Severe Weather Episode on the South Plains
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An outbreak of severe thunderstorms occurred across portions of the Texas Panhandle and the South Plains of West Texas from the early afternoon of Thursday, May 12, 2005 into the early morning hours of Friday, May 13. The weather pattern on this day was highly conducive for severe thunderstorms, specifically, very large hail and tornado development. A southward moving cold front early in the day became nearly stationary by afternoon as a strong flow of moisture overspread the area from the southeast. Numerous waves of severe thunderstorms developed throughout the afternoon Thursday and continued well into the after midnight hours on Friday. During this long duration event, and between the hours of 4:30 pm and 10:00 pm, several tornadoes occurred across the area. Additionally, very large hail reports were received throughout the event, including a number of tennis to baseball-size hail reports, and even a couple of softball-size hail reports. See the local storm report for a more complete list of the hail events. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Lubbock dispatched a damage survey team to assess reports of tornadoes and associated damage. As a more detailed review of radar data and storm video occurs in the coming days, slight modifications to the assessment can be expected. However, the following is composed from an accurate account of the survey team findings. The survey team was conducted on Friday, May 13, 2005, by the following NWS Lubbock personnel: Meteorologist-in-Charge Justin Weaver, Warning Coordination Meteorologist Brian LaMarre, and Senior Service Hydrologist John Lipe. Pictures of damage from the first of two tornadoes to impact Ralls, TX. Click on the images for a larger view. (Photographs taken by Brian LaMarre, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, WFO Lubbock, TX) The above images depict damage from the first of two tornadoes to impact Ralls, TX on the night of May 12, 2005. The tornado tracked from 9 miles to the southwest of Ralls for six miles and impacted the area seen in the photographs. A 2,500 square foot residence was destroyed resulting in widespread F-2 and isolated lower F-3 damage (Click here to learn about the Fujita tornado intensity scale or F-scale for short). The tornado lifted the home off its foundation and scattered debris a few yards to the north and northeast. Some debris from the home was blown over a mile to the north and northeast. Two pick-up trucks were tossed into the air and demolished when deposited upside down. One vehicle was tossed for several yards before making contact with the surface. Trees were mud-splattered and stripped of leaves and bark with large branches completely torn off from trunks. Fortunately, no one was home at the time the tornado struck this area - between 8:40 PM and 8:55 PM.
Pictures of damage from the second of two tornadoes to impact Ralls, TX. Click on the image for a larger view. (Photographs taken by Brian LaMarre, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, WFO Lubbock, TX) These images depict damage from the second of two tornadoes to impact Ralls, TX on the night of May 12, 2005. The tornado developed approximately 1.5 miles to the west of Ralls and tracked to the north and northwest before dissipating three miles north of Ralls. The occurrence of this second tornado in relation to the weakening of the first and stronger tornado is not uncommon with long-lived tornadic supercells. This pattern is typical of a cyclic tornado when one tornado weakens and lifts while another tornado forms to the right of the original tornado path. This tornado produced extensive F-1 and isolated F-2 damage. A residence was damaged and a barn completely destroyed with a vehicle blown over and deposited on its side. The damage seen in the photos is south of U.S. Highway 62/82. As the tornado tracked to the northeast over this area, 2000 lb bales of hay were tossed from a field on one side of the highway into a field across the highway to the south where the structures, power poles and vehicle were damaged. For a more complete account of the tornado activity on May 12th, read the public information statement below.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED. ...DAMAGE SURVEY CONDUCTED FOR MAY 12 2005... UPDATED SOUTH PLAINS AND RALLS TORNADO INFORMATION. AN OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE THE WEATHER PATTERN ON THIS DAY WAS HIGHLY CONDUCIVE FOR SEVERE NUMEROUS WAVES OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED THROUGHOUT THE THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LUBBOCK DISPATCHED A DAMAGE SURVEY IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER... 1. 430 PM...LAMB COUNTY...1 MILE WEST OF OLTON. 2. 504 PM...HALE COUNTY...1 MILE NORTH OF PLAINVIEW. 3. 541 PM...HALE COUNTY...10 MILES NORTHEAST OF PLAINVIEW. 4. 613 PM TO 625 PM...FLOYD COUNTY...SOUTH PLAINS. THIS TORNADO WAS THE PARENT OR MAIN TORNADO INVOLVED IN WHAT IS KNOWN 5. 624 PM TO 640 PM...FLOYD COUNTY...SOUTH PLAINS. 6. 840 PM TO 855 PM...CROSBY COUNTY...RALLS. 7. 855 PM TO 910 PM...CROSBY COUNTY...RALLS. 8. 920 PM TO 940 PM...LUBBOCK COUNTY...7 MILES NORTHWEST OF IDALOU. FOR REFERENCE...THE FUJITA TORNADO INTENSITY SCALE IS BASED ON F0...40 TO 72 MPH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR LOCAL BRIAN LAMARRE Note: The below information contains preliminary reports as they were received throughout the severe weather event. Some reports may show multiple reports of tornadoes. This can occur as various sources witness the same tornado from different locations at different times. The official account of tornado occurrences across the area during the event can be seen in the above Public Information Statement. However, all reports are important to the National Weather Service and a sample of them can be seen below.
