During the late evening of the 28th, a dryline retreated westward across Deaf Smith County as the nocturnal low level jet transported moisture from the Gulf of Mexico northwestward. A near stationary discrete supercell formed along this retreating dryline and produced copious amounts of large hail and brief periods of heavy rain.
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 AMA wrote it up.
During the late evening of the 28th, a dryline retreated westward across Deaf Smith County as the nocturnal low level jet transported moisture from the Gulf of Mexico northwestward. A near stationary discrete supercell formed along this retreating dryline and produced copious amounts of large hail and brief periods of heavy rain. The large hail clogged drainage systems which caused localized flooding in Deaf Smith County. Flooded areas were contained to low lying areas and did not affect roadways. The flood waters quickly receded once the supercell moved northeast out of the area and the drainage systems became unclogged. No injuries, high water rescues, or fatalities were associated with this localized flooding.
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 28, 5:02 PM CST, 2 hours 39 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 602 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013 .AVIATION... A STATIONARY FRONT NEAR THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE AND A DRYLINE EXTENDING FROM THE FRONT IN THE EASTERN OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE SOUTHWEST INTO THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS PANHANDLE WILL PRODUCE SCATTERED CONVECTION MAINLY AFFECTING THE AMARILLO TAF SITE THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY. VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OUTSIDE OF THE CONVECTION. SOUTHERLY TO SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS 15 TO 25 KNOTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS EXCEPT WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 KNOTS OR GREATER NEAR THE CONVECTION. SCHNEIDER && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 236 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013/ DISCUSSION... WE HAVE A LOT OF INTERESTING FEATURES ACROSS THE PANHANDLES THIS AFTERNOON. A DRYLINE WAS RETREATING NORTHWESTWARD ACROSS THE NORTHWEST THIRD OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE. A STATIONARY FRONT WAS FOUND EAST/WEST ACROSS THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE. A JET STREAK IN THE UPPER LEVELS WAS APPROACHING THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS PANHANDLE FROM THE SOUTHWEST. ALL OF THESE FEATURES WILL PROBABLY HELP THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. SOME OF THE STORMS WILL LIKELY BE SEVERE WITH THE GREATEST THREAT ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE PANHANDLES. NOCTURNAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WOULD NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION AFTER MIDNIGHT AS THE MAIN UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE APPROACHES FROM CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. HAVE ADDED SOME POPS FURTHER WEST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE FOR THIS POSSIBILITY. THE DRYLINE IS EXPECTED MOVE INTO THE EASTERN OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS PANHANDLES BY THUNDERSTORM INITIATION TIME WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THE DRYLINE ENDS UP FURTHER EAST THAN WHAT THE CURRENT MODELS SHOW GIVEN THE STRENGTHENING WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT AS THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH TRANSLATES ACROSS THE REGION. AGAIN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN THREATS. WILL KEEP THE FORECAST DRY FROM THURSDAY ONWARD AS A DRIER AIR MASS FILTERS ACROSS THE PANHANDLES. FIRE WEATHER... ANY ELEVATED OR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR WEDNESDAY WILL BE CONDITIONAL ON HOW MUCH AND HOW WIDESPREAD THE RAIN IS TONIGHT... SO WILL HOLD OFF ON ANY FIRE WEATHER WATCHES FOR NOW. IF WE DO NOT SEE MUCH RAIN...THEN AREAS WEST OF A GUYMON TO AMARILLO LINE COULD SEE CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON WEDNESDAY. ELEVATED TO NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE WEST AND CENTRAL PANHANDLES ON THURSDAY...BUT THE WINDS WILL BE LIGHTER. THE WINDS MAY BE A BIT STRONGER ON FRIDAY ALONG WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES BELOW 20 PERCENT. && .AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. OK...NONE. && 11/08
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 308 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-290815- CIMARRON-TEXAS-BEAVER-DALLAM-SHERMAN-HANSFORD-OCHILTREE-LIPSCOMB- HARTLEY-MOORE-HUTCHINSON-ROBERTS-HEMPHILL-OLDHAM-POTTER-CARSON- GRAY-WHEELER-DEAF SMITH-RANDALL-ARMSTRONG-DONLEY-COLLINGSWORTH- 308 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS...SOME SEVERE...WILL BE SCATTERED ACROSS THE PANHANDLES TONIGHT. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND LOCALIZED FLOODING ARE THE MAIN HAZARDS. AN ISOLATED TORNADO CAN ALSO NOT BE RULED OUT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE MAIN THREATS. ELEVATED TO NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL PANHANDLES WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE LIKELY THIS EVENING. AREA FIRE MANAGERS AND EMERGENCY OFFICIALS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE ELEVATED OR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. GOEHRING
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
813 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 PM HAIL 10 N BOOTLEG 34.97N 102.81W
05/28/2013 E2.00 INCH DEAF SMITH TX NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300492
LGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
818 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0658 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E ELMWOOD 36.62N 100.48W
05/28/2013 BEAVER OK EMERGENCY MNGR
8 POWER POLES DOWN
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300493
FENNERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
822 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 6 SW BEAVER 36.75N 100.59W
05/28/2013 BEAVER OK EMERGENCY MNGR
TREE DOWN AND BLOCKING ROAD.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300494
FENNERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
826 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0730 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG BEAVER 36.81N 100.52W
05/28/2013 BEAVER OK EMERGENCY MNGR
NUMEROUS REPORTS OF TREE BRANCHES DOWN UP TO 4 INCHES
IN DIAMETER.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300495
FENNERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
834 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0818 PM HAIL 7 W SIMMS 35.03N 102.78W
05/28/2013 M1.25 INCH DEAF SMITH TX STORM CHASER
HAIL COVERING THE ROAD 2 INCHES DEEP.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300496
LGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
840 PM CDT TUE MAY 28 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0832 PM HAIL 15 S ADRIAN 35.06N 102.66W
05/28/2013 M1.50 INCH DEAF SMITH TX STORM CHASER
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300497
FENNERThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
The Emergency Manager for Deaf Smith County reported that hail up to the size of tennis balls (2.00 inches) was covering the ground and roadways. The hail clogged drainage systems which caused fields along the road to become flooded. The flood waters did not impact the roads and quickly receded once the drainage systems unclogged.
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, May 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: 459205.