More supercell thunderstorms developed east of the dryline as a strong upper level disturbance moved across the region. The main impacts were large hail and damaging winds.
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 SJT wrote it up.
More supercell thunderstorms developed east of the dryline as a strong upper level disturbance moved across the region. The main impacts were large hail and damaging winds.
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 San Angelo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 16, 1:59 PM CST, 2 hours 36 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX 259 PM CDT Sat May 16 2015 .DISCUSSION... Quick update to include a short discussion concerning the potential for heavy rainfall tonight... In addition to the severe weather threat, some of the thunderstorms will contain locally heavy rainfall, which could result in either minor local flooding, or localized flash flooding mainly in urban areas. However, the threat does not appear to be widespread enough to warrant a Flash Flood Watch at this time as rural areas can likely take more rainfall in an hour than we are currently forecasting for the entire event tonight. The one area of concern would be southeast of a Brownwood, to Menard, to Junction line where the heaviest rainfall and possible training of thunderstorms is expected occur tonight. The previous discussion is included below. 20 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 227 PM CDT Sat May 16 2015/ SHORT TERM... (Tonight and Tomorrow) Thunderstorms had already developed across the Texas Panhandle south towards Lubbock earlier this afternoon. Additional development is expected as upper level lift associated with a powerful low ejecting northeast out of New Mexico interacts with a surface dryline/Pacific cold front moving into our area this evening. Models continue to hold most of the convection off until after 6 PM for our area, but would not be surprised if isolated storms tried to develop before 00Z in our western counties. With very good deep layer shear of 45+kt spreads into the area and ML CAPE values of greater than 2000 J/kg along and east of the dryline, any thunderstorms that develop will have the potential to quickly strengthen to severe levels. Models are in fairly good agreement with thunderstorms initially developing across the Big Country during the evening hours. Then, during the overnight hours, we have the potential for additional development along the Pacific front, generally south of a Cross Plains, to Ballinger, to Barnhart line, as it moves southeast and interacts with a strengthening LLJ. We will keep the mention of severe thunderstorms mainly east of a Sweetwater to Brady line for the evening hours for a couple of reasons. First, there is more confidence in significant storm coverage east of that line tonight. Secondly, once storms do impact areas farther south, instability will be weaker, and thus the threat of severe weather will be somewhat diminished. For tomorrow, we can expect another warm, humid day. We will keep a chance of showers and thunderstorms generally southeast of an Abilene to Sterling City line as there may be lingering activity early in the morning for our southeastern counties. And models do show the possibility of new development along the Pacific front/dryline as it retreats northward. However, coverage is expected to be isolated to scattered with the later activity. 20 LONG TERM... Monday into Saturday... A chance of showers and thunderstorms will continue Monday into Saturday, with southwest flow aloft bringing in several disturbances. The best chance of rain will be Monday night into Tuesday night, and Thursday night into Friday as stronger short waves pass northeast across the region. The dryline is indicated to stay west of West Central Texas during the work week, but storms developing off of it will certainly be able to move northeast into West Central Texas. Afternoon GFS SB CAPES range from 2000 to 3000 J/KG, so potential exists severe storms each day. 04 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Abilene 62 85 65 86 66 / 60 10 20 20 40 San Angelo 62 85 65 87 67 / 60 20 30 20 40 Junction 68 84 68 85 69 / 80 60 40 40 40 && .SJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX 236 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015 TXZ049-054-064>066-071>073-076>078-098-099-113-114-127-128-139- 140-154-155-168>170-171945- FISHER-NOLAN-STERLING-COKE-RUNNELS-IRION-TOM GREEN-CONCHO- CROCKETT-SCHLEICHER-SUTTON-HASKELL-THROCKMORTON-JONES-SHACKELFORD- TAYLOR-CALLAHAN-COLEMAN-BROWN-MCCULLOCH-SAN SABA-MENARD-KIMBLE- MASON- 236 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS MOST OF WEST CENTRAL TEXAS AS AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND DRYLINE APPROACH THE AREA. WITH STRONG INSTABILITY OVER THE AREA...SOME STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS. HOWEVER...A TORNADO OR TWO IS POSSIBLE MAINLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20 WHERE THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE GREATEST. STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO THE NIGHTTIME HOURS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE THAT MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF A BROWNWOOD...TO BRADY...TO JUNCTION LINE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SCATTERED AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH DAY FROM SUNDAY THROUGH NEXT FRIDAY. A FEW SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH DAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED THIS EVENING. SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED IN A FEW AREAS SUNDAY INTO NEXT WEEK.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
426 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015
TXZ064-162200-
STERLING TX-
426 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR
STERLING COUNTY...
POTENTIAL STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL
AT 424 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER NORTHWESTERN
STERLING COUNTY...OR ABOUT 19 MILES NORTHWEST OF STERLING CITY...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
POTENTIAL STORM IMPACTS INCLUDE...
A FEW SMALL BROKEN TREE BRANCHES...
AN ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES POSSIBLE...
A FEW LOOSE OBJECTS TOPPLED...
HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AND POSSIBLE BLOWING DUST...
THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
NORTHERN STERLING COUNTY.
