Despite marginal moisture characterized by dewpoints in the low 40s, ample wind shear and weak instability in upslope flow gave rise to scattered thunderstorms in far eastern New Mexico early this evening. One of these storms matured into a supercell that tracked from Portales, NM southeast to east of Morton and near Levelland early this night.
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.
Despite marginal moisture characterized by dewpoints in the low 40s, ample wind shear and weak instability in upslope flow gave rise to scattered thunderstorms in far eastern New Mexico early this evening. One of these storms matured into a supercell that tracked from Portales, NM southeast to east of Morton and near Levelland early this night. The only severe weather from this storm occurred in the form of quarter size hail and downburst winds as it transitioned into a linear multicell near Levelland. Additionally, power outages were reported near and around Levelland.
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 6, 7:53 PM CST, 53 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 853 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013 .UPDATE... WE HAVE RAISED POPS ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN SOUTH PLAINS THROUGH MIDNIGHT FOR THE SCATTERED TSTM ACTIVITY MOVING SEWD FROM THE WEST. ONE STRONG STORM CELL CONTINUES TO SHOW SIGNS OF MID-LVL ROTATION OVER SRN BAILEY/NRN COCHRAN COUNTIES. WHILE INSTABILITY WANES QUICKLY TO THE EAST AND WITH LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING...THE STRENGTHENING LLJ IS MAINTAINING THIS ACTIVITY. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 644 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013/ AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE PERIOD. HOWEVER...THERE IS AN OUTSIDE CHANCE THAT -TSRA ACTIVITY CURRENTLY IN ERN NM WILL APPROACH KLBB AFTER 01 UTC AND ALSO KCDS LATER TONIGHT. WE/VE ADDED A CB MENTION TO KLBB FOR THIS POTENTIAL. OTHERWISE...A STRONG LLJ JET WILL DEVELOP OVER THE CAPROCK TONIGHT...BUT WE ANTICIPATE THAT SURFACE WINDS AT KLBB WILL REMAIN HIGH ENOUGH TO KEEP LLWS OUT OF THE TAF. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 340 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013/ SHORT TERM... LIGHT SHOWER BAND CONTINUING TO EDGE THROUGH CENTRAL INTO EASTERN SOUTH PLAINS LATE THIS AFTERNOON ASSOCIATED WITH MODEST LIFT FROM A MID LEVEL IMPULSE. LATEST SHORT RANGE SOLUTIONS SHOW A LITTLE MORE SURVIVAL OF SHOWERS OR EVEN ISOLATED THUNDER POTENTIAL INTO EASTERN ZONES EARLY THIS EVENING. BACK WEST...SKIES CLEARING ALONG STATE LINE AND LAPS SURFACE BASED CAPES STARTING TO BUILD IN ADVANCE OF A MORE PRONOUNCED UPPER LEVEL TROUGH EJECTING FROM CENTRAL NEW MEXICO TOWARDS THE WESTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE. SHORT RANGE SOLUTIONS ALSO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP LOW COVERAGE SHOWERS OR THUNDER NEAR THE STATE LINE EARLY THIS EVENING...THEN SLOWLY DISSIPATING AS THEY MOVE TO THE EAST INTO THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN SOUTH PLAINS WHERE A CONFUSED COOL AND STABLE AIRMASS WILL CONFLICT WITH A DEVELOPING LOW LEVEL JET WHICH MAY OFFER SMALL POTENTIAL TO BRIEFLY ENERGIZE SOME OF THE EARLY EVENING ACTIVITY. TRICKY TO TRY TO SEPARATE FEATURES AND FAVORED PRECIPITATION TYPE SO GENERALIZED WITH SLIGHT CHANCE THUNDER THIS EVENING...SHRINKING TO NORTHERN-MOST ZONES LATER TONIGHT AS WAVE SKIRTS BY JUST TO THE NORTH. UPPER HEIGHTS WILL REBUILD FOLLOWING THE UPPER TROUGH PASSAGE LATER TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY WITH SURFACE DRY-LINE STARTING TUESDAY MORNING OVER THE WESTERN SOUTH PLAINS BEFORE EDGING OR MIXING INTO CENTRAL OR EASTERN SOUTH PLAINS BY AFTERNOON. UPPER HEIGHTS MAY LOWER ENOUGH BY THEN WITH A POSSIBLE WEAK IMPULSE EJECTING FROM SOUTHERN ROCKIES FOR A LOW CHANCE OF THUNDER NEAR THE SOMEWHAT BROAD DRY-LINE...FEW CHANGES IN PREVIOUS THINKING. MUCH MORE SUN EXPECTED EARLY TUESDAY WILL HELP WARM TEMPERATURES FINALLY BACK INTO THE LOWER OR MIDDLE 80S FOR MOST OF THE AREA. RMCQUEEN LONG TERM... SOMEWHAT UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL BE THE MODE FOR