Texas, 2002

Tornado and Hail in Texas, May 16, 2002

May 16, 2002 · NWS AMA · 25 events in 7 counties and zones

central and eastern Texas panhandle during the evening hours. The tornado caused damage but there were no injuries or fatalities that occurred.

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
$116,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
25

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 containing large hail and damaging winds along with an isolated tornado struck the northern...central and eastern Texas panhandle during the evening hours. The tornado caused damage but there were no injuries or fatalities that occurred.

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 16, 2:50 PM CST, 2 hours 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 16, 2:50 PM CST, 2 hours 12 minutes before
TEXAS/OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
350 PM CDT THU MAY 16 2002

SLOW-MOVING COLD FRONT EXTENDED WEST TO EAST ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN
FORECAST AREA BORDER. EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ALONG AND
NORTH. SOME SEVERE DUE TO INCREASED MOISTURE CONVERGENCE AND UPPER
LEVEL DYNAMICS.

COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO PUSH SOUTH OVERNIGHT. STRONG PRESSURE
GRADIENT SHOULD RESULT IN STRONGER SURFACE WINDS LATER TONIGHT INTO
EARLY FRIDAY. SUBSTANTIAL MOISTURE PERSISTS WITHIN UPSLOPE FLOW...SO
WELL KEEP GENEROUS CLOUD COVER THROUGH AT LEAST SATURDAY. DAYTIME
TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLED AT LEAST A CATEGORY FROM PREVIOUS
FORECAST.

NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST.

FCSTR ID=08

AMA 053/066/043/070 3211
DHT 049/065/044/072 4111=

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 16, 12:00 PM CST, 5 hours 2 minutes before
OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-170000-

TEXAS/OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
100 PM CDT THU MAY 16 2002

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE OKLAHOMA
PANHANDLE AND THE NORTHERN AND EAST CENTRAL TEXAS PANHANDLE MAINLY
THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT.

THE SLIGHT RISK AREA IS NORTHEAST OF A LINE FROM TEXLINE TO BORGER
TO SHAMROCK. SOME CITIES INCLUDED IN THE SLIGHT RISK AREA INCLUDE
DALHART...GUYMON...BORGER...STRATFORD...SPEARMAN...PAMPA...
LIPSCOMB...BOISE CITY...AND BEAVER.

A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE WILL
MOVE SOUTHWARD BRINGING A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE
TEXAS PANHANDLE THIS AFTERNOON. INCREASING SURFACE MOISTURE WILL BE
FOUND ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE TEXAS
PANHANDLE AND ALL OF THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE LATER THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH TONIGHT. AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE OVER THE GREAT BASIN WILL
MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ROCKIES BY THIS
EVENING. INCREASING UPPER LEVEL WINDS ALONG WITH COOLING TEMPERATURES
ALOFT WILL MARK THE ARRIVAL OF THE DISTURBANCE ON THE PLAINS.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR THIS EVENING ACROSS
MUCH OF THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES WITH THE BEST CHANCE ACROSS
THE EAST WHERE THE DEEPEST MOISTURE WILL BE. HOWEVER...WARMER
TEMPERATURES IN THE MID LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE MAY LIMIT
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON.

A BETTER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL COME OVERNIGHT AS THE UPPER
LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVES INTO EASTERN COLORADO AND NORTHERN NEW
MEXICO. INCREASING NORTHEAST WINDS TONIGHT AT SPEEDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH
WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH WILL ALLOW PLENTY OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TO
FLOW INTO THE OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS PANHANDLES OVERNIGHT. LOW LEVEL
MOISTURE...INCREASING UPPER LEVEL WINDS AND COOLING TEMPERATURES
ALOFT WILL HELP TO SET THE STAGE FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IN
EASTERN COLORADO...NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO OR WESTERN KANSAS. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE THEN EXPECTED TO MOVE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST INTO THE
PANHANDLES OVERNIGHT.

SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT MAY BECOME
SEVERE...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHERN AND EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE
PANHANDLES. DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT FROM THE
STORMS. HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO BE A CONCERN.

THEREFORE...ACTIVATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES AND SKYWARN
SPOTTERS MAY BE NECESSARY THIS EVENING OR TONIGHT.

THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 6 AM
FRIDAY MORNING.

SCHNEIDER
Special weather statement, May 16, 4:30 PM CST, 32 minutes before
OKZ001>003-TXZ001>010-170400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
530 PM CDT THU MAY 16 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
NUMBER 306 FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE
...CIMARRON...TEXAS...BEAVER...IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE...DALLAM...
SHERMAN...HANSFORD...OCHILTREE...LIPSCOMB...HARTLEY...MOORE...
HUTCHINSON...ROBERTS...AND HEMPHILL.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CDT.

