There was an upper disturbance over the Central Plains which weakened an upper ridge over New Mexico/Arizona. Abundant moisture and above normal temperatures were in place across West Texas which created an unstable atmosphere.
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.
There was an upper disturbance over the Central Plains which weakened an upper ridge over New Mexico/Arizona. Abundant moisture and above normal temperatures were in place across West Texas which created an unstable atmosphere. There was an outflow boundary over the northern Permian Basin which provided a focus for thunderstorm development. These conditions resulted in thunderstorms with frequent lightning across the Permian Basin.
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 Jul 3, 12:39 PM CST, 4 hours 21 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 139 PM CDT Mon Jul 3 2017 .DISCUSSION... A shortwave trough translating eastward over the central U.S. Plains today will flatten an upper ridge over New Mexico/Arizona and put southeast New Mexico and west Texas under northwest flow aloft. The flow aloft will become more northerly Tuesday as the shortwave through lingers over the plains, and the upper ridge expands northward over the Rockies. The upper ridge will then stay centered over the Four Corners region through next weekend and leave the region under easterly or northeasterly flow aloft. Weak disturbances within the veering flow aloft will aide convective development this afternoon as the atmosphere destabilizes from ample low level moisture and above normal temperatures over the region. The higher terrain will serve as a focus for thunderstorm development, as will a couple of now ill-defined outflow boundaries which moved south into the region last night. One is located over the northern Permian Basin, and the other is over the higher terrain hugging the eastern slopes of the Guadalupes and Delawares, mainly in Culberson County. We could see storms develop through 03/22Z, with some strengthening enough to produce strong downburst winds considering SBCape will be 1500-2500 J/Kg, and steep mid level lapse rates of 7.5-8.5 C/km are present. More organized storms, and for that matter, large hail are not likely as 0 to 6km bulk Shear will top out around 20kt. Frequent lightning strikes will accompany the stronger storms too, as will heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding. Storms could form into a MCS and move east through the Permian Basin this evening/overnight. Additional thunderstorms will move over the Texas Panhandle tonight and send another outflow boundary south into the area. This boundary, along with any residual boundaries from convection here and the higher terrain, will provide a low level focus for more thunderstorm development Tuesday afternoon. Will likely hone in on the higher terrain for now for PoPs until Tuesday night when we will be susceptible to a MCS moving southeastward into the region from east central New Mexico or the Texas Panhandle. Some of these storms could produce strong winds, frequent lightning and locally heavy rainfall. On Wednesday, more scattered thunderstorms will be possible, but zeroing in one one location or another outside the higher terrain will be difficult. For thursday and beyond, it appears rain chances will not be as great areawide under northeasterly or easterly flow aloft, so will keep any Pops on the low side. Temperatures look to spike this afternoon and Tuesday, then will be at, or a little above, normal for the rest of the extended. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 75 100 74 96 / 40 10 20 20 Carlsbad 69 103 71 96 / 20 20 10 30 Dryden 75 98 73 96 / 30 20 10 20 Fort Stockton 73 102 73 97 / 30 20 10 30 Guadalupe Pass 70 94 71 89 / 20 20 10 30 Hobbs 67 98 69 94 / 20 20 20 20 Marfa 62 94 62 91 / 20 20 10 30 Midland Intl Airport 73 100 74 96 / 30 10 20 20 Odessa 74 100 74 96 / 30 10 20 20 Wink 73 103 72 98 / 20 20 20 30 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...None. TX...None. && 80/67
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 1249 PM CDT Mon Jul 3 2017 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-041800- 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- 1249 PM CDT Mon Jul 3 2017 /1149 AM MDT Mon Jul 3 2017/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas and western Texas. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon, with the best chances across the western/central Permian Basin and southwest towards the Davis and Guadalupe Mountains. The highest chances shift east this evening toward the central/eastern Permian Basin and Lower Trans Pecos. Some storms may become strong, capable of producing strong downburst winds, heavy rainfall, localized flash flooding, frequent lightning, and small hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY Chances of thunderstorms continue into Tuesday and Wednesday. Some storms may become strong, capable of producing strong downburst winds, heavy rainfall, localized flash flooding, frequent lightning, and small hail. .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... http://weather.gov/midland
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 148 PM CDT MON JUL 3 2017 TXZ058-074-031930- Reeves County and Upper Trans Pecos TX- Davis/Apache Mountains Area TX- 148 PM CDT MON JUL 3 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL REEVES COUNTY UNTIL 230 PM CDT... At 148 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15 miles northeast of Kent, moving north at 15 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of west central Reeves County. This includes Interstate 20 between mile markers 1 and 17. LAT...LON 3107 10390 3110 10410 3138 10408 3135 10383 TIME...MOT...LOC 1848Z 190DEG 12KT 3117 10399 70
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
225 PM CDT MON JUL 3 2017
TXZ058-074-032030-
Reeves County and Upper Trans Pecos TX-
Davis/Apache Mountains Area TX-
225 PM CDT MON JUL 3 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL REEVES COUNTY UNTIL
330 PM CDT...
At 224 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Toyah, moving northeast at 15 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Toyah.
This includes Interstate 20 between mile markers 3 and 34.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3111 10393 3109 10403 3126 10403 3157 10377
3121 10341
TIME...MOT...LOC 1924Z 241DEG 15KT 3127 10386
67Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 415 PM CDT MON JUL 3 2017 TXZ075-032200- Pecos TX- 415 PM CDT MON JUL 3 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL PECOS COUNTY UNTIL 500 PM CDT... At 415 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9 miles north of Fort Stockton, moving north at 10 mph. Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Fort Stockton, Belding, Firestone Test Track and Fort Stockton-Pecos County Airport. This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 246 and 269. LAT...LON 3069 10281 3079 10315 3127 10302 3118 10260 TIME...MOT...LOC 2115Z 192DEG 11KT 3102 10293
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
421 PM CDT MON JUL 3 2017
TXZ050-061-032200-
Andrews TX-Ector TX-
421 PM CDT MON JUL 3 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN ECTOR AND EASTERN
ANDREWS COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT...
At 421 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles southwest of Andrews, moving east at 5 mph.
Dime size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Andrews and Andrews County Airport.
LAT...LON 3209 10223 3205 10280 3208 10280 3209 10282
3225 10284 3252 10232
TIME...MOT...LOC 2121Z 255DEG 6KT 3218 10265Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 558 PM CDT MON JUL 3 2017 TXZ045-046-050-051-032345- Martin TX-Dawson TX-Andrews TX-Gaines TX- 558 PM CDT MON JUL 3 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN ANDREWS... SOUTHEASTERN GAINES...NORTHWESTERN MARTIN AND SOUTHWESTERN DAWSON COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT... At 557 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles west of Patricia, or 15 miles southwest of Lamesa. This storm was drifting northeast. Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Patricia, Friendship, Sand, Tenmile, Three Leagues, Union and Klondike. LAT...LON 3231 10235 3249 10245 3281 10207 3255 10184 TIME...MOT...LOC 2257Z 238DEG 2KT 3257 10214
The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 14 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:57 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm with frequent lightning developed across Midland County and moved across the City of Midland. A 43 year old man was struck by lightning at the 300 block of Maple Avenue and was later declared dead at the hospital.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning, Midland | 2017-07-03 | 43 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
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, July 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: 717447.