Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 5 to 6, 2007

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 5 to 6, 2007
Start: 2007-05-05T12:17
End: 2007-05-06T06:00
Location: Texas

May 5 to 6, 2007 · NWS AMA · 13 events in 6 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms produced large hail and tornadoes across the eastern Texas Panhandle during the evening and early morning hours. One tornado did cause extensive damage in Gray County and another tornado which traveled from northeastern Collingsworth County into southeastern Wheeler County caused damage to a stand of trees.

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: $47,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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.

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 5, 11:44 AM CST, 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 5, 11:44 AM CST, 33 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
1244 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

.AVIATION...
NO CHANGES FROM EARLIER THINKING.  CONVECTION WILL REMAIN EAST OF TAF
SITES.

07

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1228 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007/

UPDATE...
18Z UPPER AIR OBSERVATION WILL BE MADE...WITH NEW UPPER AIR DATA
AVAILABLE SOON.

HAVE ISSUED UPDATE TO INCLUDE POPS FOR THIS AFTN OVER ERN ZONES...AND
HAVE ALSO INCREASED POPS TNGT OVER ERN HALF.  VERY UNSTABLE AIRMASS
AHEAD OF DRYLINE WILL SUPPORT ISOLATED TO SCT TSTMS.

COCKRELL

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 649 AM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007/

AVIATION...
STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY SURFACE FLOW WITH WINDS GUSTING IN EXCESS OF 40
MPH TODAY. MVFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE IN A FEW AREAS AS PATCHY
AREAS OF LOW CLOUDS AND FOG PERSIST UNTIL MID MORNING. THERE IS A
CHANCE OF WIDELY SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTOMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING FOR THE EASTERN HALF OF THE PANHANDLES WITH THE POTENTIAL
FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 600 AM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007/

DISCUSSION...
WHAT A PACKAGE THE WEATHER FORECAST WILL BE A COMPLEX ONE WITH THE
STRONG SURFACE LOW PRESSURE OVER EASTERN COLORADO AND AN ASSOCIATED
DRYLINE EXTENDING SOUTH ACROSS THE TEXAS/NEW MEXICO BORDER.
FIRST...STRONGER WINDS ALOFT WILL MIX TOWARD THE SURFACE
TODAY...RESULTING IN WINDY CONDITIONS AREAWIDE. WIND SPEEDS OVER THE
OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE SHOULD BE A BIT STRONGER...AND REQUIRED A WIND
ADVISORY FOR TODAY.

WEST OF THE DRYLINE...LOWER DEWPOINTS SHOULD FILTER INTO THE WESTERN
PARTS OF THE AREA. THOUGH WIND SPEEDS WOULD EASILY MEET RED FLAG
CRITERIA...RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL STRUGGLE TO GET TO 15 PERCENT DUE
TO THE COOLER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND BROKEN MID AND HIGH CLOUDS.
ISSUED A FIRE DANGER STATEMENT INSTEAD.

THE EAST SIDE OF THE DRYLINE WILL BE MOIST AND UNSTABLE...SO
THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PARTS THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE SEVERE THREAT WILL BE HEIGHTEN EAST OF THE
CAPROCK WHERE THE MOISTURE IS DEEPER AND SHEAR IS BEST.

RAIN CHANCES IMPROVE SUNDAY WHEN THE UPPER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LIFTS
INTO CENTRAL PLAINS...AND WILL PERSIST INTO NEXT WEEK AS THE LONGWAVE
TROUGH SLIDES SLOWLY EAST. EXTENDED THUNDERSTORMS INTO WEDNESDAY
GIVEN THE TIMING OF THE LATEST ENSEMBLE GUIDANCE. UPPER LEVEL RIDGING
IS STILL SCHEDULED TO FILL BEHIND THE EXITING TROUGH THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY.

NUNEZ

&&

.AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...NONE.
OK...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: BEAVER...CIMARRON...TEXAS.

&&

07/03

Hazardous weather outlook, May 5, 11:49 AM CST, 28 minutes before

TEXAS/OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
1249 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-061100-
ARMSTRONG-BEAVER-CARSON-CIMARRON-COLLINGSWORTH-DALLAM-DEAF SMITH-
DONLEY-GRAY-HANSFORD-HARTLEY-HEMPHILL-HUTCHINSON-LIPSCOMB-MOORE-
OCHILTREE-OLDHAM-POTTER-RANDALL-ROBERTS-SHERMAN-TEXAS-WHEELER-
1249 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA
PANHANDLES.

.DAY ONE...

AS AN UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM APPROACHES THE PANHANDLES
TODAY...ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
FORM ALONG AND EAST OF THE DRYLINE LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR THIS
EVENING. THE POTENTIAL FOR STORMS IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN EAST OF LINE
EXTENDING FROM GUYMON TO AMARILLO. WITHIN THIS AREA...THERE IS A
MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EAST OF LINE EXTENDING FROM
BEAVER OKLAHOMA TO CANADIAN TEXAS AND A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS EAST OF LINE EXTENDING FROM LIBERAL KANSAS TO CLAUDE.
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREATS. A FEW
STORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE TORNADOES...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EASTERN
OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE AND THE NORTHEASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE.

