A quickly strengthening area of surface low pressure over eastern Colorado ahead of a potent trough pushed a strong front through the region. During the evening and early overnight hours, high winds behind this front were recorded across southeast New Mexico and the higher elevations of West Texas.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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.
A quickly strengthening area of surface low pressure over eastern Colorado ahead of a potent trough pushed a strong front through the region. During the evening and early overnight hours, high winds behind this front were recorded across southeast New Mexico and the higher elevations of West Texas.
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 Mar 3, 11:40 AM CST, 2 hours 25 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
1140 AM CST Mon Mar 3 2025
...New AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1126 AM CST Mon Mar 3 2025
- Another strong weather system enters the region later this
afternoon. Widespread very strong westerly winds are expected
across the entire region through Tuesday evening. Blowing dust
may be hazardous to drivers. Critical to extreme fire weather
will accompany these stronger winds.
- Increasing winds return on Thursday, mainly across western
portions of the area.
- Another strong weather system moves across the region Friday
into Saturday. Widespread strong westerly winds are anticipated.
Patchy blowing dust may be present and hazardous to travelers.
Fire weather may also be a concern for much of the region.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Today through Tuesday afternoon)
Issued at 301 AM CST Mon Mar 3 2025
IR and Nighttime Fog imagery early this morning shows scattered
clouds streaming in from west to east as the brief lull between
storm systems is ongoing in advance of the next short wave trough.
This break will come to an end by late morning today as the next
short wave trough pushes east into the Four Corners, extending into
southern AZ/NM and northern Mexico. 500 mb and 700 mb geopotential
height and vorticity persist in showing 30 to 40 knot southwesterly
winds traversing the area. Along with increasing winds aloft, near
dry adiabatic lapse rates in the lower troposphere in forecast
soundings and scattered clouds in weather grids indicate potential
for efficient boundary layer mixing. As is usually the case for
setups like this, NBM tends to under perform for wind speeds and
gusts. Therefore, blended in higher speeds and gusts for today into
tomorrow. A High Wind Warning remains in effect for Davis Mountains,
Guadalupes as well as eastern Culberson County, and Eddy County
Plains from this morning into Tuesday evening, with a Wind Advisory
for Marfa Plateau into Upper Trans Pecos and northwest Permian Basin
from this morning through Tuesday morning. Under southwesterly to
westerly downsloping winds today, highs 10 to 15 degrees above
average are in the forecast. NBM shows lower to mid 80s for Rio
Grande basins into Stockton Plateau, Upper Trans Pecos, and much of
the Permian Basin, with 70s Marfa Plateau into Culberson County and
SE NM plains, upper 60s in Guadalupes, and 90s along the Rio Grande.
Coarse res deterministic models show highs 5F to 10F cooler than
this, however ensemble models and deterministic high-res models show
highs similar to the NBM with exception of Big Bend where highs are
10F cooler than NBM. However, from weather observations the past few
days, NBM forecast highs above the mid 80s in the Big Bend have
occurred. Additionally, ensembles are showing a 80% or greater
probability of highs above 89F in the Big Bend, so stuck with NBM
for highs today. Despite the dust kicked up yesterday, high winds
will again be associated with a risk for more blowing dust. Highest
confidence in occurrence of blowing dust is from Guadalupes and
Davis Mountains into surrounding foothills and into Eddy County
plains.
NBM shows 20%-30% PoPs over far eastern portions of our area Monday
evening into the overnight hours in vicinity of a sharpening pre-
frontal trough/dryline. However, we still expect rainfall
accumulations to remain negligible as air near the surface will be
dry and the bulk of activity will be to the east. High-res CAMs show
little in the way of shower/storm activity and SPC has only
outlining our far eastern areas in a general thunderstorm outlook.
The bigger story will continue to be winds. Tonight, high winds will
persist, and the efficient boundary layer mixing will limit
radiational cooling and keep lows 5 degrees above average, balanced
by CAA in the wake of a NW to SE moving Pacific cold front. NBM
gives lows in the 40s, 30s in usual cooler spots, and lower 50s Big
Bend into Terrell County, with coldest temperatures farther west,
and a similar pattern showing this surge of cooler air in both coarse
and high-res deterministic and ensemble models. Dew point
temperatures will also be falling into the teens and single digits
over Marfa Plateau into Big Bend accompanying this surge of cooler
and drier air.
