An upper level storm system passing to the north of the area resulted in high winds in the Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains.
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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 storm system passing to the north of the area resulted in high winds in the Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains.
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, 5:34 AM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 634 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019 .DISCUSSION... Please see the 12Z aviation discussion below. && .AVIATION... Thunderstorms have moved east of area terminals early this morning, though intermittent MVFR ceilings are possible at MAF for the first hour or two of the forecast period. Otherwise, VFR conditions are expected to prevail. Southwesterly to westerly winds are expected as the dryline pushes east of the area today, with winds increasing and becoming gusty by mid-morning, and gusts to 25-35kt possible at all terminals through the afternoon. Gusts will diminish after sunset, with sustained speeds dropping below 12kt overnight. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 242 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019/ DISCUSSION... This mornings convection will have a chance to form into a short line fueled by high instability and strong shear as it moves east into the LLJ maxima of 40-45kts. TOR Watch #180 is in effect until 10 AM CDT. 2 different areas are possible, but the more southern and eastern area will likely have the highest severe potential? Based on latest trends we prefer the NAMNEST which increases storms across the S-SE PB and then quickly tracks area of storms eastward. Large hail supported by accelerating updrafts per thick CAPEs around -20C and steep 7h- 5h LRs of 8.2 C/KM. 0-1km SRH around 150 m2/s2 across central PB does suggest weak tornadoes are possible. Dry and windy wx is expected today in wake of the Pacific cold front. Downslope winds and sunny skies will offset cold advection some, mostly M80s. Dry conditions and light west wind Sunday AM will favor low temps about 5 degrees below normal. Mid-level flow backs to sw Sunday PM with dry air still in place high temps will climb back to a few degrees above normal. Low-level will return Sunday night/Monday morning a few storms are possible after 06Z/Monday. Storms are more likely though Monday PM with a very sharp dryline and as sharp mid-level trough approaches. For now looks like dryline will set- up near a Lamesa- Midland-Sanderson line. Depending on timing of mid-level trough dryline may not have much of chance to retreat? 0-6km bulk shear and CAPEs over 3000 J/KG indicates severe storms are likely. An assocd Pacific cold will move through the ern CWFA before 12Z Tue and similar to today it will be windy/dry during the day Tue. Dryline will return quickly and few storms will be possible Wed, increasing in coverage Thur- Fri afternoons/evenings and probably Sat too. Storms will be mostly favored across PB/Lower Trans Pecos. Wed-Fri generally looks to be warmest part of the forecast with highs 90-95 with highly amplified low-level thermal ridge. FIRE WEATHER... Dry and windy conditions fairly widespread today to result in low-end critical fire wx, however fuel composite maps are still "wet". As such we will consider todays conditions across SE NM and the Trans Pecos elevated. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 85 55 88 67 / 10 0 0 30 Carlsbad 84 54 90 61 / 0 0 0 10 Dryden 91 62 92 71 / 0 0 0 20 Fort Stockton 85 58 91 66 / 0 0 0 20 Guadalupe Pass 76 55 84 60 / 0 0 0 0 Hobbs 82 51 87 61 / 0 0 0 30 Marfa 80 48 88 54 / 0 0 0 10 Midland Intl Airport 86 56 89 68 / 0 0 0 30 Odessa 85 55 89 67 / 0 0 0 30 Wink 86 54 92 64 / 0 0 0 20 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...None. TX...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 231 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-059>063-067>070-075-082- 270>282-190745- 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-Loving-Winkler- Ector-Midland-Glasscock-Ward-Crane-Upton-Reagan-Pecos-Terrell- Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains- Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor-Eastern Culberson County- Reeves County Plains-Chinati Mountains-Marfa Plateau-Davis Mountains- Davis Mountains Foothills-Central Brewster County-Chisos Basin- Presidio Valley-Lower Brewster County- 231 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019 /131 AM MDT Sat May 18 2019/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas, and western Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected this morning across the central and eastern Permian Basin, Lower Trans Pecos, and Stockton Plateau. Threats include large hail, damaging winds, a few tornadoes, frequent lightning, and heavy rain. A Tornado Watch is in effect this morning for the central and eastern Permian Basin. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday There is an increased probability of severe thunderstorms Monday and Monday evening across the central and eastern Permian Basin. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is needed this morning, especially across the central and eastern Permian Basin 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... https://weather.gov/midland
