Multiple rounds of late-day thunderstorms developed across the South Plains and southern Texas Panhandle on the sixth followed by additional bouts through the pre-dawn hours of the seventh. These storms drifted slowly eastward, many with swaths of one to two inches of rainfall with each round.
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.
Multiple rounds of late-day thunderstorms developed across the South Plains and southern Texas Panhandle on the sixth followed by additional bouts through the pre-dawn hours of the seventh. These storms drifted slowly eastward, many with swaths of one to two inches of rainfall with each round. Storm total rain amounts were estimated around four inches in some parts of Crosby, Garza and Childress Counties before daybreak on the seventh. Several roads had flooded stretches across the eastern South Plains northeast to Childress County. The greatest monetary impact of these heavy rains was dealt to area crops as thousands of acres of milo, cotton and some corn suffered varying degrees of damage from 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 Lubbock, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 6, 2:31 PM CST, 2 hours 34 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 331 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015 .SHORT TERM... AFTER A QUIET WEEKEND...THE WORK WEEK IS ROARING TO A START. A COLD FRONT WAS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE PANHANDLE THIS AFTERNOON...JUST ENTERING AMA AS OF 20Z. WE ALSO HAVE A SURFACE LOW FEATURE OVER NEW MEXICO. THIRD INGREDIENT...AMPLE MOISTURE. AS OF 20Z...WE ARE SEEING DEWPOINTS IN 60S ACROSS THE SOUTH PLAINS...EVEN INTO THE LOWER 70S ACROSS THE ROLLING PLAINS. THUNDERSTORMS WERE RAPIDLY FIRING ALONG THE TX/NM BORDER IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE SFC LOW AND JUST AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT ALONG THE SOUTHERN PANHANDLE AND NORTHERN SOUTH PLAINS. THERE IS THE SET UP. THE HRRR AND TTU WRF HAVE BEEN IN EXCELLENT AGREEMENT ON THE TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF THE BREAKOUT OF THIS CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON. BOTH SHOW A LARGE AREA OF PRECIP BREAKING OUT OVER THE SOUTH PLAINS BY THIS EVENING AND SPREADING IN COVERAGE TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA BY THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. THESE MODELS SHOW THE HEAVIEST DURATION OF RAIN TO BE OVER THE EASTERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE FORECAST AREA. PWAT VALUES ARE IN THE 1.5 TO 2.5 INCH RANGE...SO FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS AREA. HAVE PAID ATTENTION TO ONE NOTABLE FEATURE PRESENT ON THE GFS AROUND THE 6Z TIME PERIOD...AN ENHANCED AREA OF DIVERGENCE OVER THE LUBBOCK AREA THAT MAY PROVIDE FOR BRIEF INTENSIFICATION OF RAINFALL. THIS QUESTION IS HOW FAST WILL THE FRONT AND SFC LOW EXIT THE AREA...THUS TAKING WITH IT THE RAINFALL. HAVE UPDATED THIS FORECAST TO HAVE THE DRYING TREND START IN THE NORTHWEST TOMORROW MORNING AND MOVE SOUTHEAST THROUGH OUT THE DAY. HAVE LEFT HIGHER POPS IN THE FAR SOUTHEAST AS MOISTURE CONTINUES TO INTERACT WITH BOTH OF THE EXITING FEATURES LATE TOMORROW. .LONG TERM... PRECIP WILL STILL BE ONGOING LATE TUES/EARLY WED AS A WEAK SHORT WAVE TROF AHEAD OF A SHORTWAVE RIDGE WILL HELP AID IN LIFT BEHIND AN ALREADY PASSED FRONT. THE BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIP WILL BE ACROSS THE ROLLING PLAINS AS THIS REGION WILL BE CLOSEST TO THE SURFACE TROF LOCATED TO OUR SOUTH. WINDS AT THE SURFACE WILL QUICKLY TURN TO THE SOUTH BY MID WED IN RESPONSE TO A DEVELOPING LEE TROF AND THIS FLOW WILL DOMINATE AT LEAST THRU LATE WEEK. SOME ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL BE POSSIBLE WHILE WE SIT ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE SUBTROPICAL HIGH AND JUST EAST OF A TROF. RAIN CHANCES SEEM TO BE ALL BUT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN BY THE WEEKEND AS THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE RETROGRADES WITH THE CENTER OF THE 594 DM HIGH RIGHT OVER THE SOUTH PLAINS. RAIN CHANCES MAY WORK THEIR WAY INTO THE FORECAST BY EARLY TO MID NEXT WEEK AS THE RIDGE CONTINUES TO RETROGRADE PLACING THE WEST TEXAS REGION IN NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALLOWING TERRAIN INFLUENCED CONVECTION TO PROPAGATE IN OUR DIRECTION. UNTIL THEN THE FORECAST WILL REMAIN FAIRLY QUIET. ALDRICH && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... FRIONA 60 69 58 84 / 80 40 20 30 TULIA 61 68 59 82 / 80 50 30 30 PLAINVIEW 62 69 61 82 / 80 60 30 30 LEVELLAND 63 73 61 84 / 80 50 30 30 LUBBOCK 64 73 62 83 / 80 60 40 30 DENVER CITY 66 77 63 85 / 80 50 30 30 BROWNFIELD 64 76 62 85 / 80 60 30 30 CHILDRESS 66 73 64 85 / 90 80 50 30 SPUR 65 75 63 85 / 90 80 50 30 ASPERMONT 68 82 66 88 / 80 80 60 40 && .LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR TXZ022>026-028>032- 034>038. && 74/51
