An upper trough was over New Mexico and Colorado with a dryline present across the Permian Basin. These conditions resulted in sufficient lift and moisture for thunderstorms to develop across West Texas.
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 trough was over New Mexico and Colorado with a dryline present across the Permian Basin. These conditions resulted in sufficient lift and moisture for thunderstorms to develop across West Texas. These storms produced a downburst in the western 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 May 2, 9:07 PM CST, 13 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 1007 PM CDT Wed May 2 2018 .DISCUSSION... Latest sfc obs show winds have fallen off at KGDP, and under critical fire wx criteria over most of the area. Therefore, we'll let both the RFW and NPW expire. Updates outy shortly. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 607 PM CDT Wed May 2 2018/ DISCUSSION... See 00z aviation discussion below. AVIATION... There is a slight chance of thunderstorms for MAF and FST this evening; otherwise, VFR conditions are expected for the next 24 hours outside of areas of blowing dust. Gusty south to southwest winds will decrease this evening with winds turning towards the southeast briefly for MAF and FST. Winds will turn towards the west and will increase Thursday afternoon. PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 452 PM CDT Wed May 2 2018/ DISCUSSION... We'll do a quick update for Severe T-storm watch #64 for storms along the dryline extended from Sanderson to Snyder. Large hail will be the main threat, but damaging winds also possible. Updates out shortly. PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 253 PM CDT Wed May 2 2018/ DISCUSSION... Dryline currently just east of a Lamesa, Midland to Bakersfield line. Dryline may push a little further east but backing upper flow and significant height falls associated with a potent storm system near the four corners should rapidly draw it westward into the central and western Permian Basin early this evening. Strong large scale lift ahead of the upper system (and right rear quadrant of upper jet) should encourage thunderstorms, some strong to severe, to develop along the dryline and Pacific cold front as they push east together again later this evening and overnight. The best chance of storms will be in the extreme eastern Permian Basin where the deepest moisture shear and instability will last the longest. Thursday should be a quiet day as dry downslope flow develops behind the Pacific front. Temperatures will be knocked back to near normal values behind the front. A northern stream cold front will track through the region Thursday night and early Friday. This front will allow low level moisture to push back westward into west Texas. In addition the aforementioned upper level system will still be west of the region. The combination of convergence along the front, instability, and more large scale lift should allow more showers and thunderstorms to develop across west Texas, especially southeastern portions Thursday night and Friday in best moisture and convergence. Temperatures Friday will be below normal behind the second front. Beyond Friday the forecast looks quiet Saturday through next Monday in dry northwest flow aloft. Upper level ridging will build over the forecast area by Sunday with above normal temperatures expected again. Looks like dryline thunderstorms will be possible, mainly across portions of west Texas for next Tuesday and Wednesday as the flow aloft turns zonal. Temperatures are expected to remain above normal. FIRE WEATHER... Critical fire weather conditions are occurring across the area today, as temperatures warm stronger winds aloft are mixing down to the surface. RHs this afternoon will range from around 7-15%, with lowest RHs expected from the Guadalupe Mountains and Southeast New Mexico Plains southward to the Presidio Valley, where recovery last night was poor. ERC-G values are solidly in the 70th to 90th percentile, and while portions of the Davis Mountains may see RHs around 15% this afternoon, stronger winds will still yield critical conditions given the dry antecedent conditions. Of additional concern today is the potential for thunderstorms. First, this afternoon, isolated dry thunderstorms may be possible across the Marfa Plateau and Davis Mountains. Given steep lapse rates, gusty downburst winds will be possible, resulting in erratic fire behavior in the vicinity of ongoing burns or in event of a new ignition due to lightning. There are also storms possible this afternoon across the far eastern Permian Basin and Lower Trans Pecos, on the fringes of the current Red Flag Warning. Lightning, and gusty winds are of primary concern. Tonight, poor recovery is again expected across the west, with good to excellent recovery east as the dryline retreats and thunderstorm chances increase across the Permian Basin and Lower Trans Pecos. Another dry day is expected Thursday, as RHs drop to around 7-15% for most of the area, though winds will be much lighter. At this time, elevated fire weather conditions look possible mainly along/north of I-20, with near critical conditions possible in the Guadalupe Mountains where winds will be a bit stronger. Currently, Thursday looks to be a candidate for a Fire Danger Statement, thus will hold off on the issuance of a Watch at this time. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 64 85 59 75 / 40 10 30 20 Carlsbad 52 81 51 80 / 0 0 10 10 Dryden 67 94 67 81 / 30 10 60 50 Fort Stockton 61 84 61 76 / 10 10 40 20 Guadalupe Pass 50 72 52 69 / 0 0 0 0 Hobbs 51 78 51 75 / 10 10 10 10 Marfa 51 80 52 75 / 10 0 20 10 Midland Intl Airport 62 84 58 77 / 30 10 20 20 Odessa 61 82 58 78 / 20 10 20 10 Wink 58 86 57 80 / 10 10 20 10 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...None. TX...None. && 80/44
