Tornado and Flash Flood in Texas, May 19 to 22, 2026

Name: Tornado and Flash Flood in Texas, May 19 to 22, 2026
Start: 2026-05-19T11:50
End: 2026-05-22T20:51
Location: Texas

May 19 to 22, 2026 · NWS SJT · 17 events in 11 counties and zones

A few severe thunderstorms produced large hail across the Concho Valley and Northern Edwards Plateau. Also, a lightning strike destroyed a hotel in Brady.

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: $6.0 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 17

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 SJT wrote it up.

A few severe thunderstorms produced large hail across the Concho Valley and Northern Edwards Plateau. Also, a lightning strike destroyed a hotel in Brady.

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 San Angelo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 19, 11:39 AM CST, 11 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Severe Storms possible this afternoon and evening.
Medium to High (30-80%) chances for showers and thunderstorms from Tuesday evening through Friday.

Area forecast discussion, May 19, 11:39 AM CST, 11 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Angelo TX
1239 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026

...New LONG TERM...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Severe Storms possible this afternoon and evening.

- Medium to High (30-80%) chances for showers and thunderstorms
  from Tuesday evening through Friday.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 133 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

...Slight Risk of Severe Thunderstorms this afternoon and
evening...

Cold front just north of Childress at 130 AM expected to move
along I-20 mid morning around 9 AM and then slow down as it moves
south along a San Angelo to Brownwood line 3-4 PM.

While isolated to scattered thunderstorms expected this morning
in the Big Country, a larger complex of strong to severe storms
is expected to develop in the Concho Valley to Brownwood in
maximum heating this afternoon. Complex then moves south and east
into the I-10 corridor and NW Hill country this evening. With
CAPES of 4000 J/kg and 0-6KM bulk shears of 30 to 35 KTS,
supercells with very large hail over 2 inches possible. The
complex of storms should move south of West Central by midnight,
ending most of the severe weather threat. Precipital water values
around 1.5 inches indicate efficient rainfall producers, and
localized flooding possible, especially in urban areas.

.LONG TERM...
(Wednesday night through next Tuesday)
Issued at 1235 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026

An active weather pattern will persist through much of the long
term with a persistent upper level southwest flow with
disturbances moving across our area. Also, the combination of a
cold front south of the area and abundant moisture(PW values 1 to
1.5 inches) will bring a risk of localized flash flooding,
especially Wednesday night and Thursday as the WPC has a slight
risk of excessive rainfall along and south of the I-20 corridor.
Also, there is and isolated flash flood threat this weekend across
the southeast part of the area. There are medium to high chances
of rain for at least a few days in the long term. Also, there is
an isolated severe weather threat(marginal risk) for the southern
2/3 of the area Tuesday evening across the Concho Valley and
Northern Edwards Plateau. The main hazards will be large hail and
damaging winds. Temperatures will be cooler with highs in the
upper 70s and 80s, around to slightly below normal for this time
of year.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1203 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026

Currently VFR at all sites as a cold front moves through from
north to south. TSRA are expected to develop off of this cold
front later this afternoon and evening, and affect KSJT, KSOA,
KBBD, and KJCT during the evening hours. Have kept VCTS and TEMPO
groups going from late this afternoon into the evening hours at
these sites to address these storms. These TSRA should dissipate
by 06Z, after which the cold front is expected to stall somewhere
in our southern counties, giving east/northeast to northeast winds
for our southern sites, with MVFR CIGs filling in behind the
front after 06Z, and remaining through most of the morning
Wednesday.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Abilene     61  78  64  78 /  40  30  80  70
San Angelo  62  79  62  80 /  60  40  70  60
Junction    64  81  63  80 /  70  30  80  60
Brownwood   63  79  63  78 /  60  30  70  70
Sweetwater  60  77  62  79 /  30  30  80  60
Ozona       63  80  62  81 /  60  40  70  30
Brady       63  78  64  77 /  70  30  70  70

&&

.SJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

SHORT TERM...04
LONG TERM....21
AVIATION...20

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 19, 8:03 AM CST, 3 hours 47 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Angelo TX
903 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

TXZ113-114-127-128-191500-
Shackelford TX-Callahan TX-Jones TX-Taylor TX-
903 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CALLAHAN...SOUTHERN
JONES...NORTHERN TAYLOR AND SOUTHWESTERN SHACKELFORD COUNTIES THROUGH
1000 AM CDT...

