A strong squall associated with a frontal boundary and weak upper level disturbance moved into the forecast area causing widespread severe weather and isolated flooding. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued at 6:10 PM CDT and remained in effect until 1 AM CDT and was then extended until 5 AM as the line continued to push south. Damage reports began reaching the office around 9:30 PM CDT (8:30 MDT) as the line entered the northwestern portion of the forecast area and continued until 3:30 AM CDT when the line exited the forecast area.
As the storm entered Lea County New Mexico, reports of wind speeds in excess of 70 mph began coming into the office. These high winds continued as the line surged forward into West Texas. In Seminole, 98 mph (measured) wind speeds toppled several radio towers including a 320 foot tower that fell on a church and bus damaging both. In addition, the roof of Beall's Department store was destroyed and two mobile homes were rolled and destroyed injuring four people.
As the line continued its southward progression, so did the damaging winds. Many locations began experiencing power outages including two of the three television stations in the Midland/Odessa area, and Midland International Airport. WFO Midland and the Gaines County Emergency Operation Center continued working on back up generator power until commercial power was restored to the area. A 93 mph wind gust was measured at Midland International Airport just prior to the power loss, which rendered it inoperable for the remainder of the night.
The event continued into the early morning hours on Wednesday, where Dryden reported a 63 mph wind gust prior to thunderstorms exiting the area.
Post storm damage surveys indicated that damage across the area was caused by a derecho. A derecho is a ���widespread and long-lived wind storm associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms.���
While straight-line winds are common across West Texas ��� especially during the late spring and early summer ��� the magnitude of the wind speeds for this event is quite rare. As an example, the 93 mph wind reported in Midland eclipsed the old record of 86 mph set in February 1960, and was the strongest wind ever recorded in Midland since the NWS began official record keeping in 1930.
During this long-lived weather episode, all but two of the 26 counties within WFO Midland���s CWA experienced severe weather. The majority of these locations experienced high wind events, which resulted in power outages across the area. Because of backup power capability, WFO Midland was able to maintain warning operations throughout the entire severe weather event.
Summary of measured wind reports:
Dryden (K6R6) - 55 kts (63 mph)
Big Spring (KBPG) - 51 kts (59 mph)
Fort Stockton (KFST) - 57 kts (66 mph)
Guadalupe Pass (KGDP) - 62 kts (71 mph)
Wink (KINK) - 58 kts (67 mph)
Midland (KMAF) - 81 kts (93 mph)*
Odessa (KODO) - 55 kts (63 mph)
Seagraves 1 SW (KSGV) - 66 kts (76 mph)
Andrews 2 E (KANS) - 51 kts (59 mph)*
Seminole 2 NNE (KSMS) - 85 kts (98 mph)*
Lamesa 2 SE (KLES) - 45 kts (52 mph)*
Gail 2 ESE (KGGS) - 43 kts (50 mph)*
Pecos (KPEQ) - 56 kts (64 mph)
McDonald Observatory - 61 kts (70 mph)
Tatum, NM Co-op Observer - 68 kts (78 mph)
*These sites lost power shortly after observations, it may be assumed that peak wind gusts were somewhat higher than observed.

Thunderstorm Wind in EDDY, NEW MEXICO
From 26-JUN-07 20:26:00 to 26-JUN-07 20:26:00 (MST-7)
Location: ARTESIA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Spotters in Artesia reported winds gusting to 60 mph.  These winds blew around lawn furniture and damaged a residential porch.

Thunderstorm Wind in LEA, NEW MEXICO
From 26-JUN-07 18:29:00 to 26-JUN-07 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Location: TATUM
Magnitude: 68.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter measured sustained winds of 59 mph and at least one wind gust of 78 mph.  Also reported power outages in Tatum due to the strong wind gusts. No other damage was reported.  Another trained spotter reported 60 to 70 mph winds in Gladiola, east of Tatum on U.S. 380.

Thunderstorm Wind in LEA, NEW MEXICO
From 26-JUN-07 19:55:00 to 26-JUN-07 19:55:00 (MST-7)
Location: LOVINGTON
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotters measured wind gusts up to 73 mph in Lovington.  Power outages occurred throughout Hobbs and Lovington as a result of these high winds.