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PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORTS (in CDT):
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0145 PM HAIL 8 E HALFWAY 34.19N 101.81W
05/12/2005 3.00 INCH HALE TX TRAINED SPOTTER
2 TO 3 INCH HAIL ALMOST COVERING THE GROUND
0155 PM HAIL PLAINVIEW 34.19N 101.72W
05/12/2005 1.00 INCH HALE TX PUBLIC
NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON NORTHWEST SIDE OF
CITY.
0200 PM TORNADO 1 S PLAINVIEW 34.18N 101.72W
05/12/2005 HALE TX TRAINED SPOTTER
TORNADO REPORTED SOUTH OF PLAINVIEW AIRPORT.
0200 PM HAIL PLAINVIEW 34.19N 101.72W
05/12/2005 2.00 INCH HALE TX PUBLIC
ONE TO TWO INCH HAIL REPORTED VIA INTERNET BY PUBLIC ON
SOUTH SIDE OF CITY.
0215 PM HAIL PLAINVIEW 34.19N 101.72W
05/12/2005 1.75 INCH HALE TX EMERGENCY MNGR
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY EOC...EASTERN CITY LIMITS
POWER OUTAGES ALSO REPORTED.
0220 PM TORNADO 3 SE PLAINVIEW 34.16N 101.69W
05/12/2005 HALE TX STORM CHASER
TORNADO LOCATED 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE PLAINVIEW
AIRPORT.
0345 PM HAIL 9 N LOCKNEY 34.25N 101.44W
05/12/2005 4.25 INCH FLOYD TX STORM CHASER
SOFTBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN LONESTAR
0355 PM TORNADO 7 NW SOUTH PLAINS 34.30N 101.40W
05/12/2005 FLOYD TX TRAINED SPOTTER
6 MILES WEST OF INTERSECTION OF 207 AND CR A OR 2 MILES
NORTH OF LONE STAR. BRIEF TOUCHDOWN...NO DAMAGE COULD BE
SEEN.
0410 PM HAIL OLTON 34.18N 102.14W
05/12/2005 1.00 INCH LAMB TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0415 PM HAIL OLTON 34.18N 102.14W
05/12/2005 1.75 INCH LAMB TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0449 PM HAIL EDMONSON 34.28N 101.89W
05/12/2005 1.75 INCH HALE TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
0510 PM HAIL KRESS 34.37N 101.75W
05/12/2005 1.00 INCH SWISHER TX CO-OP OBSERVER
0517 PM HAIL DIMMITT 34.55N 102.32W
05/12/2005 1.00 INCH CASTRO TX TRAINED SPOTTER
0517 PM TORNADO 7 S SILVERTON 34.37N 101.30W
05/12/2005 BRISCOE TX TRAINED SPOTTER
TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AT 517 PM AND WAS ON THE GROUND
UNTIL 525 PM. DAMAGED POWER POLES AND TREES.
0531 PM HAIL 2 N SOUTH PLAINS 34.25N 101.31W
05/12/2005 4.25 INCH FLOYD TX TRAINED SPOTTER
1/2 MILE EAST OF INTERSECTION OF 207 AND FM 689
0531 PM TORNADO 4 NW SOUTH PLAINS 34.27N 101.36W
05/12/2005 FLOYD TX TRAINED SPOTTER
ABOUT 3 MILES SW OF INTERSECTION OF CR A AND CR 8.
TORNADO ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE.
0535 PM HAIL TAHOKA 33.16N 101.79W
05/12/2005 1.00 INCH LYNN TX PUBLIC
0541 PM TORNADO 11 NE PLAINVIEW 34.30N 101.59W
05/12/2005 HALE TX TRAINED SPOTTER
0600 PM HAIL 6 E KRESS 34.37N 101.64W
05/12/2005 3.00 INCH SWISHER TX CO-OP OBSERVER
2-3 INCH HAIL REPORTED
0607 PM HAIL 10 S SILVERTON 34.33N 101.30W
05/12/2005 1.25 INCH BRISCOE TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
0617 PM TORNADO 3 NNW SOUTH PLAINS 34.26N 101.33W
05/12/2005 FLOYD TX TRAINED SPOTTER
0620 PM HAIL SOUTH PLAINS 34.22N 101.31W
05/12/2005 3.00 INCH FLOYD TX STORM CHASER
3 INCH HAIL REPORTED NEAR SOUTH PLAINS
0630 PM TORNADO 10 SW QUITAQUE 34.26N 101.18W
05/12/2005 FLOYD TX NWS EMPLOYEE
0637 PM HAIL 3 NW WILSON 33.35N 101.76W
05/12/2005 0.75 INCH LYNN TX TRAINED SPOTTER
0650 PM HAIL 1 E QUITAQUE 34.37N 101.04W
05/12/2005 1.75 INCH BRISCOE TX EMERGENCY MNGR
0650 PM HAIL SLATON 33.44N 101.64W
05/12/2005 1.00 INCH LUBBOCK TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0705 PM HAIL 3 SE WOODROW 33.42N 101.81W
05/12/2005 1.75 INCH LUBBOCK TX TRAINED SPOTTER
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED 1/2 MILE EAST OF THE
INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 87 AND 41
0714 PM HAIL 2 N QUITAQUE 34.40N 101.06W
05/12/2005 2.75 INCH BRISCOE TX EMERGENCY MNGR
0735 PM HAIL RANSOM CANYON 33.53N 101.68W
05/12/2005 1.75 INCH LUBBOCK TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
0801 PM HAIL 2 E RANSOM CANYON 33.53N 101.65W
05/12/2005 2.50 INCH LUBBOCK TX BROADCAST MEDIA
LOCATED AT BUFFALO SPRINGS.
