Texas, 2024

Damaging Winds in Texas, May 31, 2024

May 31, 2024 · NWS MAF · 5 events in 4 counties and zones

Afternoon severe thunderstorms would develop across eastern New Mexico and merge into an MCS that would track through portions of southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin late in the evening. An outflow boundary from other thunderstorms would also initiate a few supercells ahead of the MCS.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$7,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MAF wrote it up.

Afternoon severe thunderstorms would develop across eastern New Mexico and merge into an MCS that would track through portions of southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin late in the evening. An outflow boundary from other thunderstorms would also initiate a few supercells ahead of the MCS. Damaging winds, flash flooding, and large hail were all reported with these thunderstorms.

What forecasters said that day

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 31, 6:08 AM CST, 5 hours 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 6:08 AM CST, 5 hours 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
Issued by National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
708 AM CDT Fri May 31 2024

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Today through Saturday afternoon)
Issued at 111 AM CDT Fri May 31 2024

Weak shortwave aloft will track across the TX panhandle and DFW
region overnight into Friday morning, allowing ongoing convection
to conglomerate into upscale, mesoscale growth and adjust storm
propagation to a more southerly motion. MCS likely to form early
Friday morning across much of northern Texas with a cold front
moving south along the leading gust front of this system. Main
threat with Friday morning's storms will be gusty winds along the
leading line of storms, generally between 6-10 AM for the
Snyder/Big Springs area. Storm threat should come to an end for
all local zones by noon.

Cooler temperatures tomorrow behind frontal passage in the
morning. Afternoon temperatures topping out in the upper 80s for
the northeastern Basin, mid-to-upper 90s for the Trans-Pecos
region. Cooler surface air and a strong capping inversion at 750
mb will greatly hinder afternoon storm chances. East surface winds
cutting off the tap of Gulf moisture is another factor limiting
storm chances. A few evening storms will be possible along the
northern fringes of our forecast area (closer to Lubbock) with
convection that forms in southeast NM, otherwise we'll stay dry
through this afternoon and evening.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Saturday night through Thursday)
Issued at 111 AM CDT Fri May 31 2024

00Z GFS resolving a shortwave ridge on Saturday, with embedded
waves within the prevailing zonal flow aloft. Surface flow
shifting back to the southeast will reinforce moisture flux and
thus allow for another uptick in thunderstorm chances area wide.
Best chance will be during the late-evening hours with initial
convection developing off to the west and tracking eastward and
subsequent upslope flow allowing storm coverage to grow headed
into Saturday night. PWATs 150% of normal would suggest efficient
rain makers and the risk of areal flooding as storm coverage
increases Saturday night.

Strengthened southwest flow ahead of a subtropical jet streak
will mix out the dryline boundary across the Trans-Pecos region on
Sunday, shifting the boundary further east closer to Midland. We
may see a few isolated storms result further east as a result, but
much lower PoPs expected due to this influx of drier air from the
west. Deep westerly flow take hold of the whole area Monday as a
strengthening upper high over northern Mexico begins a warming
trend. The northward shift of this high pressure will result in
very hot day start to next week with triple-digit highs Monday-
Wednesday. Some relief from the heat seems possible late in the
week with a deep low pressure system over the northern Plains and
subsequent cold front spilling south into the Texas panhandle. NBM
temperatures spread varies greatly regarding the eventual
southern extent of that cooler air, with the ECMWF featuring a
much sharper trough. Model confidence in the position of the upper
high is low at this time, so will settle with the NBM's modest
cooldown and low-end PoPs for now.

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 643 AM CDT Fri May 31 2024

Generally VFR conditions expected through period. Patchy BKN-
OVC030 from old outflow..mainly north and east of Ft. Davis.
Clouds mainly dissipating by around 15Z-17Z. Surface winds
east/northeast 10-15G25 knots turning southeast 12-17G27 knots
after 00Z.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 111 AM CDT Fri May 31 2024

Elevated fire danger west of the dryline on Friday, including
most of the Davis Mountains, Guadalupe Range, and Eddy County
Plains. Min RH 5-12% and east winds 10 to 15 mph. ERCs remain
quite high above the 90th percentile in those areas.

Lightning starts will be possible on Saturday as the dryline
shifts further west and thunderstorm chances across much of west
Texas and southeast New Mexico will pose a risk for the elevated
terrain and forested areas. Conditions dry out quickly again
early next week with stronger west flow and warmer temperatures
due to the strengthening of high pressure aloft. Critical
conditions possible Monday/Tuesday if forecasted winds remain
breezy.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Big Spring               87  67  90  67 /  40  10  20  30
Carlsbad                 95  67  95  66 /   0   0  30  20
Dryden                   98  72  95  73 /   0   0  20  20
Fort Stockton            98  70  96  69 /   0   0  40  20
Guadalupe Pass           89  64  88  65 /   0   0  20  20
Hobbs                    90  63  91  64 /  10  10  30  30
Marfa                    95  57  95  58 /   0   0  30  20
Midland Intl Airport     89  67  91  68 /  20   0  30  30
Odessa                   91  69  92  69 /  10   0  30  30
Wink                     99  70  97  69 /   0   0  30  30

&&

.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...None.
NM...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...99
LONG TERM....99
AVIATION...99
Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 2:33 AM CST, 8 hours 45 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
Issued by National Weather Service El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
333 AM CDT Fri May 31 2024

NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-059>063-067>070-075-082-
270>282-010845-
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-
333 AM CDT Fri May 31 2024 /233 AM MDT Fri May 31 2024/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast New Mexico,
southwest Texas and western Texas.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

There is a low risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and
evening, mainly over the Western Low Rolling Plains, Southeast
Permian Basin, and Lower Trans Pecos. Any severe storms that do
develop will be accompanied by large hail and/or damaging winds.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

There is a low risk of severe thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and
evening. Any severe storms that do develop will be accompanied by
large hail and/or damaging winds.

Hazardous heat is possible, mainly along the Rio Grande.

Near-critical fire weather conditions are possible, mainly over the
higher terrain west of the Pecos, especially Sunday and Monday.

.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

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 31, 8:50 AM CST, 2 hours 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
950 AM CDT Fri May 31 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0730 PM     Hail             3 NNW Fairview          32.74N 102.56W
05/30/2024  M3.00 Inch       Gaines             TX   Trained Spotter

            Hail measured at 3.3 inches.

&&

cas

The radar

The Lubbock radar (KLBB), 107 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:19 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Borden

When
May 31, 11:18 AM CST to 11:23 AM CST
Where
Borden County, 2 mi ESE of Gail
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
32.759, -101.398

Thunderstorm Wind, Martin

When
May 31, 11:42 AM CST to 11:47 AM CST
Where
Martin County, 1 mi W of Tarzan
Measured
53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
32.300, -101.987

Thunderstorm Wind, Gaines

When
May 31, 10:37 PM CST to 10:42 PM CST
Where
Gaines County, 6.22 mi N of Seminole
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
32.810, -102.650

Seminole FD reports business signs blown down north of Seminole along Highway 385. Time is estimated from radar. Wind speeds and property damage costs are estimations.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gaines

When
May 31, 10:41 PM CST to 10:46 PM CST
Where
Gaines County, 0.9 mi NW of Seagraves
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
32.940, -102.560

A photo shows a carport destroyed. Time is estimated from radar. Wind speeds and property damage costs are an estimation.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dawson

When
May 31, 10:45 PM CST to 10:50 PM CST
Where
Dawson County, 0.69 mi N of Welch
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
32.930, -102.130

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2024

Sources

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: 1181931, 1181930, 1181878, 1181879, 1181880.