Heat fuels intense thunderstorms (4 June 2020)

Heat fuels intense thunderstorms
4 June 2020

Downed power pole near 1600 East and 50th Street in Lubbock Thursday evening (4 June 2020). The image is courtesy of Wood Franklin.

Intense heating, coupled with a weak passing mid-level disturbance and sufficient moisture and instability, fueled an active round of weather Thursday afternoon and evening (4 June). Temperatures climbing to near and above the triple digit mark provided enough energy to cause widely scattered thunderstorms to develop across the Texas Panhandle Thursday afternoon.

High temperatures measured by the West Texas Mesonet on Thursday, 4 June 2020.

The hot and well mixed lower atmosphere and high-based nature of the thunderstorms provided ideal conditions for the generation of strong and severe wind gusts, though pockets of hail also occurred with the most intense storms. A wind gust of 72 mph was measured from one storm near Silverton, while a 60 mph gust was recorded at Caprock Canyon State Park.

Regional radar animation valid from 4:48 pm to 5:58 pm on 4 June 2020. Additional regional radar animations can be found at: 2:48 pm to 3:58 pm; 5:48 pm to 6:58 pm; 7:48 pm to 8:58 pm; and 8:18 pm to 9:28 pm.

The thunderstorm activity developed and tracked south and southeast through the evening. Accumulating dime size hail fell just east of Plainview, while golf ball size hail was observed west of Floydada, north of Lorenzo and in Ralls. This same storm produced 2 inch diameter hail near the small community of Allmon, southwest of Floydada, while also generating damaging winds that downed multiple power poles, blew over a tractor trailer and flipped a center pivot near Ralls.

Flipped softball stands at Mackenzie Park in northeast Lubbock Thursday evening (4 June 2020). The image is courtesy of Wood Franklin.


The severe storm that affected Ralls weakened as it moved further south, but additional thunderstorms rapidly intensified on outflows to its northwest across the central South Plains. This activity tracked south-southeast across Lubbock while producing severe outflow winds. The strongest winds, in excess of 70 mph, struck the Lubbock International Airport and moved southward across the eastern portion of the city, where they downed dozens of power lines and caused pockets of property damage.


Lubbock radar animation valid from 8:56 pm to 9:42 pm on 4 June 2020.

The thunderstorms formed into a small cluster as they raced southward across the southeast South Plains and far western Rolling Plains through the late evening hours. Wind gusts in excess of 70 mph accompanied this activity, with a gust as high as 94 mph measured in southwest Garza County, along the edge of the Caprock.

Peak thunderstorm wind gusts (mph) measured by the West Texas Mesonet and NWS Thursday evening (4 June 2020).

Unfortunately, the powerful winds caused significant damage in and around Post, including flattening outbuildings, lofting carports, damaging roofs, flipping a semi and downing transmission poles.

Meteogram from the Macy Ranch West Texas Mesonet on Thursday (4 June 2020).

The above graphs show how various meteorological variable responded as the extreme winds moved through the Macy Ranch West Texas Mesonet site. The temperature plummeted from the upper 80s to near 60 degrees in a matter of minutes. The strongest winds occurred in advance of the rainfall, though a period of heavy rain and relatively high pressure did immediately follow the worst of the wind.

Nice lightning shot captured by Pam Elrod as storms approached the Tahoka area Thursday evening (4 June 2020).

Although the severe outflow winds were the most significant impact at most spots, the thunderstorms did also produce swaths of heavy rain. The heaviest rain, from 1 to 2+ inches, fell in a narrow band from west of Tulia to near Plainview, Ralls and Post. The torrential rain did damage FM 207 north of Post, resulting in its temporary closure. Runoff also poured into Lake Alan Henry, ensuring it remained full, almost 2 feet above conservation level. Officially, Lubbock record 0.69 inches, boosting the yearly total to 6.02 inches.

24-hour radar-estimated and bias-adjusted rainfall totals valid at 7 am on 5 June 2020. Also shown are select West Texas Mesonet and NWS measured rain totals.

The preliminary storm reports for June 4th can be viewed below.

Storm Reports for June 4th

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
1006 AM CDT FRI JUN 05 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0510 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 ESE SILVERTON         34.45N 101.19W
06/04/2020  M72 MPH          BRISCOE            TX   MESONET

            WINDS GUST OF 72 MPH AT SILVERTON MESONET.

