An unusually strong late season cold front moved through eastern New Mexico and West Texas. Strong northerly winds behind the cold front caused sporadic wind damage as well as low visibilities in blowing dust that caused traffic accidents and other problems.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 unusually strong late season cold front moved through eastern New Mexico and West Texas. Strong northerly winds behind the cold front caused sporadic wind damage as well as low visibilities in blowing dust that caused traffic accidents and other problems.
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 24, 12:51 PM CST, 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
151 PM CDT Tue May 24 2022
...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, FIRE WEATHER...
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1233 PM CDT Tue May 24 2022
Still have a few MVFR cigs lingering but everything trending
toward VFR. Weak front and outflow boundaries sagging into the
area will push through overnight. Afternoon and evening storms
possible with HOB and MAF closest TAF sites.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Wednesday night)
Issued at 148 PM CDT Tue May 24 2022
A closed low forms today over Ern CO/NE NM with the trough
extending southward across NM and Far WT. Tonight this low will
move into Wrn KS/OK and roll across the rest of the state
Wednesday.
A late season front and outflows from overnight storms to the
north will push across the area this afternoon and evening. Lows
tonight will be in the 40s north... 50s central... 60s south.
Temps Wednesday will be unusually cool for this time of year in
post frontal conditions with highs in the 70s and 80s.
Currently have a slight risk of severe storms that includes
portions of SE NM and most of the Permian Basin. Models develop
storms that come down across Lea county late this afternoon into
the northern Permian Basin. Scurry and Mitchell will have the best
chance for rain. Currently have storms near ROW that could be the
start of it. Some storms could become severe with large hail and
damaging wind. Locally heavy rain will also be possible as MAF 12z
sounding had PW up to 0.93 inch. No rain expected Wednesday.
The front will squeeze through GDP late this afternoon and evening
and a High Wind Warning is in effect.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Thursday through Monday)
Issued at 148 PM CDT Tue May 24 2022
Hot and dry will be the story Thursday through the Memorial Day
Weekend, as ridging develops eastward over the region coincident
with increasing southerly return flow at the surface. Highs
Thursday will rebound above normal into the upper 80s and lower
to mid 90s for most, with the warming trend continuing into the
weekend. A trough progressing from the Pacific Northwest into the
Rockies Saturday will flatten the ridge somewhat as the ridge
shifts east, resulting in a transition to quasizonal/southwesterly
flow aloft over Southeast New Mexico and West Texas. Dry,
downslope southwesterly flow will yield our hottest temperatures
of the forecast this weekend, with widespread highs in the lower
100s Saturday and Sunday, with potential Heat Advisory conditions
across a large swath of the Permian Basin, Trans Pecos, and Rio
Grande Valley. Temperatures Monday will cool slightly as 850mb
temperatures fall several degrees in response to a deepening
trough over the western CONUS, though highs will still top out in
the upper 90s and lower 100s areawide. Thus, those with outdoor
plans this holiday weekend will need to plan accordingly, as heat-
related illnesses will be a major concern.
Thereafter, the pattern becomes increasingly amplified as ridging
strengthens over the eastern CONUS and the longwave trough remains
entrenched to the west. Temperatures locally will slowly cool
through midweek next week as moisture increases over the area,
though will still remain at least a few degrees above normal. The
return of precipitation chances will depend entirely on the
evolution and eventual progression of the aforementioned trough to
the west, and for now, the next chance for rain looks to be next
Wednesday. Until then, dry conditions will persist.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 148 PM CDT Tue May 24 2022
Critical fire weather conditions will continue through early this
evening for locations across Culberson county (including the
Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains) and Reeves county south across
the Davis Mountains and Marfa Plateau. The dryline will remain
east of these areas this afternoon, with westerly winds around
20-30mph coincident with RHs below 10%. A cold front will move
through the area early this evening accompanied by a sharp
northerly to northeasterly wind shift, reaching Southeast New
Mexico and the northern Permian Basin around 23Z/600PM CDT, I-10
by around 02Z/900PM CDT, and the Rio Grande by 05Z/12AM CDT.
Elevated and gusty winds will continue for a few hours post-front,
with winds then becoming light overnight. In the wake of this
cold front, below normal temperatures are expected Wednesday,
before a warming trend begins Thursday. Fire weather concerns look
to be mitigated Wednesday and Thursday before increasing again
Friday and especially through the weekend as increasing westerly
to southwesterly winds develop along with well above normal
temperatures in the 90s and 100s, yielding RHs in the single
digits nearly areawide both Saturday and Sunday. Aside from
thunderstorm chances this afternoon and evening, the forecast
through early next week remains dry. Storms that develop today and
tonight will be accompanied by lightning and gusty, erratic
winds, and some wetting rains may also be possible.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Big Spring 51 77 55 91 / 30 0 0 0
Carlsbad 47 79 52 92 / 0 0 0 0
Dryden 60 85 61 92 / 10 0 0 0
Fort Stockton 52 80 58 94 / 10 0 0 0
Guadalupe Pass 45 76 57 87 / 0 0 0 0
Hobbs 45 77 51 89 / 10 0 0 0
Marfa 45 79 46 91 / 0 0 0 0
Midland Intl Airport 51 79 57 91 / 20 0 0 0
Odessa 50 79 58 91 / 20 0 0 0
Wink 50 80 54 93 / 10 0 0 0
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ this evening for
Chinati Mountains-Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains Foothills-
Eastern Culberson County-Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000
Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains-Marfa Plateau-Reeves
County Plains-Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor.
High Wind Warning until 4 AM CDT /3 AM MDT/ Wednesday for
Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains.
NM...None.
&&
SHORT TERM...72
LONG TERM....84
AVIATION...72Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 152 PM CDT Tue May 24 2022 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-059>063-067>070-075-082- 270>282-251900- 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- 152 PM CDT Tue May 24 2022 /1252 PM MDT Tue May 24 2022/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas and western Texas. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening across portions of Southeast New Mexico and most of the Permian Basin. Large hail and damaging wind are the main concerns. Brief heavy rainfall will also be possible. Dry and windy conditions expected across the west... A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Guadalupe and Davis Mountains and adjacent plains this afternoon and evening. A High Wind Warning is in effect for Guadalupe pass this afternoon and tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Widespread critical fire weather is expected Saturday through Monday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening east of a Maljamar to McCamey line. 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
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 high wind, 5 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Blowing dust dropped the visibility to less than 1/4 mile with wind gusts measured up to 60 mph.
Blowing dust dropped the visibility to less than 1/4 mile with wind gusts measured up to 53 mph. There were multiple accidents on I-20 with a multi-car accident near mile marker 37. An RV was blown over at the overpass of Highway 17 and I-20. Several trees were uprooted in town.
Blowing dust dropped the visibility to less than 1/4 mile with wind gusts measured up to 60 mph.
Minor damage reported to roofs and trees across Fort Stockton. A metal outbuilding had roof partially torn off at Pecos County airport. The visibility dropped to less than 1/4 mile with winds estimated up to 60 to 70 mph.
Strong winds gusting to 59 mph caused blowing dust that reduced the visibility to less than 1/4 mile.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2022
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: 1032811, 1032813, 1032826, 1032849, 1032855, 1032857, 1032862, 1032863, 1032866, 1032819, 1032882, 1032868.