Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 3 to 4, 2001

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 3 to 4, 2001
Start: 2001-05-03T12:55
End: 2001-05-04T03:00
Location: Texas

May 3 to 4, 2001 · NWS LUB · 78 events in 12 counties and zones

55 hail, 19 flash flood, 2 tornado, 2 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 19 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: $460,000
Crop damage: $4.2 million
Events: 78

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 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 Lubbock, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 3, 3:05 AM CST, 9 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 3, 3:05 AM CST, 9 hours 50 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
405 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2001

INTERESTING FORECAST FOR THE SHORT TERM. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT
THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING ON MOVING CUTOFF LOW CURRENTLY SEEN
ON WATER VAPOR LOOP NEAR SALT LAKE CITY TO THE ARIZONA/UTAH BORDER.
AFTER THAT ETA APPEARS TO BE ODD MAN OUT AS AVN AND NGM HAVE LOW
MOVING SLOWLY NORTH-NORTHEAST ACROSS UTAH WHILE ETA MOVES LOW TO
THE FOUR CORNERS BY LATE FRIDAY. CANADIAN AND NAVY NOGAPS ALSO
CLOSER TO AVN SOLUTION. AS IT HAS BEEN THE MORE CONSISTENT MODEL
WILL TEND MORE TOWARD THE AVN. COLD FRONT AT 08Z EXTENDED FROM
SOUTH OF GAGE...SOUTH OF AMARILLO TO NEAR CLOVIS WITH THE DRY LINE
EXTENDING FROM NEAR CLOVIS SOUTHWARD ALONG THE STATE LINE. WITH
STRONG WARM AIR ADVECTION FRONT IS EXPECTED TO RETREAT INTO THE
SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE THIS MORNING AND REMAIN QUASI-STATIONARY
DURING THE DAY WITH THE DRY LINE MOVING TO JUST EAST OF LUBBOCK BY
LATE AFTERNOON. WESTERN PORTION OF FRONT EXPECTED TO SAG SOUTHWARD
INTO WESTERN SOUTH PLAINS TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. WITH COLD FRONT TO
REMAIN NEAR FORECAST AREA...UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER UTAH NOT MOVING OUT
UNTIL LATE FRIDAY NIGHT EARLY SATURDAY AND EMBEDDED SHORTWAVES IN
SUBTROPICAL JET MOVING INTO AREA WILL CONTINUE WITH HIGH POPS FROM
PREVIOUS FORECAST. NO CHANGES PLANNED TO EXTENDED.

FRIONA     78/50/72/42 2422
TULIA      79/55/74/48 3532
CHILDRESS  80/61/76/54 5653
BROWNFIELD 82/58/78/50 2322
LUBBOCK    80/58/78/52 3532
ASPERMONT  80/62/80/58 4643

.LUB...NONE.

JV/08

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 3, 10:40 AM CST, 2 hours 15 minutes before

TXZ021>044-031830-

AREA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
1140 AM CDT THU MAY 3 2001

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT OVER THE EXTREME SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE...THE SOUTH PLAINS
AND THE LOW ROLLING PLAINS.

SOUTHWEST UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS WEST
TEXAS EAST OF AN UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER SOUTHERN UTAH. A STATIONARY
FRONT WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE WITH A DRYLINE
LOCATED OVER FAR WEST TEXAS AND EASTERN NEW MEXICO. DEEP GULF
MOISTURE IS ALREADY IN PLACE ACROSS WEST TEXAS SOUTH OF THE
STATIONARY FRONT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS
AFTERNOON ACROSS THE SOUTH PLAINS AND EXTREME SOUTHERN TEXAS
PANHANDLE ALONG THE DRY LINE AND SOUTH OF THE STATIONARY FRONT. GOOD
VERTICAL WIND SHEAR PROFILES COMBINED WITH ADEQUATE ATMOSPHERIC
INSTABILITY WILL CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FAVORABLE FOR ROTATING
THUNDERSTORMS. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND HIGH
WINDS...THOUGH A BRIEF TORNADO MAY BE POSSIBLE WITH STRONGER STORMS
THAT MAY INTERACT WITH SURFACE BOUNDARIES.
&&
850MB/SFC WINDS WILL BACK AND INCREASE IN SPEED AS 850MB/SFC LOW
DEEPENS OVER EASTERN NEW MEXICO. MID-LEVEL WINDS SHOULD INCREASE AS
CLOSED UPPER LOW DRIFTS A BIT TO THE EAST. IF SOLAR INSOLATION
INCREASES THIS AFTERNOON AHEAD OF DRYLINE AND SOUTH OF SFC FRONT
CAPES WILL BE AOA 3000J/KG. VERT WIND SHEAR PROFILES LATER THIS
AFTERNOON WILL BE ADEQUATE FOR SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF
THESE SUPERCELLS MAY SPAWN TORNADOES WHEN THEY INTERACT WITH ANY
LEFT OVER BOUNDARIES OR RIGHT MOVE PARALLEL TO THE NE-SW STATIONARY
FRONT WHICH EXTENDS FROM S OF CVS TO S GAG. SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS OUT
FLOW BNDRY SOUTH OF LBB-CDS LINE. ANY STORMS MOVING NORTH OF THE
FRONT WILL BECOME ELEVATED WITH LARGE HAIL THE PRIMARY THREAT.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS AND SPOTTEbR
GROUPS SHOULD MONITOR THE LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED
FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

