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You are at: NWS Home » SRH Home » SR News » Rock Slide Forecast
Midland/Odessa Forecaster Warns of Rock Slide
 Shortly after 4:00 p.m., Saturday, July 10th, Lead Forecaster Alec Lyster was sitting in the NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office in Midland/Odessa -- reviewing radar precipitation estimates for Jeff Davis County and the Davis Mountains in far west Texas. At 4:13 p.m., he issued a Flash Flood Warning for the county. Given the precipitation data, that was not unusual. What was unusual was the language he inserted into the warning. He noted "the heavy rains may produce rock and mudslides in steep terrain". One hour later, ten boulders, each weighing 300 to 500 lbs., crashed down on Highway 118 - a popular tourist route between Fort Davis and the McDonald Observatory.
Already aware of the NWS warning, Jeff Davis County Emergency Manager Mike Ward was traveling along Highway 118 in the Davis Mountains State Park when he came upon the scene, contacted the Texas Department of Transportation and arranged to close the highway. Ward said the slide itself only closed one lane of traffic, but the torrential rain and poor visibility posed a danger that motorists could drive into the rocks. Even as visibility improved, there was a continuing danger for motorists coming over a nearby hill. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Midland/Odessa Meteorologist-in-Charge Raymond Fagen said the situation could have resulted in death or injury if not for the fast action of county and state officials. He also believes Lyster's early warning contributed to those proactive actions -- and says adding the rock slide threat to the warning was highly unusual. "It is the first time I recall a forecaster inserting this language in my ten years here. I think this was a particularly noteworthy 'heads up' call."
The largest chain in Texas, the Davis Mountains range from 3,500 to more than 8,000 feet above sea level. They form a major rain shadow, causing precipitation levels to average nearly 19" a year in the surrounding region. As a Texas native and a member of the NWS Midland/Odessa forecasting team since 1998, Lyster was in a position to combine his meteorological skills with an innate understanding of the region -- when issuing the warning.
"This is yet another example of the benefits of locating our forecasters and National Weather Service offices in or near the communities they serve," said Bill Proenza, director, National Weather Service Southern Region. "State-of-the-art technology, excellent training and experience with local weather patterns is the combination that allows our forecasters to provide the best possible service to our citizens."
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