Pulses in the southwesterly flow aloft, coupled with the remnants of the stalled boundary from the 19th and 20th, allowed for more thunderstorms to develop on the 21st. One storm managed to produce quarter-sized hail in Lea county.
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.
Pulses in the southwesterly flow aloft, coupled with the remnants of the stalled boundary from the 19th and 20th, allowed for more thunderstorms to develop on the 21st. One storm managed to produce quarter-sized hail in Lea county. High based showers in far west Texas also produced a couple of severe downbursts.
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 21, 4:45 PM MST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 645 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 644 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026 - Isolated to scattered showers/storms continue through this evening across the Permian Basin and Lower Trans Pecos. A storm or two may be strong to severe, posing a threat for localized flash flooding, damaging winds, and large hail. - Daily afternoon/evening storm chances through next week, with locally heavy rainfall possible. && .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Friday night) Issued at 242 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026 Rain chances remain in the forecast during the Short Term period. A few storms have developed over the Permian Basin ahead of a dryline extending from eastern NM south toward the Big Bend. Some of these may produce large hail, damaging winds, and localized flash flooding. Storm activity gradually begins to diminish and shift eastward this evening, with rain chances mostly ending around, or just after midnight. Temperatures then slip into the 50s and 60s tonight. Friday afternoon, the dryline sets up within the western Permian Basin, extending down toward the Big Bend. Meanwhile, additional shortwave impulses will continue to pass over our region, embedded within a large-scale trough over the western US. As such, isolated shower/storm development will be possible over the eastern Permian Basin and the Lower Trans Pecos, where rain chances range from 10- 20%. Given drier conditions and sunnier skies overall, temperatures Friday afternoon are generally expected to top out in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Overnight lows again range within he 50s to 60s, with 60s being more prevalent than the night before. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Wednesday) Issued at 242 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026 Upper level troughing persists over the western and central US at the start of the Long Term period. Sunday into Monday, a closed low develops within the mid levels and sets up over Texas. Several rounds of shortwave impulses look to traverse over our area through the next few days. At the surface, the dryline also looks to oscillate near to within our region through at least the middle of next week. Lift from both the shortwaves and along the dryline shall combine with moisture ahead of the dryline to support at least isolated shower/storm development most afternoons. Storm development and location will depend on collocation of forcing from shortwaves and the dryline. As such, there remains high uncertainty regarding forecast rainfall totals and the potential for severe weather heading into the upcoming week. Temperatures are progged to range within the 80s to 90s across the region each afternoon, then dip into the 50s and 60s during the overnight hours. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 644 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026 VFR conditions will prevail next 24 hours, except for possible convection this evening, mainly KFST/KINK/KHOB. Surface winds will veer to SW Friday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 59 90 61 85 / 30 20 20 30 Carlsbad 58 93 59 91 / 10 0 0 10 Dryden 63 90 65 87 / 20 20 10 50 Fort Stockton 61 91 63 89 / 20 10 10 30 Guadalupe Pass 58 82 60 83 / 10 0 0 10 Hobbs 55 91 57 87 / 20 0 0 20 Marfa 49 84 52 82 / 20 0 10 40 Midland Intl Airport 60 90 63 86 / 20 0 10 20 Odessa 60 90 63 86 / 20 0 10 20 Wink 59 93 62 90 / 20 0 0 10 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. NM...None. && SHORT TERM...95 LONG TERM....95 AVIATION...99
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
229 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026
TXZ075-212000-
Pecos TX-
229 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL PECOS COUNTY THROUGH 300
PM CDT...
At 229 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15
miles east of Fort Stockton, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of central Pecos
County.
This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 271 and 291.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3079 10267 3096 10272 3107 10244 3082 10232
TIME...MOT...LOC 1929Z 254DEG 15KT 3090 10262
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
10Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
307 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026
TXZ075-212045-
Pecos TX-
307 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL PECOS COUNTY
THROUGH 345 PM CDT...
At 307 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles southwest of McCamey, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
Bakersfield.
This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 291 and 304.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3086 10236 3103 10242 3104 10229 3103 10227
3104 10224 3103 10221 3100 10219 3101 10218
3100 10215 3089 10215
TIME...MOT...LOC 2007Z 259DEG 12KT 3100 10233
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
10Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
352 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
NMZ029-212230-
Northern Lea County NM-
352 PM MDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN LEA COUNTY THROUGH
430 PM MDT...
At 352 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Tatum, moving northeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Tatum, 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.
&&
LAT...LON 3326 10306 3315 10326 3326 10340 3342 10319
3343 10305
TIME...MOT...LOC 2152Z 223DEG 12KT 3324 10325
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
13Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
616 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026
TXZ276>278-220000-
Marfa Plateau TX-Davis Mountains Foothills TX-Davis Mountains TX-
616 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN BREWSTER...SOUTHERN
JEFF DAVIS AND EAST CENTRAL PRESIDIO COUNTIES THROUGH 700 PM CDT...
At 615 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles southeast of Marfa, moving northeast at 30 mph. Thunderstorms
in this area have a history of producing strong downburst winds.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Alpine, Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport, and Paisano Pass.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3048 10372 3029 10344 3027 10347 3026 10346
3024 10346 3017 10362 3018 10362 3016 10363
3003 10391 3023 10410
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 235DEG 25KT 3020 10389
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
13Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
626 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026
TXZ272-273-276>278-220015-
Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor TX-Eastern Culberson County TX-
Marfa Plateau TX-Davis Mountains Foothills TX-Davis Mountains TX-
626 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN JEFF DAVIS AND
SOUTHWESTERN CULBERSON COUNTIES THROUGH 715 PM CDT...
At 625 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms near
Plateau, or 12 miles east of Van Horn, moving east 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...
Van Horn, Plateau, Culberson County Airport, and Lobo.
This includes Interstate 10 between mile markers 139 and 176.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3143 10483 3142 10458 3141 10457 3142 10457
3140 10425 3074 10421 3070 10478 3071 10479
3070 10481 3069 10488 3070 10489 3072 10488
3073 10489
TIME...MOT...LOC 2325Z 256DEG 18KT 3105 10462
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
13Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
713 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026
TXZ075-273-274-277-278-220100-
Pecos TX-Eastern Culberson County TX-Reeves County Plains TX-
Davis Mountains Foothills TX-Davis Mountains TX-
713 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WESTERN PECOS...SOUTHWESTERN
REEVES...NORTHEASTERN JEFF DAVIS AND SOUTHEASTERN CULBERSON COUNTIES
THROUGH 800 PM CDT...
At 712 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Kent, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Pecos, Kent, Toyah, Balmorhea, Balmorhea Lake, Saragosa, Balmorhea
State Park, Verhalen, Toyahvale, Pecos Municipal Airport, and Buffalo
Trail Scout Camp.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 10 between mile markers 168 and 224.
Interstate 20 between mile markers 0 and 40.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3145 10439 3146 10351 3080 10345 3082 10433
3084 10433 3082 10434 3082 10435 3083 10435
3084 10437
TIME...MOT...LOC 0012Z 270DEG 25KT 3107 10414
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
13The Lubbock radar (KLBB), 125 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:52 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter reported quarter-sized hail to the east/northeast of Crossroads. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, May 2026
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: 1327307.