55 hail, 19 flash flood, 2 tornado, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Castro

When: May 3, 12:55 PM CST
Where: Castro County, 2 mi S of Dimmitt
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.050, -102.433

Tornado, Castro

When: May 3, 1:00 PM CST to 1:01 PM CST
Where: Castro County, 5 mi SE of Dimmitt
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.050, -102.467

Law enforcement officials reported a brief tornado touchdown in open country. No NWS storm survey was conducted.

Hail, Castro

When: May 3, 1:09 PM CST
Where: Castro County, 10 mi S of Dimmitt
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.600, -102.617

Hail, Castro

When: May 3, 1:30 PM CST
Where: Castro County, Nazareth
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.717, -102.767

Hail, Castro

When: May 3, 1:40 PM CST
Where: Castro County, 5 mi E of Nazareth
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.817, -102.567

Hail, Swisher

When: May 3, 2:06 PM CST
Where: Swisher County, 10 mi W of Tulia
Measured: 1 in hail
Crop damage: $75,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.783, -102.683

Hail, Swisher

When: May 3, 2:06 PM CST
Where: Swisher County, 2 mi W of Tulia
Measured: 1 in hail
Crop damage: $75,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.833, -102.633

Hail, Swisher

When: May 3, 2:17 PM CST
Where: Swisher County, Tulia
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.600, -102.633

Hail, Swisher

When: May 3, 3:01 PM CST
Where: Swisher County, 5 mi W of Vigo Park
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.733, -102.750

Hail, Bailey

When: May 3, 4:15 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, 2 mi S of Maple
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.050, -102.433

Tornado, Cochran

When: May 3, 4:18 PM CST to 4:20 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 3 mi NW of Morton
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 40 yd
Reported by: STORM CHASER
Coordinates: 33.833, -102.717

Several storm chasers reported a brief tornado touchdown in open country. No NWS storm survey was conducted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cochran

When: May 3, 4:18 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 2 mi W of Morton
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.350, -102.300

A center pivot irrigation system was destroyed by strong thunderstorm wind.

Hail, Cochran

When: May 3, 4:18 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 1 mi S of Morton
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $200,000
Reported by: METEOROLOGIST(NON NWS)
Coordinates: 34.500, -102.317

A storm chaser reported golfball size hail.

Hail, Bailey

When: May 3, 4:18 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, 1 mi S of Maple
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $150,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.083, -102.433

Personnel at the Maple Gin reported golfball size hail.

Hail, Cochran

When: May 3, 4:24 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 2 mi NW of Morton
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Crop damage: $35,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 33.833, -102.650

Hail, Cochran

When: May 3, 4:24 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, Morton
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.900, -102.333

Hail, Bailey

When: May 3, 4:30 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, 6 mi S of Bula
Measured: 1 in hail
Crop damage: $150,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.183, -102.283

Personnel at the Bula Gin reported quarter size hail that lasted about one half hour.

Hail, Bailey

When: May 3, 4:30 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, 3 mi W of Bula
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $150,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.150, -102.317

Law enforcement officials reported golfball size hail.

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 4:31 PM CST
Where: Terry County, 2 mi W of Wellman
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $40,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.817, -102.567

Hail, Cochran

When: May 3, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, Whiteface
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.233, -102.283

Hail, Cochran

When: May 3, 4:46 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 1 mi W of Whiteface
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.717, -102.767

Storm spotters reported golfball size hail.

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 4:57 PM CST
Where: Terry County, Wellman
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.817, -102.567

Golfball size hail was reported in town by the Wellman PD.

Hail, Hockley

When: May 3, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, Pep
Measured: 1 in hail
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.817, -102.500

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 5:05 PM CST
Where: Terry County, Wellman
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.333, -102.200

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 5:05 PM CST
Where: Terry County, 2 mi N of Wellman
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $200,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.333, -102.200

Golfball size hail broke the skylights out of a house. Hail was reported to be nine inches deep on the ground.