0524 PM     TSTM WND GST     CAPROCK CANYON SP       34.41N 101.06W
06/04/2020  M60 MPH          BRISCOE            TX   MESONET

0545 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 S PLAINVIEW           34.18N 101.71W
06/04/2020  M55 MPH          HALE               TX   MESONET

            55 MPH WIND GUST FROM PLAINVIEW MESONET.

0608 PM     HAIL             5 E PLAINVIEW           34.19N 101.64W
06/04/2020  E0.75 INCH       HALE               TX   BROADCAST MEDIA

            ACCUMULATING DIME TO PENNY SIZED HAIL.

0638 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 W CHILDRESS           34.43N 100.28W
06/04/2020  M58 MPH          CHILDRESS          TX   ASOS

0650 PM     HAIL             8 W FLOYDADA            33.98N 101.48W
06/04/2020  E1.75 INCH       FLOYD              TX   SOCIAL MEDIA

0700 PM     HAIL             7 N LORENZO             33.77N 101.53W
06/04/2020  M1.75 INCH       CROSBY             TX   BROADCAST MEDIA

0728 PM     HAIL             1 NNE ALLMON            33.90N 101.50W
06/04/2020  E2.00 INCH       FLOYD              TX   SOCIAL MEDIA

0730 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RALLS                   33.68N 101.38W
06/04/2020                   CROSBY             TX   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            FIRE / RESCUE CALLED AND ADVISED MULTIPLE POWERPOLES
            BLOWN DOWN AND A TRACTOR TRAILER BLOWN OVER.

0730 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RALLS                   33.68N 101.38W
06/04/2020                   CROSBY             TX   SOCIAL MEDIA

            CENTER PIVOT FLIPPED NEAR RALLS. LOCATION AND TIME
            ESTIMATED.

0735 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 SE RALLS              33.67N 101.38W
06/04/2020  M62 MPH          CROSBY             TX   MESONET

0745 PM     HAIL             RALLS                   33.68N 101.38W
06/04/2020  M1.75 INCH       CROSBY             TX   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            TIME FROM RADAR

0825 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 1 NE AMHERST            34.02N 102.40W
06/04/2020  M58 MPH          LAMB               TX   MESONET

0835 PM     TSTM WND DMG     7 NW CAPROCK            33.55N 101.50W
06/04/2020                   CROSBY             TX   PUBLIC

            ROOF DAMAGED

0850 PM     DUST STORM       ABERNATHY               33.83N 101.84W
06/04/2020                   HALE               TX   SOCIAL MEDIA

            LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING DUST NEAR ABERNATHY OBSERVED
            IN POST ON SNAPCHAT. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0920 PM     TSTM WND GST     6 NNE LUBBOCK           33.67N 101.82W
06/04/2020  M77 MPH          LUBBOCK            TX   ASOS

0927 PM     TSTM WND GST     REESE CENTER            33.61N 102.05W
06/04/2020  M69 MPH          LUBBOCK            TX   MESONET

0930 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 WNW LUBBOCK           33.60N 101.90W
06/04/2020  M72 MPH          LUBBOCK            TX   MESONET

0935 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LUBBOCK                 33.58N 101.88W
06/04/2020                   LUBBOCK            TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MULTIPLE POWERPOLES DOWN IN THE CITY OF LUBBOCK.

0938 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 SW LUBBOCK            33.50N 101.96W
06/04/2020  E50 MPH          LUBBOCK            TX   NWS EMPLOYEE

0938 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 NW WOODROW            33.47N 101.89W
06/04/2020  E60 MPH          LUBBOCK            TX   NWS EMPLOYEE

0938 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 SSW LUBBOCK           33.49N 101.87W
06/04/2020  E50 MPH          LUBBOCK            TX   NWS EMPLOYEE

0938 PM     HAIL             7 SSW LUBBOCK           33.49N 101.87W
06/04/2020  M0.75 INCH       LUBBOCK            TX   NWS EMPLOYEE

0940 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 NE SLATON             33.46N 101.62W
06/04/2020  M60 MPH          LUBBOCK            TX   MESONET

0950 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 S SOUTHLAND           33.35N 101.55W
06/04/2020                   GARZA              TX   UTILITY COMPANY

            3 TRANSMISSION POLES DOWN. TIME OF DAMAGE ESTIMATED
            FROM RADAR AND NEARBY OBSERVATIONS.

1000 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 W POST                33.19N 101.49W
06/04/2020                   GARZA              TX   UTILITY COMPANY

            TRANSMISSION POLES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR AND
            NEARBY OBSERVATIONS.

