An elongated mid-level trough positioned from the Midwest to the Baja Peninsula provided the large scale forcing to help numerous thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon and evening hours of the 9th. Residual surface outflow boundaries also provided low level forcing to allow developing thunderstorms obtain access to marginal to moderate elevated instability across the Texas Panhandle.
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.
An elongated mid-level trough positioned from the Midwest to the Baja Peninsula provided the large scale forcing to help numerous thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon and evening hours of the 9th. Residual surface outflow boundaries also provided low level forcing to allow developing thunderstorms obtain access to marginal to moderate elevated instability across the Texas Panhandle. While the Precipitable Water value on the 9th was about average for early May, several reports of heavy rain were reported in and around Amarillo (Potter and Randall County). This heavy rain led to localized flooding of flood prone roads across southern and central Amarillo (Potter and Randall County). Precipitation across the Texas Panhandle ended prior to 9 PM CST due to the upper level forcing progressing to the east.
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 9, 5:38 PM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 638 PM CDT THU MAY 9 2013 .UPDATE... UPDATED FOR 00Z AVIATION DISCUSSION. && .AVIATION... FOR KAMA...GENERALLY VFR CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS WITH EXCEPTION OF SOME MVFR TO POTENTIALLY IFR CEILINGS DEVELOPING JUST AFTER SUNRISE/11Z THROUGH ABOUT 15Z. DECIDED NOT TO INCLUDE ANY MENTION OF VCTS OR -RA FOR KAMA AS DEVELOPMENT LOOKS TO REMAIN EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE PANHANDLES BUT OVER KAMA. FOR KGUY AND KDHT...VCTS AND EVEN SOME -RA WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH 03Z...BEFORE DISSIPATING. MVFR CEILING DEVELOPMENT CONFIDENCE IS NOT AS HIGH...BUT DID INCLUDE MVFR SCT CLOUDS BETWEEN 12-15Z. OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. KNS && .DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 315 PM CDT THU MAY 9 2013/ NOT TOO MANY CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO FORECAST. HAVE INCREASED POPS THIS EVENING ACROSS EASTERN SECTIONS...WHERE DEEPER MOISTURE AND HIGHER INSTABILITY REMAIN IN PLACE. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FORECAST FOR ALL OF FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING...AS SECONDARY COOL SURGE ENHANCES LOW-LEVEL CONVERGENCE AS IT DROPS SOUTHWARD. MID- AND UPPER-LEVEL FLOW WILL TRANSITION TO NORTHWEST EARLY THIS EVENING AS SHORTWAVE TROF ARRIVES. HAVE EXTENDED LOW POPS PAST MIDNIGHT AS ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCES MOVE IN FROM THE NORTHWEST. NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS ON FRIDAY WILL HOLD TEMPERATURES BELOW 80 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT ALL SECTIONS. HAVE RETAINED LOW POPS FOR WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE FORECAST AREA...WHERE SLIGHTLY RICHER MOISTURE WILL BE IN PLACE NEAR RESIDUAL BOUNDARY. FRIDAY NIGHT STILL LOOKS TO BE DRY AS WEAK FLOW EXPECTED AT ALL LEVELS. HAVE REMOVED POPS FROM SATURDAY...AS MID-LEVEL ANTICYLONIC FLOW SETS UP AND STRENGTHENS. PLEASANT WEATHER EXPECTED ON SATURDAY AS LIGHT NORTHEAST WINDS HOLD TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S. REMAINING PERIODS EXPECTED TO BE DRY...AS NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT PREVAILS THROUGH MONDAY...WITH WEAK MID-LEVEL FLOW THEREAFTER. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT IN DEVELOPING WEAK 500 MB LOW OR TROF ON TUESDAY...WHICH COULD RESULT IN INCREASING CLOUDS ACROSS EASTERN ZONES. SOUTHWEST LOW-LEVEL FLOW SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY SHOULD HELP TEMPERATURES RISE WELL INTO THE 80S AND LOWER 90S BY MONDAY AND TUESDAY. CONTINUED VERY WARM EXPECTED WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. 03 COCKRELL && .FIRE WEATHER... NO ELEVATED OR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH MONDAY. ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP ON TUESDAY AS RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES FALL BELOW 20 PERCENT ACROSS THE NORTHWEST HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA. 03 && .AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. OK...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 330 PM CDT THU MAY 9 2013 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-101115- CIMARRON-TEXAS-BEAVER-DALLAM-SHERMAN-HANSFORD-OCHILTREE-LIPSCOMB- HARTLEY-MOORE-HUTCHINSON-ROBERTS-HEMPHILL-OLDHAM-POTTER-CARSON- GRAY-WHEELER-DEAF SMITH-RANDALL-ARMSTRONG-DONLEY-COLLINGSWORTH- 330 PM CDT THU MAY 9 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. .DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS ALL OF THE PANHANDLES. A FEW STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE THROUGH 10 PM FOR LOCATIONS SOUTH AND EAST OF A BEAVER TO CLAUDE LINE. THE PRIMARY HAZARDS WITH ANY STORMS WILL BE LARGE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PING PONG BALLS AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE COMBINED PANHANDLES ON FRIDAY. A FEW STORMS COULD BE STRONG WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS BEING THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THROUGH THIS EVENING. AREA FIRE MANAGERS AND EMERGENCY OFFICIALS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON TUESDAY. COCKRELL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 643 PM CDT THU MAY 9 2013 TXZ009-100030- ROBERTS TX- 643 PM CDT THU MAY 9 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ROBERTS COUNTY UNTIL 730 PM CDT... AT 639 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 15 MILES NORTHWEST OF CODMAN...OR 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF MIAMI...