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 316 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019 TXZ070-180915- Reagan TX- 316 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN REAGAN COUNTY UNTIL 415 AM CDT... At 316 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Big Lake, moving northeast at 20 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Big Lake and Reagan County Airport. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for western Texas. LAT...LON 3108 10164 3135 10155 3154 10127 3108 10127 TIME...MOT...LOC 0816Z 220DEG 17KT 3123 10137
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 319 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019 TXZ048-053-180900- Mitchell TX-Scurry TX- 319 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN MITCHELL AND SOUTHEASTERN SCURRY COUNTIES UNTIL 400 AM CDT... At 318 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles west of Silver, or 19 miles northeast of Sterling City, moving north at 50 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Colorado City, Loraine, Inadale, Lake Colorado City, Champion Creek Reservoir, Lake Colorado City State Park, Hermleigh and Buford. This includes Interstate 20 between mile markers 213 and 228. 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. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for western Texas. LAT...LON 3209 10099 3270 10085 3271 10066 3209 10067 TIME...MOT...LOC 0818Z 198DEG 44KT 3209 10083 87
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 400 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019 TXZ048-053-180945- Mitchell TX-Scurry TX- 400 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MITCHELL AND SOUTHEASTERN SCURRY COUNTIES UNTIL 445 AM CDT... At 400 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles northwest of Silver, or 18 miles south of Colorado City, moving north at 35 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Colorado City, Loraine, Colorado City Airport, Inadale, Lake Colorado City, Champion Creek Reservoir, Lake Colorado City State Park, Westbrook, Dunn, Buford and Hermleigh. This includes Interstate 20 between mile markers 205 and 228. 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. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for western Texas. LAT...LON 3209 10110 3263 10099 3262 10066 3209 10067 TIME...MOT...LOC 0900Z 200DEG 29KT 3214 10079 87
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
445 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019
TXZ052-053-062-063-181030-
Midland TX-Mitchell TX-Glasscock TX-Howard TX-
445 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR GLASSCOCK...SOUTHWESTERN
MITCHELL...EAST CENTRAL MIDLAND...SOUTHERN HOWARD AND SOUTHEASTERN
MARTIN COUNTIES UNTIL 530 AM CDT...
At 445 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Big Spring to 12 miles southeast of
Greenwood. Movement was east at 30 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Big Spring, Garden City, Coahoma, Forsan, Sand Springs, Lomax, Big
Spring Country Club, Big Spring McMahon-Wrinkle Airpark and Elbow.
This includes Interstate 20 between mile markers 167 and 171, between
mile markers 173 and 174, and between mile markers 182 and 202.
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.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for western
Texas.
LAT...LON 3209 10110 3209 10126 3174 10127 3181 10186
3220 10164 3237 10109
TIME...MOT...LOC 0945Z 301DEG 24KT 3221 10154 3190 10174
87Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
618 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019
TXZ063-070-181200-
Reagan TX-Glasscock TX-
618 AM CDT Sat May 18 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN GLASSCOCK AND
NORTHEASTERN REAGAN COUNTIES UNTIL 700 AM CDT...
At 618 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 21
miles north of Reagan County Airport, or 21 miles north of Big Lake,
moving northeast at 35 mph.
Penny size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Stiles.
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.
&&
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM CDT for western
Texas.
LAT...LON 3135 10148 3139 10163 3153 10166 3188 10127
3183 10126 3146 10127
TIME...MOT...LOC 1118Z 224DEG 32KT 3151 10150
87PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
820 AM CDT SAT MAY 18 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0716 AM TSTM WND DMG COLORADO CITY 32.40N 100.86W
05/18/2019 MITCHELL TX TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE BRANCHES DOWN ACROSS AREAS OF TOWN.
&&
SCOTT.KLEEBAUERThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2019
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: 830777, 830778.