Hail, Cochran

When: May 3, 5:08 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 11 mi NE of Morton
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 34.017, -102.367

Storm spotters reported golfball size hail.

Hail, Bailey

When: May 3, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, 4 mi SE of Enochs
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.717, -102.767

Personnel at the Farmer's Coop Gin reported golfball size hail.

Hail, Castro

When: May 3, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Castro County, 3 mi S of Dimmitt
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Crop damage: $35,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.817, -102.567

Hail, Castro

When: May 3, 5:17 PM CST
Where: Castro County, Sunnyside
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Crop damage: $35,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.283, -102.200

Flash Flood, Cochran

When: May 3, 5:20 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, Northwest Portion
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.517, -102.317

A very slow moving thunderstorm produced excessive runoff that flooded several roads north and northwest of Morton including Farm-to-Market Road 596.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cochran

When: May 3, 5:20 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 1 mi NE of Morton
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 33.717, -102.767

The West Texas Mesonet site northeast of Morton measured a 61 mph thunderstorm gust.

Hail, Bailey

When: May 3, 5:20 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, 6 mi S of Bula
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $75,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.250, -102.200

Storm spotters reported golfball size hail.

Hail, Cochran

When: May 3, 5:27 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 7 mi NE of Morton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 33.917, -102.333

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 5:57 PM CST
Where: Terry County, 3 mi SW of Brownfield
Measured: 1 in hail
Crop damage: $75,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.283, -102.200

Hail, Bailey

When: May 3, 6:02 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, Bula
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.069, -102.830 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Hockley

When: May 3, 6:02 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, Pep
Measured: 1 in hail
Crop damage: $75,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.450, -102.500

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 6:24 PM CST
Where: Terry County, Brownfield
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 33.333, -102.200

Hail, Hockley

When: May 3, 6:25 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, Pep
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $150,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.417, -102.150

Law enforcement officials reported golfball size hail.

Hail, Cochran

When: May 3, 6:30 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 11 mi NE of Morton
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Crop damage: $75,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.604, -102.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Bailey

When: May 3, 6:30 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, South Portion
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.500, -102.250

A very slow moving thunderstorm dumped three to five inches of rain over the southern portion of the county in less than two hours. Several secondary roads were flooded in and around Maple, Enochs, and Bula.

Hail, Hockley

When: May 3, 6:35 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, 4 mi E of Pep
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $150,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.400, -102.150

Storm spotters reported golfball size hail east of town.

Hail, Lamb

When: May 3, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Lamb County, 1 mi W of Littlefield
Measured: 1 in hail
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.583, -102.117

Hail, Lamb

When: May 3, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Lamb County, 1 mi SW of Littlefield
Measured: 1 in hail
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.917, -102.433

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 7:14 PM CST
Where: Terry County, 4 mi N of Brownfield
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Crop damage: $35,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.333, -102.200

Hail, Cochran

When: May 3, 7:16 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, Morton
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Crop damage: $35,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.604, -102.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Cochran

When: May 3, 7:24 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, Morton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.833, -102.633

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 7:27 PM CST
Where: Terry County, 7 mi NE of Brownfield
Measured: 2 in hail
Crop damage: $200,000
Reported by: STORM CHASER
Coordinates: 33.174, -102.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A storm chaser reported two inch diameter hail.

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Terry County, 4 mi S of Meadow
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Crop damage: $250,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.174, -102.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement officials reported baseball size hail.

Hail, Lamb

When: May 3, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Lamb County, 3 mi E of Amherst
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.917, -102.650

Dime to nickel size hail damaged crops.

Hail, Cochran

When: May 3, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, Morton
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $125,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.604, -102.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Personnel at the Southwest Gin reported golfball size hail.

Flash Flood, Castro

When: May 3, 7:40 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Castro County, South Portion
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.400, -102.317

Several sections of Highway 168 were reported flooded.

Flash Flood, Lamb

When: May 3, 7:40 PM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where: Lamb County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.550, -102.100

Several roads throughout the county were reported flooded including Highway 54 west of Littlefield, Highway 70 west of Earth and several secondary roads in the southwest portion of the county.

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Terry County, Meadow
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: $200,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 33.174, -102.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tennis ball size hail damaged vehicles.

Hail, Hockley

When: May 3, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, Pep
Measured: 1 in hail
Crop damage: $75,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.608, -102.343 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Terry County, 3 mi S of Meadow
Measured: 1 in hail
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.174, -102.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Swisher

When: May 3, 8:00 PM CST to 11:30 PM CST
Where: Swisher County, 12 mi E of Kress
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.550, -102.017

Farm-to-Market Road 145 and Farm-to-Market Road 2301 were reported flooded in the southeastern portion of the county.

