A wake low developed after a left moving supercell moved across the southern Texas Panhandle during the evening hours of the 20th. This wake low caused an extremely tight surface pressure gradient that allowed several non-thunderstorm related high wind gusts across the southern Texas Panhandle.
Every event with a place to put it; 18 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 AMA wrote it up.
A wake low developed after a left moving supercell moved across the southern Texas Panhandle during the evening hours of the 20th. This wake low caused an extremely tight surface pressure gradient that allowed several non-thunderstorm related high wind gusts across the southern Texas Panhandle. These gusts ranged from 56 mph to 72 mph, and lasted from 730 PM CST to 10:50 PM CST. One such wind gust knocked out a transmission pole which caused near 7,600 Xcel Energy customers to be without power for several hours in Amarillo (Potter and Randall County), Canyon (Randall County), and Bushland (Potter County). The winds created low visibilities on Interstate 40 which was eventually closed from Farm-to-Market Road 1912 (Potter County) to Mile marker 88 in Carson County. An estimated 60 mph gust caused power poles to be blown down on Farm-to-Market Road 2186 and Hope Road in Amarillo (Randall County) at 8:00 PM CST. An estimated 65mph wind gust caused trees to be blown onto roads in the San Jacinto neighborhood in Amarillo (Potter County) at 9:00 PM CST. An estimated 67 mph wind gust around 9:15 PM CST blew a shed into an adjacent yard on the southwest side of Amarillo (Randall County). At 10:30 PM CST, and estimated 62 mph wind gusts blew a carport over in Groom (Carson County). Another wind gust in Carson County at 10:45PM CST caused a train derailment and a rollover accident involving a semi-tractor trailer at 10:50 PM CST. The gust which caused the train derailment was estimated to be 81 mph by a National Weather Service survey team, and caused 42 cars of the train to be overturned. No injuries or hazardous material release was reported in association to the train derailment, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway crews worked through the night and into the following morning to erect the overturned cars. The gust which caused the train derailment continued to move southeast across the county and caused a rollover accident 16 miles southeast of Panhandle (Carson County) at 10:50 PM CST. By this point the gust had diminished to 60 mph. The driver of the semi-tractor trailer was injured due to the accident and was taken to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo (Potter County). After having the injuries treated, the driver was released from the hospital. By 11 PM CST, the wake low had diminished which prevented from any further high wind gusts from occurring.
The following is a listing of the highest wind gust per location across the southern Texas Panhandle by county.|Randall:2 northeast of Lake Tanglewood 64 mph; 4 north-northwest of Lake Tanglewood 66 mph; 6 southwest of Amarillo 70 mph; 9 southwest of Amarillo 60 mph; 5 miles west-southwest of Amarillo 58 mph; 5 miles south-southwest of Amarillo 72 mph; 6 south-southwest of Amarillo 67 mph. |Potter: 6 miles east-northeast of Amarillo 61 mph; 5 miles west of Amarillo 67 mph; 2 miles west-northwest of Amarillo 65 mph; 1 miles west of Amarillo 62 mph; 6 miles west-northwest of Amarillo 62 mph; 6 miles west of Amarillo 63 mph; 3 miles northwest of Amarillo 65 mph.|Deaf Smith: 5 miles east-northeast of Hereford 69 mph.|Oldham: 2 miles east-southeast Wildorado 58 mph.|Carson: in Groom 62 mph; in Panhandle 81 mph; 16 miles southeast of Panhandle 60 mph.
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 Jun 20, 5:14 PM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 614 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013 .AVIATION... 00Z TAF CYCLE SOUTHWESTERLY UPPER FLOW ALONG WITH SOME DISTURBANCES IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE MOVING ACROSS THE PANHANDLES WILL ALLOW FOR SOME ISOLATED TO SCATTERED CONVECTION THIS EVENING...MAINLY AFFECTING EITHER OR BOTH OF THE AMARILLO AND DALHART TAF SITES. CONFIDENCE TOO LOW AT THIS TIME TO FORECAST AT EITHER TAF SITE...SO WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR CLOSELY AND UPDATE IF NECESSARY. OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED WITH SOUTHERLY WINDS 15 TO 25 KNOTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS DIMINISHING AFTER 02Z TO 04Z FRIDAY TO AROUND 10 TO 20 KNOTS WITH SOME GUSTS...THEN INCREASING AGAIN AFTER 14Z TO 15Z FRIDAY TO AROUND 15 TO 25 KNOTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SCHNEIDER && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 239 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013/ DISCUSSION... SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING OVER SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO INTO THE WESTERN SOUTH PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON. THIS AREA OF PRECIPITATION WAS IN THE CORRIDOR OF BEST INSTABILITY AND MOISTURE WHICH STRETCHES FROM SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO INTO THE SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS PANHANDLE...SO WOULD EXPECT THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP NORTHEAST INTO OUR AREA. A SURFACE TROUGH ACROSS THE WESTERN PANHANDLES MAY ALSO SERVE AS A FOCUS FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SPOTTY AREAS OF RAIN MAY LAST THROUGH THE NIGHT...MAINLY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS PANHANDLE AS THE LOW LEVEL JET DEVELOPS OVERNIGHT. THE PANHANDLES WILL BE UNDER A SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK. A LARGE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL REMAIN OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST OR JUST TO THE WEST AND A LARGE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT WILL STRETCH FROM SOUTHWEST TEXAS INTO THE MID