|
Tornadoes, large hail and flooding rain |
|
 |
|
|
Supercell thunderstorm and wall cloud near Turkey on Wednesday, 1 May 2024. The picture is courtesy of Zane Hamilton. |
|
|
The first of May started off with a bang as thunderstorms erupted across a good chunk of West Texas. Abundant moisture and cold air aloft supplied very strong instability, and when coupled with stout southeasterly surface winds and modest westerly winds aloft, many of the thunderstorms quickly intensified to severe levels. |
|
 |
|
| RGB "True Color" satellite loop valid from 3:06 pm to 5:31 pm on Wednesday, 1 May 2024. An infrared satellite loop, valid from 6:31 pm to 8:56 pm, can be VIEWED HERE. | |
| The initial thunderstorm development favored the Davis Mountains and the central Texas Panhandle, but the activity gradually filled in over much of the South Plains and Rolling Plains through the evening hours. | |
 |
|
| Regional radar animation valid from 2:15 pm on Wednesday to 12:55 am on Thursday (1-2 May 2024). | |
| Several of the thunderstorms began to rotate, becoming supercells. The right moving (cyclonically rotating) supercells slowed to a crawl, produced pockets of very large hail, several wall and funnel clouds and even a few tornadoes. The first storm to become tornadic in Lubbock's area of responsibility was near Turkey, Texas. Specifically, a tornado was reported about 7 miles north-northwest of Turkey at 5:49 pm. | |
 |
|
| Funnel cloud and possible tornado north of Turkey before 6 pm on 1 May 2024. The picture is courtesy of Blake Brown. Another view of this tornado around the same time, courtesy of Kyle Allen and Jacob Riley, can be VIEWED HERE. | |
| Thankfully, the tornado remained over open land and inflicted no known damage. | |
 |
|
| Amarillo WSR-88D radar animation valid from 3:54 pm to 8:03 pm on Wednesday (1 May 2024). An additional radar animation from Amarillo, valid from 6:50 pm to 9:25 pm on Wednesday (1 May 2024), can be VIEWED HERE. | |
| The tornadic storm also dropped very large hail, in excess of baseball size, as seen below. | |
 |
|
| Very large hail measured about 10 miles northwest of Turkey on 1 May 2024. The picture is courtesy of Shelden Breshears. | |
|
The same supercell evolved through the evening, but refused to move for several hours. Eventually, it produced at least one more tornado, again near Turkey, though this time northeast of town. Thankfully, again, the tornado remained over rural land and no damage was reported. |
|
 |
|
| Tornado northeast of Turkey around 8 pm on Wednesday, 1 May 2024. The image is courtesy of Blake Brown. | |
|
In addition to the tornadoes and hail, torrential rain fell for 3+ hours over western portions of Hall County and far eastern Briscoe County. A broad core of 3+ inches, perhaps as high as 9 inches, fell between Turkey and Lakeview Wednesday evening. |
|
 |
|
| 24-hr Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) precipitation, ending at 6 am on Thursday (2 May 2024). | |
|
The excessive rainfall produced widespread areal and flash flooding Wednesday evening and night. Street flooding, erosion and mud flows impacted Turkey, as well as many of the roadways north and northeast of Turkey. |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Signs of extensive flooding on the Little Red River in and around FM 657 (about 12 miles northeast of Turkey), which is located approximately 2.5 miles south of the primary channel of the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. The pictures were taken the afternoon of 2 May 2024. | |
| The bulk of the rain fell in the Little Red River and Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River basins, and resulted in rapid rises and strong flows. The Little Red River breached its banks, flowing over FM 657 about 12 miles northeast of Turkey. The rapidly flowing water knocked down the vegetation, scoured the edges of the river bank and washed out a power pole. | |
 |
|
| (Left) View of the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River, from Highway 70 north of Turkey, early Thursday afternoon (2 May 2024). (Right) Residual dirty/muddy roadways in/around Turkey Thursday afternoon. | |
| Farther southwest, a left moving thunderstorm raced northward out of the Permian Basin and into the central South Plains. This storm brought strong to severe winds, small hail and brief torrential rain as it moved across Lubbock. A few wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were measured in and around Lubbock, with several reports of quarter size hail over the western portion of the city. | |
 |
|
