This is a continuation of the previous day's event. This event consisted of a highly amplified weather pattern with an ejecting closed upper-low moving into the southern Rocky Mountains.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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.
This is a continuation of the previous day's event. This event consisted of a highly amplified weather pattern with an ejecting closed upper-low moving into the southern Rocky Mountains. This system and accompanying jet brought a high-end wind event to southeast New Mexico and much of west Texas. High winds and property damage were reported across a large portion of the area. Additionally, blowing dust greatly reduced visibility at times.
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 Feb 26, 10:38 PM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
1038 PM CST Sun Feb 26 2023
...New AVIATION...
.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Monday night)
Issued at 120 PM CST Sun Feb 26 2023
* Significant Windstorm Expected This Afternoon and Evening
An active afternoon and evening is ahead for Southeast New Mexico
and West Texas, as a potent trough and its attendant jet move over
the region. The aforementioned trough is currently located near the
AZ/NM state line, and per latest satellite imagery and RAP analysis
is beginning to develop a subtle negative tilt. Clouds from this
morning continue to clear from west to east, with a stout low-level
jet resulting in gusty southerly to southeasterly winds across the
Trans Pecos and Permian Basin, with southwesterly winds
overspreading western areas in association with a pre-frontal
trough. The gusty winds we see right now are likely the lightest
winds we'll see until after midnight tonight, as the trough
translates east-northeastward, dragging an anomalously strong
Pacific front (for this time of year) through the region. This front
will produce a sharp westerly wind shift, with widespread wind gusts
expected to reach 50-70mph across the lower elevations, and up to 95-
105mph across the Davis, Guadalupe, and Delaware Mountains. Current
satellite imagery also indicates a swath of blowing dust advecting
northeastward out of northern Chihuahua, MX, and this dust will
overspread the region this afternoon and evening, with widespread
blowing dust expected and localized significant visibility
reductions possible, especially along the Pacific front as it moves
through the area.
In addition to the winds and dust, thunderstorms will also be
possible late this afternoon and early evening, mainly across the
eastern Permian Basin. Storms that develop would likely be high-
based to start with, with significant downward momentum yielding an
enhanced wind threat, though brief rainfall and large hail would be
possible. Storm motion would likely be upwards of 60kt to the east-
northeast, with greater potential for strong to severe thunderstorms
expected over the Rolling Plains northeastward into western and
central Oklahoma. One other variable this afternoon into this
evening is also widespread elevated fire weather conditions across
Southeast New Mexico and West Texas, with concern for fire starts
due to potential downed power poles/arcing power lines, as well as
lightning strikes over eastern areas. Any fires that begin could
spread quickly in the dry and windy conditions, and more on the fire
threat can be found in the Fire Weather Discussion below.
As the Pacific front moves east of the region tonight, cooler and
drier air will filter into the region, with winds gradually
diminishing as the gradient slackens and with a loss of mixing.
Continued westerly flow will will maintain mild overnight
temperatures with lows in the 30s and 40s. While winds will diminish
overnight, high winds will persist across the mountains, where the
High Wind Warning remains in effect through Monday evening. In a
post-frontal regime, highs Monday will top out cooler than today,
but still above normal for late February, in the middle 60s and
lower 70s for most. Monday evening, relief (albeit, brief) from the
high winds will arrive in the Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains as
winds diminish with the departure of the midlevel jet. Lows will
once again drop into the middle 30s and 40s for most, with the light
winds making for a pleasant night.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Monday through Saturday)
Issued at 120 PM CST Sun Feb 26 2023
* Another high wind event forecast for west Texas and
southeastern New Mexico Thursday...
