Another in a series of overnight thunderstorm complexes brought widespread heavy rain and isolated severe thunderstorm wind gusts to the Texas Panhandle. Wind gusts and minor damage occurred in and around Amarillo.
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.
Another in a series of overnight thunderstorm complexes brought widespread heavy rain and isolated severe thunderstorm wind gusts to the Texas Panhandle. Wind gusts and minor damage occurred in and around Amarillo.
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 23, 2:16 AM CST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
316 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015
.DISCUSSION...
THUNDERSTORM CHANCES THROUGH THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND CONTINUE TO CAPTURE
THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS FORECAST. MOST WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORM
ACTIVITY AND GREATEST THREAT FOR HEAVY RAIN/FLOODING IS EXPECTED
TODAY.
CONVECTION CONTINUES TO DEVELOP ACROSS EASTERN NM EARLY THIS
MORNING...AND HAS RECENTLY BEGUN TO EXPAND INTO FAR WEST
TX...INCLUDING THE WESTERN TX PANHANDLE. THIS AS LARGE SCALE FORCING
FOR ASCENT CONTINUES TO INCREASE AHEAD OF A CLOSED UPPER LOW CHURNING
ALONG THE UT/AZ BORDER AND AN EJECTING SHORTWAVE TROUGH. A
SOUTH/SOUTHEASTERLY LLJ HAS STRENGTHENED TO 40-50 KTS IN RESPONSE TO
HEIGHT FALLS AHEAD OF THE UPPER LOW. GREATEST CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT
THIS FAR HAS BEEN IN A CORRIDOR ACROSS EAST CENTRAL NM WHERE LOW-
LEVEL MASS/MOISTURE CONVERGENCE HAS BEEN MAXIMIZED NEAR THE TERMINUS
OF THE LLJ.
THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN COVERAGE THIS MORNING AND
MARCH EAST ACROSS THE PANHANDLES. THE LLJ WILL GRADUALLY VEER TO MORE
SOUTHERLY...CONTINUING TO PUMP LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE NORTHWARD ACROSS
THE PANHANDLES AHEAD OF THE INCREASING DYNAMIC LIFT. GIVEN THE
DEGREE OF FORCING AND ABUNDANCE OF MOISTURE TO WORK WITH...STORMS
WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO GROW UPSCALE INTO AN MCS AS THEY WORK ACROSS
THE AREA THIS MORNING. PWATS WILL INCREASE TO OVER AN INCH THIS
VIA STRONG LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE ADVECTION...AND HEAVY RAIN IS STILL
EXPECTED AS THE CONVECTION TRANSLATES ACROSS THE AREA. IN FACT SOME
OF THE STORMS OVER EAST CENTRAL NM HAVE ALREADY DUMPED OVER 2 INCHES
OF RAIN SINCE MIDNIGHT. THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH LOOKS ON TRACK AND WILL
NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO IT ATTM...ALTHOUGH WESTERN PORTIONS WILL
LIKELY BE ABLE TO BE CANCELLED EARLY. SOME SEVERE THREAT WILL ALSO
EXIST WITH THESE STORMS. MUCAPES ARE CURRENTLY IN THE 500-1000 J/KG
RANGE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TX PANHANDLE...AND ELEVATED INSTABILITY IS
EXPECTED TO STEADILY INCREASE FROM SOUTH TO NORTH REACHING AROUND OR
SLIGHTLY OVER 1000 J/KG. EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT
FOR STORM ORGANIZATION /40-50 KTS/...BUT THE SOMEWHAT LIMITED
INSTABILITY AND TENDENCY FOR CONVECTION TO GROW UPSCALE SHOULD
PRECLUDE WIDESPREAD SEVERE STORMS THIS MORNING. EXPECT HAIL AND
STRONG WINDS TO BE THE PRIMARY THREATS.