As the axis of the short wave trough moves over the area, a 50 to 80
knot jet streak rounding the base of the trough and extending will
traverse the central portion of the area. Winds of at least 50 kt
extend from 850 mb and 700 mb up to 500 mb per HREF model.
Correspondingly, with onset of diurnal heating, westerly downsloping
winds will increase into Tuesday afternoon. During this period,
highest winds associated with this event are likely to occur over
western higher terrain and areawide. Ensembles show a 50%-70% chance
of wind gusts higher than 55 mph from Guadalupes and Delawares into
Davis Mountains and Lower Trans Pecos, a 40%-60% chance of wind
gusts up to 50 mph into the Stockton Plateau as well as central and
southern Permian Basin. A 30%-50% chance of wind gusts higher than
60 mph exists from Guadalupes into Davis Mountains as depicted by
ensemble wind gust probabilities, with high-res ensembles like the
HREF displaying higher end probabilities. In addition to favorable
mid to upper level dynamics provided by the jet streak, weather
grids showing mostly clear skies clearing from west to east and
forecast soundings continuing to show near dry adiabatic lapse rates
in the lower troposphere will allow for efficient boundary layer
mixing, which to allow higher gusts aloft to mix down to the
surface. Even with winds below 50 kt at 850 mb, higher winds at 700
mb were able to mix down to the surface yesterday, so we are
expecting high wind criteria to be met for Tuesday when 50 kt winds
will be present down to 850 mb. Therefore, have issued a High Wind
Watch for all portions of the area that were not previously covered
by the High Wind Warning. NBM highs Tuesday feature upper 50s for
higher elevations, mid 60s to lower 70s on leeward slopes of western
higher terrain into central and southern Permian Basin, as well as
southeast of the Davis Mountains and Lower Trans Pecos, similar to
coarse and high-res deterministic and ensemble models. CAA will be
balanced by solar heating and adiabatic compressional warming from
downsloping winds. Even so, the storm system will pass quickly to
the east and winds will rapidly diminish by late afternoon into the
evening. Even after this event, this won't be the last of a risk for
high winds. More on this in the long term discussion.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Tuesday night through Sunday)
Issued at 301 AM CST Mon Mar 3 2025
A welcomed change arrives by the middle of this week. High pressure
settles into the region to begin the day on Wednesday. Cooler
temperatures and weak winds make a welcomed return to the area.
Temperatures start cold in the 30s and low 40s before rising into
the 60s and low 70s by afternoon for quiet and pleasant weather.
This quiet weather is short-lived as our next weather system
approaches.
A series of two strong weather systems impact the Southern Great
Plains to close out the week. Surface lee troughing results in
strengthening southerly winds into Thursday morning, thus keeping
temperatures warmer and in the 40s for all. Wind speeds continue to
increase and become a primarily downsloping southwesterly wind by
the afternoon. This is in response to the first of these weather
systems ejecting out across the Central Great Plains and lifting
into the Midwest. Temperatures climb accordingly with widespread mid
70s and low 80s anticipated. A brief lull and relative decrease in
wind speeds is forecast before the second of the two weather systems
moves across the Southern Great Plains. Another day of widespread
very strong westerly winds, patchy blowing dust, and critical fire
weather is forecast by early Friday afternoon and continues through
Friday evening. There is moderate (40-60%) confidence in wind speeds
between 25 to 35 mph and even stronger gusts for all but the
easternmost portions of our area. Even stronger winds are to be
expected for our western regions and higher elevations. Temperatures
will fall slightly with the passing weather system, but remain warm
in the upper 60s and 70s during the afternoon.
Heading into the weekend, temperatures fall on Saturday as the
region transitions to the backside of Friday's weather system.
Initially gusty northwest winds begin to weaken through the
afternoon as temperatures warm into the upper 50s and low 60s for
most. Surface high pressure returns by Saturday evening, before
southerly winds return as the surface high pressure exits to the
east on Sunday. Temperatures increase back into the upper 60s and
low 70s in response. This warm and quiet weather is once again short-
lived. Our next weather system is set to arrive by early next
week.