We will see a short period of short wave ridging before yet
another potent upper level system reloads over the desert
southwest and approaches west Texas and southeastern New Mexico
Wednesday and Thursday. Prototype cluster analyses of 500 hPa
ensemble height anomalies suggests to me to have two modes...one
mode where the system is slower in translating eastward over the
desert southwest and maintains closure whereas the second mode is
more progressive and opens the low into a wave over the southern
Rockies. Since the trend has been for systems to beat themselves
against a persistent southeastern US ridge and that the massively
negative NAO doesn't seem to go anywhere anytime soon per ECMWF
and GEFS ensembles, we'll stick with the more open solution,
keeping the bulk of precipitation (such as it will be) north of
the Permian Basin Wednesday night into early Thursday. Thursday
appears to be another windbag event, with the ECMWF Extreme
Forecast Index and SoT looking pretty gnarly. While not as
significant as the ongoing windbag event, wind gusts near
hurricane strength are likely over the Delaware/Guadalupe ranges
with high wind warning criteria met or exceeded across much of the
adjacent plains. And after that system passes, we'll see some
quasizonal flow through next weekend. Meaning things should get a
little quieter for awhile. Don't count on it lasting, though.
Regrading sensible weather, highs Tuesday and Wednesday will be
about 10 degrees above normal under southwesterly flow aloft.
Would be warmer but there could be extensive cirrus near us ahead
of this system. May see some showers across southeastern New
Mexico and the northern Permian Basin late Tuesday/early Wednesday
but QPF will be scant. Then another Pacific front plows through
the region Thursday morning, dropping highs to slightly below
early March normals. Winds should subside Thursday evening, and
with lighter winds and very good radiational cooling expected,
lows Friday morning will be a bit on the nippy side, ranging from
the lower 20s near Tatum, NM to the mid 30s along the Rio Grande.
From there, temperatures trend to near normal with no
precipitation expected.
bc
&&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1036 PM CST Sun Feb 26 2023
VFR conditions should prevail next 24 hours except KHOB, which
will have MVFR cigs for a couple more hours. Westerly surface flow
will continue backing to southwest and subsiding, but remain gusty
through sundown Monday. High clouds are expected.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Big Spring 82 39 72 41 / 20 10 0 0
Carlsbad 77 34 70 40 / 0 0 0 0
Dryden 88 46 82 46 / 0 0 0 0
Fort Stockton 88 42 75 43 / 10 0 0 0
Guadalupe Pass 68 35 59 40 / 0 0 0 0
Hobbs 78 31 67 39 / 10 0 0 0
Marfa 81 33 68 35 / 0 0 0 0
Midland Intl Airport 84 38 72 42 / 10 0 0 0
Odessa 85 39 72 44 / 10 0 0 0
Wink 86 36 72 39 / 10 0 0 0
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...High Wind Warning until 10 PM CST /9 PM MST/ Monday for Davis
Mountains-Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and
Delaware Mountains.
High Wind Warning until midnight CST tonight for Andrews-Borden-
Central Brewster County-Chinati Mountains-Chisos Basin-
Crane-Davis Mountains Foothills-Dawson-Eastern Culberson
County-Ector-Gaines-Howard-Loving-Lower Brewster County-
Marfa Plateau-Martin-Midland-Pecos-Presidio Valley-Reeves
County Plains-Scurry-Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor-Ward-
Winkler.
Wind Advisory until midnight CST tonight for Glasscock-Mitchell-
Reagan-Terrell-Upton.
NM...High Wind Warning until 9 PM MST Monday for Guadalupe Mountains
of Eddy County.
High Wind Warning until 11 PM MST this evening for Central Lea
County-Eddy County Plains-Northern Lea County-Southern Lea
County.
&&
SHORT TERM...84
LONG TERM....72
AVIATION...44Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 909 PM CST Sun Feb 26 2023 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-059>063-067>070-075-082- 270>282-280315- 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- 909 PM CST Sun Feb 26 2023 /809 PM MST Sun Feb 26 2023/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas and western Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A High Wind Warning is in effect for most of the region through this evening. Widespread damaging winds are possible, especially across the mountains and adjacent plains. Widespread blowing dust may greatly reduce visibility and produce hazardous travel conditions. A Wind Advisory is in effect for portions of the Permian Basin and Stockton Plateau this evening. Elevated fire weather conditions are expected across the region through the evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. A High Wind Warning is in effect through Monday evening for the Guadalupe, Delaware and Davis Mountains. High wind is possible Tuesday through Friday, mainly across the Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains and adjacent plains. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. 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
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
900 PM CST SUN FEB 26 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0601 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 E ANDREWS 32.32N 102.52W
02/26/2023 M65 MPH ANDREWS TX MESONET
MESONET STATION 48 2E ANDREWSW.
