Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
Issued by NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
783 NOUS44 KMAF 041616 AAB PNSMAF NMZ027>029-033-034-TXZ045>048-050>053-059>063-067>070-075-082- 270>282-020130- Public Information Statement...UPDATED National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 923 PM CDT Sat Jun 1 2024 /823 PM MDT Sat Jun 1 2024/ ...NWS Damage Survey for Midland and Upton County Tornadoes and Severe Wind Event - Update #1... .Update... This will be the final summary PNS issued for the May 30th severe event. Additional investigation was conducted in southern Pecos County for a reported tornado. .Overview...On May 31st, the National Weather Service sent a survey team to investigate multiple tornado reports from severe weather that impacted portions of the Permian Basin on May 30th. This survey team investigated damage across Midland and Upton Counties. In addition, a third tornado was reported in southern Pecos County and has been verified as an EF-Unknown. .Midland County Severe Wind Damage... Peak Wind Estimate: 120 MPH Path Length /statute/: 11 miles Path Width /maximum/: 3400 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 2 Start Date: May_30_2024 Start Time: 5:15 PM CDT Start Location: Midland International Start Lat/Lon: 31.94/-102.19 End Date: May_30_2024 End Time: 5:49 PM CDT End Location: 8 S Warfield End Lat/Lon: 31.79/-102.18 A strong surge of RFD winds caused damage to power poles and a metal fence at and to the west of Midland International. These intense winds continued to spread to the southwest causing further power pole and building damage near Highway 80. Further to the southwest near CR 172 a double wide mobile home trailer was turned on its side, injuring two. Further south, more power poles were again found leaning or snapped from RFD winds near FM 1788 and Dora Roberts Road. The approximate track and time of these winds is estimated from radar. The path may not have been continuous and may have been the result of separate surges of RFD winds. .Warfield Tornado... Rating: EF-2 Estimated Peak Wind: 115 MPH Path Length /statute/: 10.54 Miles Path Width /maximum/: 1700 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: May_30_2024 Start Time: 5:10 PM CDT Start Location: 1 W Warfield Start Lat/Lon: 31.92/-102.23 End Date: May_30_2024 End Time: 5:41 PM CDT End Location: 8 SSW Warfield End Lat/Lon: 31.81/-102.22 This tornado likely began as a weak uncondensed tornado near Highway 80 and FM 1788, causing minor damage as it tracked towards I-20 and FM 1788. The tornado was then observed crossing I-20 becoming a dusty circulation causing damage to power poles, buildings, and RVs near CR 1270, reaching a peak of EF-2 intensity. NWS employees were able to see this tornado from the office south of I-20 around this time. A strong RFD surge overtook the circulation after this time. Reports indicate the tornado may have dissipated but most likely it became shrouded in rain and dust as a very intense radar couplet quickly developed as the circulation moved south-southwest. At its peak, a VROT of 90-100 knots was observed on KMAF radar data. Limited damage indicators existed during its peak intensity. Minor damage was surveyed to the southeast after this time as the circulation slowly weakened and broadened in size, potentially becoming a larger multi-vortex tornado. This tornado likely reached its peak width of approximately a mile wide at this time. The tornado likely dissipated a short time later to the southwest as the TDS dissipated. .Warfield Satellite Tornado... Rating: EF-Unknown Estimated Peak Wind: Unknown Path Length /statute/: Unknown Path Width /maximum/: Unknown Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: May_30_2024 Start Time: 5:16 PM CDT Start Location: 2SE Midland International Start Lat/Lon: 31.92/-102.17 NWS Employees spotted a secondary smaller and weaker circulation to the east of the strengthening Warfield tornado. The NWS survey team was unable to find damage in the area, as this weak satellite tornado likely occurred over open terrain. This tornado was therefore rated EF-Unknown. Time and location of this brief tornado are estimated from radar data and reports. .Midland/Upton Tornado... Rating: EF-3 Estimated Peak Wind: 140 MPH Path Length /statute/: 5.44 miles Path Width /maximum/: 250 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: May_30_2024 Start Time: 6:40 PM CDT Start Location: 14 miles W Midkiff Start Lat/Lon: 31.66/-102.07 End Date: May_30_2024 End Time: 7:05 PM CDT End Location: 19 miles W Midkiff End Lat/Lon: 31.64/102.15 This tornado was reported to have begun as a large tornado very near the Midland/Upton County line by multiple observers. This tornado began to move towards the west, growing in size and increasing in intensity as it caused EF-3 damage to vegetation and heavy oil equipment. Ground scouring was noted along this portion of the damage path. The tornado may have been nearly stationary for a short time before beginning to move back to the west, continuing to cause damage to vegetation, power poles, and oil equipment. Eventually, the tornado began to dissipate as it continued towards the west-southwest as a shrinking cone tornado before ending. .Highway 285 Tornado... Rating: EF-Unknown Estimated Peak Wind: Unknown Path Length /statute/: 1.53 Miles Path Width /maximum/: Unknown Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: May_30_2024 Start Time: 5:16 PM CDT Start Location: 15 NNW Sanderson Start Lat/Lon: 30.36/-102.46 End Date: May_30_2024 End Time: 5:21 PM CDT End Location: 14 NNW Sanderson End Lat/Lon: 30.34/-102.45 A separate photo and video were shared on social media showing an ongoing tornado north of Sanderson in rural Pecos or Terrell County. Using Google Streetview the perspectives from this photo and video were located. Based on this information and radar data, an approximate tornado track was determined to be near a ridgeline to the west of US Highway 285 near its intersection with Ranch to Market Road 2400. This tornado occurred over rural, rough terrain in far southern Pecos County and was unable to be surveyed, therefore this tornado is rated EF-Unknown. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0.....65 to 85 mph EF1.....86 to 110 mph EF2.....111 to 135 mph EF3.....136 to 165 mph EF4.....166 to 200 mph EF5.....>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$