Texas, 2001

Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 29, 2001

May 29, 2001 · NWS AMA · 33 events in 9 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms produced tornadoes and large hail from the central and southern Texas panhandle into the eastern and southeastern Texas panhandle during the evening hours.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$250,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
33

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS AMA wrote it up.

Severe thunderstorms produced tornadoes and large hail from the central and southern Texas panhandle into the eastern and southeastern Texas panhandle during the evening hours.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Amarillo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 29, 2:15 PM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 29, 2:15 PM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes before
TEXAS/OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
315 PM CDT TUE MAY 29 2001

AMS OVR PNHDLS IS VERY UNSTABLE AND IS SHEARED WELL.  H5 VOT MAX WITH
ASSOCD COLD POOL MOVG TWD WRN ZNS ATTM.  LOW-LVL MSTR FLUX CNVGNC IS
MAXIMIZED OVR WRN ZNS.  AREAL QUALIFIERS WILL BE USED ALL SXNS 1ST
PD.  WSHFT EXPCD LATE TNGT.  NELY SFC WNDS ON WED WL BRING MORE
STABLE AIR INTO AREA WITH LITTLE CNVGNC OVR AREA.  WL REMOVE POPS WED
FM ALL BUT ERN ZNS WHERE SOME PCPN MAY LINGER DURG MRNG.  ALSO
REMOVED POPS FOR WED NGT AS SFC RDG BUILDS INTO AREA.  SOME RECOVERY
OF MSTR PSBL FOR THU AND THU NGT OVR WRN ZNS...SO INTRODUCED SLGT CHC
POPS THOSE LOCATIONS.  WL KEEP EXTDD DRY AS WK TO MDT NWLY FLOW PVLS.
03

.AMA...
TX...NONE.
OK...NONE.

COCKRELL

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 29, 11:54 AM CST, 4 hours 26 minutes before
OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-292100-

TEXAS/OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
1254 PM CDT TUE MAY 29 2001

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT
OVER ALL OF THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES.

A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE OVER NEW MEXICO WILL MOVE NORTHEAST
TODAY. A SURFACE DRYLINE ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS OF NEW MEXICO IS
EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY AS IT APPROACHES THE TEXAS STATE LINE LATER
THIS AFTERNOON. THE ATMOSPHERE REMAINS VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE.
FINALLY...A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SOUTHWARD AND INTO THE
PANHANDLES LATE TONIGHT. THESE FEATURES WILL SET THE STAGE FOR THE
POTENTIAL OF A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK FOR LATE THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...AND LARGE
HAIL. FAVORABLE SPEED AND DIRECTIONAL SHEAR WILL ALSO SUPPORT
ISOLATED TORNADOES. HEAVY RAINS AND LOCALIZED FLOODING WILL ALSO
BE A CONCERN.

SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ACROSS THE TEXAS
AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR LIKELY ACTIVATION
LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.
Local storm report, May 29, 12:56 PM CST, 3 hours 24 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
156 PM CDT TUE MAY 29 2001

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1059 AM    CONLEN                    TX   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/01   DALLAM                         REPORTED BY NWS SPOTTER.

0130 PM    15 E FORGAN               OK   .75 INCH HAIL
05/29/01   BEAVER                         REPORTED BY BEAVER EOC.

KP/TS

The radar

The Amarillo radar (KAMA), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:18 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

26 hail, 7 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Hutchinson

When
May 29, 4:20 PM CST
Where
Hutchinson County, Stinnett
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.817, -101.450

Hail, Randall

When
May 29, 4:25 PM CST
Where
Randall County, 10 mi S of Amarillo
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.050, -101.817

Hail, Potter

When
May 29, 4:27 PM CST
Where
Potter County, 19 mi N of Amarillo
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.483, -101.817

Hail, Randall

When
May 29, 4:36 PM CST
Where
Randall County, 7 mi SW of Amarillo
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.133, -101.900

Hail, Randall

When
May 29, 4:40 PM CST
Where
Randall County, 6 mi S of Amarillo
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.117, -101.817

Tornado, Randall

When
May 29, 4:45 PM CST to 4:46 PM CST
Where
Randall County, 10 mi SW of Amarillo
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
35.100, -101.950

The tornado remained over open country and the path length and width were estimated.