0440 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 WSW TATUM 33.24N 103.35W
02/26/2023 M73 MPH LEA NM MESONET
MESONET STATION 51 2SW TATUM NM.
0733 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 W TARZAN 32.31N 102.01W
02/26/2023 M58 MPH MARTIN TX MESONET
MESONET STATION 84 2WNW TARZAN TARZAN/MARTIN
COUNTY.
0315 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 W ARTESIA 32.85N 104.47W
02/26/2023 M71 MPH EDDY NM AWOS
AWOS STATION KATS ARTESIA.
0252 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 W WHITES CITY 32.18N 104.44W
02/26/2023 M73 MPH EDDY NM MESONET
MESONET STATION BATN5 BATDRAW.
0440 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 NW MALJAMAR 32.93N 103.86W
02/26/2023 M71 MPH EDDY NM MESONET
MESONET STATION CPPN5 CAPROCK.
0358 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 WSW OTIS 32.33N 104.25W
02/26/2023 M72 MPH EDDY NM ASOS
ASOS STATION KCNM CARLSBAD.
0445 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 9 ENE VALENTINE 30.63N 104.36W
02/26/2023 M61 MPH JEFF DAVIS TX MESONET
MESONET STATION TWB78 CUERVO RANCH.
0155 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 ENE VAN HORN 31.06N 104.78W
02/26/2023 M58 MPH CULBERSON TX MESONET
MESONET STATION KVHN CULBERSON COUNTY
AIRPORT.
0354 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 WNW MCKITTRICK CANYON 32.00N 104.83W
02/26/2023 M67 MPH CULBERSON TX MESONET
MESONET STATION DGCT2 DOG CANYON.
0315 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 12 ESE HALFWAY 32.47N 103.55W
02/26/2023 M69 MPH LEA NM MESONET
MESONET STATION FW9687 EUNICE.
0736 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WNW FLUVANNA 32.90N 101.20W
02/26/2023 M59 MPH BORDEN TX MESONET
MESONET STATION 31 FLUVANNA 3W.
0356 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NW FORT STOCKTON 30.92N 102.92W
02/26/2023 M59 MPH PECOS TX ASOS
ASOS STATION KFST FORT STOCKTON.
0648 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 ESE GAIL 32.76N 101.41W
02/26/2023 M58 MPH BORDEN TX MESONET
MESONET STATION 26 GAIL 2SE.
0515 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SE HUMBLE CITY 32.77N 103.18W
02/26/2023 M63 MPH LEA NM MESONET
MESONET STATION FW0979 HOBBS.
0450 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NE MONUMENT 32.67N 103.22W
02/26/2023 M63 MPH LEA NM AWOS
AWOS STATION KHOB HOBBS LEA CO.
0357 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NW HOBBS 32.76N 103.19W
02/26/2023 M61 MPH LEA NM MESONET
MESONET STATION 66 HOBBS, NM/ LEA COUNTY.
0400 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 19 WNW JAL 32.19N 103.51W
02/26/2023 M69 MPH LEA NM MESONET
MESONET STATION FW9690 JAL.
0415 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 21 W BENNETT 32.05N 103.57W
02/26/2023 M62 MPH LEA NM MESONET
MESONET STATION FW9688 JAL.
0430 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NW BENNETT 32.11N 103.27W
02/26/2023 M65 MPH LEA NM MESONET
MESONET STATION FW9689 JAL.
0514 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 9 E KENT 31.07N 104.07W
02/26/2023 E61 MPH JEFF DAVIS TX MESONET
0624 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSE LAMESA 32.71N 101.94W
02/26/2023 M61 MPH DAWSON TX MESONET
MESONET STATION 18 LAMESA 2SE.
