Thunderstorms bring welcome widespread rain, along with wind and hail (10 May 2022)

Thunderstorms bring welcome widespread rain, along with wind and hail
10 May 2022

Tuesday afternoon and evening (10 May 2022) saw the first widespread significant rainfall on the South Plains region this year. The precipitation came with numerous severe wind gusts and pockets of hail, as is common for May on the southern High Plains. The thunderstorms that provided the much-needed rain were triggered along/near a dryline, with the help of strong daytime heating and a weak upper level disturbance ejecting northward out of Mexico.

The initial activity rapidly developed near the dryline, which was located near the Texas/New Mexico line, late Tuesday afternoon. Aided by strong instability, several of the storms quickly became severe, producing pockets of hail and fairly widespread severe-caliber winds, in addition to the rare rainfall. Wind gusts near and in excess of 60 mph were first measured by the West Texas Mesonet around Morton, Amherst (where 1" diameter hail was also observed) and Dimmitt. 

The intense winds lofted copious amounts of dust, and produced several haboobs (walls of dust) that marched across the region, including the one above shown about to overrun Friona. 

The thunderstorms gradually evolved into a solid line and tracked eastward across much of the South Plains, Rolling Plains and southern Texas Panhandle through the mid-late evening hours. This rare occurrence (for 2022), brought plenty of wind and rain, along with a few pockets of mostly small hail.

Below are a couple images of the dirt/dust that was kicked up by the strong outflow winds, often well in advance of the rain and parent thunderstorm.

Lubbock WSR-88D radar animation valid from 8:18 pm to 9:43 pm on 10 May 2022. Additional radar animations can be viewed at: 3:09 pm to 9:43 pm on 10 May; and 7:03 pm on 10 May to 7:12 am on 11 May.

Above are the peak wind gusts recorded by the West Texas Mesonet on Tuesday. Many locations recorded wind gusts in excess of 60 mph, with several sites breaching the 70-mph mark. Peak gusts of 87 mph and 85 mph occurred near Amherst and Hart, respectively. Fortunately, reported damage was fairly limited given the magnitude of the wind gusts. That said, a powerline was downed on Highway 385 just north of the Hockley County line and a large tree was knocked over near Tulia.