LAT...LON 3209 10098 3209 10082 3206 10082 3191 10086
3184 10126 3208 10127
TIME...MOT...LOC 2126Z 228DEG 36KT 3206 10116SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
435 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015
TXZ049-054-162200-
FISHER TX-NOLAN TX-
435 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR FISHER
AND NOLAN COUNTIES...
POTENTIAL STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL
AT 433 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER US-84 NEAR THE
NOLAN-FISHER COUNTY LINE...OR ABOUT 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF ROSCOE...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
POTENTIAL STORM IMPACTS INCLUDE...
SOME BROKEN TREE BRANCHES AND A FEW WEAK TREES TOPPLED...
SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES LIKELY...
LIGHT LOOSE OBJECTS TOPPLED...
DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS...
MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGE...
ISOLATED SMALL DENTS TO VEHICLES...
THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
ROSCOE BY 440 PM CDT
GANNON...CAPITOLA AND SWEETWATER BY 450 PM CDT
BUSBY...LONGWORTH AND ROBY BY 500 PM CDT
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 20 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 227 AND 250.
LAT...LON 3247 10022 3239 10067 3240 10067 3263 10067
3280 10037
TIME...MOT...LOC 2135Z 245DEG 36KT 3251 10066SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
500 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015
TXZ049-113-162230-
FISHER TX-JONES TX-
500 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR FISHER
AND JONES COUNTIES...
POTENTIAL STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL
AT 458 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER BUSBY...OR
ABOUT 9 MILES NORTH OF SWEETWATER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
POTENTIAL STORM IMPACTS INCLUDE...
SOME BROKEN TREE BRANCHES AND A FEW WEAK TREES TOPPLED...
SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES LIKELY...
LIGHT LOOSE OBJECTS TOPPLED...
DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS...
MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGE...
ISOLATED SMALL DENTS TO VEHICLES...
THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
LONGWORTH AND ROBY BY 510 PM CDT
SYLVESTER BY 520 PM CDT
MCCAULLEY BY 525 PM CDT
LAT...LON 3253 10005 3252 10022 3252 10051 3267 10059
3292 10016
TIME...MOT...LOC 2200Z 246DEG 31KT 3261 10041SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX 526 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015 TXZ098-162300- HASKELL TX- 526 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR HASKELL COUNTY... POTENTIAL STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE... GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL AT 523 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 2 MILES WEST OF HASKELL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. POTENTIAL STORM IMPACTS INCLUDE... SOME BROKEN TREE BRANCHES AND A FEW WEAK TREES TOPPLED... SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES LIKELY... LIGHT LOOSE OBJECTS TOPPLED... DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS... MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGE... ISOLATED SMALL DENTS TO VEHICLES... THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... WEINERT BY 535 PM CDT US-277 NEAR THE HASKELL-KNOX COUNTY LINE BY 545 PM CDT LAT...LON 3339 9990 3339 9952 3305 9953 3308 9992 TIME...MOT...LOC 2226Z 220DEG 43KT 3319 9974
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX 528 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015 TXZ049-098-113-162300- FISHER TX-HASKELL TX-JONES TX- 528 PM CDT SAT MAY 16 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR FISHER...HASKELL AND JONES COUNTIES... POTENTIAL STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE... GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL AT 525 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MCCAULLEY...OR ABOUT 12 MILES SOUTH OF HAMLIN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. POTENTIAL STORM IMPACTS INCLUDE... SOME BROKEN TREE BRANCHES AND A FEW WEAK TREES TOPPLED... SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES LIKELY... LIGHT LOOSE OBJECTS TOPPLED... DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS... MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGE... ISOLATED SMALL DENTS TO VEHICLES... THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... THE INTERSECTION OF US-180 AND RANCH ROAD 126 AND NEINDA BY 535 PM CDT ANSON BY 550 PM CDT TUXEDO AND FUNSTON BY 555 PM CDT LAT...LON 3277 9968 3260 10017 3275 10029 3305 9989 TIME...MOT...LOC 2228Z 237DEG 33KT 3273 10013
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
20 hail, 6 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet site measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 65 mph, 11 miles southwest of Sweetwater.
An amateur radio operator reported tree limbs blown down 7 miles east of Hawley.
An amateur radio operator reported quarter size hail on the east side of Lake Fort Phantom Hill.
The public reported 3 inch diameter hail on the south end of Lake Fort Phantom Hill.
A law enforcement official estimated a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph in Elbert.
The broadcast media reported dime to nickel size hail on the north side of Abilene.
The public reported nickel size hail on the Abilene Christian Campus.
An amateur radio operator reported large hail at the intersection of Interstate 20 and Campus Court.
Law enforcement estimated a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph in Albany.
The broadcast media reported quarter size hail at John Knox and Ridgemont Drive in Abilene.
The public estimated a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph, 8 miles southwest of Mertzon.
The public estimated a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph, 6 miles east of Ozona.
Water covered Texas Highway 137 for 3 miles just west of Texas Highway 163.
A car was washed off the road at 12th and Jones in Ozona. Local law enforcement discourage travel across Crockett County.
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, 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: 573940, 573903, 573902, 573931, 573937, 573908, 573909, 573905, 573906, 573907, 573926, 573947, 573910, 573924, 573911, 573912, 573913, 573914, 573944, 573919, 573918, 573945, 573920, 573928, 573932, 573949, 579950, 579951.