0415 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NNE MALAGA 32.24N 104.06W
02/26/2023 M63 MPH EDDY NM MESONET
MESONET STATION NMC36 MALAGA.
0413 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 N MARFA 30.37N 104.02W
02/26/2023 M59 MPH PRESIDIO TX AWOS
AWOS STATION KMRF MARFA.
0430 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 11 NNW SLASH RANCH 31.98N 103.67W
02/26/2023 M63 MPH LOVING TX MESONET
MESONET STATION FW9691 MENTONE.
0612 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NW MIDLAND INTERNATIO 31.95N 102.20W
02/26/2023 M64 MPH MIDLAND TX ASOS
ASOS STATION KMAF MIDLAND.
0601 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 N ODESSA 31.87N 102.37W
02/26/2023 M63 MPH ECTOR TX MESONET
MESONET STATION FW9683 ODESSA.
0615 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 NNW ODESSA 31.92N 102.40W
02/26/2023 M59 MPH ECTOR TX ASOS
ASOS STATION KODO ODESSA.
0439 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 21 E MALAGA 32.18N 103.72W
02/26/2023 M61 MPH LEA NM MESONET
MESONET STATION MPAN5 PADUCA.
0435 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW PECOS 31.38N 103.52W
02/26/2023 M58 MPH REEVES TX AWOS
AWOS STATION KPEQ PECOS CITY.
0330 PM NON-TSTM WND GST PINE SPRINGS 31.89N 104.81W
02/26/2023 M103 MPH CULBERSON TX MESONET
MESONET STATION 60 PINE SPRINGS GMNP.
0452 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ENE PINE SPRINGS 31.89N 104.80W
02/26/2023 M79 MPH CULBERSON TX MESONET
MESONET STATION PSGT2 PINERY.
0430 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 10 WNW PYOTE 31.60N 103.27W
02/26/2023 M62 MPH WARD TX MESONET
MESONET STATION FW9693 PYOTE.
0552 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 WSW PYOTE 31.50N 103.23W
02/26/2023 M60 MPH WARD TX MESONET
MESONET STATION UR226 6.6 W PYOTE (UPR).
0313 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 ENE QUEEN 32.20N 104.69W
02/26/2023 M61 MPH EDDY NM MESONET
MESONET STATION QENN5 QUEEN.
0619 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NW RYAN 30.47N 104.35W
02/26/2023 M61 MPH PRESIDIO TX MESONET
MESONET STATION UP400 4.0 NW RYAN (UPR).
0445 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N SARAGOSA 31.08N 103.66W
02/26/2023 M58 MPH REEVES TX MESONET
MESONET STATION GW2669 SARAGOSA.
0539 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 WSW SEAGRAVES 32.94N 102.57W
02/26/2023 M68 MPH GAINES TX MESONET
MESONET STATION 15 SEAGRAVES 1SW.
0710 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 S SEMINOLE 32.68N 102.65W
02/26/2023 M58 MPH GAINES TX AWOS
AWOS STATION KGNC SEMINOLE.
0533 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NNE SEMINOLE 32.74N 102.64W
02/26/2023 M67 MPH GAINES TX MESONET
MESONET STATION 25 SEMINOLE 2N.
0340 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N LAKEWOOD 32.66N 104.36W
02/26/2023 M65 MPH EDDY NM MESONET
MESONET STATION NMC37 SEVEN RIVERS.
0731 PM TSTM WND GST 3 E SNYDER 32.72N 100.86W
02/26/2023 M58 MPH SCURRY TX MESONET
MESONET STATION 37 SNYDER 3E.
0456 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SW TATUM 33.24N 103.34W
02/26/2023 M77 MPH LEA NM MESONET
MESONET STATION CW0386 TATUM.
0338 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NNW PINE SPRINGS 31.93N 104.83W
02/26/2023 M81 MPH CULBERSON TX MESONET
MESONET STATION GDBT2 THE BOWL.
