Difluence ahead of an incoming shortwave interacted with ample moisture across west Texas and southeast New Mexico, allowing for showers and thunderstorms to develop across the area during the morning of the 26th. The biggest issue during the morning was training thunderstorms which, combined with heavy rainfall, yielded flash flooding for numerous locations.
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.
Difluence ahead of an incoming shortwave interacted with ample moisture across west Texas and southeast New Mexico, allowing for showers and thunderstorms to develop across the area during the morning of the 26th. The biggest issue during the morning was training thunderstorms which, combined with heavy rainfall, yielded flash flooding for numerous locations. Later that evening, storms redeveloped in southeast New Mexico and moved into portions of west Texas. Large hail and strong winds were observed with these storms.
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 26, 12:41 AM CST, 4 hours 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 141 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 135 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026 - An approaching upper level system will bring increasing coverage of showers and thunderstorms through this evening. - A few severe storms will be possible from far southeast New Mexico into the Permian Basin and Lower Trans Pecos region today with large hail and damaging winds the primary hazards. Heavy rainfall may result in localized flash flooding early this morning into the evening today. - Drier and warmer conditions take shape by the middle to latter half of the work week before storm chances increase by the weekend. && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Wednesday afternoon) Issued at 135 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026 Current radar and satellite imagery shows a line of thunderstorms moving slowly eastward across western portions of Lea County, while scattered showers and storms extending down from the Upper Trans Pecos to Davis Mountains. This is due to upper-level troughing over the western half of the forecast area. Meanwhile, multiple outflow boundaries across west Texas and far southeast New Mexico have helped in the additional development of showers and storms in the areas previously mentioned. Observations are also showing a Mesoscale Convective Vortex (MCV) positioned over southern New Mexico which will keep most showers and storms across far west Texas and southeast New Mexico overnight tonight. Satellite and radar imagery also shows an increase in coverage of showers and storms near Van Horn, thanks to the aforementioned shortwave trough moving over these areas. A few of these storms may become strong to severe capable of producing hail up to the size of half dollar coins and damaging winds up to 60 mph. Storms should eventually progress into the Permian Basin by the early morning hours, though coverage looks to remain scattered. By late morning, the wave across far west Texas and southeast New Mexico propagates eastward impacting locations in the Lower Trans Pecos and Permian Basin. The severe weather threat across the Permian Basin to Lower Trans Pecos will depend on the timing and extent of the morning convection. Latest CAMs indicate more coverage of morning convection across the Permian Basin compared with the Lower Trans Pecos. Therefore, more favorable instability will be prevalent over portions of the Lower Trans Pecos and eastern/northeastern Permian Basin. Forecast soundings signal a damaging wind and heavy rainfall threat thanks to marginally unstable surface/mixed layer CAPE, sufficient deep-layer shear, high DCAPE (1000-1300 J/kg), and high Precipitable Water values (PWATs). Storms look to quickly become linear by the early afternoon hours which will bring more of a damaging wind and heavy rainfall threat. Cannot rule out a couple of isolated cells that form ahead of the line, therefore, large hail along with damaging winds will be the main hazards with these storms. Localized flash flooding is going to be evident due to heavy rainfall from repeating storms. Heaviest rainfall amounts are still uncertain, though convective bands will be capable of producing 1-2" for some locations. Overall, areas extending from far southeast New Mexico to the central/eastern Permian Basin to Lower Trans Pecos will have a 50-60% chance of an inch or greater rainfall accumulation. By the evening, the main line of storms will begin to exit our region. A few lingering showers and storms are expected into the overnight hours across the eastern half of the area due to shortwave impulses from the flow aloft. Much drier conditions are expected on Wednesday as the main system passes to the east. Isolated showers and storms are going to be prevalent over the northern Permian Basin and parts of the Lower Trans Pecos. These storms should remain below severe limits, though gusty winds may occur out of the strongest storm. Lamberson && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 