Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Texas, May 18 to 19, 2015

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Texas, May 18 to 19, 2015
Start: 2015-05-18T15:45
End: 2015-05-19T00:51
Location: Texas

May 18 to 19, 2015 · NWS MAF · 21 events in 5 counties and zones

An upper level disturbance moved across the region above southeast winds at the surface, which brought increasing moisture to the area. Daytime heating lead to strong instability and this combined with moderate shear brought the development of severe storms to the Upper 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $15,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 21

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.

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 May 18, 1:47 PM CST, 1 hour 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 18, 1:47 PM CST, 1 hour 58 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
247 PM CDT MON MAY 18 2015

.DISCUSSION...
AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AS A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE
ACROSS THE AREA.

IN THE SHORT TERM, OF PRIMARY CONCERN WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL AND SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST
NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS.

THIS AFTERNOON, A GENERALLY SOUTHEAST FLOW WAS INCREASING MOISTURE
EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS WITH DEWPOINTS EXCEEDING 60 DEGREES PUSHING
THROUGH THE PECOS RIVER VALLEY AND INTO THE SOUTHERN PERMIAN
BASIN. COMBINED WITH ABUNDANT INSOLATION AND COOLING ALOFT, CAPE
VALUES ARE EXCEEDING 3000 THIS AFTERNOON. DAYTIME HEATING AND
UPSLOPE FLOW WILL BRING INITIAL CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT PRIMARILY
IN THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS AREA THIS AFTERNOON. WITH MODERATE SHEAR OF
40 KNOTS, DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELLS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND IS POSSIBLE. LFC LEVELS LESS THAN 2000M
SUGGEST THAT ISOLATED TORNADIC DEVELOPMENT ALSO POSSIBLE LATE THIS
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING MAINLY WEST OF THE PECOS RIVER.

AS STORMS MOVE OFF THE HIGHER TERRAIN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST,
LOOKING FOR MERGING OF CELLS INTO A LARGER-SCALE COMPLEX AIDED BY
DEVELOPMENT OF A SOUTHEASTERLY LOW LEVEL JET THIS EVENING WHICH
WILL SUSTAIN INSTABILITY ACROSS THE AREA. HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS
WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE AS THE SYSTEM MOVES INTO THE PERMIAN BASIN. A
SECONDARY WAVE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED AS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH
APPROACHES THE AREA LATE TONIGHT. WITH PRECIPITABLE WATER PROGGED
OVER 1.5 INCHES ACROSS MUCH OF THE PERMIAN BASIN, HEAVY AND
POTENTIALLY EXCESSIVE RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE MAINLY OVER THE CENTRAL
TO NORTHERN PERMIAN BASIN. PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED EXIT EASTERN
PARTS OF THE PERMIAN BASIN BY MID-DAY TUESDAY. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH
WILL BE ISSUED FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO, THE UPPER TRANS-PECOS AND
THE PERMIAN BASIN FOR THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MID-DAY TUESDAY.

AS DRIER AIR MIXES EAST TUESDAY, THE DRYLINE IS EXPECTED TO SET UP
NEAR THE TEXAS/NEW MEXICO BORDER TUESDAY AFTERNOON. UNSTABLE
CONDITIONS AND MODERATE SHEAR SUGGEST THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE
WEATHER ALONG AND EAST OF THE DRYLINE, THOUGH DEVELOPMENT MAY BE
INHIBITED IN THE WAKE OF DEPARTING SHORTWAVE AND MCS.

A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH INTO THE AREA WEDNESDAY, BRINGING CHANCES
FOR THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN MOSTLY TO EASTERN PARTS OF THE FORECAST
AREA, WHERE INSTABILITY WILL BE GREATEST. A MOIST RETURN FLOW
AHEAD OF THE NEXT SYSTEM WILL FUEL DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
ANDREWS TX                 65  85  64  85  /  80  50  20  20
BIG SPRING TX              67  83  68  84  /  70  60  30  40
CARLSBAD NM                60  87  55  87  /  70  20  10  10
DRYDEN TX                  70  89  70  89  /  40  20  20  20
FORT STOCKTON TX           68  88  65  88  /  40  20  20  20
GUADALUPE PASS TX          58  82  56  84  /  50  10  10  10
HOBBS NM                   62  83  59  82  /  80  40  20  10
MARFA TX                   57  85  51  85  /  30  10  10  10
MIDLAND INTL AIRPORT TX    67  85  67  85  /  70  50  20  30
ODESSA TX                  67  86  67  86  /  70  40  20  20
WINK TX                    68  89  64  91  /  70  40  20  10

&&

.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NM...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES... CENTRAL LEA COUNTY...EDDY COUNTY PLAINS...NORTHERN
     LEA COUNTY...SOUTHERN LEA COUNTY.

