Many severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and evening across southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin. These thunderstorms developed within strong mid-level flow aloft as a trough passed across the Midwest and a cold front sagged into the region.
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.
Many severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and evening across southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin. These thunderstorms developed within strong mid-level flow aloft as a trough passed across the Midwest and a cold front sagged into the region. Damaging wind gusts and large hail were observed with thunderstorms across the region.
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 Sep 11, 5:13 PM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 613 PM CDT Mon Sep 11 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Tuesday night) Issued at 240 PM CDT Mon Sep 11 2023 Current visible satellite shows the broken deck of clouds that has slowed warming somewhat starting to move out of southeast New Mexico. Clearing skies will help destabilize the environment for afternoon showers and thunderstorms to develop. With steepening lapse rates (changes in temperature with height) and a shortwave trough moving into the region, some thunderstorms may be severe across southeast New Mexico and portions of the Permian Basin as well as areas north and east of our own area. Damaging wind gusts and large hail will be the main threats in addition to brief heavy downpours and lightning. A cold front will approach and pass through SE NM and the Permian Basin tonight and help to keep up shower and storm activity into Tuesday morning. Temperatures take a dip near or below normal with many in the low to mid 60s by Tuesday morning. Cloud cover and showers will stifle warming during the day tomorrow. Highs in the 70s, maybe a few spots staying in the upper 60s, across SE NM and the Permian Basin. 80s for the Stockton Plateau and staying warm across the Big Bend where there will be less in the way of clouds and showers. && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Sunday) Issued at 240 PM CDT Mon Sep 11 2023 Wednesday, the upper ridge is forecast to be south of the border, leaving zonal flow aloft over West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. At the surface, post-frontal winds will veer back to return flow, and while temperatures will begin recovering from tonight's cold front, below-normal highs are still expected along/east of the Pecos. Thursday/Friday, thicknesses increase more, resulting in the warmest days of the extended as highs top out right around normal. Friday night/Saturday, a large trough digging into the MS Valley will backdoor a cold front into the region, sending temperatures back below normal along and east of the Pecos Saturday afternoon. Temps recover a degree or two Sunday, and another two or three Monday as weak ridging begins developing in from the west. This pattern will offer several convective opportunities in the extended, beginning Wednesday though Thursday morning as a couple of shortwaves move through zonal flow aloft, with widespread convection Wednesday and an MCS across the northern CWA Wednesday night. NAM forecast soundings at KMAF increase pwats to a whopping 1.73" Thursday morning, when climatological max pwat is only 1.66". Good chances also exist Friday afternoon through Saturday along the expected cold front, w/best chances along/south of I-20. Models also depict plenty of opportunities either side of these events. Rain chances drop off considerably after Saturday as upper-level ridging begins building in, so we've lowered POPs in the extended. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 608 PM CDT Mon Sep 11 2023 VFR conditions prevail at issuance, with a challenging period ahead. A strong cold front will move southward through the region this evening, accompanied by a gusty NE wind shift as well as widespread thunderstorms that will impact area terminals beginning around 01Z for CNM/HOB, and ending around 08Z for FST. Have included TEMPO mention for all but PEQ where confidence is lower, though have included VCTS there, with amendments likely through the evening. Winds will remain elevated and intermittently gusty, with at least intermittent -SHRA expected to continue through the remainder of the period. MVFR/IFR ceilings will develop in the wake of the front, persisting through 13/00Z. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 67 75 65 83 / 70 70 70 80 Carlsbad 64 77 64 86 / 60 60 70 70 Dryden 72 90 71 91 / 30 40 60 50 Fort Stockton 67 80 65 89 / 40 50 60 70 Guadalupe Pass 59 72 60 81 / 60 50 70 60 Hobbs 62 72 61 81 / 70 60 70 70 Marfa 62 81 61 86 / 30 50 60 70 Midland Intl Airport 67 76 66 85 / 70 60 70 70 Odessa 67 76 66 85 / 70 50 70 70 Wink 67 79 65 87 / 60 50 70 60 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. NM...None. && SHORT TERM...93 LONG TERM....44 AVIATION...84
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 404 PM CDT Mon Sep 11 2023 NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-059>063-067>070-075-082- 270>282-122115- 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- 404 PM CDT Mon Sep 11 2023 /304 PM MDT Mon Sep 11 2023/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas and western Texas. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for much of Pemian Basin and SE NM through the evening. Any severe storms that do develop will be accompanied by damaging winds up to 80 mph, large hail to tennis ball size, and an isolated tornado. Heavy rainfall may also result in flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. There is a marginal risk of severe storms Wednesday, mainly over Southeast New Mexico. Any severe storms that do develop will be accompanied by large hail and damaging winds. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions according to Standard Operating Procedures. 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
713 PM CDT Mon Sep 11 2023
TXZ045-120100-
Gaines TX-
713 PM CDT Mon Sep 11 2023
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN GAINES COUNTY
THROUGH 800 PM CDT...
At 712 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles west of Denver City, moving southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Higginbotham.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for
western Texas.
&&
LAT...LON 3274 10283 3296 10305 3296 10258
TIME...MOT...LOC 0012Z 293DEG 18KT 3300 10296
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
84Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
616 PM MDT Mon Sep 11 2023
NMZ029-033-120115-
Northern Lea County NM-Central Lea County NM-
616 PM MDT Mon Sep 11 2023
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN LEA COUNTY THROUGH
715 PM MDT...
At 615 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
McDonald, or 9 miles south of Tatum, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Tatum, McDonald, Gladiola, and Tatum Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM MDT for
southeastern New Mexico.
&&
LAT...LON 3329 10306 3296 10307 3303 10343 3330 10339
TIME...MOT...LOC 0015Z 276DEG 14KT 3312 10333
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
84Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
747 PM CDT Mon Sep 11 2023
TXZ053-120145-
Mitchell TX-
747 PM CDT Mon Sep 11 2023
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL MITCHELL COUNTY THROUGH
845 PM CDT...
At 747 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Lake Colorado City State Park, or 7 miles southwest of Colorado City,
moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Colorado City, Lake Colorado City, Champion Creek Reservoir, Lake
Colorado City State Park, and Westbrook.
This includes Interstate 20 between mile markers 198 and 214.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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.
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 Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for
western Texas.
&&
LAT...LON 3209 10079 3224 10118 3247 10117 3234 10066
3209 10067
TIME...MOT...LOC 0047Z 284DEG 10KT 3232 10096
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
84The San Angelo radar (KSJT), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:49 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
On FM 644 reports of broken windows from hail and wind. Wind speeds were estimated to be approximately 80 mph. Property damage cost is an estimation.
Tractor-trailer blown over along I-20. Video shared via email. Wind speeds are estimated to be between 60 to 70 mph. Property cost damage is an estimation.
Report from mPING of quarter-size hail.
Several power poles were snapped along Highway 87. Time is estimated from radar. Wind speeds are estimated to be 90 mph. Property cost damage is an estimation.
A fence was reported blown down with an RV shifted due to strong winds. Wind speeds were estimated to be 80 mph. Property damage cost is an estimation.
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, September 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: 1139603, 1139605, 1139604, 1139607, 1139608, 1139610, 1139606, 1139613.