MUCH OF EXTENDED AS THE UPPER LOW CURRENTLY CENTERED OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST TRANSLATES SLOWLY EASTWARD AND PROVIDES WEST TEXAS WITH A PROLONGED PERIOD OF SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. IN ADVANCE OF THE UPPER LOW...A DRYLINE WILL FURTHER SHARPEN ON WEDNESDAY...LIKELY MIXING OFF THE CAPROCK BY PEAK HEATING WHEN IT COULD BE THE FOCUS FOR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED CONVECTION. MODERATE INSTABILITY AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR EAST OF THE DRYLINE WOULD SUPPORT STORM ORGANIZATION AND A SEVERE WEATHER THREAT...WHEREAS TO THE WEST OF THE DRYLINE TOASTY...DRY AND BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL ELEVATE THE FIRE DANGER. LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE WILL SHIFT EVEN FURTHER EAST ON THURSDAY AS THE SW FLOW ALOFT STRENGTHENS...BUT A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL ALSO MAKE HEADWAY SOUTHWARD INTO THE REGION...PERHAPS EVEN INTO THE SOUTH PLAINS IF THE MORE AGGRESSIVE NAM IS CORRECT. IT CURRENTLY APPEARS CONVECTIVE CHANCES ALONG THE DRYLINE THURSDAY AFTERNOON WILL RESIDE TO THE EAST OF THE FA...THOUGH MOISTENING POST-FRONTAL WINDS COUPLED WITH THE SLOWLY APPROACHING UPPER TROUGH COULD INCREASE SHOWER/STORM CHANCES IN THE UPSLOPE REGIME. THIS WOULD FAVOR THE PANHANDLES DURING THE DAY THURSDAY...THOUGH RAIN CHANCES COULD BE ON THE RISE LOCALLY THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY...PERHAPS EVEN LINGERING INTO SATURDAY IF THE 12Z GFS IS CORRECT. THIS WILL BE CONTINGENT ON HOW THE WESTERN STORM SYSTEM EVOLVES. MEDIUM RANGE NWP GENERALLY AGREE THAT A PORTION OF THE WESTERN TROUGH/LOW WILL LIFT PAST TO OUR NORTH LATE WEEK WHILE RESIDUAL TROUGHINESS REMAINS TO OUR WEST OR SOUTHWEST THROUGH AT LEAST THE FIRST HALF OF THE WEEKEND. IF THE UA TROUGH IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE LIFT OVER THE COOLER/MOISTURE POST-FRONTAL AIRMASS THIS COULD KEEP PRECIPITATION CHANCES IN THE FORECAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...THOUGH THE LATEST ECMWF QUICKLY SAGS THE BULK OF THE ENERGY TOO FAR TO OUR SOUTHWEST...LEAVING THE SOUTH PLAINS DRY BEYOND FRIDAY. ATTM...HAVE CHOSEN TO MAINTAIN SLIGHT CHANCE POPS ON SATURDAY WHILE ALSO ADDING A MINIMAL THUNDER MENTION ON FRIDAY. A STRONGER REINFORCING COLD FRONT IS THEN PROGGED TO MOVE THROUGH LATE SATURDAY BEHIND A POTENT TROUGH DIVING FROM CENTRAL CANADA INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION. THIS FRONT WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES COOL WHILE ALSO ADVECTING IN DRIER AIR AT THE LOWER LEVELS. A REX BLOCK PATTERN MAY THEN TAKE SHAPE EARLY NEXT WEEK AS AN UPPER RIDGE BUILDS FROM THE CENTRAL ROCKIES INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS WHILE RESIDUAL TROUGHINESS LINGERS OVER NORTHERN MEXICO. THIS WOULD PROVIDE WARMER AND DRY WEATHER EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FRIONA 46 82 50 81 47 / 30 10 10 10 10 TULIA 46 83 55 85 50 / 40 20 10 10 10 PLAINVIEW 49 83 57 87 50 / 40 20 10 10 10 LEVELLAND 49 84 53 87 50 / 40 10 10 10 10 LUBBOCK 51 84 58 89 51 / 30 20 10 10 10 DENVER CITY 48 84 50 86 53 / 20 10 10 10 10 BROWNFIELD 48 85 54 88 53 / 20 10 10 10 10 CHILDRESS 53 86 57 90 56 / 20 20 20 20 20 SPUR 52 86 60 92 56 / 20 20 20 20 10 ASPERMONT 52 88 60 93 58 / 20 20 20 20 20 && .LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && 33
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 1157 AM CDT MON MAY 6 2013 TXZ021>044-071700- PARMER-CASTRO-SWISHER-BRISCOE-HALL-CHILDRESS-BAILEY-LAMB-HALE- FLOYD-MOTLEY-COTTLE-COCHRAN-HOCKLEY-LUBBOCK-CROSBY-DICKENS-KING- YOAKUM-TERRY-LYNN-GARZA-KENT-STONEWALL- 1157 AM CDT MON MAY 6 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EXTREME SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE...SOUTH PLAINS AND ROLLING PLAINS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE...WILL BE POSSIBLE BOTH TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
808 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013
TXZ027-033-070145-
BAILEY-COCHRAN-
808 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR COCHRAN AND BAILEY COUNTIES...