ANDRADE

The radar

The Amarillo radar (KAMA), 135 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:04 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Sherman

When
May 16, 5:02 PM CST
Where
Sherman County, Stratford
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
36.417, -102.067

Hail, Sherman

When
May 16, 5:19 PM CST
Where
Sherman County, 10 mi E of Stratford
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.417, -101.883

Hail, Moore

When
May 16, 5:31 PM CST
Where
Moore County, Cactus
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
36.050, -102.000

Hail, Moore

When
May 16, 5:32 PM CST
Where
Moore County, Cactus
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
36.050, -102.000

Thunderstorm Wind, Hemphill

When
May 16, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Hemphill County, 16 mi SE of Canadian
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage
$45,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.733, -100.183

Barns were destroyed by the high winds and a cattle trailer was blown over. Also...part of an abandoned home had been destroyed along with some metal pipes and horse trough-type things had been twisted and scattered. One had been blown up U.S. Highway 83 about two hundred yards and to the west of the highway. A couple of fairly large trees on the west side of the highway were blown down.

Hail, Moore

When
May 16, 6:20 PM CST
Where
Moore County, Sunray
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates
36.017, -101.733

Hail, Hutchinson

When
May 16, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Hutchinson County, 5 mi E of Borger
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.667, -101.300

Hail, Hutchinson

When
May 16, 6:35 PM CST
Where
Hutchinson County, 5 mi W of Borger
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.667, -101.467

Hail, Hutchinson

When
May 16, 6:43 PM CST
Where
Hutchinson County, 5 mi W of Borger
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.667, -101.467

Hail, Hansford

When
May 16, 6:44 PM CST
Where
Hansford County, 12 mi SW of Gruver
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.150, -101.550

Hail, Hutchinson

When
May 16, 7:01 PM CST
Where
Hutchinson County, 2 mi S of Stinnett
Measured
2.5 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.783, -101.450

Hail, Hansford

When
May 16, 7:20 PM CST
Where
Hansford County, 20 mi NW of Gruver
Measured
2 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.467, -101.650

Hail, Roberts

When
May 16, 7:45 PM CST to 7:50 PM CST
Where
Roberts County, 25 mi W of Miami
Measured
2.5 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.700, -101.083

Hail, Hemphill

When
May 16, 7:47 PM CST
Where
Hemphill County, Mendota
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.767, -100.500

Tornado, Hutchinson

When
May 16, 7:50 PM CST to 7:55 PM CST
Where
Hutchinson County, 18 mi E of Borger
Rating
F1
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$35,000
Reported by
NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates
35.667, -101.067

A damage assessment was made on this tornado. A mobile home was completely destroyed and a pickup truck was heavily damaged. Fences and power poles were damaged within a radius of about fifty yards from the home site. Damage to trees was confined to those near the home site.

Thunderstorm Wind, Roberts

When
May 16, 8:15 PM CST
Where
Roberts County, 5 mi NE of Miami
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage
$8,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.750, -100.567

Numerous trees and powerlines were reported down along U.S. Highway 60 northeast of Miami.

Hail, Hemphill

When
May 16, 8:29 PM CST
Where
Hemphill County, 10 mi S of Canadian
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
35.750, -100.383

Hail, Sherman

When
May 16, 8:45 PM CST
Where
Sherman County, 3 mi SW of Texhoma
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.467, -101.733

Hail, Roberts

When
May 16, 8:53 PM CST
Where
Roberts County, 3 mi NE of Miami
Measured
4.5 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.733, -100.600

Hail, Roberts

When
May 16, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Roberts County, Miami
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.700, -100.633

Thunderstorm Wind, Hemphill

When
May 16, 9:10 PM CST
Where
Hemphill County, Canadian
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage
$8,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.900, -100.383

Numerous trees and powerlines were reported down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hemphill

When
May 16, 9:30 PM CST
Where
Hemphill County, 5 mi SE of Canadian
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage
$8,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.850, -100.317

Numerous trees and powerlines were reported down.

Hail, Wheeler

When
May 16, 10:30 PM CST
Where
Wheeler County, Kelton
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.400, -100.117

Hail, Wheeler

When
May 16, 10:48 PM CST
Where
Wheeler County, 5 mi E of Wheeler
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.450, -100.183

Thunderstorm Wind, Wheeler

When
May 16, 11:20 PM CST
Where
Wheeler County, 3 mi E of Allison
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Property damage
$12,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.600, -100.050

Numerous trees and powerlines were reported down along with three barns blown over.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2002Warnings in Texas, May 2002

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: 5296156, 5296859, 5296860, 5296861, 5296862, 5296863, 5296864, 5296865, 5296866, 5296867, 5296034, 5296035, 5296036, 5296037, 5296858, 5296038, 5296039, 5296040, 5296041, 5296042, 5296043, 5296044, 5296153, 5296154, 5296155.