0516 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NW VALENTINE 30.62N 104.53W
02/26/2023 M61 MPH JEFF DAVIS TX MESONET
MESONET STATION UR278 2.9 NW VALENTINE
(UPR).
0345 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 11 NNE VAN HORN 31.18N 104.74W
02/26/2023 M60 MPH CULBERSON TX MESONET
MESONET STATION TWB49 11.2 NE VAN HORN
(TWDB).
0552 PM NON-TSTM WND GST WELCH 32.93N 102.13W
02/26/2023 M69 MPH DAWSON TX MESONET
MESONET STATION 96 WELCH DAWSON COUNTY.
0348 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NW WINK 31.78N 103.20W
02/26/2023 M71 MPH WINKLER TX ASOS
ASOS STATION KINK WINK.
0458 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 WSW MCDONALD OBSERVAT 30.65N 104.14W
02/26/2023 M59 MPH JEFF DAVIS TX MESONET
MESONET STATION WDPT2 WOLF DEN DMP.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX
1036 PM CST SUN FEB 26 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG ARTESIA 32.85N 104.43W
02/26/2023 EDDY NM PUBLIC
NUMEROUS REPORTS OF DOWNED POWER LINES, ROOF
DAMAGE, AND OTHER WIND-RELATED DAMAGE IN
ARTESIA.
0420 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 ESE ARTESIA 32.83N 104.40W
02/26/2023 EDDY NM PUBLIC
REPORT OF DOWNED TREES.
0352 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 WSW AVALON 32.47N 104.28W
02/26/2023 EDDY NM PUBLIC
SEMI BLOWN OVER ON US HWY 285.
0400 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG CARLSBAD 32.40N 104.24W
02/26/2023 EDDY NM PUBLIC
RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS OF WIDESPREAD WIND
DAMAGE IN CARLSBAD, INCLUDING DOWNED POWER
POLES, DOWNED TREES, ROOF DAMAGE, AND DAMAGE
TO OUTBUILDINGS.
0352 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 NNE COTTONWOOD 32.96N 104.38W
02/26/2023 EDDY NM PUBLIC
REPORT OF LARGE TREE DOWN OFF LAKE ARTHUR
HIGHWAY.
1026 PM DUST STORM COTTONWOOD 32.93N 104.39W
02/26/2023 EDDY NM PUBLIC
VIDEO SHOWING ZERO VISIBILITY ON LAKE ARTHUR
HIGHWAY NORTH OF ARTESIA.
0346 PM DUST STORM 3 NW HUMBLE CITY 32.83N 103.25W
02/26/2023 LEA NM PUBLIC
VIDEO SHOWING AROUND 1/4 MILE VISIBILITY
FROM BLOWING DUST BETWEEN HOBBS AND
LOVINGTON.
0303 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW MALAGA 32.24N 104.08W
02/26/2023 EDDY NM PUBLIC
REPORT OF CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO DOWNED STREET
SIGN.
0435 PM NON-TSTM WND GST NADINE 32.63N 103.13W
02/26/2023 M76 MPH LEA NM PUBLIC
PERSONAL WEATHER STATION.
0700 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG ODESSA 31.85N 102.37W
02/26/2023 ECTOR TX PUBLIC
REPORTS OF STREETLIGHTS OUT AND POWER
OUTAGES IN ODESSA.
0530 PM DUST STORM 4 N PAYNES CORNER 32.78N 102.80W
02/26/2023 GAINES TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
REPORT OF FIRE IN GAINES COUNTY WITH NEAR
ZERO VISIBILITY DUE TO BLOWING DUST.
0630 PM DUST STORM 3 ENE SPARENBERG 32.60N 101.79W
02/26/2023 DAWSON TX DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
TXDOT RELAYED REPORTS OF CARS STRANDED ON
STATE HIGHWAY 87 SOUTH OF LAMESA DUE TO ZERO
VISIBILITY.
&&The 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 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, February 2023
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: 1083507, 1083508.