0804 PM HAIL PLAINVIEW 34.19N 101.72W
05/12/2005 1.75 INCH HALE TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
FLOODING ALSO REPORTED IN PLAINVIEW
0815 PM TSTM WND GST 6 SE LUBBOCK 33.51N 101.80W
05/12/2005 60 MPH LUBBOCK TX PUBLIC
ROOF BLOWN OFF A CONVENIENT STORE.
0817 PM HAIL PLAINVIEW 34.19N 101.72W
05/12/2005 1.00 INCH HALE TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
0840 PM TORNADO 2 S LORENZO 33.64N 101.54W
05/12/2005 CROSBY TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0850 PM TORNADO 5 W RALLS 33.68N 101.47W
05/12/2005 CROSBY TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
TWO TORNADOES BETEEN RALLS AND LORENZO AS REPORTED BY
RALLS FIRE DEPT
0850 PM HAIL RALLS 33.68N 101.38W
05/12/2005 1.75 INCH CROSBY TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
REPORTED BY RALLS FIRE DEPT
0856 PM HAIL 9 E ABERNATHY 33.84N 101.69W
05/12/2005 0.75 INCH HALE TX STORM CHASER
0900 PM TORNADO RALLS 33.68N 101.38W
05/12/2005 CROSBY TX EMERGENCY MNGR
POWER LINES DOWN AND HOMES DAMAGED 1/2 MILE WEST OF RALLS
0900 PM TSTM WND GST 2 W RALLS 33.68N 101.42W
05/12/2005 70 MPH CROSBY TX TRAINED SPOTTER
POWER LINES DOWN. WIND SPEED ESTIMATED
0912 PM HAIL 10 W ESTELLINE 34.55N 100.61W
05/12/2005 2.00 INCH HALL TX PUBLIC
AT PARNELL COMMUNITY
0950 PM HAIL 1 N NEW DEAL 33.75N 101.84W
05/12/2005 2.50 INCH LUBBOCK TX TRAINED SPOTTER
0954 PM TORNADO 7 NW IDALOU 33.73N 101.60W
05/12/2005 LUBBOCK TX STORM CHASER
BRIEF TORNADO
0955 PM HAIL 10 N CHILDRESS 34.57N 100.25W
05/12/2005 0.88 INCH CHILDRESS TX TRAINED SPOTTER
1005 PM HAIL NEW DEAL 33.73N 101.84W
05/12/2005 2.75 INCH LUBBOCK TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
REPORTED AT INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 5300 AND
INTERSTATE 27.
1010 PM HAIL 5 E PETERSBURG 33.87N 101.51W
05/12/2005 1.00 INCH FLOYD TX PUBLIC
1023 PM HAIL 5 S FLOYDADA 33.91N 101.34W
05/12/2005 0.88 INCH FLOYD TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
1033 PM HAIL 4 W NEW DEAL 33.73N 101.91W
05/12/2005 1.50 INCH LUBBOCK TX TRAINED SPOTTER
1041 PM HAIL 4 S FLOYDADA 33.93N 101.34W
05/12/2005 1.00 INCH FLOYD TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
1105 PM HAIL 5 W DOUGHERTY 33.94N 101.17W
05/12/2005 1.75 INCH FLOYD TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
ALONG HIGHWAY 602
1118 PM HAIL ANTON 33.81N 102.16W
05/12/2005 1.75 INCH HOCKLEY TX BROADCAST MEDIA
1145 PM HAIL ROARING SPRINGS 33.90N 100.86W
05/12/2005 1.75 INCH MOTLEY TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
1204 AM HAIL 8 NW ABERNATHY 33.92N 101.95W
05/13/2005 1.00 INCH HALE TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
1230 AM HAIL CONE 33.80N 101.39W
05/13/2005 2.00 INCH CROSBY TX STORM CHASER
1244 AM HAIL 7 S PLAINVIEW 34.09N 101.72W
05/13/2005 1.75 INCH HALE TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
0115 AM HAIL 1 SW LOCKNEY 34.11N 101.45W
05/13/2005 1.75 INCH FLOYD TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0212 AM HAIL 5 W PADUCAH 34.01N 100.39W
05/13/2005 1.00 INCH COTTLE TX FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0230 AM HAIL 4 E PADUCAH 34.01N 100.23W
05/13/2005 1.75 INCH COTTLE TX AMATEUR RADIO
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