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... MIAMI... CODMAN... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. LAT...LON 3604 10106 3602 10063 3565 10060 3562 10107 TIME...MOT...LOC 2341Z 280DEG 9KT 3586 10092 ANDRADE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 719 PM CDT THU MAY 9 2013 TXZ009-014-100100- GRAY TX-ROBERTS TX- 719 PM CDT THU MAY 9 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ROBERTS AND GRAY COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT... AT 716 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 3 MILES EAST OF CODMAN...OR 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MIAMI...AND ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM JUST SOUTH OF LEFORS...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... PAMPA... MIAMI... MCLEAN... LEFORS... LAKE MCCLELLAN... CODMAN... ALANREED... THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 40 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 133 AND 145. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. LAT...LON 3600 10057 3521 10056 3522 10098 3604 10103 TIME...MOT...LOC 0018Z 280DEG 9KT 3563 10069 ANDRADE
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
724 PM CDT THU MAY 09 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0723 PM HAIL LEFORS 35.44N 100.80W
05/09/2013 E1.75 INCH GRAY TX EMERGENCY MNGR
QUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL COVERING THE GROUND.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300430
KRAUSESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 738 PM CDT THU MAY 9 2013 TXZ017-100115- RANDALL TX- 738 PM CDT THU MAY 9 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN RANDALL COUNTY UNTIL 815 PM CDT... AT 735 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF HAPPY...OR 13 MILES SOUTH OF CANYON...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... CANYON... PALO DURO CANYON... THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 27 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 92 AND 107. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. LAT...LON 3500 10168 3476 10163 3475 10212 3499 10206 TIME...MOT...LOC 0038Z 185DEG 16KT 3481 10190 ANDRADE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 742 PM CDT THU MAY 9 2013 TXZ007-100115- MOORE TX- 742 PM CDT THU MAY 9 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL MOORE COUNTY UNTIL 815 PM CDT... AT 740 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES WEST OF DUMAS...MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... DUMAS... SUNRAY... FOUR WAY... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. LAT...LON 3603 10213 3602 10178 3569 10175 3565 10217 TIME...MOT...LOC 0043Z 214DEG 8KT 3587 10209 ANDRADE
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
759 PM CDT THU MAY 09 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0741 PM HAIL LEFORS 35.44N 100.80W
05/09/2013 E1.75 INCH GRAY TX TRAINED SPOTTER
HAIL STARTED OUT AS PEA SIZE AND THE STORM IS CURRENTLY
PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1300432
KRAUSEThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorms developed over Amarillo shortly before 7:30 PM CST. These thunderstorms lasted for a half hour and produced brief heavy rain. The KVII studio in downtown Amarillo (Potter County) reported 0.41 inches of heavy rain in association with these thunderstorms. No reports of street flooding accompanied this report.
Thunderstorms developed over Amarillo shortly before 7:30 PM CST. These thunderstorms lasted for a half hour and produced brief heavy rain. The KVII schoolnet site at Cornado Elementary School (Potter County) reported 0.83 inches of heavy rain in association with these thunderstorms. No reports of street flooding accompanied this report.
Thunderstorms developed over Amarillo shortly before 7:30 PM CST. These thunderstorms lasted for a half hour and produced brief heavy rain. The KVII schoolnet site at Bonham Middle School (Potter County) reported 0.50 inches of heavy rain in association with these thunderstorms. No reports of street flooding accompanied this report.
Thunderstorms developed over Amarillo shortly before 7:30 PM CST. These thunderstorms lasted for a half hour and produced brief heavy rain. A National Weather Service employee reported 0.47 inches of rain at their residence (Potter County).
Thunderstorms developed over Amarillo shortly before 7:30 PM CST. These thunderstorms lasted for a half hour and produced brief heavy rain. A total of 0.52 inches of precipitation was reported in southwest Amarillo (Randall County) by a member of the public.
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: 455655, 455656, 455662, 455665, 455667.