A cold front moved southward across the Texas Panhandle during the evening hours of the 15th. Showers and thunderstorms developed along this cold front in an area of marginal instability and low deep layer shear.
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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 cold front moved southward across the Texas Panhandle during the evening hours of the 15th. Showers and thunderstorms developed along this cold front in an area of marginal instability and low deep layer shear. Most thunderstorms that developed remained below severe levels however, a collapsing thunderstorm was able to produce a single downburst of 61 mph over Donley County. Scattered showers and thunderstorms continued into the early morning hours of the 16th, but no other thunderstorm was able to become severe.
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 Sep 15, 5:33 PM CST, 3 hours 37 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 633 PM CDT SUN SEP 15 2013 .AVIATION... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MAINLY NORTHERN PARTS OF FORECAST AREA WILL POSE A RISK TO KGUY AND KDHT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. NORTH AND NORTHEAST SURFACE WINDS BEHIND COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO REACH KAMA AROUND 05Z MONDAY. MVFR CEILINGS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AT NORTHERN TERMINALS BETWEEN 03Z AND 07Z MONDAY...AND TO THEN PERSIST THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY MONDAY. AT KAMA...IFR CEILINGS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AROUND 10Z MONDAY...AND TO THEN DISIPATE AROUND NOON. LIGHT SOUTHEAST SURFACE WINDS AND VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED AFTER 21Z MONDAY AT ALL TERMINALS. COCKRELL && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 307 PM CDT SUN SEP 15 2013/ DISCUSSION... INTERMITTENT PRECIPITATION CHANCES THROUGH THE NEXT WEEK REMAIN THE MAIN FOCUS OF THIS FORECAST. THE GREAT BASIN UPPER TROUGH CONTINUES TO SHEAR OUT/OPEN UP THIS AFTERNOON. SOUTH/SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT BETWEEN THIS TROUGH AND UPPER RIDGING FROM EAST TX INTO THE SOUTHEAST STATES CONTINUES TO DRAW SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE INTO THE AREA. SURFACE COLD FRONT HAS PUSHED INTO THE NORTHERN PANHANDLES THIS AFTERNOON...AND WAS STARTING TO TRIGGER SCATTERED CONVECTION ALONG IT. OTHER CONVECTION WAS LIGHTING UP ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF NM AND CO. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALONG AND BEHIND THE SOUTHWARD ADVANCING COLD FRONT. OTHER CONVECTION WILL TRY TO MOVE IN OUT OF NM ABOARD THE NORTHEASTERLY STEERING FLOW...WITH THE WESTERN OK PANHANDLE AND NORTHWEST TX PANHANDLE MOST LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED BY THIS. COULD SEE A COUPLE OF STRONG STORMS ACROSS THE OK PANHANDLE AND NORTHERN TX PANHANDLE THROUGH SUNSET WHERE MLCAPES ARE IN THE 800-1200 J/KG RANGE WITH DEEP LAYER SHEAR IN THE 20-30 KT RANGE. HOWEVER...THE SEVERE THREAT REMAINS LOW WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN REMAINING THE MAIN CONCERN AS PWATS REMAIN WELL ABOVE AVERAGE IN THE 1 TO 1.5 INCH RANGE. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL INCREASE SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE NIGHT AS THE FRONT CONTINUES TO ADVANCE SOUTH...WITH ITS ACTUAL MOVEMENT ULTIMATELY HINGING ON HOW MUCH CONVECTION DEVELOPS ALONG IT. PRETTY GOOD RAIN CHANCES CONTINUE ON MONDAY AS PLENTY OF DEEP LAYER MOISTURE REMAINS IN PLACE...WITH THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY LIKELY SOMEWHERE IN THE AREA AS IT TRIES TO LIFT BACK NORTH...AND SOME WEAK UPPER FORCING PRESENT AS WELL ALTHOUGH THE STRONGER DYNAMICS WILL REMAIN TO OUR NORTH. IT CONTINUES TO LOOK LIKE WE MAY SEE SOME ENHANCED MOISTURE MAKE IT NORTHWARD TOWARD THE AREA EARLY THIS WEEK FROM THE CURRENT TROPICAL ACTIVITY /INGRID AND MANUEL/ BUT THE MOISTURE INFLUX THIS FAR NORTH APPEARS TO BE LIMITED AT THIS TIME. THAT BEING SAID...DEEP LAYER MOISTURE WILL REMAIN ABUNDANT /WELL ABOVE AVERAGE WITH PWATS REMAINING IN THE 1 TO 1.5 INCH RANGE/ THROUGH TUESDAY...SUPPORTING CONTINUED SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WITH AN ACCOMPANYING THREAT FOR HEAVY RAIN AND LOCALIZED FLOODING OR FLASH FLOODING. BY TUESDAY THE FOCUS STARTS TO SHIFT TO THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF THE PANHANDLES IN TANDEM WITH THE MID-LEVEL MOISTURE PLUME. START TO SEE SOME DRYING AND SOUTHEASTWARD SHIFT OF THIS PLUME BY WEDNESDAY...WHICH SHOULD