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 200 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015 TXZ021>044-071900- PARMER-CASTRO-SWISHER-BRISCOE-HALL-CHILDRESS-BAILEY-LAMB-HALE- FLOYD-MOTLEY-COTTLE-COCHRAN-HOCKLEY-LUBBOCK-CROSBY-DICKENS-KING- YOAKUM-TERRY-LYNN-GARZA-KENT-STONEWALL- 200 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EXTREME SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE...SOUTH PLAINS AND ROLLING PLAINS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS EVENING ALONG A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH THE REGION...ADDITIONAL STORMS WILL DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE FRONT ACROSS THE SOUTH PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON. MODERATE INSTABILITY IN PLACE WILL COMBINE WITH A VERY DEEP...MOIST ATMOSPHERE TO RESULT IN HEAVY RAINFALL. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM TUESDAY MORNING FOR THE SOUTHERN PANHANDLE AND MUCH OF THE SOUTH PLAINS AND ROLLING PLAINS. A FEW STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH AND HAIL TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH LATE TUESDAY MORNING PRIMARILY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST PANHANDLE AND ROLLING PLAINS. LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL MAY ACCOMPANY THIS ACTIVITY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME...HOWEVER LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE ASKED TO MONITOR THE AREA FOR FLOODED ROADWAYS AND REPORT THEM TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
428 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015
TXZ024-062200-
BRISCOE TX-
428 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BRISCOE COUNTY UNTIL 500 PM
CDT...
AT 427 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
OVER SILVERTON...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. ADDITIONAL STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER NORTHEAST BRISCOE COUNTY AND WAS
NEARLY STATIONARY.
DIME SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SILVERTON...QUITAQUE...CAPROCK CANYON STATE PARK...VALLEY SCHOOLS AND
MACKENZIE RESERVOIR.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 3475 10101 3433 10095 3431 10128 3431 10146
3456 10147 3475 10133
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 248DEG 15KT 3445 10127
23SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 502 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015 TXZ023-024-029-030-062230- SWISHER TX-HALE TX-FLOYD TX-BRISCOE TX- 502 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN SWISHER... NORTHWESTERN FLOYD...SOUTHERN BRISCOE AND NORTHEASTERN HALE COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT... AT 459 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR SILVERTON TO CLAYTONVILLE TO NEAR AIKEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 TO 15 MPH. NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... SILVERTON...LOCKNEY...CAPROCK CANYON STATE PARK... MACKENZIE RESERVOIR...CLAYTONVILLE...AIKEN AND SOUTH PLAINS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. && LAT...LON 3447 10100 3395 10153 3411 10176 3466 10143 TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 228DEG 13KT 3442 10142 23
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
526 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015
TXZ035-062300-
LUBBOCK TX-
526 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL LUBBOCK COUNTY UNTIL 600
PM CDT...
AT 523 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5
MILES WEST OF THE LUBBOCK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT....WITH ANOTHER
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR THE SOUTH PLAINS MALL...BOTH MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LUBBOCK...SHALLOWATER...IDALOU...LUBBOCK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY AND NEW DEAL.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 3368 10205 3383 10186 3383 10174 3358 10157
3340 10191
TIME...MOT...LOC 2223Z 227DEG 12KT 3364 10191
23SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
541 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015
TXZ023-024-029-030-062315-
SWISHER TX-HALE TX-FLOYD TX-BRISCOE TX-
541 PM CDT MON JUL 6 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN FLOYD...SOUTHERN
BRISCOE AND EASTERN HALE COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM CDT...
AT 539 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINES OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORM EXTENDING FROM NEAR SILVERTON TO 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF
ABERNATHY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 TO 15 MPH.
HALF INCH HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
PLAINVIEW...SILVERTON...QUITAQUE...LOCKNEY...PETERSBURG...VALLEY
SCHOOLS...AIKEN...SOUTH PLAINS...CLAYTONVILLE...AND CAPROCK CANYON
STATE PARK.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 3438 10097 3385 10154 3385 10179 3428 10172
3454 10132
TIME...MOT...LOC 2239Z 227DEG 12KT 3416 10150
23The Lubbock radar (KLBB), 23 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:05 UTC.
7 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A downburst knocked over eight utility poles along FM Road 1585 near Frankford Avenue. These winds continued about 3.5 miles farther east where wind gusts were estimated from 60 to 70 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, July 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: 577641, 577638, 577630, 577631, 577632, 577633, 577634, 577635.