEN TX 47 89 48 65 / 0 0 0 0
FORT STOCKTON TX 53 86 40 57 / 0 0 0 0
GUADALUPE PASS TX 49 75 34 53 / 0 0 0 0
HOBBS NM 45 81 34 55 / 0 0 0 0
MARFA TX 32 77 35 57 / 0 0 0 0
MIDLAND INTL AIRPORT TX 45 83 37 55 / 0 0 0 0
ODESSA TX 48 83 38 56 / 0 0 0 0
WINK TX 45 86 40 60 / 0 0 0 0
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ...SOUTHEAST
PLAINS/BLM ROSWELL/LNZ.
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY EVENING
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NP/LINCOLN
NF/LNZ...SOUTHEAST PLAINS/BLM ROSWELL/LNZ.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 5 PM MST MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS OF EDDY COUNTY.
TX...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CST /7 PM MST/ THIS EVENING FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES... BORDEN...DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA...
GLASSCOCK...GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...HOWARD...LOVING...
MITCHELL...REAGAN...REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS...
SCURRY...VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR.
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY 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 WARNING UNTIL 5 PM MST MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS.
HIGH WIND WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON FOR
THE FOLLOWING ZONES... MARFA PLATEAU...VAN HORN AND HIGHWAY
54 CORRIDOR.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM CST MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES... DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 207 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2013 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-042015- 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- 207 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2013 /107 PM MST SUN MAR 3 2013/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT VERY WARM...WINDY AND DRY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR THE GUADALUPE AND DAVIS MOUNTAINS...SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS...UPPER TRANS PECOS...VAN HORN HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR AND THE EXTREME EASTERN PERMIAN BASIN. A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THESE AREAS. STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED IN THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS THROUGH TONIGHT. SUSTAINED SPEEDS OF 35 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS 65 TO 70 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY WINDY...WARM AND VERY DRY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN NEAR CRITICAL TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND MUCH OF WEST TEXAS. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT. STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE IN THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS MONDAY WHERE A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT. SUSTAINED SPEEDS OF 35 TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS 65 TO 70 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. HIGH WINDS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE MONDAY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS AND A HIGH WIND WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THIS AREA. .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
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An extended period of strong winds affected the higher elevations of the Guadalupe Mountains due to a passing upper trough. Frequent gusts over 60 and 70 mph occurred.
Sustained west winds over 50 mph occurred with frequent gusts over 60 mph for several hours.
West winds gusted to around 60 mph in the Guadalupe Mountains due to a passing upper trough.
Strong west winds occurred at McDonald Observatory with gusts over 60 mph.
Strong, but brief, north winds occurred behind a strong cold front.
Sustained north winds of 40 mph or greater occurred behind a strong cold front.
Northeast winds funneled through Guadalupe Pass behind a strong cold front and resulted in gusts over 60 mph for several hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, March 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: 432589, 432590, 432588, 432618, 432591, 432592, 432606.