| Midland WSR-88D radar animation valid from 4:13 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday (1 May 2024). | |
| Between the Lubbock left moving (anti-cyclonically rotating) storm and the semi-permanent cyclonically rotating storm near Turkey, another slow-moving supercell developed in northwest Crosby County. This storm went on to produce a brief tornado along with torrential rain before weakening and being shunted eastward by the fast-moving storms overtaking it from the southwest. | |
 |
 |
| (Left) Wall cloud near Ralls Wednesday evening, 1 May 2024. The picture is courtesy of sonone1025 via Twitter/X. (Right) Funnel cloud and possible tornado north of Lorenzo Wednesday evening. The image is courtesy of Linda Garcia and Jacob Riley. | |
| The intense storm winds knocked over a few center pivots north of Lorenzo and caused minor property damage to a farmstead about 8 miles north-northeast of Lorenzo. | |
 |
 |
| (Left) Flipped center pivot about 8 miles north of Lorenzo on Thursday, 2 May 2024. (Right) Small animal shed damaged and blown to the north of the farmstead, with is located about 8 miles north-northeast of Lorenzo. | |
| Additionally, 2 to 3+ inches of rain fell over the course of a couple hours in northeast Crosby and southwest Floyd Counties. | |
 |
|
| 24-hr Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) precipitation, ending at 6 am on Thursday (2 May 2024). Rain totals over this same period, as measured by the West Texas Mesonet, can be FOUND HERE. A zoomed in view of the Lubbock area, with includes additional automated rain gauges, can be VIEWED HERE. | |
| The heavy rain flooded several fields and roads north and northeast of Lorenzo, leaving a muddy and wet mess in its wake the next day. | |
 |
 |
| Flooded roadways along FM 193 about 8-9 miles north-northeast of Lorenzo on Thursday morning, 2 May 2024. | |
| Storm reports collected from this active first day of May can be found below: | |
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Lubbock TX
504 AM CDT Thu May 2 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0514 PM Hail 10 NNW Turkey 34.53N 100.93W
05/01/2024 E1.75 Inch Hall TX Park/Forest Srvc
Re-issued to correct location of previous
hail report from Turkey.
0549 PM Tornado 7 NNW Turkey 34.49N 100.94W
05/01/2024 Hall TX Emergency Mngr
Brief tornado touch down 7 miles NNW of
Turkey.
0553 PM Hail 10 NE Caprock Canyons S 34.55N 100.96W
05/01/2024 M1.25 Inch Briscoe TX Public
Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).
0554 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 S Brownfield 33.15N 102.27W
05/01/2024 M61 MPH Terry TX Mesonet
0557 PM Hail 10 NE Caprock Canyons S 34.55N 100.96W
05/01/2024 E3.25 Inch Briscoe TX Public
Corrects time and location of previous hail
report from 1 NE Turkey. Social media photo
shows partially melted hailstone measuring
about 3.2 inches in diameter which was found
several minutes after it fell. Time
estimated from radar.
0616 PM Hail 2 SSW Woodrow 33.41N 101.85W
05/01/2024 E1.25 Inch Lubbock TX Fire Dept/Rescue
Corrects time and location of previous hail
report from Woodrow. Fire Dept reported
mostly quarter size stones with a few
slightly larger.
0617 PM Hail Woodrow 33.45N 101.84W
05/01/2024 M1.00 Inch Lubbock TX Fire Dept/Rescue
0631 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 6 SSW Wolfforth 33.42N 102.05W
05/01/2024 M69 MPH Lubbock TX Mesonet
Corrects location of previous tstm wnd gst
report from 5 NNE Tahoka. West Texas
Mesonet. Additional gusts ranging from 58 to
64 mph were also measured from 630 to 636
PM.
0631 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 5 NNE Tahoka 33.24N 101.77W
05/01/2024 M69 MPH Lynn TX Mesonet
0635 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NNE Lubbock 33.60N 101.84W
05/01/2024 Lubbock TX Emergency Mngr
Tree limbs several inches in diameter blown
down in Mackenzie Park. Time estimated from
radar.
0641 PM Tstm Wnd Gst Reese Center 33.61N 102.05W
05/01/2024 M61 MPH Lubbock TX Mesonet
West Texas Mesonet. Additional gusts ranging
from 58 to 60 mph measured from 638 PM
through 642 PM.
0643 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 6 S Lubbock 33.50N 101.88W
05/01/2024 M58 MPH Lubbock TX Mesonet
West Texas Mesonet.
0643 PM Hail 2 NW Woodrow 33.47N 101.86W
05/01/2024 E1.50 Inch Lubbock TX Public
Report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball (1.50
in.).
0643 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 6 W Lubbock 33.57N 101.94W
05/01/2024 M61 MPH Lubbock TX Mesonet
West Texas Mesonet. Additional gust to 61
mph measured at 644 PM.