-Chehak
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1126 AM CST Mon Mar 3 2025
High southwesterly winds are still in the forecast at all terminals,
with occasional gusts of 30 to 40 kts possible throughout this
TAF period. There is low confidence in BLDU at most sites except
for CNM and HOB, where there is slightly higher confidence. Due to
lack of certainty in duration and extent, BLDU has been left out
of TAFS. TAFS will be monitored throughout the day and amendments
may be made as needed. VFR CIGs and VIS will prevail at all sites,
except for the potential of MVFR or lower VIS during BLDU.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Big Spring 44 70 36 65 / 30 0 0 0
Carlsbad 40 69 35 67 / 0 0 0 0
Dryden 49 75 44 72 / 10 0 0 0
Fort Stockton 44 69 40 71 / 10 0 0 0
Guadalupe Pass 34 58 37 63 / 0 0 0 0
Hobbs 37 67 31 63 / 0 0 0 0
Marfa 35 63 34 70 / 0 0 0 0
Midland Intl Airport 43 71 36 66 / 20 0 0 0
Odessa 43 71 37 66 / 10 0 0 0
Wink 41 72 35 69 / 0 0 0 0
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...High Wind Warning until 9 PM CST /8 PM MST/ Tuesday for Davis
Mountains-Eastern Culberson-Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000
Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains.
Red Flag Warning until 8 PM CST /7 PM MST/ this evening for
Andrews-Borden-Central Brewster-Chinati Mountains-Chisos
Basin-Crane-Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains Foothills-
Dawson-Eastern Culberson-Ector-Gaines-Guadalupe Mountains
Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains-Howard-
Loving-Lower Brewster County-Marfa Plateau-Martin-Midland-
Pecos-Presidio Valley-Reeves County Plains-Upton-Van Horn
and Highway 54 Corridor-Ward-Winkler.
Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening
for Andrews-Borden-Central Brewster-Chinati Mountains-
Chisos Basin-Crane-Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains
Foothills-Dawson-Eastern Culberson-Ector-Gaines-Glasscock-
Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware
Mountains-Howard-Loving-Lower Brewster County-Marfa Plateau-
Martin-Midland-Mitchell-Pecos-Presidio Valley-Reagan-Reeves
County Plains-Scurry-Terrell-Upton-Van Horn and Highway 54
Corridor-Ward-Winkler.
Wind Advisory until 6 AM CST Tuesday for Chinati Mountains-Davis
Mountains Foothills-Gaines-Loving-Marfa Plateau-Reeves
County Plains-Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor.
High Wind Watch from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening for
Andrews-Borden-Central Brewster-Chinati Mountains-Chisos
Basin-Crane-Davis Mountains Foothills-Dawson-Ector-Gaines-
Glasscock-Howard-Loving-Lower Brewster County-Marfa Plateau-
Martin-Midland-Mitchell-Pecos-Presidio Valley-Reagan-Reeves
County Plains-Scurry-Terrell-Upton-Van Horn and Highway 54
Corridor-Ward-Winkler.
NM...High Wind Warning until 8 PM MST Tuesday for Eddy County Plains-
Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County.
Red Flag Warning until 7 PM MST this evening for Chaves Plains-
Eddy Plains-Lea-Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe
Mountains.
Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday morning through Tuesday
afternoon for Chaves Plains-Eddy Plains-Lea-Sacramento
Foothills and Guadalupe Mountains.
Wind Advisory until 5 AM MST Tuesday for Central Lea-Northern
Lea-Southern Lea.
High Wind Watch from late tonight through Tuesday evening for
Central Lea-Northern Lea-Southern Lea.
&&
SHORT TERM...94
LONG TERM....91
AVIATION...55The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A maximum wind gust of 85 mph was recorded at the West Texas Mesonet site, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, near Guadalupe Pass.
A maximum wind gust of 66 MPH was recorded at the RAWS station, PSGT2 Pinery, in the Guadalupe Mountains.
A maximum wind gust of 64 MPH was recorded at the Royal Farms Texas Water Development Board mesonet site, TWB49, located 11.2 miles northeast of Van Horn.
A maximum wind gust of 63 MPH was recorded at the West Texas Mesonet site, 1 NW Castolon, in Big Bend National Park near the Rio Grande.
With the frontal passage at the RAWS station, WDPT2 Wolf Den DMP, in the Davis Mountains, a maximum wind gust of 60 MPH was recorded.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, March 2025
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: 1242870, 1242872, 1242874, 1242875, 1242869.