1004 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 NNE TAHOKA            33.21N 101.78W
06/04/2020  M60 MPH          LYNN               TX   MESONET

1010 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 NE POST               33.20N 101.37W
06/04/2020  M67 MPH          GARZA              TX   MESONET

1015 PM     TSTM WND DMG     POST                    33.19N 101.38W
06/04/2020                   GARZA              TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            NUMEROUS REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE IN POST, INCLUDING
            OUTBUILDING FLATTENED, CARPORTS LOFTED, ROOFS DAMAGED
            AND A SEMI FLIPPED. TIME OF DAMAGE ESTIMATED FROM RADAR
            AND NEARBY OBSERVATIONS.

1020 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 NE POST               33.20N 101.37W
06/04/2020  M73 MPH          GARZA              TX   MESONET

1030 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 SSW GRAHAM            33.08N 101.52W
06/04/2020  M73 MPH          GARZA              TX   MESONET

1035 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 SSW GRAHAM            33.08N 101.52W
06/04/2020  M85 MPH          GARZA              TX   MESONET

1040 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 SSW GRAHAM            33.08N 101.52W
06/04/2020  M94 MPH          GARZA              TX   MESONET

            MEASURED BY THE WEST TEXAS MESONET

Storm Reports for May 11th

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
234 AM CDT TUE MAY 12 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0755 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 ENE MORTON            33.73N 102.74W
05/11/2020  M59 MPH          COCHRAN            TX   MESONET

            MEASURED BY THE WEST TEXAS MESONET

0803 PM     HAIL             10 SSW LITTLEFIELD      33.79N 102.40W
05/11/2020  E0.75 INCH       HOCKLEY            TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

            NEAR FM 597 AND FM 1490

0825 PM     HAIL             18 NW SILVERTON         34.66N 101.53W
05/11/2020  E1.00 INCH       SWISHER            TX   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR

0827 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     3 S ANTON               33.77N 102.16W
05/11/2020                   HOCKLEY            TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WALL CLOUD AND OCCASIONAL FINGER FUNNELS SEEN SOUTH OF
            ANTON NEAR FM 597 AND FM 168.

0834 PM     HAIL             1 N LEVELLAND           33.59N 102.36W
05/11/2020  E1.75 INCH       HOCKLEY            TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SHERIFF CONFIRMS GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL

0930 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WOODROW                 33.45N 101.84W
05/11/2020                   LUBBOCK            TX   BROADCAST MEDIA

0930 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NEW HOME                33.33N 101.91W
05/11/2020                   LYNN               TX   SOCIAL MEDIA

Storm Reports for May 13th

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
1009 PM CDT WED MAY 13 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1220 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 SSW GRAHAM            33.08N 101.52W
05/13/2020  M65 MPH          GARZA              TX   MESONET

0356 PM     HAIL             4 E SHALLOWATER         33.69N 101.92W
05/13/2020  E0.88 INCH       LUBBOCK            TX   PUBLIC

0456 PM     HAIL             2 NW SMYER              33.61N 102.19W
05/13/2020  E1.00 INCH       HOCKLEY            TX   PUBLIC

0645 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 N WHITHARRAL          33.77N 102.33W
05/13/2020  E70 MPH          HOCKLEY            TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

0653 PM     HAIL             10 NE CHILDRESS         34.53N 100.12W
05/13/2020  E1.00 INCH       CHILDRESS          TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 PM     HAIL             3 N ABERNATHY           33.88N 101.84W
05/13/2020  M1.00 INCH       HALE               TX   PUBLIC

0702 PM     HAIL             REESE CENTER            33.59N 102.03W
05/13/2020  E0.88 INCH       LUBBOCK            TX   PUBLIC

0715 PM     HAIL             10 E TAHOKA             33.16N 101.62W
05/13/2020  M1.50 INCH       LYNN               TX   PUBLIC

0716 PM     HAIL             8 SW LUBBOCK            33.50N 101.97W
05/13/2020  E1.00 INCH       LUBBOCK            TX   NWS EMPLOYEE

0717 PM     HAIL             REESE CENTER            33.59N 102.03W
05/13/2020  E1.25 INCH       LUBBOCK            TX   SOCIAL MEDIA

