This was the beginning of an active period of thunderstorms as an upper level trough developed in the Southwest United States and plentiful moisture streamed northward into the Oklahoma Panhandle. Thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and moved northeast across the area through the evening hours.
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.
This was the beginning of an active period of thunderstorms as an upper level trough developed in the Southwest United States and plentiful moisture streamed northward into the Oklahoma Panhandle. Thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and moved northeast across the area through the evening hours. Although most of the storms were below severe limits bringing much needed rainfall, one storm produced a 63 mph wind gust at the Oklahoma Mesonet site 8 miles west of Slapout in Beaver County.
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 3, 5:50 PM CST, 2 hours 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 650 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015 .AVIATION... FOR THE 00Z TAFS...ISOLD TO SCT SHOWERS AND TSTMS AFFECTING THE AREA WILL BEGIN TO SLOWLY DISSIPATE THIS EVENING. HAVE INCLUDED MENTION OF THUNDERSTORMS AT ALL TERMINAL SITES FOR THE FIRST FEW HOURS OF THIS FCST CYCLE BASED ON CURRENT RADAR IMAGERY. ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP LATER MONDAY AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...CONFIDENCE IS LOW AS TO WHETHER ANY TAF SITES WILL BE IMPACTED MONDAY AFTERNOON...SO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO MENTION FOR THIS FCST ISSUANCE. ANDRADE && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 406 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015/ DISCUSSION... STATE OF THE FORECAST REMAINS RELATIVELY UNCHANGED FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. THE UPPER TROUGH CONTINUES ITS EASTWARD PROGRESSION TOWARDS THE BAJA PENINSULA THIS AFTERNOON WHILE THE FRONT LEFT QUADRANT OF THE ASSOCIATED JET STREAK IS SUPPORTING CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO PLAINS AND WESTERN PANHANDLES. THIS CONVECTION WILL HAVE MODEST INSTABILITY (500-1500 J/KG) TO WORK WITH BUT DEEP LAYER SHEAR IS VERY WEAK. THIS SHOULD KEEP CONVECTION DISORGANIZED (PULSE TYPE), BUT AN ISOLATED SEVERE WIND GUST CAN'T BE RULED OUT GIVEN A SIGNIFICANT DRY SUB-CLOUD LAYER. PRECIP CHANCES INCREASE DURING THE DAY MONDAY AS THE INFLUENCE OF THE UPPER TROUGH COUPLES WITH THE JET STREAK. HEAVY RAINFALL ENTERS THE FORECAST AS PWAT VALUES WILL ALSO BE INCREASING ABOVE CLIMATOLOGY. THESE FACTORS PERSIST MONDAY AND TUESDAY BEFORE THE SYSTEM EJECTS TO THE NORTHEAST WEDNESDAY. THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING, BUT MODELS HAVE SHOWN THAT THE BEST PWAT VALUES ARE OUT OF PHASE OF THE BEST FORCING. THIS WOULD LEAD TO MORE LOCALIZE FLOODING ISSUES RATHER THAT WIDESPREAD FLASH FLOODING. FOR NOW WILL HOLD OFF ON ISSUING A FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL THESE FACTORS SYNC. WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SHOW THE POTENTIAL FOR AFTERNOON/EVENING CONVECTION ALONG THE DRYLINE. MODELS SURGE THE DRYLINE EASTWARD INTO THE EASTERN PANHANDLES AND WESTERN OKLAHOMA, BUT WITH RECENT RAINFALL THE DRYLINE COULD SETUP FURTHER WEST THAN SHOWN. HAVE EXTENDED MENTIONED POPS SLIGHTLY FURTHER WEST THAN SHOWN IN MODELS. && .AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. OK...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 359 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-040900- CIMARRON-TEXAS-BEAVER-DALLAM-SHERMAN-HANSFORD-OCHILTREE-LIPSCOMB- HARTLEY-MOORE-HUTCHINSON-ROBERTS-HEMPHILL-OLDHAM-POTTER-CARSON- GRAY-WHEELER-DEAF SMITH-RANDALL-ARMSTRONG-DONLEY-COLLINGSWORTH- 359 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG TO MARGINALLY SEVERE WITH WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH AND HAIL BEING THE PRIMARY THREATS. THE SEVERE WEATHER CONCERN IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY MONDAY AFTERNOON WITH THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. STRONG AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE DURING THIS PERIOD. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN HAZARDS. HEAVY RAINS MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING OR FLASH FLOODING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY ACROSS MAINLY EASTERN HALF OF THE PANHANDLES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 716 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015 TXZ008-013-040100- CARSON TX-HUTCHINSON TX- 716 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN CARSON AND HUTCHINSON COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT... AT 714 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SANFORD...OR 5 MILES WEST OF BORGER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... BORGER... STINNETT... SANFORD... PRINGLE... FRITCH... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. LAT...LON 3598 10161 3597 10118 3545 10132 3542 10161 TIME...MOT...LOC 0016Z 217DEG 31KT 3567 10148 ANDRADE
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
724 PM CDT SUN MAY 03 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0721 PM HAIL 6 SW BORGER 35.60N 101.48W
05/03/2015 M1.00 INCH CARSON TX TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1500413
KBSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 741 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015 TXZ003-008-040130- HANSFORD TX-HUTCHINSON TX- 741 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN HUTCHINSON AND SOUTHEASTERN HANSFORD COUNTIES UNTIL 830 PM CDT... AT 739 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF PRINGLE...OR 18 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SPEARMAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... SPEARMAN... PRINGLE... 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 3630 10136 3629 10109 3593 10121 3595 10151 TIME...MOT...LOC 0041Z 208DEG 19KT 3600 10138 ANDRADE
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
745 PM CDT SUN MAY 03 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0725 PM HAIL 3 WSW BORGER 35.64N 101.45W
05/03/2015 E0.88 INCH HUTCHINSON TX PUBLIC
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1500414
14SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 850 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015 TXZ017-040230- RANDALL TX- 850 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN RANDALL COUNTY UNTIL 930 PM CDT... AT 849 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR CANYON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 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... LAKE TANGLEWOOD... TIMBERCREEK CANYON... 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 3518 10194 3518 10163 3491 10163 3492 10204 TIME...MOT...LOC 0150Z 235DEG 30KT 3499 10192 ANDRADE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 934 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015 TXZ005-040315- LIPSCOMB TX- 934 PM CDT SUN MAY 3 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LIPSCOMB COUNTY UNTIL 1015 PM CDT... AT 930 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LIPSCOMB...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... LIPSCOMB... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. LAT...LON 3644 10005 3606 10008 3606 10038 3622 10048 TIME...MOT...LOC 0234Z 243DEG 39KT 3617 10028 ANDRADE
The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 132 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:47 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm wind gust of 63 mph occurred 8 miles west of Slapout at the Oklahoma Mesonet site. No damage was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, May 2015
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: 565146.