Tornadoes and Flood in Texas, April 22 to 23, 2010

Skywarn storm spotters reported half dollar size hail along U.S. Highway 70 southeast of Plainview.

Skywarn storm spotters reported nickel size hail just north of Post.

Trained storm spotters reported that damaging thunderstorm winds flipped a cotton trailer and destroyed a barn near the Silver Falls Roadside Park on U.S. Highway 82 east of Crosbyton.

A motorist reported that penny to quarter size hail damaged her vehicle along Texas Highway 207 just south of South Plains.

Multiple storm chasers observed a large and rain-wrapped tornado that moved east-northeastward across the Motley and Cottle County line south-southeast of Northfield and southwest of Cee Vee during the 18:00 CST hour on the 22nd.

Doppler radar, along with post-storm ground and aerial surveys, suggest that the tornado developed at approximately 18:20 CST 9 miles south-southwest of Northfield, just east of Farm to Market Road 94. Storm chasers first obtained a visual confirmation of the tornado at 18:37 CST as it partially emerged from obscuring rain curtains. Photographs show a very large wedge-shaped tornado, with only the southern portion of the vortex visible through the wrapping precipitation.

The tornado's track across northeastern Motley County remained over uninhabited ranch land. A National Weather Service cooperative observer, however, reported a loud roar as the tornado passed south of her home south of Northfield. Surveys of adjacent ranch land, conducted by private land owners as well as National Weather Service and Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet meteorologists, revealed that the tornado destroyed four windmills, severely damaged mesquite trees, and snapped at least a half dozen wooden utility poles. The damage path was measured to be three-quarters of a mile wide.

The tornado again became totally obscured by rain and hail within the parent high precipitation supercell storm before it crossed the Motley and Cottle County line approximately 8.25 miles south-southeast of Northfield at 18:42 CST. It likely dissipated just a few minutes later at approximately 18:45 CST southwest of Cee Vee in northwestern Motley County.

The total path length of the tornado across portions of Motley and Cottle Counties was approximately 9 miles, with a 25-minute duration. Enhanced-Fujita Scale damage indicators for both free-standing metal towers and metal electrical transmission line poles were considered to gauge expected wind speeds for the destroyed windmills. The lower bounds for degrees of damage 2 and 5 respectively were accepted, yielding estimated wind speeds between 110 and 115 mph. Winds of at least this magnitude are additionally supported by the expected value for snapped wooden utility poles, which were additionally observed along the damage path. Therefore an EF-2 rating was assigned for this tornado.

A National Weather Service cooperative observer reported golfball size hail that intermittently mixed with larger two inch-diameter hailstones at Northfield. No damages were reported.

A National Weather Service cooperative observer reported that very large tennis ball hailstones intermittently mixed with more numerous golfball size hail at Northfield. No damages were reported.

Local emergency management officials reported golfball to baseball size hail northeast of Post.

Local emergency management officials reported that very large baseball size hailstones intermittently mixed with more numerous golfball sized stones northeast of Post.

Multiple storm chasers observed a large and rain-wrapped tornado that moved east-northeastward across the Motley and Cottle County line south-southeast of Northfield and southwest of Cee Vee during the 18:00 CST hour on the 22nd.

Doppler radar, along with post-storm ground and aerial surveys, suggest that the tornado developed at approximately 18:20 CST south-southwest of Northfield in Motley County. Storm chasers first obtained a visual confirmation of the tornado at 18:37 CST as it partially emerged from obscuring rain curtains, while still in rural areas of northeastern Motley County. Photographs from that time show a very large wedge-shaped tornado.

The tornado's maximum intensity, per post storm surveys by private land owners and meteorologists from the National Weather Service and Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet, occurred in northeastern Motley County where four windmills were destroyed, mesquite trees were severely damaged, and where a number of wooden utility poles were snapped. The damage path was measured to be three-quarters of a mile wide near the Motley and Cottle County line.

The tornado again became totally obscured by rain and hail within the parent high precipitation supercell storm before it crossed the Motley and Cottle County line approximately 4.8 miles west-southwest of Cee Vee at 18:42 CST. Doppler radar velocity data shows subtle evidence that a mesocyclone occlusion may have occurred, and that the tornado likely dissipated just a few minutes later at approximately 18:45 CST 3.5 miles southwest of Cee Vee. A second tornado, however, quickly developed in a cyclic fashion just southeast of the initial tornado as a new mesocyclone became dominant.

