An upper level trough was over Arizona and New Mexico, and it provided lift to West Texas. There was a dryline across the Permian Basin with plentiful low level moisture to the east of this feature.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
An upper level trough was over Arizona and New Mexico, and it provided lift to West Texas. There was a dryline across the Permian Basin with plentiful low level moisture to the east of this feature. This lift and moisture combined to produce thunderstorms across the Trans Pecos.
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 May 28, 2:05 PM CST, 2 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
305 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013
.DISCUSSION...
LARGE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH IS APPROACHING THE GREAT BASIN AND WILL
CONTINUE TO PUSH EAST TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. SHORTWAVE TROUGH
CURRENTLY IN NEW MEXICO WILL APPROACH THE RETREATING DRYLINE
THIS EVENING AND COULD INTENSIFY AND EXPAND CONVECTION THIS
EVENING ALONG AND EAST OF THE DRYLINE ACROSS THE PERMIAN BASIN.
ANY STORMS DEVELOPING WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME STRONG TO
SEVERE GIVEN 0 TO 6 KILOMETER SHEAR VALUES OF 35 KNOTS AND CAPES
IN EXCESS OF 3000 J/KG. THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE
OVERNIGHT ACROSS MAINLY WEST TEXAS AND LEA COUNTY NEW MEXICO DUE
TO THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CONTINUING TO APPROACH FROM THE WEST.
SWIFTER SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW AT 700 MILLIBARS SHOULD PUSH THE
DRYLINE WEDNESDAY TOWARD THE CENTRAL PERMIAN BASIN SO THE SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM THREAT DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY WILL SHIFT EASTWARD
TOWARD THE EASTERN PERMIAN BASIN. NORMALLY THE CONVECTION WOULD
CONTINUE TO PUSH EAST OUT OF THE AREA WITH THE UPPER TROUGH BUT A
SECONDARY SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL PUSH THE DRYLINE BACK WEST TOWARD
THE WESTERN PERMIAN BASIN WEDNESDAY EVENING. THERE IS A SLIGHT
CHANCE THAT SEVERE STORMS COULD REFORM ON THIS RETREATING DRYLINE
IN THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PERMIAN BASIN WEDNESDAY EVENING SO LEFT
THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF STORMS IN THE WEATHER GRID.
BEHIND THIS SYSTEM WILL GO DRY AND MUCH ABOVE NORMAL ON
TEMPERATURES THURSDAY AND FRIDAY IN THE ZONAL FLOW ALOFT. NEXT
CHANCE OF CONVECTION AREAWIDE APPEARS TO BE NEXT SATURDAY AND
SUNDAY DUE TO A COLD FRONT WITH ENHANCEMENT FROM POST FRONTAL
UNSTABLE UPSLOPE FLOW AND UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVING INTO
THE AREA FROM THE WEST.
FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK WILL CONTINUE ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WITH
A SLIGHT CHANCE OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING STORMS IN THE HIGHER
TERRAIN IN CONTINUED UPSLOPE FLOW.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
RED FLAG CONDITIONS ARE CURRENTLY DEVELOPING IN THE GUADALUPE
MOUNTAINS BEHIND THE DRYLINE. SO FAR THE SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO
PLAINS HAVE NOT SEEN RED FLAG CONDITIONS DEVELOP DUE TO THE
RETREATING DRYLINE AS THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH FROM THE WEST
CONTINUES TO MOVE EAST TOWARD THE REGION. STILL EXPECT THE
DRIER AIR TO PUSH INTO THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF NEW MEXICO FIRE
WEATHER ZONE 115 SHORTLY ALONG WITH 20 FOOT WINDS INCREASING TO 20
MPH OR MORE FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF HOURS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
THIS EVENING. DRYLINE SHOULD RETREAT FURTHER WEST OVERNIGHT TOWARD
THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAINS WITH GOOD RH RECOVERY EXCEPT
ACROSS THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF NEW MEXICO
ZONE 115.
THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CURRENTLY ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN WILL
EJECT EASTWARD WEDNESDAY AND STRONGER SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW
AT 700 MILLIBARS SHOULD PUSH THE DRYLINE TOWARD THE CENTRAL
AND EASTERN PERMIAN BASIN BY EARLY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. AN
INTENSIFYING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT BEHIND THIS DRYLINE WILL
RESULT IN VERY DRY AND POTENTIALLY BREEZY CONDITONS ACROSS THE
GUADALUPE AND DAVIS MOUNTAINS...SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO
PLAINS...UPPER TRANS PECOS AND WESTERN PERMIAN BASIN BY WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON. FOR THESE REASONS A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN POSTED
FOR THESE AREAS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
ANDREWS TX 68 95 66 97 / 30 10 10 0
BIG SPRING TX 70 90 70 98 / 30 10 20 10
CARLSBAD NM 65 96 66 98 / 10 0 0 0
DRYDEN TX 72 94 72 102 / 30 10 20 10
FORT STOCKTON TX 69 97 67 98 / 20 10 10 0
GUADALUPE PASS TX 63 89 61 88 / 10 0 0 0
HOBBS NM 64 94 62 96 / 20 0 0 0
MARFA TX 53 89 57 91 / 20 0 0 0
MIDLAND INTL AIRPORT TX 70 95 69 98 / 30 10 10 0
ODESSA TX 72 95 69 98 / 30 10 10 0
WINK TX 68 99 65 101 / 20 0 0 0
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ...SOUTHEAST
PLAINS/BLM ROSWELL/LNZ.
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY
EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS
NP/LINCOLN NF/LNZ...SOUTHEAST PLAINS/BLM ROSWELL/LNZ.
TX...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES... GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS...VAN HORN AND
HIGHWAY 54 CORRIDOR.
FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON 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...WARD...WINKLER.
&&
99/99HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 225 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-291930- 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- 225 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013 /125 PM MDT TUE MAY 28 2013/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE INTO THE NIGHT GENERALLY EAST OF A CAPROCK NEW MEXICO TO BIG BEND LINE. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE PRIMARY CONCERNS. DRY AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY ACROSS THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO PLAINS. A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ONCE AGAIN WEDNESDAY EAST OF A LAMESA TO LOWER TRANS PECOS LINE. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE PRIMARY CONCERNS BUT AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THERE IS A 40 PERCENT CHANCE FOR SPOTTER ACTIVATION THIS AFTERNOON. 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
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 348 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013 TXZ074-075-081-282115- PECOS-BIG BEND AREA-DAVIS/APACHE MOUNTAINS AREA- 348 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AN INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORM AFFECTING NORTH CENTRAL BREWSTER AND SOUTHWESTERN PECOS COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM CDT... AN INTENSIFYING THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER NORTH CENTRAL BREWSTER COUNTY AT 348 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. && LAT...LON 3072 10310 3031 10286 3025 10342 3049 10349 TIME...MOT...LOC 2048Z 249DEG 30KT 3041 10332
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 430 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013 TXZ075-282200- PECOS- 430 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING NORTH CENTRAL PECOS COUNTY UNTIL 500 PM CDT... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF FORT STOCKTON-PECOS COUNTY AIRPORT AT 430 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THIS STORM WILL CROSS STATE HIGHWAY 18 NORTH OF FORT STOCKTON. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... GUSTY WINDS... HAIL... HEAVY RAIN... AND DEADLY LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE. && LAT...LON 3127 10282 3098 10249 3088 10294 3103 10306 TIME...MOT...LOC 2130Z 234DEG 20KT 3101 10291
The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:05 UTC.
2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm moved over Pecos County and produced penny sized hail fourteen miles south southwest of Imperial.
A thunderstorm moved over Pecos County and produced hail up to the size of golfballs six miles southwest of Cordona Lake.
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, May 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: 446823, 446819.