Hail, Potter

When
May 29, 4:50 PM CST
Where
Potter County, 18 mi N of Amarillo
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.467, -101.817

Hail, Randall

When
May 29, 4:53 PM CST
Where
Randall County, 9 mi S of Amarillo
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
35.067, -101.817

Hail, Potter

When
May 29, 5:22 PM CST
Where
Potter County, 2 mi E of (Ama)amarillo Intl A
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.217, -101.683

Hail, Randall

When
May 29, 5:22 PM CST
Where
Randall County, 14 mi NE of Canyon
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.133, -101.733

Hail, Randall

When
May 29, 5:25 PM CST
Where
Randall County, 18 mi NE of Canyon
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.167, -101.683

Hail, Potter

When
May 29, 5:29 PM CST
Where
Potter County, 6 mi E of Amarillo
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.200, -101.717

Hail, Potter

When
May 29, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Potter County, 10 mi E of Amarillo
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.200, -101.633

Hail, Potter

When
May 29, 5:35 PM CST
Where
Potter County, 6 mi SE of (Ama)amarillo Intl A
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
35.150, -101.633

Hail, Potter

When
May 29, 5:35 PM CST
Where
Potter County, 15 mi NW of Amarillo
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.350, -102.000

Hail, Carson

When
May 29, 5:37 PM CST
Where
Carson County, 1 mi W of Yarnall
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.200, -101.550

Tornado, Carson

When
May 29, 5:55 PM CST to 5:57 PM CST
Where
Carson County, 7 mi SW of Pomeroy
Rating
F0
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.400, -101.583

The tornado remained over open country and the path length and width were estimated. An official storm survey was made.

Tornado, Carson

When
May 29, 6:02 PM CST to 6:03 PM CST
Where
Carson County, 7 mi NW of Panhandle
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.417, -101.467

The tornado remained over open country and the path length and width were estimated. An official storm survey was made.

Hail, Moore

When
May 29, 6:05 PM CST
Where
Moore County, 5 mi S of Dumas
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.783, -101.967

Tornado, Carson

When
May 29, 6:05 PM CST to 6:07 PM CST
Where
Carson County, 1 mi E of Conway
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.200, -101.367

The tornado remained over open country and the path length and width were estimated.

Tornado, Carson

When
May 29, 6:07 PM CST to 6:08 PM CST
Where
Carson County, 5 mi WNW of Panhandle
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
20 yd
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.383, -101.467

The tornado remained over open country and the path length and width were estimated.

Tornado, Carson

When
May 29, 6:15 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where
Carson County, 3 mi N of Panhandle
Rating
F3
Path length
10 mi
Path width
440 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Reported by
FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates
35.400, -101.383

The tornado destroyed an office building associated with a grain elevator...unroofed and severely damaged a nearby home...and tossed a pickup truck and suburban about fifty and one hundred yards respectively. Several cattle and one horse were reported killed or injured from the tornado. As many as fifty power poles and transmission lines were brought down from the storm. The tornado path and width were estimated and an official damage survey was made on the tornado.

Hail, Hutchinson

When
May 29, 6:23 PM CST
Where
Hutchinson County, 2 mi N of Fritch
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.667, -101.600

Tornado, Carson

When
May 29, 6:24 PM CST to 6:26 PM CST
Where
Carson County, 3 mi ESE of Conway
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
20 yd
Reported by
STORM CHASER
Coordinates
35.183, -101.333

The tornado remained over open country and the path length and width were estimated.

Hail, Carson

When
May 29, 6:28 PM CST
Where
Carson County, 2 mi NE of Panhandle
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.367, -101.350

Hail, Carson

When
May 29, 6:50 PM CST
Where
Carson County, 1 mi S of White Deer
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
35.417, -101.183

Hail, Carson

When
May 29, 7:10 PM CST
Where
Carson County, White Deer
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
35.433, -101.183

Hail, Roberts

When
May 29, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Roberts County, 1 mi S of Miami
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.683, -100.633

Hail, Gray

When
May 29, 7:35 PM CST
Where
Gray County, Lefors
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.433, -100.817

Hail, Gray

When
May 29, 7:35 PM CST
Where
Gray County, Lefors
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
35.433, -100.817

Hail, Wheeler

When
May 29, 8:19 PM CST
Where
Wheeler County, Twitty
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.317, -100.233

Hail, Collingsworth

When
May 29, 10:45 PM CST
Where
Collingsworth County, Wellington
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
34.850, -100.217

Hail, Collingsworth

When
May 29, 10:55 PM CST
Where
Collingsworth County, Wellington
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
34.850, -100.217

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2001Warnings in Texas, May 2001

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5246063, 5246064, 5246065, 5246066, 5246067, 5246183, 5246068, 5246182, 5246070, 5246184, 5246185, 5246186, 5246069, 5246071, 5246072, 5246073, 5246074, 5246076, 5246075, 5246088, 5246187, 5246078, 5246077, 5246181, 5246079, 5246081, 5246080, 5246082, 5246083, 5246084, 5246085, 5246086, 5246087.