The total path length of the tornado across portions of Motley and Cottle Counties was approximately 9 miles, with a 25-minute duration. Enhanced-Fujita Scale damage indicators for both free-standing metal towers and metal electrical transmission line poles were considered to gauge expected wind speeds for the destroyed windmills observed in northeastern Motley County. The lower bounds for degrees of damage 2 and 5 respectively were accepted, yielding estimated wind speeds between 110 and 115 mph. Winds of at least this magnitude are additionally supported by the expected value for snapped wooden utility poles, which were additionally observed along the damage path. Therefore an EF-2 rating was assigned for this tornado.

A large and rain wrapped tornado tracked from southwest of Cee Vee to just west of U.S. Highway 62/83 east-northeast of Cee Vee between 18:46 and 19:20 CST. A storm spotter observed the tornado as it passed southeast of Cee Vee at approximately 19:05 CST, and described it visually as a large wedge-shaped vortex. A post-storm ground and aerial survey conducted by local emergency management officials and National Weather Service meteorologists concluded that the tornado resulted in significant EF-3 damage.

A number light weight objects and structures, including well-houses, horse stables, utility poles, empty semi-truck trailers, and a partially filled petroleum tank were heavily damaged or destroyed along the initial portions of the tornado's track through ranchland southwest and south of Cee Vee. This includes minor roof damage to a permanent farm home near County Road 172.

Significant damage first occurred at a farmstead 3 miles east-southeast of Cee Vee, south of Farm to Market Road 1440. At this site, upwards of twenty-percent of the roof was removed from a well-built permanent home. A large metal building was partially collapsed and a well-house was completely destroyed. A horse trailer was blown over and rolled. In addition, several large trees were uprooted.

The tornado continued to move northeastward and impacted a second farmstead four miles east of Cee Vee, just south of Farm to Market Road 1440. The tornado's maximum damage intensity was observed at this site, where a well-built stucco constructed permanant home, a cinderblock two-car garage, and several outbuildings were destroyed. The home's roof was totally removed, and three exterior walls collapsed. A portion of the home's roof and exterior walls were blown downwind and struck the two-car cinderblock garage broadside. This contributed to the complete destruction of that structure with only the frames of two exterior walls remaining. Two outbuildings and a horse stable were completely destroyed, with another unroofed. In addition, an entire stand of more than a dozen large trees were uprooted. A detailed survey by local officials of the site, revealed that the home was well-built, and that the exterior walls were secured to the slab foundation with bolts.

In collaboration with experts at Texas Tech University's Wind Engineering Department, the developers of the Enhanced-Fujita Scale, it was determined that estimated wind speeds at the site of the destroyed residence ranged between 130 and 150 mph. With an average expected wind speed of 140 mph, the tornado was assigned an EF-3 rating based on this damage.

The tornado continued northeastward across Farm to Market Road 1440. It caused light roof damage to a couple of light weight structures before dissipating just west of U.S. Highway 62/83 east-northeast of Cee Vee at approximately 19:20 CST.

Despite damaging three residences, no injuries were reported.

Law enforcement officials and National Weather Service cooperative observers reported quarter size hail along a swath from Tahoka northeastward along Farm to Market Road 400 to southwest of Wilson.

Local fire department officials reported golfball size hail along U.S. Highway 62/83 on the Childress and Cottle County line south of Childress.

Local fire department officials reported golfball size hail along U.S. Highway 62/83 on the Childress and Cottle County line south of Childress.

Numerous storm chasers and Skywarn spotters reported witnessing an intermittent tornado near Swearingen shortly after 20:00 CST on the 22nd. Post-storm surveys by National Weather Service meteorologists did not reveal significant damage in the area, however, the number of eyewitness reports coupled with Doppler radar presentations of the parent supercell lend credibility to the presence of a tornado.

Skywarn storm spotters reported nickel to quarter size hail along U.S. Highway 380 west of Tahoka.

Heavy rainfall from training thunderstorms resulted in flooding that persisted for several hours in portions of central and northeastern Lynn County. Local emergency management officials initially reported that ponding of high water rendered a U.S. Highway 87 underpass impassable just before 21:00 CST. A small section of the highway had to be closed until approximitly 23:00 CST. A post-storm survey by a National Weather Service hydrologist revealed that swollen playa lakes inundated parts of U.S. Highway 87 north of Tahoka and U.S. Highway 380 east of Tahoka. No damage was reported.

Hail that ranged in size from peas to quarters was reported in Southland just after 21:00 CST.

The South Plains Storm Spotting Team reported half dollar size hail in Dickens.

Nickel size hail was reported in Crosbyton shortly after 21:30 CST.

A linear complex of severe thunderstorms resulted in significant wind damage at a homestead north of Paducah along U.S. Highway 62/83 shortly before 23:00 CST. Local emergecy management officials reported that thunderstorm winds caused heavy roof and window damage to a permanent home. A number of large trees were blown down and five utility poles were snapped by the winds. No injuries were reported.