ATLANTIC. SEVERAL DISTURBANCES WILL MOVE THROUGH THIS SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AND THESE WILL INTERACT WITH A SURFACE TROUGH AND LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TO HELP SPARK SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY THROUGH SUNDAY. BY MONDAY...UPPER LEVEL HEIGHTS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE WHICH COULD CAP OUR ATMOSPHERE KEEPING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AT BAY. BY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY THE UPPER HIGH WILL PUSH BACK TO THE WEST AND WILL BE NEARING THE ARIZONA/NEW MEXICO STATE LINE BY WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE GENERALLY ABOVE NORMAL DURING THIS FORECAST WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER 90S TO AROUND 100 AND LOWS IN THE 60S. FIRE WEATHER... ELEVATED OR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE WINDS WILL GET OVER 20 MPH MOST DAYS...BUT THE LOWEST AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO STAY ABOVE 20 PERCENT FOR MOST OF THE AREA. EVEN WHERE THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY GETS BELOW 20 PERCENT...THE GREEN UP SHOULD KEEP ELEVATED OR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT BAY. && .AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. OK...NONE. && 11/08
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 306 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-210815- CIMARRON-TEXAS-BEAVER-DALLAM-SHERMAN-HANSFORD-OCHILTREE-LIPSCOMB- HARTLEY-MOORE-HUTCHINSON-ROBERTS-HEMPHILL-OLDHAM-POTTER-CARSON- GRAY-WHEELER-DEAF SMITH-RANDALL-ARMSTRONG-DONLEY-COLLINGSWORTH- 306 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE PANHANDLES TONIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE. THE MAIN HAZARDS WILL BE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF HALF DOLLARS AND WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 60 MPH. HEAVY RAIN MAY ALSO CAUSE LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE PANHANDLES FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN HAZARDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... LIMITED SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT. GOEHRING
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
804 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0755 PM TSTM WND GST 2 WNW HEREFORD 34.83N 102.43W
06/20/2013 M65 MPH DEAF SMITH TX MESONET
WEST TEXAS MESONET
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300672
JMGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
808 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 PM HAIL 6 S AMARILLO 35.12N 101.82W
06/20/2013 M0.88 INCH RANDALL TX PUBLIC
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300673
JMGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 808 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013 TXZ013-017>019-210215- ARMSTRONG TX-CARSON TX-DONLEY TX-RANDALL TX- 808 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN ARMSTRONG...SOUTHEASTERN CARSON...EASTERN RANDALL AND WESTERN DONLEY COUNTIES UNTIL 915 PM CDT... AT 803 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PALO DURO CANYON...OR 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CANYON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... CLAUDE... PALO DURO CANYON... GOODNIGHT... THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS... AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. LAT...LON 3526 10117 3501 10103 3478 10177 3495 10186 TIME...MOT...LOC 0108Z 245DEG 25KT 3490 10171 SCHNEIDER
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
813 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0745 PM HAIL 7 SW AMARILLO 35.13N 101.91W
06/20/2013 E1.50 INCH RANDALL TX BROADCAST MEDIA
PUBLIC REPORT THROUGH MEDIA
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300674
JMGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
816 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0755 PM HAIL 6 SW AMARILLO 35.15N 101.89W
06/20/2013 M1.00 INCH RANDALL TX NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300675
BUFFALOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
820 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0750 PM HAIL 8 ESE BUSHLAND 35.14N 101.94W
06/20/2013 M0.88 INCH RANDALL TX NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300676
BUFFALOThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
18 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
KVII Schoolnet site at River Falls Airport remported 58 mph gusts.
The West Texas Mesonet site at Amarillo 7SSE reported a 62 mph gust.
NWS employee reported 70 mph gust at residence 6 SW Amarillo.
The West Texas Mesonet at Amarillo 7SSE reported 66 mph gust.
The KVII Schoolnet site at Amarillo High School reproted 58 mph gust.
The KVII Schoolnet site at Duke Electric reproted 72 mph gust.
NWS employee reported that their shed was blown down by 67 mph gust.
The KVII Schoolnet site at River Falls Airport reported 64 mph gust.
The Amarillo ASOS reported 61 mph gust.
The KVII Schoolnet site at the Discovery Center reported a 67 mph gust.
Trees blown over onto neighborhood road. Estimated based on damage and near by reports.
The KVII schoolnet site at De Zavala Middle School reported a 62 mph gust.
The KVII schoolnet site at Filmore reported a 58 mph gust.
The KVII schoolnet site at Lifestar Operations reported a 63 mph gust.
The KVII schoolnet site at Carver Elementary reported a 65 mph gust.
The public in Groom reported a carport was blown down. Gust estimated at 62 mph from damage and near by reports.
A train redailed from a estimated 81 mph gust.
A semi-tractor trailer rolled-over due to a 60 mph gust and caused one injury.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, June 2013
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: 463543, 463545, 463546, 463547, 463548, 463549, 463550, 463551, 463554, 463555, 463556, 463557, 463558, 463559, 463560, 463561, 463563, 463564.