Storms over Midland TX WFO

Storms quickly intensified quickly Monday afternoon over the Midland, TX WFO.  The first storm to exhibit high NOAA/CIMSS ProbSevere values was west of Fort Stockton, TX (83% 1950 UTC 04 May 2015, Figure 1).  This storm continued to intensify and was warned by the Midland WFO at 2016 UTC 04 May 2015 (Figure 2).  The storm produced golf ball sized hail at 2020 UTC.

Figure 1. NOAA/CIMSS ProbSevere and composite reflectivity valid 1950 UTC 04 May 2015.

Figure 2.  NOAA/CIMSS ProbSevere, NWS Midland Severe Thunderstorm warning and composite reflectivity valid 2016 UTC 04 May 2015.

Of note with this storm was the presence of strong satellite-based glaciation rates, which helped provide the 26-minute lead-time prior to the first warning and 30-minutes to the first severe hail report.  The EWP forecasters noted the good lead-time of the ProbSevere product for this storm.

-Sieglaff