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 501 PM CDT Wed May 2 2018 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-057>063-067>070-074-075- 079>082-258-032215- 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- 501 PM CDT Wed May 2 2018 /401 PM MDT Wed May 2 2018/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas, and western Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight Severe thunderstorms are possible across across the Permian Basin, Lower Trans Pecos, Stockton Plateau, and portions of the Big Bend Area. Some of these storms may become strong to severe, capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and locally heavy rainfall. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 2 AM CDT for the upper Colorado River Valley, southeast Permian Basin, Stockton Plateau, and Terrell County. Critical fire weather conditions are expected through early evening for locations along and west of a Big Spring, Midland, Crane, Fort Stockton, Alpine to Presidio line, where a Red Flag Warning remains in effect. High winds are expected through Guadalupe Pass through this evening. A High Wind Warning is in effect. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Elevated to near critical fire weather conditions may be possible on Thursday across the Guadalupe Mountains. More thunderstorms will be possible Thursday night, Friday and Saturday over the southeast Permian Basin, lower Trans Pecos, Stockton Plateau, Davis Mountains and Big Bend region. A few of the storms could be strong enough to produce gusty winds, small hail and brief heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter may be needed 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 44
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
749 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018
TXZ062-069-030130-
Midland TX-Upton TX-
749 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MIDLAND AND
NORTHEASTERN UPTON COUNTIES UNTIL 830 PM CDT...
At 749 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 22
miles south of Midland International Air and Space Port, or 23 miles
southeast of Odessa, moving northeast at 20 mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Midkiff.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for
western Texas.
LAT...LON 3155 10209 3170 10216 3190 10184 3179 10177
3164 10178
TIME...MOT...LOC 0049Z 241DEG 16KT 3164 10207
33Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
938 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018
TXZ050-061-062-030330-
Midland TX-Andrews TX-Ector TX-
938 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN ECTOR...SOUTHEASTERN
ANDREWS AND NORTHWESTERN MIDLAND COUNTIES UNTIL 1030 PM CDT...
At 937 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Goldsmith, or 11 miles west of Odessa, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Odessa, Goldsmith and West Odessa.
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 3208 10217 3182 10260 3189 10269 3227 10244
3211 10221 3209 10221 3209 10218
TIME...MOT...LOC 0237Z 216DEG 30KT 3191 10256
44Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
941 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018
TXZ082-030330-
Terrell TX-
941 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN TERRELL COUNTY UNTIL 1030
PM CDT...
At 941 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15
miles north of Pumpville, or 18 miles northeast of Dryden, moving
northeast at 30 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Terrell County Gas Plant.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for
southwestern Texas.
LAT...LON 3034 10167 3035 10170 3033 10174 3029 10176
3004 10176 2991 10185 2994 10211 3057 10176
3047 10169 3046 10170 3047 10173 3044 10172
3042 10174 3040 10170 3038 10170 3036 10166
TIME...MOT...LOC 0241Z 206DEG 25KT 3015 10183
80Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
1020 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018
TXZ075-030400-
Pecos TX-
1020 PM CDT WED MAY 2 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN PECOS COUNTY UNTIL 1100
PM CDT...
At 1019 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 17
miles northwest of Sheffield, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Iraan and Iraan Municipal Airport.
This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 304 and 320.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for
southwestern Texas.
LAT...LON 3069 10207 3085 10218 3100 10212 3099 10208
3100 10205 3098 10201 3099 10198 3096 10195
3095 10193 3093 10192 3092 10188 3089 10189
3087 10186 3081 10183
TIME...MOT...LOC 0319Z 223DEG 31KT 3085 10205
80The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm moved across Gaines County and produced a downburst in Seagraves. A 74 mph wind gust was recorded by the West Texas Mesonet. Roof damage occurred in the town of Seagraves. 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 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2018
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: 744685.