THE PRECIPITATION WILL TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST THIS MORNING AS
THE MCS PROPAGATES EASTWARD. THEN WE/LL HAVE TO SEE HOW WELL THE
ATMOSPHERE RECOVERS THIS AFTERNOON FROM THE MORNING CONVECTIVE
OVERTURNING. SOME DRIER AIR WILL TRY TO ADVECT INTO THE FAR WESTERN
PANHANDLES THIS AFTERNOON AS SURFACE LOW PRESSURE DEEPENS OVER
SOUTHEAST CO. HOWEVER...AMPLE LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE WILL REMAIN IN
PLACE ACROSS THE REST OF THE CWA...SO IF WE SEE ENOUGH BREAKS IN THE
CLOUDS THIS AFTERNOON AND MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE NOT OVERLY
WEAKENED...MODEST INSTABILITY MAY DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON. WIND SHEAR
WILL REMAIN STRONG...SO SOME STORMS COULD BE SEVERE DEPENDING ON THE
DEGREE OF INSTABILITY. MOST OF THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY SHOULD MOVE
EAST OF THE AREA BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
ON SUNDAY...STORM COVERAGE SHOULD BE MORE LIMITED WITH THE BETTER
CHANCES FOCUSED ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PANHANDLES AS DRIER
AIR WORKS INTO THE WESTERN PANHANDLES AS THE UPPER LOW LIFTS
NORTHEAST ACROSS THE CENTRAL ROCKIES. FORCING WILL BE WEAKER AND
SHEAR LOOKS TO BE WEAKER AS WELL...BUT PLENTY OF INSTABILITY STILL
ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE AREA FOR SOME SEVERE RISK. HEADING
INTO MEMORIAL DAY...A WEAKER SHORTWAVE PIVOTING AROUND THE PARENT
UPPER TROUGH COULD KICK OFF SOME ISOLATED/SCATTERED STORMS. SHEAR
WILL BE WEAKER BY THEN...BUT INSTABILITY STILL DECENT FOR SOME
STRONG/POSSIBLY SEVERE CONVECTION.
CHANCES FOR MORE ORGANIZED/WIDESPREAD CONVECTION WILL DECREASE EARLY
NEXT WEEK...BUT THEN PICK RIGHT BACK UP BY MID TO LATE WEEK AS THE
NEXT UPPER TROUGH APPROACHES.
KB
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMARILLO TX 73 54 77 52 77 / 80 20 20 10 20
BEAVER OK 68 57 77 55 81 / 100 20 30 20 20
BOISE CITY OK 72 48 76 48 75 / 40 10 20 20 20
BORGER TX 74 58 79 55 80 / 90 20 20 20 20
BOYS RANCH TX 76 53 79 51 79 / 50 20 10 10 20
CANYON TX 75 54 78 51 78 / 80 20 20 10 20
CLARENDON TX 71 56 78 54 79 / 90 20 30 20 20
DALHART TX 75 49 77 49 76 / 40 10 10 10 20
GUYMON OK 71 54 78 52 79 / 90 20 20 20 20
HEREFORD TX 77 53 78 50 78 / 60 20 20 10 20
LIPSCOMB TX 69 58 77 56 81 / 100 30 30 20 20
PAMPA TX 70 55 76 53 78 / 90 20 30 20 20
SHAMROCK TX 68 58 77 56 80 / 100 40 30 20 20
WELLINGTON TX 71 60 79 57 81 / 100 40 30 20 20
&&
.AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
ARMSTRONG...CARSON...COLLINGSWORTH...DEAF SMITH...DONLEY...
GRAY...HEMPHILL...HUTCHINSON...LIPSCOMB...OCHILTREE...
OLDHAM...POTTER...RANDALL...ROBERTS...WHEELER.
OK...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
BEAVER.
&&
14/08HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 340 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-232100- CIMARRON-TEXAS-BEAVER-DALLAM-SHERMAN-HANSFORD-OCHILTREE-LIPSCOMB- HARTLEY-MOORE-HUTCHINSON-ROBERTS-HEMPHILL-OLDHAM-POTTER-CARSON- GRAY-WHEELER-DEAF SMITH-RANDALL-ARMSTRONG-DONLEY-COLLINGSWORTH- 340 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE EAST ACROSS THE PANHANDLES THIS MORNING. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL...WHICH MAY LEAD TO FLOODING OR FLASH FLOODING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ROUGHLY THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF THE COMBINED PANHANDLES THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE THIS MORNING...WITH LARGE HAIL UP TO PING PONG BALL SIZE AND DAMAGING WINDS AROUND 60 MPH THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WHICH COULD BE SEVERE. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL AGAIN BE THE PRIMARY THREATS...BUT AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. HEAVY RAIN WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS AS WELL...WHICH COULD LEAD TO ADDITIONAL FLOODING OR FLASH FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. INTERMITTENT THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL CONTINUE ACROSS AT LEAST PORTIONS OF THE PANHANDLES THROUGH FRIDAY. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY. KB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 305 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015 TXZ006-011-230830- HARTLEY TX-OLDHAM TX- 305 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN OLDHAM AND SOUTHERN HARTLEY COUNTIES UNTIL 330 AM CDT... AT 305 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 16 MILES WEST OF CHANNING...OR 26 MILES NORTH OF VEGA...MOVING NORTH AT 30 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... MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHERN HARTLEY COUNTY. 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. 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 3583 10266 3582 10238 3551 10257 3552 10268 TIME...MOT...LOC 0805Z 190DEG 28KT 3561 10260 14
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
314 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015
TXZ006-011-230830-
HARTLEY TX-OLDHAM TX-
314 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN OLDHAM AND SOUTHERN
HARTLEY COUNTIES UNTIL 330 AM CDT...