TX...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES... ANDREWS...BORDEN...CRANE...DAWSON...ECTOR...
     GAINES...GLASSCOCK...HOWARD...LOVING...MARTIN...MIDLAND...
     MITCHELL...REAGAN...REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS...
     SCURRY...UPTON...WARD...WINKLER.

&&

05

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Hazardous weather outlook, May 18, 1:45 PM CST, 2 hours before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
245 PM CDT MON MAY 18 2015

NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075-
079>082-258-191945-
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-
245 PM CDT MON MAY 18 2015 /145 PM MDT MON MAY 18 2015/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NEW
MEXICO...SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND WEST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT ACROSS PORTIONS WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO. THE
MAIN THREATS INCLUDE VERY LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND HEAVY
RAINFALL ALTHOUGH THE POTENTIAL FOR A TORNADO OR TWO IS ALSO
POSSIBLE.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST OVERNIGHT MAINLY ACROSS
SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO...UPPER TRANS PECOS AND PERMIAN BASIN
REGIONS. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERN AND A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THESE AREAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

THE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TUESDAY THROUGH THE
WEEKEND FOR MUCH OF THE AREA. SOME OF THE STORMS WILL BE STRONG TO
SEVERE WITH HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

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, May 18, 2:49 PM CST, 56 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
349 PM CDT MON MAY 18 2015

TXZ058-182115-
REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS-
349 PM CDT MON MAY 18 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS
AFFECTING CENTRAL REEVES COUNTY UNTIL 415 PM CDT...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT...

A THUNDERSTORM WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WAS LOCATED 10 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF TOYAH AT 349 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT
MONDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS.

&&

LAT...LON 3150 10357 3130 10332 3111 10365 3130 10382
TIME...MOT...LOC 2049Z 225DEG 11KT 3124 10365

STROBIN

Special weather statement, May 18, 3:09 PM CST, 36 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
409 PM CDT MON MAY 18 2015

TXZ058-059-182145-
LOVING-REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS-
409 PM CDT MON MAY 18 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS
AFFECTING CENTRAL LOVING AND NORTH CENTRAL REEVES COUNTIES UNTIL 445
PM CDT...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT...

A THUNDERSTORM WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WAS LOCATED 17 MILES
SOUTH OF ORLA AT 409 PM CDT...MOVING NORTH AT 25 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT
MONDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS.

&&

LAT...LON 3191 10400 3183 10358 3150 10372 3151 10399
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 186DEG 21KT 3160 10388

STROBIN

Special weather statement, May 18, 3:19 PM CST, 26 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
419 PM CDT MON MAY 18 2015

TXZ058-067-182145-
WARD-REEVES COUNTY AND UPPER TRANS PECOS-
419 PM CDT MON MAY 18 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS
AFFECTING CENTRAL REEVES AND WEST CENTRAL WARD COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM
CDT...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT...

A THUNDERSTORM WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WAS LOCATED 7 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF PECOS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AT 419 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 20 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT
MONDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS.

&&

LAT...LON 3160 10341 3140 10315 3119 10362 3134 10374
TIME...MOT...LOC 2119Z 241DEG 16KT 3132 10357

STROBIN

The radar

The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 146 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:55 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 2 heavy rain, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Reeves

When: May 18, 3:45 PM CST to 3:50 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 8 mi W of Toyah Lake
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.330, -103.556

Hail, Reeves

When: May 18, 3:45 PM CST to 3:50 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 3 mi SW of Pecos
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 31.389, -103.516

Hail, Reeves

When: May 18, 4:01 PM CST to 4:06 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 7 mi SSW of Pecos
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.326, -103.525

Hail, Reeves

When: May 18, 4:11 PM CST to 4:16 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, Pecos
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.420, -103.480

Hail, Reeves

When: May 18, 4:17 PM CST to 4:22 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 4 mi ESE of Pecos
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.398, -103.417

Hail, Reeves

When: May 18, 4:17 PM CST to 4:27 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 5 mi SW of Pecos
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 31.369, -103.540

A thunderstorm moved across Reeves County and produced two inch hail southwest of Pecos. The hail was covering the ground.

Tornado, Reeves

When: May 18, 4:25 PM CST to 4:27 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 4 mi E of Toyah Lake to 4.82 mi ENE of Toyah Lake
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.39 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 31.330, -103.352

A thunderstorm moved across Reeves County and produced a tornado near Toyah Lake. The tornado was observed by a storm chaser and lasted about 2 minutes. It was located 4 miles east of Toyah Lake and no damage was reported. The path length and width were both estimated. Due to no damage being reported, it was rated as an EF-0.