0644 PM Hail 2 E Wolfforth 33.51N 101.97W
05/01/2024 E1.00 Inch Lubbock TX Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
0646 PM Hail 4 SE Reese Center 33.56N 101.97W
05/01/2024 E1.00 Inch Lubbock TX Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
0649 PM Hail 3 E Reese Center 33.59N 101.97W
05/01/2024 E1.00 Inch Lubbock TX Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
0656 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 NNE Shallowater 33.74N 101.97W
05/01/2024 M59 MPH Lubbock TX Mesonet
West Texas Mesonet. Also gusted to 58 mph at
655 PM.
0658 PM Hail 5 NW Lubbock 33.63N 101.90W
05/01/2024 E1.00 Inch Lubbock TX Public
Minor hail dents on automobile exterior.
0705 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 E Lubbock 33.58N 101.78W
05/01/2024 M73 MPH Lubbock TX Mesonet
0707 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 6 E New Deal 33.73N 101.74W
05/01/2024 M59 MPH Lubbock TX Mesonet
West Texas Mesonet.
0710 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNW Lubbock Int. Airp 33.67N 101.82W
05/01/2024 M60 MPH Lubbock TX ASOS
Lubbock Int. Airport ASOS. Additional gusts
ranging from 58 to 59 mph measured from 654
PM through 709 PM.
0710 PM Tornado 6 N Lorenzo 33.75N 101.53W
05/01/2024 Crosby TX Broadcast Media
Media relayed video of brief touchdown of a
weak rope tornado between Lorenzo and
Petersburg.
0720 PM Landspout 2 E Petersburg 33.87N 101.57W
05/01/2024 Hale TX Broadcast Media
Media relayed video of a landspout occurring
near Petersburg. Location estimated.
0729 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 5 SSW Graham 33.08N 101.50W
05/01/2024 E61 MPH Garza TX Mesonet
0744 PM Hail 1 N Plainview 34.21N 101.72W
05/01/2024 E1.50 Inch Hale TX Public
Report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball (1.50
in.). Time estimated from radar.
0751 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NNE Floydada 34.01N 101.32W
05/01/2024 M62 MPH Floyd TX Mesonet
0752 PM Tornado 5 NE Turkey 34.43N 100.82W
05/01/2024 Hall TX Public
Re-issued to correct time and location of
previous tornado report from 1 NE Turkey.
Multiple social media photos and videos of a
tornado several miles northeast of Turkey
near County Road 8 and Texas Highway 86
between 752 PM and 757 PM.
0801 PM Tornado 4 NE Turkey 34.44N 100.85W
05/01/2024 Hall TX 911 Call Center
0802 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 NNW Mcadoo 33.77N 101.03W
05/01/2024 M69 MPH Dickens TX Mesonet
0805 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WSW Turkey 34.38N 100.93W
05/01/2024 M59 MPH Hall TX Mesonet
0814 PM Flash Flood 6 N Cone 33.88N 101.37W
05/01/2024 Floyd TX 911 Call Center
0822 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WSW Turkey 34.38N 100.93W
05/01/2024 M62 MPH Hall TX Mesonet
West Texas Mesonet.
0828 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 N Roaring Springs 33.94N 100.86W
05/01/2024 M58 MPH Motley TX Mesonet
0834 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 7 WSW Lakeview 34.65N 100.81W
05/01/2024 M59 MPH Hall TX Mesonet
0835 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 ENE South Plains 34.24N 101.26W
05/01/2024 M64 MPH Floyd TX Mesonet
West Texas Mesonet. Additional gust to 59
mph at 836 PM. Occurred after thunderstorms
had exited to the northeast.
0848 PM Landslide 10 NNW Turkey 34.53N 100.93W
05/01/2024 Hall TX Public
0848 PM Landslide 8 NNW Turkey 34.51N 100.93W
05/01/2024 Hall TX Public
Corrected location. Public reported viewing
several landslides within the canyons while
driving on Texas Highway 70 north of Turkey.
0854 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SSE Jayton 33.24N 100.57W
05/01/2024 M80 MPH Kent TX Mesonet
0924 PM Flash Flood Turkey 34.39N 100.89W
05/01/2024 Hall TX Public
Social media video shows several inches of
water flowing over roadways in downtown
Turkey.
0957 PM Flash Flood 5 NE Turkey 34.45N 100.84W
05/01/2024 Hall TX Public
Social media video shows several inches of
water flowing over roadways northeast of
Turkey.
1000 PM Flash Flood 8 SSW Lakeview 34.56N 100.75W
05/01/2024 Hall TX Law Enforcement
Hall County Sheriff relayed video of several
inches of water flowing over FM-657 near the
Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River. Also
reported the river was overflowing out of
its banks.
1011 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NE Memphis 34.73N 100.53W
05/01/2024 M59 MPH Hall TX Mesonet
Follow us on X
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on YouTube
LUB RSS Feed