AT 314 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 14 MILES SOUTH OF
ROMERO TO 14 MILES NORTHWEST OF ADRIAN TO 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF
GLENRIO...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHWESTERN OLDHAM COUNTY.
THESE STORMS 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.
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 3556 10304 3572 10274 3560 10256 3537 10268
3519 10304
TIME...MOT...LOC 0814Z 229DEG 35KT 3554 10284 3548 10275
3529 10289
14SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
329 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015
TXZ001-002-006-007-230915-
DALLAM TX-HARTLEY TX-MOORE TX-SHERMAN TX-
329 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN SHERMAN...
NORTHWESTERN MOORE...EASTERN HARTLEY AND SOUTHEASTERN DALLAM COUNTIES
UNTIL 415 AM CDT...
AT 329 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES WEST OF
CHANNING TO 7 MILES SOUTH OF HARTLEY TO 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF
CHANNING...MOVING NORTH AT 35 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CACTUS... HARTLEY...
THESE STORMS 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.
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 3605 10253 3614 10223 3613 10197 3573 10211
3575 10236 3570 10258
TIME...MOT...LOC 0829Z 195DEG 29KT 3576 10252 3580 10235
3580 10218
14SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
341 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015
TXZ011-016-230915-
DEAF SMITH TX-OLDHAM TX-
341 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN OLDHAM AND WESTERN
DEAF SMITH COUNTIES UNTIL 415 AM CDT...
AT 342 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 3 MILES EAST OF
GLENRIO TO 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GLENRIO TO 5 MILES NORTH OF RHEA...
MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SIMMS... GLENRIO... BOOTLEG...
ADRIAN...
THESE STORMS 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.
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 3525 10305 3537 10259 3520 10248 3475 10251
3474 10269 3475 10274 3474 10304 3475 10305
3485 10305
TIME...MOT...LOC 0842Z 251DEG 40KT 3519 10293 3508 10285
3475 10289
14SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 405 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015 TXZ001-006-230945- DALLAM TX-HARTLEY TX- 405 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN HARTLEY AND SOUTHEASTERN DALLAM COUNTIES UNTIL 445 AM CDT... AT 406 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DALHART TO 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF HARTLEY...MOVING NORTH AT 35 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... DALHART... HARTLEY... WARE... CONLEN... 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 3633 10280 3640 10217 3591 10218 3584 10269 TIME...MOT...LOC 0906Z 175DEG 31KT 3594 10263 3598 10224 14
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
410 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015
TXZ011-012-016-017-231000-
DEAF SMITH TX-OLDHAM TX-POTTER TX-RANDALL TX-
410 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN RANDALL...WESTERN
POTTER...OLDHAM AND DEAF SMITH COUNTIES UNTIL 500 AM CDT...
AT 410 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 16 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF CHANNING TO 4 MILES EAST OF SIMMS TO 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
BOOTLEG...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HEREFORD... VEGA... SIMMS...
DAWN... BOOTLEG... VALLEY DE ORO...
BUSHLAND... WILDORADO... BOYS RANCH...
ADRIAN...
THESE STORMS 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.
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 3475 10292 3508 10284 3561 10278 3561 10202
3504 10207 3474 10226
TIME...MOT...LOC 0910Z 270DEG 31KT 3552 10252 3505 10258
3474 10275
14The Amarillo radar (KAMA), 44 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:45 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorms produced winds of nearly 70 mph which resulted in an outbuilding being partially blown over and small tree branches blown down.
The KVII schoolnet site 7 miles east-northeast of Channing measured a wind gust of 67 mph.
The KVII schoolnet site 3 miles east of Bushland at Oasis RV measured a wind gust of 71 mph.
Six inch diameter tree limbs were broke and 10 inch diameter tree trunk was snapped on Wayne one block east of Teckla.
A 64 mph wind gust was measured by a KVII schoolnet site located at Tradewind Elementary in Amarillo.
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: 582000, 582003, 582004, 582002, 582005.