AT 808 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF MORTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 25 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS SPEEDS UP TO 40 MPH...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...AND BRIEF MODERATE DOWNPOURS ARE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.
LAT...LON 3419 10304 3419 10303 3398 10261 3371 10261
3363 10275 3364 10305
TIME...MOT...LOC 0108Z 308DEG 23KT 3401 10312SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 822 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013 TXZ021-022-070145- CASTRO-PARMER- 822 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN PORTIONS OF CASTRO AND PARMER COUNTIES... AT 820 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTH CENTRAL PARMER COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. WINDS SPEEDS UP TO 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING... BRIEF MODERATE DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING DATA SHOWS FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WITH THIS STORM. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. LAT...LON 3475 10231 3461 10235 3469 10278 3475 10277 TIME...MOT...LOC 0122Z 275DEG 23KT 3471 10268 MRC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
852 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013
TXZ027-028-033-034-070215-
BAILEY-COCHRAN-HOCKLEY-LAMB-
852 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR COCHRAN...HOCKLEY...LAMB AND
BAILEY COUNTIES...
AT 852 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF MORTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 30 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS SPEEDS UP TO 40 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...AND BRIEF MODERATE DOWNPOURS ARE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.
LAT...LON 3368 10304 3382 10304 3404 10288 3403 10274
3391 10254 3379 10244 3356 10273 3361 10305
3368 10305
TIME...MOT...LOC 0152Z 299DEG 27KT 3386 10289SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
926 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013
TXZ027-028-033-034-070300-
BAILEY-COCHRAN-HOCKLEY-LAMB-
926 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR COCHRAN...HOCKLEY...LAMB AND
BAILEY COUNTIES...
AT 239 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM STRETCHING FROM RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHWESTERN LAMB
COUNTY TO NEAR LEHMAN...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS SPEEDS UP TO 40 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...AND BRIEF MODERATE DOWNPOURS ARE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.
LAT...LON 3397 10238 3376 10223 3342 10261 3376 10293
3402 10260
TIME...MOT...LOC 0223Z 305DEG 25KT 3377 10266SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
927 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013
TXZ027-028-033-034-070300-
BAILEY-COCHRAN-HOCKLEY-LAMB-
927 PM CDT MON MAY 6 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR COCHRAN...HOCKLEY...LAMB AND
BAILEY COUNTIES...
AT 923 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM STRETCHING FROM RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHWESTERN LAMB
COUNTY TO NEAR LEHMAN...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS SPEEDS UP TO 40 MPH...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING...AND BRIEF MODERATE DOWNPOURS ARE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED.
LAT...LON 3397 10238 3376 10223 3342 10261 3376 10293
3402 10260
TIME...MOT...LOC 0223Z 305DEG 25KT 3377 10266The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A storm chaser reported quarter size hail at the intersection of Highway 114 and Farm to Market Road 303. No damage was reported.
A storm chaser estimated a wind gust to 65 mph three miles east of Anton. No damage was reported.
A storm chaser estimated a wind gust to 67 mph five miles north-northeast of Brownfield. No damage was reported.
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: 440201, 440203, 440204.