A WIND ADVISORY IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR TODAY ACROSS THE OKLAHOMA
PANHANDLE...WHERE STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS OF UP TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED
ALONG WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH. CAUTION IS ADVISED ON AREA LAKES ACROSS
THE TEXAS PANHANDLE AS WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN JUST BELOW
ADVISORY LEVEL CRITERIA.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL RESULT IN AN
INCREASED FIRE DANGER...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE WESTERN THIRD OF THE
TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ACROSS ALL
SECTIONS OF THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. A FEW STORMS MAY REACH
SEVERE LEVELS...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE PRIMARY
THREATS. IN ADDITION...PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EASTERN
SECTIONS OF THE PANHANDLES THIS EVENING. EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND
SPOTTER GROUPS SHOULD KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST WEATHER
DEVELOPMENTS...AND BE ON THE ALERT FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS AND
FORECASTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AMARILLO.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY ALSO BE REQUIRED MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

SP

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 5, 11:36 AM CST, 41 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
1236 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

OKZ003-TXZ005-010-051830-
BEAVER OK-HEMPHILL TX-LIPSCOMB TX-
1236 PM CDT SAT MAY 5 2007

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN EASTERN BEAVER...HEMPHILL AND LIPSCOMB
COUNTIES...

AT 1236 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF SLAPOUT AND 6 MILES NORTH
OF CANADIAN.  THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

HAIL...STRONG WINDS...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

IF YOU ARE IN THE EASTERN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES...ESPECIALLY
IN THE TOWNS OF CANADIAN...LIPSCOMB...HIGGINS...DARROUZETT...
FOLLETT...BEAVER AND SLAPOUT...STAY TUNED TO LOCAL MEDIA AND WEATHER
RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS IF THE STORMS INTENSIFY.

SP

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 149 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:18 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 hail, 4 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lipscomb

When: May 5, 12:17 PM CST
Where: Lipscomb County, Follett
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 36.430, -100.130

Hail, Collingsworth

When: May 5, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Collingsworth County, 8.76 mi NE of Lutie
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.100, -100.110

Hail, Collingsworth

When: May 5, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Collingsworth County, 6 mi NE of Lutie
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 35.081, -100.155

Tornado, Collingsworth

When: May 5, 6:20 PM CST to 6:23 PM CST
Where: Collingsworth County, 9.85 mi NE of Lutie to 12.38 mi NE of Lutie
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.78 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.121, -100.107

The tornado remained over open country and the path length and path width were estimated. No damage or injuries were reported.

Hail, Collingsworth

When: May 5, 6:23 PM CST
Where: Collingsworth County, 10 mi NE of Lutie
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.122, -100.105

Reported five to seven miles south and two miles west of Texola Oklahoma by Deputy Sheriff.

Tornado, Collingsworth

When: May 5, 6:27 PM CST to 6:28 PM CST
Where: Collingsworth County, 14.31 mi NE of Lutie to 14.45 mi NE of Lutie
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.74 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Continued into: Wheeler, Tx (AMA)
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 35.166, -100.051

This tornado developed fourteen miles northeast of Lutie in northeastern Collingsworth County and tracked north northeast for about a half a mile before exiting Collingsworth County about fourteen and a half miles northeast of Lutie at 1828 CST. The tornado continued north northeast into Wheeler County before finally dissipating nine miles east northeast of Shamrock at 1836 CST. The tornado caused no damage in Collingsworth County. No injuries were reported. The damage was confirmed by a survey conducted by WFO OUN.

Tornado, Wheeler

When: May 5, 6:28 PM CST to 6:36 PM CST
Where: Wheeler County, 4.64 mi S of Fuller to 1.88 mi NW of Fuller
Rating: EF1
Path length: 6.25 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 35.183, -100.080

This tornado developed fourteen miles northeast of Lutie in extreme northeastern Collingsworth County and entered Wheeler County about eight miles east southeast of Shamrock at 1828 CST. The tornado then continued north northeast for about another six miles before dissipating nine miles east northeast of Shamrock. The tornado was rated an EF0 in extreme northeastern Collingsworth County...but was rated an EF1 in Wheeler County where a stand of trees was damaged. No injuries were reported. Damage was verified by WFO OUN.

Tornado, Gray

When: May 5, 10:40 PM CST to 10:46 PM CST
Where: Gray County, 5 mi SW of Pampa to 3 mi SW of Pampa
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2 mi
Path width: 300 yd
Property damage: $47,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.479, -101.033

The tornado developed about five miles southwest of Pampa at 2240 CST and tracked northeast for about two miles before dissipating at 2246 CST three miles southwest of Pampa. An off-duty National Weather Service employee...who was chasing in the area...saw a power flash about 2241 CST. Although no injuries were reported...damage occurred at the National Oilwell Varco Plant to three buildings which also had windows blown out and several oil rigs were blown around.

Hail, Gray

When: May 5, 10:57 PM CST
Where: Gray County, 1 mi W of Pampa
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 35.530, -100.988

Hail, Donley

When: May 5, 11:57 PM CST
Where: Donley County, Ashtola
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.000, -101.070

Hail, Hemphill

When: May 6, 12:44 AM CST
Where: Hemphill County, 8.67 mi WSW of Gem
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.770, -100.280

Hail, Collingsworth

When: May 6, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Collingsworth County, 8.76 mi NE of Lutie
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.100, -100.110

Hail, Wheeler

When: May 6, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Wheeler County, 8 mi E of Shamrock
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.220, -100.108

What these are

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.
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

Every storm in Texas in 2007 Every state in 2007 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2007 Warnings in Texas, May 2007

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: 34280, 34284, 34288, 58130, 34292, 58127, 58129, 34276, 34293, 34295, 34296, 34298, 34299.