At 902 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms
just west of Abilene, moving northeast at 15 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.

Locations impacted include...
Abilene, Clyde, Merkel, Tye, Hawley, Buffalo Gap, Trent, Eula,
Potosi, View, Hamby, Caps, Dyess Afb, Impact, Lake Fort Phantom Hill,
Hodges, Camp Butman, Kirby Lake, and Stith.

This includes Interstate 20 between Mile Markers 261 and 299.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3224 10015 3253 10015 3268 9959 3230 9948
TIME...MOT...LOC 1402Z 242DEG 13KT 3242 9986

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

sn

Special weather statement, May 19, 8:36 AM CST, 3 hours 14 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Angelo TX
936 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

TXZ054-191530-
Nolan TX-
936 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NOLAN COUNTY THROUGH 1030 AM
CDT...

At 935 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorms
from northeastern Nolan County into the southwestern part of the
state, 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...
Sweetwater, Roscoe, Nolan, Maryneal, Champion, The Intersection Of
Highway 70 And Ranch Road 53, Lake Sweetwater, The Intersection Of
Ranch Road 608 And Highway 147, and Camp Boothe Oaks.

This includes Interstate 20 between Mile Markers 233 and 260.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3217 10015 3208 10066 3213 10067 3232 10066
      3252 10054 3252 10015
TIME...MOT...LOC 1435Z 202DEG 11KT 3220 10050

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

sn

Special weather statement, May 19, 9:33 AM CST, 2 hours 17 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Angelo TX
1033 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

TXZ054-191630-
Nolan TX-
1033 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NOLAN COUNTY THROUGH 1130 AM
CDT...

At 1032 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Maryneal, moving northeast at 25 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...
Blackwell, Nolan, Hylton, Maryneal, Champion, The Intersection Of
Highway 70 And Ranch Road 53, The Intersection Of Ranch Road 608 And
Highway 147, and Camp Boothe Oaks.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3246 10015 3209 10015 3208 10066 3236 10066
TIME...MOT...LOC 1532Z 225DEG 23KT 3221 10054

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

sn

Special weather statement, May 19, 10:29 AM CST, 1 hour 21 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Angelo TX
1129 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

TXZ054-127-191700-
Nolan TX-Taylor TX-
1129 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN NOLAN AND SOUTHWESTERN
TAYLOR COUNTIES THROUGH NOON CDT...

At 1128 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
The Intersection Of Highway 70 And Ranch Road 53, or near Nolan,
moving east at 20 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...
Blackwell, Nolan, Hylton, Maryneal, Happy Valley, Shep, Camp Butman,
and The Intersection Of Highway 70 And Ranch Road 53.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3208 10010 3208 10027 3209 10066 3227 10067
      3239 10009
TIME...MOT...LOC 1628Z 259DEG 19KT 3226 10032

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Special weather statement, May 19, 10:52 AM CST, 58 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Angelo TX
1152 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

TXZ054-127-191730-
Nolan TX-Taylor TX-
1152 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN NOLAN AND
NORTHWESTERN TAYLOR COUNTIES THROUGH 1230 PM CDT...

At 1152 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Nolan, moving east at 20 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...
Nolan, Coronados Camp, and Camp Butman.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3218 10031 3236 10035 3246 10002 3220 9991
TIME...MOT...LOC 1652Z 256DEG 15KT 3228 10023

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Special weather statement, May 19, 11:21 AM CST, 29 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service San Angelo TX
1221 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026

TXZ065-066-072-073-191815-
Runnels TX-Tom Green TX-Coke TX-Concho TX-
1221 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT COKE...NORTHEASTERN TOM GREEN...
RUNNELS AND NORTHWESTERN CONCHO COUNTIES THROUGH 115 PM CDT...