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 8:18 PM CST
Where: Terry County, Meadow
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $25,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.174, -102.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 8:25 PM CST
Where: Terry County, Meadow
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $30,000
Crop damage: $75,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.174, -102.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement officials reported golfball size hail.

Hail, Terry

When: May 3, 8:35 PM CST
Where: Terry County, Meadow
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $30,000
Crop damage: $75,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.174, -102.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement officials reported golfball size hail.

Hail, Hockley

When: May 3, 8:47 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, Sundown
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $30,000
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.608, -102.343 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement officials reported golfball size hail.

Hail, Lamb

When: May 3, 9:04 PM CST
Where: Lamb County, 7 mi W of Littlefield
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $150,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.069, -102.352 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm spotters reported golfball size hail.

Hail, Hockley

When: May 3, 9:09 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, Ropesville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $35,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.608, -102.343 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement officials reported golfball size hail covering the ground.

Hail, Hockley

When: May 3, 9:15 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, 1 mi S of Ropesville
Measured: 2 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.608, -102.343 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail larger than golfball size broke out windows.

Flash Flood, Cochran

When: May 3, 10:00 PM CST to May 4, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Cochran County, North Portion
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.533, -101.950

The northern portion of the county received between five and ten inches of rain in several hours. Portions of Farm-to-Market Road 596 and several other secondary roads were flooded. The engine of a center pivot irrigation system remained underwater for at least five days.

Flash Flood, Bailey

When: May 3, 10:00 PM CST to May 4, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Bailey County, South Portion
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.533, -101.800

Four to six inches of rain resulted in several secondary roads across the southern portion of the county to be flooded.

Flash Flood, Hockley

When: May 3, 10:30 PM CST to May 4, 12:30 AM CST
Where: Hockley County, East Portion
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.533, -101.767

Many roads in the eastern portion of the county were flooded. A few roads had two to three feet of water covering them in places.

Hail, Hockley

When: May 3, 10:41 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, 3 mi E of Smyer
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.608, -102.343 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm spotters reported golfball size hail.

Flash Flood, Briscoe

When: May 3, 11:00 PM CST to May 4, 1:30 AM CST
Where: Briscoe County, Southwest Portion
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.650, -101.567

Portions of Highway 207 were reported flooded south of Silverton.

Flash Flood, Hale

When: May 4, 12:15 AM CST to 2:30 AM CST
Where: Hale County, Plainview
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 34.071, -101.827 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous streets were flooded and closed in town.

Flash Flood, Hale

When: May 4, 12:15 AM CST to 2:30 AM CST
Where: Hale County, Hale Center
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.733, -102.783

I-27 was flooded and subsequently closed due to a rapid rise of water.

Flash Flood, Hall

When: May 4, 12:30 AM CST to 2:30 AM CST
Where: Hall County, North Portion
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.750, -102.800

Portions of Highway 256 were reported flooded.

Flash Flood, Floyd

When: May 4, 12:30 AM CST to 2:30 AM CST
Where: Floyd County, West Portion
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.717, -102.800

Highway 70 northwest of Floydada was flooded in several places.

Flash Flood, Swisher

When: May 4, 12:30 AM CST to 2:30 AM CST
Where: Swisher County, East Portion
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.700, -102.767

Several secondary roads in the eastern portion of the county were reported flooded including Highway 86.

Flash Flood, Briscoe

When: May 4, 12:30 AM CST to 2:30 AM CST
Where: Briscoe County, West Portion
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.817, -102.900

Several secondary roads in the western portion of the county were reported flooded including Highway 207.

Flash Flood, Lamb

When: May 4, 1:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Lamb County, South Portion
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 34.069, -102.352 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous secondary roads were flooded and closed.

Flash Flood, Parmer

When: May 4, 1:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Parmer County, Farwell
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.833, -102.900

Highway 84 was reported flooded in town.

Flash Flood, Bailey

When: May 4, 1:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Bailey County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.833, -102.650

Numerous roads throughout the county were reported flooded.

Flash Flood, Castro

When: May 4, 1:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Castro County, 3 mi S of Dimmitt
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.917, -102.700

Highway 385 south of town was flooded.

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.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2001 Warnings 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: 5249206, 5249207, 5249208, 5249209, 5249210, 5249211, 5249212, 5249213, 5249214, 5249219, 5249215, 5249217, 5249218, 5249220, 5249216, 5249298, 5249221, 5249222, 5249296, 5249297, 5249302, 5249295, 5249299, 5249308, 5249309, 5249301, 5249304, 5249307, 5249306, 5249122, 5249303, 5249305, 5249300, 5249311, 5247815, 5249312, 5249310, 5249313, 5247816, 5249123, and more.