Pecos and Terrell County Large Hail and Tornadoes
During the same period as the Permian Basin thunderstorms, a separate area of thunderstorms developed over the Davis Mountains and along the Stockton Plateau. One thunderstorm quickly intensified into a supercell north of I-10 near Fort Stockton, moving southeast. Downed power poles and golf ball-size hail were reported along State Highway 18 north of Fort Stockton. Video and photo evidence by spotters showed a brief, partially rain-wrapped tornado northeast of Fort Stockton. This tornado tracked over mostly open terrain and did not cause any reported damage therefore the tornado was rated EF-Unknown. The thunderstorm would quickly cycle as it neared I-10, and a flood of reports of a tornado forming south of I-10 near the US Highway 67 interchange came in shortly after. This tornado lasted several minutes as it tracked southeast. A survey team found damage along the tornadoes path that included snapped and uprooted trees and a PVC water pipe moved several feet. This tornado was estimated to have winds of 104 mph, earning the tornado a rating of EF-1 with a peak width of 860 yards. The tornado would dissipate as it approached a mesa south of the interstate. This thunderstorm would go on to produce intense rear-flank downdraft winds as it crossed FM 2023. These winds snapped several power poles along the road with winds estimated to be 118 mph. Numerous supercells would continue to track southeastward into rural portions of eastern Pecos and northern Terrell County where 3” hail was reported. One tornado was observed in its dissipating stage as it neared FM 2886. This tornado did not produce any observed damage and was rated EF-Unknown.
A separate supercell quickly organized along US Highway 90 east of Sanderson, producing hail up to 2.25” in diameter. This supercell would continue tracking southeast to the south of US Highway 90. Numerous chasers and spotters were positioned along the highway as this supercell formed a cone tornado. This tornado quickly grew in size and become partially rain-wrapped. The tornado would continue to be recorded on video and photographed for at least 45 minutes as it moved over this remote region before likely crossing the US/Mexico border, continuing into northern portions of Mexico. No damage was reported or observed and the tornado was rated as EF-Unknown. In total at least 4 tornadoes were reported across portions of Pecos and Terrell Counties with these thunderstorms. It is possible other tornadoes did occur but the complex terrain and remote nature of this area made it impossible for spotters and the survey team to access certain areas.