KEEP THE CWA DRY WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. HOWEVER...AN UPPER TROUGH PUSHING EAST ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER STATES WILL PUSH A COLD FRONT SOUTH INTO THE AREA THURSDAY...BRINGING THE NEXT CHANCE FOR PRECIP. RAIN CHANCES WITH THE FRONT LINGER INTO FRIDAY...AND WE/LL SEE SOME COOLING FOR FRIDAY AS WELL. DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO RETURN FOR NEXT WEEKEND UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF WEAK SHORTWAVE RIDGING/ZONAL FLOW ALOFT. KB FIRE WEATHER... NO ELEVATED OR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH NEXT WEEKEND. KB && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMARILLO TX 62 81 62 84 62 / 40 40 30 30 10 BEAVER OK 63 81 64 88 66 / 60 40 30 20 10 BOISE CITY OK 57 77 59 86 61 / 60 40 20 10 5 BORGER TX 61 83 65 87 68 / 50 40 30 20 10 BOYS RANCH TX 61 82 63 86 63 / 40 40 30 20 10 CANYON TX 62 83 61 83 59 / 40 40 30 30 10 CLARENDON TX 62 83 65 86 65 / 40 40 30 30 20 DALHART TX 57 80 58 86 59 / 50 40 20 10 10 GUYMON OK 60 78 62 88 65 / 60 40 20 10 10 HEREFORD TX 62 82 59 83 59 / 40 40 30 30 10 LIPSCOMB TX 65 81 64 88 68 / 50 40 30 30 10 PAMPA TX 59 80 63 84 64 / 40 40 30 30 10 SHAMROCK TX 64 84 64 88 66 / 40 40 30 30 20 WELLINGTON TX 65 87 66 88 67 / 40 40 30 30 20 && .AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. OK...NONE. && 03/15
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 320 PM CDT SUN SEP 15 2013 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-161100- CIMARRON-TEXAS-BEAVER-DALLAM-SHERMAN-HANSFORD-OCHILTREE-LIPSCOMB- HARTLEY-MOORE-HUTCHINSON-ROBERTS-HEMPHILL-OLDHAM-POTTER-CARSON- GRAY-WHEELER-DEAF SMITH-RANDALL-ARMSTRONG-DONLEY-COLLINGSWORTH- 320 PM CDT SUN SEP 15 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES THROUGH TONIGHT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED...BUT A FEW STRONG STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE AND NORTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE THROUGH THIS EVENING. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE...WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING OR FLASH FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF THE OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS PANHANDLES MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...AND AGAIN THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME...HOWEVER HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING OR FLASH FLOODING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. KB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
425 PM CDT SUN SEP 15 2013
OKZ001-TXZ001-152230-
CIMARRON OK-DALLAM TX-
425 PM CDT SUN SEP 15 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN DALLAM AND
SOUTHWESTERN CIMARRON COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT...
AT 422 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT
A THUNDERSTORM WAS RAPIDLY DEVELOPING 10 MILES WEST OF FELT...OR 14
MILES EAST OF CLAYTON...MOVING EAST AT 15 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...
FELT...
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...TURN AROUND DONT DROWN.
LAT...LON 3651 10301 3664 10301 3679 10261 3641 10260
3640 10303 3650 10305
TIME...MOT...LOC 2126Z 265DEG 13KT 3652 10293
JCSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
501 PM CDT SUN SEP 15 2013
OKZ001-TXZ001-152300-
CIMARRON OK-DALLAM TX-
501 PM CDT SUN SEP 15 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN DALLAM AND
SOUTHEASTERN CIMARRON COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM CDT...
AT 455 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT
THUNDERSTORMS WERE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4
MILES SOUTHEAST OF GRIGGS TO 13 MILES NORTHEAST OF WARE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GRIGGS...
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...TURN AROUND DONT DROWN.
LAT...LON 3650 10203 3650 10216 3635 10217 3624 10257
3651 10260 3669 10204
TIME...MOT...LOC 2200Z 324DEG 7KT 3655 10208 3630 10254
JCThe Amarillo radar (KAMA), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:10 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The West Texas Mesonet site 2 miles west-southwest of Clarendon reported a 61 mph downburst wind as a thunderstorm collapsed near the station during the late night hours of the 15th. After this storm collapsed, no other thunderstorms were able to reach severe levels.
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, September 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: 476200.