During the morning hours of the 17th, an organized convective complex moved southeastward over the extreme southern Texas panhandle and the west Texas South Plains and Rolling Plains causing hail and widespread damaging winds. Numerous reports of large hail were received, with several cities deploying snow plows to remove accumulated hail on roadways.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS LUB wrote it up.
During the morning hours of the 17th, an organized convective complex moved southeastward over the extreme southern Texas panhandle and the west Texas South Plains and Rolling Plains causing hail and widespread damaging winds. Numerous reports of large hail were received, with several cities deploying snow plows to remove accumulated hail on roadways. The most significant impacts were in the Floydada vicinity of Floyd County, where several buildings were damaged and a couple of trucks were overturned by thunderstorm winds measured as high as 84mph. In addition, several utility poles and trees were downed. Minor street flooding also was reported around the area.
Total economic damages were estimated to exceed $155,000.
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 17, 5:58 AM CST, 18 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 658 AM CDT MON MAY 17 2010 .AVIATION... PREDOMINANTLY VFR. CLUSTER OF STRONG TSRA 40 MILES NORTH OF LBB ARE ANTICIPATED TO DRIFT SOUTHEAST THIS MORNING WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE AS FAR SOUTH AS PVW...THOUGH FOR NOW AM EXPECTING PRECIP-FREE CONDITIONS AT LBB. CDS ON THE OTHER HAND STANDS A BETTER CHANCE OF A CB IN THE AREA BEFORE NOON...BUT AM NOT CONFIDENT YET IN A DIRECT IMPACT SO WILL KEEP TSRA MENTION OUT. LIGHT FOG AT LBB WILL CLEAR IN THE COMING HOURS AS VFR CONDITIONS PREVAIL AREA WIDE OUTSIDE OF STORMS. CONFIDENCE IN ADDITIONAL STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING IS HIGH...BUT COVERAGE AND TIMING IS MORE UNCERTAIN SO WILL SIMPLY ADDRESS THIS WITH CB REMARKS AT BOTH SITES. EXPECT LIGHT NLY-ELY WINDS TO VEER SELY BY LATE AFTERNOON. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 425 AM CDT MON MAY 17 2010/ SHORT TERM... NORTHWEST FLOW HAS ENVELOPED WEST TX EARLY THIS MORNING DOWNSTREAM OF AN UPPER RIDGE ALONG THE SPINE OF THE ROCKIES. REGIONAL WIND PROFILERS CAPTURED A MODEST SELY LLJ AROUND 30 KNOTS THAT HAS HELPED FOCUS SCATTERED NOCTURNAL TSRA IN THE WRN PANHANDLE. ALSO...THIS AREA COINCIDED WITH THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF AN UPPER JET CORE FOUND TRAILING AN UPPER TROF FARTHER EAST. LARGE SCALE LIFT FARTHER SOUTH WAS NOT AS PRONOUNCED... HOWEVER IR IMAGERY WAS SHOWING AGITATED CLOUD GROWTH ACROSS ERN NM NEAR CLOVIS WITH ONE LONE TSRA AT 09Z. SURFACE PATTERN OVER THE CWA WAS HOST TO A MOIST E-SELY FLOW WITH A THETA-E AND MIXING RATIO RIDGE EVIDENT FROM LAMESA NORTHWEST TO NEAR CLOVIS. ALL MODELS ARE STRUGGLING WITH CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK UNDER THE CURRENT PATTERN...HOWEVER EARLIER RUNS OF THE HRRR WERE VERIFYING THE PRESENT ACTIVITY RATHER WELL. STRATEGY HERE FAVORS SOME CONVECTION MOVING INTO THE N-NWRN ZONES THIS MORNING BEFORE DECAYING BY LATE MORNING WITH THE LOSS OF THE LLJ. POPS BEYOND THIS TIME ARE HIGHLY UNCERTAIN GIVEN POTENTIAL FOR REMNANT COLD POOLS...CLOUD DEBRIS AND MESOSCALE BOUNDARIES-ONE OF WHICH IS LEFTOVER FROM LAST EVENING/S CONVECTION. ALSO...HEIGHTS AND TEMPS ALOFT WILL BE RISING THROUGHOUT THE DAY AHEAD OF THE UPPER RIDGE FURTHER COMPLICATING LIFT AND INSTABILITY. WITH MOISTURE REMAINING BACKED UP ALONG THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF NEW MEXICO...THIS REGION MAY BE THE MOST FAVORED FOR LATE AFTERNOON CI. IN SPITE OF THESE CONCERNS...WILL KEEP A BROAD MENTION OF CHANCE POPS LATER TODAY AND THIS EVENING WITH A CONDITIONAL THREAT FOR AN MCS DEVELOPING THIS EVENING AS THE LLJ RE-EMERGES. LONG TERM... TUESDAY CONTINUES TO LOOK FAIRLY ACTIVE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS FROM COLORADO ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO OUR AREA. DRYLINE WILL REMAIN ACROSS EASTERN NEW MEXICO OR ALONG THE TX/NM