At 1220 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms
across northern Tom Green County and Coke County, moving northeast
at 25 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...
Ballinger, Robert Lee, Maverick, Bronte, Miles, Lowake, E.V. Spence
Reservoir Near Paint Creek Recreation Area, Grape Creek, Hatchel,
Sanco, Rowena, Orient, Norton, Water Valley, Benoit, Carlsbad, Fort
Chadbourne, Tennyson, and Wilmeth.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3152 9972 3154 10057 3171 10081 3208 10063
      3208 10024 3194 10000 3188 9972
TIME...MOT...LOC 1720Z 221DEG 22KT 3160 10049

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

sn

The radar

The San Angelo radar (KSJT), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:50 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind, 2 flood, 1 tornado, 1 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Runnels

When: May 19, 11:50 AM CST
Where: Runnels County, Miles
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.600, -100.180

Hail, Runnels

When: May 19, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Runnels County, 2.24 mi SW of Rowena
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.630, -100.080

Hail, Brown

When: May 19, 2:30 PM CST
Where: Brown County, 1.36 mi WNW of Brownwood
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.730, -99.000

Tornado, Irion

When: May 19, 3:19 PM CST to 3:21 PM CST
Where: Irion County, 11.88 mi N of Barnhart to 12.12 mi N of Barnhart
Rating: EFU
Path length: 0.31 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 31.300, -101.150

There was a brief tornado touchdown reported.

Hail, Irion

When: May 19, 3:20 PM CST
Where: Irion County, 11.61 mi NNW of Barnhart
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.290, -101.240

Hail, Irion

When: May 19, 5:13 PM CST
Where: Irion County, 0.59 mi E of Mertzon
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.270, -100.810

Flash Flood, Irion

When: May 19, 5:23 PM CST
Where: Irion County, 11.98 mi NNE of Barnhart to 12.01 mi N of Barnhart
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.300, -101.140

There were flooded roads in Irion County.

Hail, Irion

When: May 19, 5:25 PM CST
Where: Irion County, 0.69 mi S of Mertzon
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.260, -100.820

Thunderstorm Wind, Kimble

When: May 19, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Kimble County, 0.91 mi NE of (Jct)kimble Co Arpt
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 30.510, -99.760

Lightning, McCulloch

When: May 21, 2:37 PM CST
Where: McCulloch County, 1.38 mi S of Brady
Property damage: $6.0 million
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 31.110, -99.330

A lightning strike started a fire at a hotel in Brady. The Texas State Fire Marshal has ruled the building a total loss due to the extensive fire, smoke, and water damage.

Hail, Crockett

When: May 21, 3:27 PM CST
Where: Crockett County, 13.39 mi WSW of Ozona
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.630, -101.410

There was golf ball size hail reported on County Road 404, south of I-10.

Hail, Sutton

When: May 21, 4:35 PM CST
Where: Sutton County, 0.59 mi W of Sonora
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 30.570, -100.640

Flood, Menard

When: May 21, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Menard County, 0.91 mi SE of Menard Co Arpt to 0.85 mi SE of Menard Co Arpt
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.920, -99.810

The Las Moras Creek is running 9 feet over a low water crossing.

Flood, Menard

When: May 21, 7:14 PM CST
Where: Menard County, Menard to 0.08 mi ENE of Menard
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.920, -99.780

The San Saba River was running 6 feet deep across Decker St.

Hail, Coke

When: May 22, 7:24 PM CST
Where: Coke County, 1.5 mi NNW of Tennyson
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 31.750, -100.290

Hail, Haskell

When: May 22, 7:41 PM CST
Where: Haskell County, 0.69 mi N of Rule
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.190, -99.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Coleman

When: May 22, 8:51 PM CST
Where: Coleman County, 0.59 mi E of Shields
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 31.600, -99.420

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2026 Warnings in Texas, May 2026

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: 1341328, 1341329, 1341330, 1341339, 1341331, 1341332, 1341327, 1341333, 1341342, 1341338, 1341334, 1341335, 1341347, 1341349, 1341336, 1341337, 1341343.