Hail, Reeves

When: May 18, 4:45 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 2.89 mi NNW of Toyah Lake
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 31.365, -103.447

A thunderstorm moved across Reeves County and produced one inch hail southeast of Pecos. The hail was reported to be up to one foot deep covering US 285 with near zero visibility.

Tornado, Reeves

When: May 18, 4:53 PM CST to 4:58 PM CST
Where: Reeves County, 3.62 mi SE of Toyah Lake to 3.89 mi E of Toyah Lake
Rating: EF0
Path length: 3.57 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.292, -103.377

A thunderstorm moved across Reeves County and produced a tornado south of Pecos. The tornado was seen by a trained spotter 11 miles south of Pecos between Highway 285 and Farm to Market Road 1450. It was on the ground for approximately 5 minutes and no damage was reported. The path length and width were both estimated. Due to no damage being reported, it was rated as an EF-0.

Hail, Pecos

When: May 18, 5:55 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Pecos County, 1 mi N of Coyanosa
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.184, -103.000

Hail, Pecos

When: May 18, 5:59 PM CST to 6:04 PM CST
Where: Pecos County, 2 mi N of Coyanosa
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.199, -103.000

Hail, Pecos

When: May 18, 6:25 PM CST to 6:30 PM CST
Where: Pecos County, Coyanosa
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.170, -103.000

Thunderstorm Wind, Ward

When: May 18, 7:28 PM CST to 7:29 PM CST
Where: Ward County, Grandfalls
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.330, -102.870

A thunderstorm moved across Ward County and produced wind damage in Grandfalls. The winds caused a 20 foot tree to split in half. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pecos

When: May 18, 7:41 PM CST to 7:42 PM CST
Where: Pecos County, 2 mi S of Coyanosa
Measured: 78 kt (90 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $4,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.141, -103.000

A thunderstorm moved across Pecos County and produced wind damage near Coyanosa. A storm damage survey was conducted in the area and it was determined that the damage was caused by limited straight-line winds. Telephone poles were snapped at a few locations and were all blown down facing south. Based on the damage, the winds were estimated to be 80 to 100 mph. Hail drifts were also reported with this storm. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Flash Flood, Pecos

When: May 18, 7:41 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Pecos County, 7.61 mi NNW of Coyanosa to 7.39 mi NNW of Coyanosa
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.277, -103.032

Heavy rain moved across Pecos County and produced a flash flood near Coyanosa. Several cars were reported to have swept off the road. There was a high water rescue by the Pecos County Sheriff's Department of a woman and two children in a car but no injuries were reported. The flood gauge on the road showed that the water was four feet deep. The Texas Tech Mesonet site located about two miles north of Coyanosa reported more than four inches of rain during the evening. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Heavy Rain, Pecos

When: May 18, 10:00 PM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where: Pecos County, 2 mi N of Coyanosa
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 31.199, -103.000

Heavy rain fell north of Coyanosa in Pecos County. Three inches of rain were recorded by the mesonet in 30 minutes and 4.15 inches total were recorded.

Hail, Upton

When: May 18, 10:47 PM CST to 10:52 PM CST
Where: Upton County, Mc Camey
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.130, -102.230

Heavy Rain, Upton

When: May 18, 11:30 PM CST to 11:55 PM CST
Where: Upton County, Mc Camey
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 31.130, -102.230

Heavy rain fell in McCamey and three inches were recorded.

Thunderstorm Wind, Reagan

When: May 19, 12:47 AM CST to 12:48 AM CST
Where: Reagan County, 1 mi WNW of Big Lake
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 31.206, -101.486

A thunderstorm moved across Reagan County and produced a 62 mph wind gust as recorded by the mesonet.

Thunderstorm Wind, Reagan

When: May 19, 12:50 AM CST to 12:51 AM CST
Where: Reagan County, 28 mi N of Best
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 31.635, -101.630

A thunderstorm moved across Reagan County and produced a 59 mph wind gust near St. Lawrence at the mesonet site.

Thunderstorm Wind, Reagan

When: May 19, 12:50 AM CST to 12:51 AM CST
Where: Reagan County, Big Lake
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.200, -101.470

A thunderstorm moved across Reagan County and produced a 60 mph wind gust at the Pilot Travel Center in Big Lake.

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.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2015 Warnings in Texas, May 2015

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: 573125, 573439, 573441, 573447, 573450, 573457, 574564, 573461, 574565, 573462, 573463, 573464, 573472, 574567, 574576, 573465, 573466, 573467, 573468, 573469, 573470.