Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, August 27, 2005

Hail covered the roadway.

The National Weather Service in Lubbock, Texas conducted a damage survey of impacts resultant from severe thunderstorm activity occurring across the area on Saturday, August 27 2005.An outbreak of severe thunderstorms developed across the NWS Lubbock forecast and warning area of responsibility during the late afternoon on Saturday and continued through the pre-midnight hours. A mesoscale convective system, or a large and organized complex of intense thunderstorms, developed as upper level energy pushed into the Texas Panhandle from the northwest and combined with numerous surface fronts generated from previous thunderstorm outflows. Garza county: A severe thunderstorm produced a swath of significant damage in a relatively isolated area in Garza county. The zone of greatest Impact occurred approximately 8 miles to the west of downtown Post, TX on Highway 380. The pattern of damage was consistent with a thunderstorm downburst. The downburst resulted from what is known as a rear flank downdraft (RFD). An RFD can form in severe thunderstorms as air high above begins to sink rapidly on the backside or rear of the thunderstorm. The RFD can, at times, play a significant role in the formation of a tornado. RFD winds can produce damage comparable to tornado damage, however there will generally be a circulation debris pattern evident when surveying tornado damage.The downburst pattern was bounded from 8 miles west of Post, or beginning at the intersection of Highway 380 and County Road 125, to beyond a mile just past County Road 105. The damage pattern was observed up to two miles south of this location along FM 1313.The debris field started with a snapped stop sign at the intersection of Highway 380 and County Road 125 with 3 cotton trailers and a small cylindrical oil tank blown over, all from a north to south direction. Following this location, along Highway 380, a series of power poles and lines were blown over, snapped, and/or ripped from the ground for a stretch of 1 mile by the downburst wind. All of these poles were blown from a north to south direction.Farther to the south between county roads 105/115/125 and along Fm1313, numerous large trees were snapped and/or uprooted and a few center pivot irrigation systems were blown over. A manufactured home located on County Road 125 sustained damage with layers of shingles lifted off the roof, landing a short distance in the backyard. The front attached patio/walkway was pushed toward the left-front of the home by gusty wind. The debris at this location was blown from an east to west direction and was likely the result of moderate east/southeast inflow in the immediate vicinity of the rotating mesocyclone in the severe thunderstorm. Noted was a small shed and trees adjacent to the home that sustained no impactsfrom the apparent less than severe inflow winds responsible for peeling off the shingles from the roof. No rotation was evident in the pattern of debris fall from the shingles.The Texas Tech/West Texas mesonet station, located 5 miles south of Graham, measured a 69 mph wind gust from the north at 6:35 PM CST. Graham is located approximately 6 miles southeast of the manufactured home. Interviewing local utility crews, a total of 49 power poles were destroyed and several acres of cotton were damaged and/or destroyed.

Measured by the Texas Tech/West Texas mesonet station.

Numerous areas of flooded roadways.

The National Weather Service in Lubbock, Texas conducted a damage survey of impacts resultant from severe thunderstorm activity occurring across the area on Saturday, August 27 2005.An outbreak of severe thunderstorms developed across the NWS Lubbock forecast and warning area of responsibility during the late afternoon on Saturday and continued through the pre-midnight hours. A mesoscale convective system, or a large and organized complex of intense thunderstorms, developed as upper level energy pushed into the Texas Panhandle from the northwest and combined with numerous surface fronts generated from previous thunderstorm outflows. Hockley county: The Texas Tech/West Texas mesonet station, located 4 miles south of Levelland, measured a wind gust of 57 mph from the north at 8:40 PM CST. Quarter sized hail was reported at 8:35 PM CST by the Levelland Fire Department. The impact from the hail driven by the damaging wind resulted in widespread damage to cotton crops/fields across the county.

Numerous flooded areas on Highway 145, FM 1731 and FM 333. One motorist was stranded on a flooded road and local First Reponders performed successful rescue efforts.

Numerous roads flooded. Highway 1760 under water from 10 miles west/northwest of Muleshoe, TX to the New Mexico State Line.

Flooded roadways in the vicinity of 16 miles northwest of Muleshoe, TX or approximately 1 mile to the southwest of Lariat.

Numerous areas of flooded roadways along Highway 289.

Several areas of flooded roadway stretching from 4 to 8 miles west of Amherst, TX. One stranded motorist was rescued by First Responders.