Hail, Pecos
- When
- May 22, 5:52 PM CST to 5:57 PM CST
- Where
- Pecos County, 10 mi W of Ft Stockton
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 30.880, -103.039
Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, May 22, 2017
An upper level trough moved over the region from the Rocky Mountains and provided an increase in lift. There was good instability, moisture, and wind shear across the area.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 6
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.
An upper level trough moved over the region from the Rocky Mountains and provided an increase in lift. There was good instability, moisture, and wind shear across the area. These conditions resulted in thunderstorms developing with large hail and strong winds across southeast New Mexico and West Texas.
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 22, 4:48 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 22, 4:48 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 548 PM CDT Mon May 22 2017 .DISCUSSION... The latest Aviation Discussion is included below. && .AVIATION... Expect thunderstorms to become more widespread through 23/00Z, so have included a mention of TSRA in all area terminals. Gusty and variable winds could accompany any of the storms, in addition to hail. Think thunderstorms could be east of all area terminals by 23/04Z too. A cold front will move south into the area late tonight with gusty north winds behind it. Ceilings will lower to MVFR behind the front for a few hours, and could dip to IFR. Expect VFR conditions areawide after 23/17Z. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 155 PM CDT Mon May 22 2017/ Water vapor depicts will a defined a shrtwv trof INVOF nrn NM tracking se within NW flow aloft with trof axis extending sw across NM. As lift assocd with shrtwv trof moves se into ern NM/W TX it will encounter surface dwpnts around 55. Lift will be modulated by mid level LR's 7h-5h of 8-8.5 LR's and MLCAPES of 1000-1500 J/KG result. A low level thermal/moisture gradient will develop across ern NM too. This is a good pattern for tstms (MCS) to develop in, bulk shear is forecast to be over 50kts and severe storms are expected. 0-1km and 0-3km SRH do depict 300 m2/s2 or so along the outflow, but LCLs are high, thus a non-zero probability of a tornado. NAM12 continues to have the QPF max across the e and GFS a little farther w. Confidence is high that severe storms will come out somewhere between INK-SNK. There could even be 2 separate areas of storms, one that initiates in far SE NM or W PB and another off to the nw initiating in ern NM or the wrn S Plain. The forecast already has high PoPs in and will probably not make too much change. Recent heavy rainfall across Mitchell/Scurry/Howard Counties does raise concern for at least localized flash flooding and responses along Colorado River and tributaries. A cold front will follow Tue AM and models are in agreement that post-frontal precip will develop. It will be noticeably cooler Tue in wake of the front, but clouds will likely break out late. Thereafter a modest warm-up on Wed followed by a strong trend from the lower left to upper right. 85h temps 31C and downslope wind will easily push temps into the U90s-L100s. Dryline will probably hang up across far srn CWFA, may be storm in Terrell Co.. A little cooler but still hot Fri-Sat with a possible front on Sunday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 57 72 52 85 / 80 50 10 0 Carlsbad 55 74 51 91 / 20 10 0 0 Dryden 64 78 57 86 / 30 40 10 0 Fort Stockton 59 72 54 89 / 50 40 10 0 Guadalupe Pass 54 68 52 85 / 10 10 0 0 Hobbs 52 69 48 84 / 60 20 10 0 Marfa 53 75 48 88 / 30 20 10 0 Midland Intl Airport 56 72 53 85 / 70 40 10 0 Odessa 56 71 53 85 / 70 40 10 0 Wink 58 74 52 89 / 50 30 10 0 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...None. TX...None. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 22, 12:58 PM CST, 4 hours 54 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 158 PM CDT Mon May 22 2017 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-231900- 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- 158 PM CDT Mon May 22 2017 /1258 PM MDT Mon May 22 2017/ This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas and western Texas. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT Thunderstorms are possible across most areas this afternoon, evening and potentially overnight. The greatest areal coverage of thunderstorms look to begin across Southeast New Mexico this afternoon, shifting southeast into the Permian Basin this evening. Some storms are expected to become severe with large hail and damaging winds the main threats. The stronger storms will also be capable of producing locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A cold front is expected to generate more thunderstorms across the region Tuesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation likely requested 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
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 22, 4:27 PM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 527 PM CDT MON MAY 22 2017 TXZ075-081-222315- Pecos TX-Big Bend Area TX- 527 PM CDT MON MAY 22 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL PECOS AND NORTHEASTERN BREWSTER COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM CDT... At 527 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 16 miles east of Marathon, moving southeast at 30 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Longfellow. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service office in Midland. && LAT...LON 3024 10310 3032 10306 3018 10257 2995 10272 TIME...MOT...LOC 2227Z 299DEG 24KT 3023 10296 44
Special weather statement, May 22, 4:48 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
448 PM MDT MON MAY 22 2017
NMZ027-028-222330-
Eddy County Plains NM-Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County NM-
448 PM MDT MON MAY 22 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN EDDY COUNTY UNTIL
530 PM MDT...
At 448 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms near
Hope, moving east at 30 mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Carlsbad, Artesia, Hope, Avalon, Living Desert State Park, Seven
Rivers Airport, Lakewood, Brantley Lake State Park, Cottonwood, Seven
Rivers, Carlsbad North, Artesia Municipal Airport, Dayton, Atoka and
Lake Avalon.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 800 PM MDT for
southeastern New Mexico.