STATE LINE WITH DEEP MOISTURE PUSHING INTO THE REGION ON THE LLJ EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. MODEL FIELDS AND BUFKIT SOUNDINGS INDICATE A WEAK CAP WILL BE IN PLACE AS WELL TO HELP KEEP CONVECTION AT BAY UNTIL THE AFTERNOON. THIS IS A BIT OF A CONCERN AS A WEAK CAP MAY ALLOW SEVERAL STORMS TO DEVELOP AT ONCE AND SHEAR PROFILES WILL NOT BE QUITE AS GOOD AS LATER IN THE DAY. BULK 0-6 KM SHEAR VALUES ARE FAIRLY WEAK EARLY IN THE DAY...MODELS INDICATE THEY WILL IMPROVE AS THE S/W RIDGE SLIDES EAST AND SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW STARTS TO INCREASE IN THE MID- LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE. IF STORMS DO DEVELOP AND MANAGE TO HOLD ON INTO THE EVENING HOURS...BULK SHEAR VALUES RAPIDLY INCREASE AS THE LLJ STARTS TO DEVELOP. FEEL INITIALLY THAT STORMS MAY START TO DEVELOP ALONG THE DRY LINE OR ANY OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES THAT MANAGE TO REMAIN INTACT OVERNIGHT MONDAY INTO TUESDAY MORNING. AS THEY HEAD EAST INTO BETTER LOW LEVEL SHEAR AND MOISTURE...EXPECT COVERAGE AND INTENSITY TO BOTH INCREASE. HELD OFF MENTIONING SEVERE IN THE WEATHER GRIDS UNTIL WE CAN BETTER PINPOINT THREATS AND LOCATIONS BUT FULLY EXPECT THIS TO BE ADDED IN THE NEXT PACKAGE. WEDNESDAY CONTINUES TO HOLD AT LEAST A SLIM POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER...MAINLY ACROSS THE EASTERN ROLLING PLAINS. ALL MODELS CARRY THE DRYLINE EAST TO JUST OFF THE CAPROCK BUT DIFFER ON WHETHER THIS WILL BE A SHARP PASSAGE OR A BROAD ZONE OF DECREASING DEWPOINTS FROM WEST TO EAST. WITH THE CORE OF THE UPPER LEVEL LOW NOT QUITE FAR ENOUGH EAST TO HAVE THE ASSOCIATED BASE OF THE TROF EAST OF THE REGION...SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW LOOKS TO REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH THE DAY WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE ENOUGH FLOW TO SUPPORT DECENT STORM ORGANIZATION. IF THE NAM IS CORRECT... SURFACE FLOW ACROSS THE NORTHERN ROLLING PLAINS MIGHT BE BACKED ENOUGH TO SUPPORT ORGANIZED CONVECTION ALTHOUGH ATMOSPHERE IN POINT SOUNDINGS GOES UNCAPPED EARLY IN THE DAY BEFORE THE GREATEST AMOUNTS OF INSTABILITY COULD BE REALIZED BEFORE INITIATION. BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY WITH THE DRYLINE LOCATION AND HOW SHARP THE GRADIENT IS...OPTED TO GO AHEAD AND PULLED POPS BACK ONTO THE CAPROCK A BIT BUT STILL EAST OF LUBBOCK. UPPER LEVEL LOW FINALLY PUSHES EAST INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS BY THURSDAY WHICH SHOULD ALLOW ANOTHER WEAK COLD FRONT TO PUSH INTO THE AREA. ONCE AGAIN TOSSED THE GEM SOLUTION AS IT KEEPS THE LOW OVER NW OKLAHOMA WHILE THE GFS AND ECMWF ARE BOTH PROGRESSIVE WITH THE LOW. FRONT SHOULD HELP DROP PRECIP CHANCES FOR THE END OF THE WEEK WHILE ALSO COOLING TEMPS DOWN A FEW DEGREES. ALSO KEPT SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR PART OF THE FORECAST AREA FOR THE UPCOMING WEEKEND AS THE NEXT LOW WILL HAVE BEEN PUSHING TOWARDS THE REGION LATE IN THE WEEK. GFS DEVELOPS THE DRYLINE ACROSS THE ROLLING PLAINS WHILE THE ECMWF HAS IT FURTHER WEST ACROSS EASTERN NEW MEXICO. OPTED TO NOT CHANGE POPS TOO MUCH UNTIL WE SEE HOW THIS SYSTEM EVOLVES AND ALSO UNDERCUT MAX TEMP GUIDANCE FOR THE END OF THE FORECAST BY 2-3 DEGREES THROUGH THE WEEKEND IN CASE MOISTURE DOES INDEED RETURN TO THE AREA AND DRYLINE REMAINS EAST OF US. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FRIONA 77 55 82 56 79 / 60 30 30 30 10 TULIA 76 57 81 60 82 / 60 40 40 40 10 PLAINVIEW 77 58 82 60 85 / 50 40 40 40 10 LEVELLAND 79 59 83 59 87 / 40 40 30 30 10 LUBBOCK 80 60 82 60 88 / 40 40 30 40 10 DENVER CITY 82 60 89 58 88 / 30 40 20 20 10 BROWNFIELD 81 61 85 60 90 / 30 40 20 30 10 CHILDRESS 83 62 81 63 87 / 30 40 40 50 30 SPUR 81 61 86 62 90 / 30 40 30 40 20 ASPERMONT 84 62 89 64 89 / 30 40 30 40 20 && .LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && 93/14/93