0717 PM     HAIL             8 SW LUBBOCK            33.49N 101.97W
05/13/2020  E1.50 INCH       LUBBOCK            TX   PUBLIC

            104TH BETWEEN SLIDE AND FRANKFORD

0720 PM     HAIL             7 SW LUBBOCK            33.50N 101.96W
05/13/2020  E1.25 INCH       LUBBOCK            TX   SOCIAL MEDIA

0722 PM     HAIL             7 SW LUBBOCK            33.50N 101.96W
05/13/2020  M1.50 INCH       LUBBOCK            TX   NWS EMPLOYEE

0722 PM     HAIL             4 SW PADUCAH            33.97N 100.35W
05/13/2020  E1.00 INCH       COTTLE             TX   PUBLIC

0730 PM     HAIL             PADUCAH                 34.01N 100.30W
05/13/2020  E0.88 INCH       COTTLE             TX   PUBLIC

            ESTIMATED 45-50 MPH WIND GUST

0735 PM     HAIL             WILSON                  33.32N 101.73W
05/13/2020  E1.00 INCH       LYNN               TX   PUBLIC

0810 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 SSW GRAHAM            33.08N 101.52W
05/13/2020  M70 MPH          GARZA              TX   MESONET

0950 PM     HAIL             15 S GUTHRIE            33.41N 100.32W
05/13/2020  M0.75 INCH       KING               TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORRENTIAL RAIN AND STRONG WINDS ROCKING THE CAR

Storm Reports for May 15th

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
1058 PM CDT FRI MAY 15 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 PM     HAIL             3 NW HACKBERRY          33.31N 101.59W
05/15/2020  E0.75 INCH       LYNN               TX   PUBLIC

0347 PM     HAIL             TURKEY                  34.39N 100.90W
05/15/2020  M0.75 INCH       HALL               TX   PUBLIC

0350 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 N O`DONNELL           32.98N 101.83W
05/15/2020  M56 MPH          LYNN               TX   MESONET

0419 PM     HAIL             12 SSE RED MUD          33.27N 100.92W
05/15/2020  M1.00 INCH       KENT               TX   PUBLIC

            MPING REPORT

0438 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 W JAYTON              33.25N 100.59W
05/15/2020  E65 MPH          KENT               TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ESTIMATED WINDS OF 60-70 MPH WITH LOTS OF RAIN REDUCING
            VISIBILITY TO NEAR 0 MILES.

0445 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 SSE JAYTON            33.23N 100.57W
05/15/2020  M60 MPH          KENT               TX   MESONET

0510 PM     TSTM WND GST     6 NW WHITE RIVER LAKE   33.53N 101.17W
05/15/2020  M59 MPH          CROSBY             TX   MESONET

0532 PM     HAIL             3 NNW CEE VEE           34.27N 100.47W
05/15/2020  E1.00 INCH       COTTLE             TX   PUBLIC

            MPING REPORT

0544 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 NNW MCADOO            33.77N 101.03W
05/15/2020  M59 MPH          DICKENS            TX   MESONET

0546 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 S KIRKLAND            34.35N 100.07W
05/15/2020                   CHILDRESS          TX   PUBLIC

            SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT WITH PICTURES OF TWO POWER POLES
            SNAPPED DUE TO STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. TIME ESTIMATED FROM
            RADAR.

0600 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 NNE CHILDRESS         34.46N 100.20W
05/15/2020  M64 MPH          CHILDRESS          TX   MESONET

0602 PM     HAIL             1 W KIRKLAND            34.39N 100.09W
05/15/2020  E2.00 INCH       CHILDRESS          TX   CO-OP OBSERVER

            OBSERVER REPORTED PING PONG BALL TO HEN EGG SIZED HAIL
            WHICH FLATTENED HIS WINTER WHEAT CROP. TIME ESTIMATED
            FROM RADAR.

0603 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 E CHILDRESS           34.42N 100.21W
05/15/2020                   CHILDRESS          TX   PUBLIC

            SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT WITH PICTURES OF A CHURCH STEEPLE
            BLOWN OVER. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.

0619 PM     HAIL             3 ESE KIRKLAND          34.37N 100.03W
05/15/2020  E1.25 INCH       CHILDRESS          TX   PUBLIC

            MPING REPORT

0636 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST REESE CENTER            33.61N 102.05W
05/15/2020  M63 MPH          LUBBOCK            TX   MESONET