An upper level disturbance was moving over northern Mexico, and a dryline was set up from southeast New Mexico to the Big Bend area. Very unstable air was east of the dryline and lead to storms developing during the time of peak heating.
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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.
An upper level disturbance was moving over northern Mexico, and a dryline was set up from southeast New Mexico to the Big Bend area. Very unstable air was east of the dryline and lead to storms developing during the time of peak heating. Some of these storms became severe with large hail and strong winds due to the large amount of instability.
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 Apr 16, 3:47 PM CST, 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 447 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017 .UPDATE... Update to expand PoPs over southwest Texas into this evening. The 17/00Z Aviaition Discussion is included below also. && .DISCUSSION... Above normal temperatures and ample low level moisture are fostering the development of fairly widespread thunderstorms over the Davis Mountains, Marfa Plateau, Stockton Plateau and south near the Big Bend region this afternoon. There is a pronounced lack of shear under weak westerly flow aloft, but surface based instability is 2500 west to 4000 east J/Kg according to the latest SPC Mesoscale Analysis. Strong to severe storms continue to develop due to the high instability, despite the lack of shear and resultant disorganized thunderstorms. None of the latest, or earlier, model runs are capturing thunderstorm development well, but expect storms will continue into the evening and develop further east into the mentioned instability axis, and as a modest low level jet strengthens around sunset. Have expanded PoPs farther west into this evening, and tweaked PoPs between 17/00Z and 17/06Z. Hail, strong winds and locally heavy rainfall will be the main threats from these storms, which may not diminish until 17/03Z or after. && .AVIATION... Expect VFR conditions to prevail overnight, except perhaps at KFST and KMAF where TSRA may impinge. The storms could produce gusty winds and hail, but probability is too low to mention at either terminal. Expect VFR conditions again on Monday, but more storms will develop Monday afternoon. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 209 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017/ Nondescript WSW mid level flow with low level mstr backed w into the mtns today and this weakish flow aloft will favor a wwd position of the dryline this PM. Instablilty e of the dryline will be modulated by steep 7h-5h LR's around 8 C/KM, surface dewpoints in the M50s- M60s, along with an abundance of insolation. MLCAPES will be around 3000 J/KG or higher. For the last several days there has been a consistent signal that storms will develop INVOF eastern slopes Davis Mtns to Glass Mtns with storms more isolated along the dryline across the PB. If there is limiting factor today is would be shear/weak mid level wind fields. However instability will make up for it, IMO. Supercell potential will be limited, but severe storms seems likely. Across the PB storms will dissipate by mid evening, but are more likely to persist across the Lower Trans Pecos as they track e-se late into the evening. PoP forecast looks ok, but will include a mention of severe storms. ECMWF has been consistent with storms across the far eastern CWFA overnight, contingent upon storms forming to n and tracking e-se overnight. We are less confident about this with lack of support aloft. Low level mstr will again hold a wwd position Monday and a few more storms are expected across the Trans Pecos (Davis Mtns e), less along the dryline in the PB. PoPs will be absent from the forecast Tue/Wed with drier air advancing farther e each day. Meanwhile, high temps will increase much moreso then as thermal ridge expands, highs in the 90s will be widespread. Wed will probably be the warmest day of this forecast cycle. A cold front may just make it into nrn CWFA Thur PM, but still unseasonably warm for most all areas. Warmer yet Friday ahead a cold front that will result in cooler temps next weekend (below normal). && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 64 84 61 87 / 40 20 20 10 Carlsbad 51 90 52 92 / 10 0 10 0 Dryden 64 86 61 86 / 60 20 20 10 Fort Stockton 59 86 60 91 / 40 20 10 0 Guadalupe Pass 59 85 57 85 / 10 0 0 0 Hobbs 54 83 57 88 / 10 10 10 0 Marfa 47 82 49 86 / 30 20 10 10 Midland Intl Airport 62 85 60 88 / 30 20 10 0 Odessa 61 85 60 88 / 20 20 10 0 Wink 60 89 59 92 / 20 10 10 0 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...None. TX...None. && 99/99/
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 129 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-171830- 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- 129 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017 /1229 PM MDT Sun Apr 16 2017/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas and western Texas. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT There is a chance of thunderstorms through tonight, mainly along and east of a Lamesa to Pecos to Marfa line. A few storms could become severe with damaging winds and large hail possible, especially across the Stockton Plateau and Big Bend. Brief heavy rainfall and frequent lightning will also accompany the stronger storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY There is a slight chance of thunderstorms Monday and Monday night across west Texas. A few storms could produce brief strong winds and hail. Brief heavy rainfall and frequent lightning will also accompany the stronger storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... There is a 30 percent chance of spotter activation this afternoon and this 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... http://weather.gov/midland