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 600 AM CDT MON MAY 17 2010 TXZ021>044-181100- PARMER-CASTRO-SWISHER-BRISCOE-HALL-CHILDRESS-BAILEY-LAMB-HALE- FLOYD-MOTLEY-COTTLE-COCHRAN-HOCKLEY-LUBBOCK-CROSBY-DICKENS-KING- YOAKUM-TERRY-LYNN-GARZA-KENT-STONEWALL- 600 AM CDT MON MAY 17 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EXTREME SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE...SOUTH PLAINS AND ROLLING PLAINS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT CONVECTIVE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY ACROSS THE REGION. THE PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...HOWEVER AN ISOLATED TORNADO MAY BE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE AREA WIDE AGAIN TUESDAY AND THEN ACROSS THE ROLLING PLAINS ON WEDNESDAY. ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE POSSIBLE THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED EACH AFTERNOON AND EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY. JORDAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 705 AM CDT MON MAY 17 2010 TXZ022-171230- CASTRO- 705 AM CDT MON MAY 17 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWEST CASTRO COUNTY... AT 702 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DIMMITT...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND BRIEF BUT HEAVY DOWNPOURS THAT MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS. MCZ
The Lubbock radar (KLBB), 83 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:16 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail, 3 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Trained weather spotters reported quarter size hail in Hart. The hail was additionally accompanied by damaging thunderstorm winds.
Thunderstorm winds, accompanied by quarter size hail, destroyed a center pivot irrigation system southeast of Hart.
A storm chaser reported one to three inches of water over the intersection of US 70 and Interstate 27 in Plainview. One inch of rain had fallen during the previous hour at the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site at Plainview.
The Automated Weather Observing System at Plainview measured a wind gust to 58 mph. No damage was reported.
The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet station at Floydada measured a wind gust to 84 mph. There were several reports of storm damage in Floydada. The roof was damaged to the Floyd County Historical Museum as well as a gas station. Also, the building sustained water damage with several inches of standing water inside the building. A couple of semi-trailers were blown over in addition to several large tree limbs and power poles downed in Floydada. Snow plows were additionally deployed in Floydada to remove wind-blown and drifting small hail that covered roadways.
The emergency manager in Floydada reported widespread minor flooding in the city of Floydada. Several city streets had become impassable. The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Floydada reported over two inches of rainfall in less than two hours.
The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet station at Dickens measured a wind gust to 61 mph. There were reports of numerous large trees blown over as well as utility poles snapped in Dickens.
Trained weather spotters measured hail up to the size of quarters in Dickens. Nickel to quarter size hail also was accumulated two inches deep covering the road near the post office in Dickens.
Law enforcement officials reported standing water over several roads from heavy rainfall in the town of Dickens.
A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet station at Aspermont measured a gust to 60 mph. The winds were at times accompanied by large hail. No wind damage was reported.
Golf ball size hail was reported at the Texas State Highway Department in Aspermont. The Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet station in Aspermont sustained damage from wind-blown hail. At the mesonet station, all of the radiation shields were smashed, a 4 inch plastic rain gauge was broken, and the rim of a metal rain gauge was bent.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2010
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: 233628, 236069, 233629, 234915, 233633, 233635, 234917, 233636, 233637, 234918, 233798, 233805.