135 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026 Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): Much drier and warmer conditions on Thursday before rain/storm chances increase by Friday lasting through the weekend. We will be monitoring for the potential of more severe storms during this timeframe. See the discussion below for more details. Thursday and Friday, an upper-level ridge strengthens over the region. This will supply warmer high temperatures in the mid 80s to mid 90s for most. Weak shortwave impulses embedded within the ridge axis may translate over our area and bring a low chance (10-30%) of showers and thunderstorms across far southeast New Mexico, Permian Basin, and the Lower Trans Pecos Friday afternoon through the evening. At the surface, guidance indicates the dryline will set up near the TX/NM border. More available surface moisture and instability will create a favorable pattern for the potential of a few strong to severe storms. By the weekend, cluster analysis shows southwesterly flow aloft taking shape once again as an upper-level trough approaches from the west. This pattern looks to bring more isolated to scattered showers/storms along with slightly cooler temperatures in the 80s to low 90s Saturday through Monday across the region. Lamberson && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1211 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026 MVFR conditions or lower in regions of showers/storms through 11Z-14Z Tuesday morning at terminals, followed by another round of showers/storms 15Z-22Z for terminals on the Permian Basin and Stockton Plateau. Main impacts of stronger storms at terminals will be heavy rain capable of causing flash flooding, lightning, damaging winds, and hail. In between regions of storms, VFR conditions with scattered to broken clouds can be expected. Showers/storms clear most terminals by 03Z-06Z Wednesday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 75 60 84 63 / 70 20 10 10 Carlsbad 78 58 86 60 / 50 10 0 0 Dryden 86 65 88 67 / 50 20 10 0 Fort Stockton 81 60 87 63 / 60 10 20 0 Guadalupe Pass 74 57 80 61 / 60 0 0 0 Hobbs 73 55 84 58 / 50 20 10 0 Marfa 80 50 84 52 / 30 0 30 0 Midland Intl Airport 74 61 83 63 / 70 10 10 10 Odessa 74 61 83 63 / 70 10 10 10 Wink 77 59 85 62 / 70 10 0 0 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. NM...None. && SHORT TERM...11 LONG TERM....11 AVIATION...94
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
1245 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1240 AM Hail Lovington 32.95N 103.35W
05/26/2026 M1.25 Inch Lea NM Fire Dept/Rescue
Half Dollar Size Hail reported approximately
3 blocks away from the Fire Department.
&&
94The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 15 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:02 UTC.
7 flash flood, 2 flood, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Public report of JBS Pkwy flooded between Pearl and Trunk streets in Odessa with cars stalled out. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar. The cost of damages is also estimated.
Public report of an accident involving a truck with trailer caused by hydroplaning. The total time of occurrence of heavy rainfall leading to ponding/flash flooding is partially estimated from radar. The cost of damages is estimated.
Public reports and pictures of flood water over roads at the intersection of FM1788 and I-20. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar. No damage was reported.
Upton County Sheriffs Office reports flooding on US Hwy 67 between Rankin and McCamey and have closed the road. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar. No damage was reported.
Public reports flooding on I-20 near South County Road 1225. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar. No damage was reported.
Public report of street flooding at the intersection of Hwy 158 and I-20. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar. No damage was reported.
A public report was received via mPING of flooding of yards/cropland near Big Spring. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar. No damage was reported.
A public report was received via mPING of yards/cropland flooding west of Luther. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar. No damage was reported.
Hail report from 13 NNE Van Horn. A NWS storm spotter sent a report of quarter sized hail observed while on a walking trail off of Hwy 54. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar.
A local rancher reports that the secondary road near the Orla West Texas Mesonet site was washed out from heavy rain. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar and Mesonet data. The cost to repair the washed out road is estimated.
Ward County Sheriffs Office reported nickel sized hail in Monahans. The total time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, 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: 1330094, 1330097, 1330096, 1330095, 1330100, 1330102, 1330103, 1330104, 1330106, 1330109, 1330111.