LAT...LON 3246 10484 3296 10484 3296 10413 3242 10408
3245 10485
TIME...MOT...LOC 2248Z 259DEG 67KT 3286 10478
33Special weather statement, May 22, 4:51 PM CST, 1 hour 1 minute before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 551 PM CDT MON MAY 22 2017 TXZ081-222330- Big Bend Area TX- 551 PM CDT MON MAY 22 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL BREWSTER COUNTY UNTIL 630 PM CDT... At 551 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles south of Marathon, moving south at 25 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 central Brewster County. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service office in Midland. && LAT...LON 3018 10336 3018 10323 2985 10305 2985 10345 TIME...MOT...LOC 2251Z 356DEG 22KT 3009 10329 44
Special weather statement, May 22, 5:09 PM CST, 43 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 609 PM CDT MON MAY 22 2017 TXZ058-074-075-230000- Pecos TX-Reeves County and Upper Trans Pecos TX- Davis/Apache Mountains Area TX- 609 PM CDT MON MAY 22 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL PECOS...NORTH CENTRAL BREWSTER...SOUTH CENTRAL REEVES AND SOUTHEASTERN JEFF DAVIS COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM CDT... At 608 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms 11 miles southeast of Balmorhea State Park, or 18 miles northeast of Fort Davis, moving east at 30 mph. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Fort Davis, Balmorhea, Toyahvale, Hovey, Balmorhea Lake, Balmorhea State Park, Star Mountain, Firestone Test Track and Fort Davis National Historical Site. THIS INCLUDES Interstate 10 between mile markers 212 and 246. LAT...LON 3051 10391 3098 10379 3106 10310 3053 10310 TIME...MOT...LOC 2308Z 259DEG 49KT 3080 10369 33
Special weather statement, May 22, 5:37 PM CST, 15 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 637 PM CDT MON MAY 22 2017 TXZ067>069-075-230015- Pecos TX-Crane TX-Upton TX-Ward TX- 637 PM CDT MON MAY 22 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL PECOS... NORTHEASTERN WARD...CRANE AND NORTHWESTERN UPTON COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT... At 637 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles southeast of Monahans, moving east at 30 mph. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Monahans, Crane, Thorntonville, Royalty, Monahans Sandhills State Park, Imperial, Tubbs Corner, Crane County Airport, Roy Hurd Memorial Airport and Cordona Lake. THIS INCLUDES Interstate 20 between mile markers 79 and 88. LAT...LON 3141 10300 3164 10289 3161 10224 3115 10239 TIME...MOT...LOC 2337Z 284DEG 41KT 3150 10279 33
Special weather statement, May 22, 5:44 PM CST, 8 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 544 PM MDT MON MAY 22 2017 NMZ029-230030- Northern Lea County NM- 544 PM MDT MON MAY 22 2017 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN LEA COUNTY UNTIL 630 PM MDT... At 544 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Milnesand, or 25 miles north of Tatum, moving southeast at 40 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Tatum, Crossroads, Gladiola and Tatum Airport. A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 800 PM MDT for southeastern New Mexico. LAT...LON 3329 10306 3319 10328 3357 10364 3357 10306 TIME...MOT...LOC 2344Z 313DEG 39KT 3361 10341 82
The radar
The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 143 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:51 UTC.
Event by event
5 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Reeves
- When
- May 22, 7:32 PM CST
- Where
- Reeves County, 11 mi SE of Orla
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 31.707, -103.768
A thunderstorm moved across Reeves County and produced a 59 mph wind gust eleven miles southeast of Orla.
Thunderstorm Wind, Winkler
- When
- May 22, 7:39 PM CST
- Where
- Winkler County, (Ink)winkler Co Arpt
- Measured
- 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 31.780, -103.200
A thunderstorm moved across Winkler County and produced a 62 mph wind gust at the Winkler County Airport.
Thunderstorm Wind, Ector
- When
- May 22, 8:34 PM CST
- Where
- Ector County, 5 mi ENE of Odessa
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- NWS Employee
- Coordinates
- 31.878, -102.291
A thunderstorm moved across Ector County and produced a 60 mph wind gust five miles east northeast of Odessa.
Thunderstorm Wind, Midland
- When
- May 22, 8:41 PM CST
- Where
- Midland County, 6 mi SW of Midland
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 31.939, -102.152
A thunderstorm moved across Midland County and produced a 60 mph wind gust six miles southwest of Midland.
Thunderstorm Wind, Reagan
- When
- May 22, 9:30 PM CST
- Where
- Reagan County, 28 mi N of Best
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 31.635, -101.630
A thunderstorm moved across Reagan County and produced a 63 mph wind gust five miles southwest of St. Lawrence.
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Heat in Oregon, May 22 to 23, 2017
- Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in Texas, May 22, 2017
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, May 22 to 23, 2017
- Hail in New Mexico, May 22, 2017
- Flash Flooding and Hail in South Carolina, May 22, 2017
- Hail in Oklahoma, May 22, 2017
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, May 22 to 23, 2017
- Hail and Damaging Wind in New Mexico, May 22, 2017
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, May 22, 2017
- Flood and Damaging Winds in Florida, May 22, 2017
- Hail in Missouri, May 22, 2017
- Damaging Winds in Kansas, May 22, 2017
More
Every storm in Texas in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2017
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: 693773, 693803, 694017, 694018, 694019, 696267.