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 304 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017 TXZ074-075-079>082-170100- Davis/Apache Mountains Area-Pecos-Presidio Valley-Marfa Plateau- Big Bend Area-Terrell- Including the cities of Alpine, Fort Davis, Fort Stockton, Presidio, Marfa, Big Bend NP, Marathon, Dryden, and Sanderson 304 PM CDT Sun Apr 16 2017 ...Land Spouts Possible This Afternoon... Reports have been received about Land Spouts near Alpine this afternoon. The atmosphere is primed for severe thunderstorm development this afternoon and evening, however tornadic thunderstorms are unlikely due to a lack of shear. Additional Land Spouts could occur though, especially considering how unstable the airmass will remain into this evening. Land Spouts are usually short lived, and could result in minor damage. These features are typically weak and brief in nature.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 329 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017 TXZ058-074-075-162130- Pecos TX-Reeves County and Upper Trans Pecos TX- Davis/Apache Mountains Area TX- 329 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN PECOS...SOUTH CENTRAL REEVES AND EAST CENTRAL JEFF DAVIS COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM CDT... At 329 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11 miles northeast of Fort Davis, moving northeast at 10 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Balmorhea, Balmorhea Lake, Balmorhea State Park and Star Mountain. LAT...LON 3060 10379 3071 10392 3101 10375 3076 10346 TIME...MOT...LOC 2029Z 227DEG 7KT 3072 10376 80
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 357 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017 TXZ074-081-162200- Big Bend Area TX-Davis/Apache Mountains Area TX- 357 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL BREWSTER COUNTY UNTIL 500 PM CDT... At 356 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles northeast of Altuda, or 11 miles northwest of Marathon, moving northeast at 15 mph. Another strong thunderstorm was located along Highway 67, 10 miles southwest of Hovey, and was moving northeast at 15 mph. Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Hovey. LAT...LON 3049 10360 3066 10344 3040 10306 3023 10333 TIME...MOT...LOC 2056Z 211DEG 11KT 3036 10335 67
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
407 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017
TXZ074-081-162145-
Big Bend Area TX-Davis/Apache Mountains Area TX-
407 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN BREWSTER COUNTY
UNTIL 445 PM CDT...
At 405 PM CDT, the public reported a strong thunderstorm 3 miles
east of Alpine, moving northeast at 15 mph. Additional strong
thunderstorms were located 15 miles south of Alpine, moving
northeast at 15 mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Alpine, Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Altuda,
Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport and Elephant Mountain.
LAT...LON 2992 10379 3039 10379 3052 10360 3028 10337
3004 10333
TIME...MOT...LOC 2105Z 211DEG 11KT 3036 10359
67Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 506 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017 TXZ060-067-068-162300- Crane TX-Ward TX-Winkler TX- 506 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN WARD...SOUTHEASTERN WINKLER AND WEST CENTRAL CRANE COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM CDT... At 506 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Royalty, or near Grandfalls, moving northwest at 10 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Monahans, Grandfalls, Wickett, Thorntonville, Pyote, Royalty, Monahans Sandhills State Park and Roy Hurd Memorial Airport. THIS INCLUDES Interstate 20 between mile markers 67 and 87. LAT...LON 3148 10268 3132 10286 3147 10317 3177 10292 TIME...MOT...LOC 2206Z 128DEG 8KT 3144 10286 80
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
513 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017
TXZ081-162300-
Big Bend Area TX-
513 PM CDT SUN APR 16 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL BREWSTER COUNTY
UNTIL 600 PM CDT...
At 512 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms from near Marathon to 9 miles west of Persimmon Gap,
moving southeast at 10 mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Marathon, Persimmon Gap, Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area,
Big Bend National Park, Terlingua Ranch Lodge, Terlingua Ranch
Airport and Santiago Peak.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may
lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through
flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 2943 10316 2945 10343 2972 10362 3022 10339
3015 10291
TIME...MOT...LOC 2212Z 310DEG 10KT 2971 10333
67The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
19 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm moved through Brewster County at the northern end of Big Bend National Park and produced a wind gust of 67 mph at Persimmon Gap.
A thunderstorm moved across Ector County and produced hail damage in Goldsmith from tennis ball sized hail. There were hail dents in the siding on one side of a house in Goldsmith. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, April 2017
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: 683212, 683215, 683216, 683224, 683231, 683232, 683506, 683280, 683283, 683285, 683289, 683290, 683477, 683479, 683480, 683483, 683486, 683503, 683504, 683505.