A strong upper level disturbance interacting with a highly unstable airmass led to the development of a squall line during the morning hours. This line of thunderstorms resulted in many damaging wind reports, an isolated tornado and large hail events across portions of West Central Texas.
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.
A strong upper level disturbance interacting with a highly unstable airmass led to the development of a squall line during the morning hours. This line of thunderstorms resulted in many damaging wind reports, an isolated tornado and large hail events across portions of West Central Texas.
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 25, 5:22 AM CST, 3 hours 19 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX 622 AM CDT Mon May 25 2015 .AVIATION... /12Z TAFS/ Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop and move over West Central Texas TAF sites this morning. The best potential is over KABI 15-18Z. Have VCTS at most sites this morning...with KABI down to 2 miles in moderate rain 15-18Z. MVFR stratus should rise to VFR at most sites by 18Z, persisting until 21Z at KABI. MVFR stratus otherwise returns after 6Z tonight from south to north. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 432 AM CDT Mon May 25 2015/ SHORT TERM... (Today and Tonight ) ..Heavy rainfall and severe storms possible today beginning early this morning... A strong upper trough will pass trough West Central Texas this morning, with strong lift associated with it. The atmosphere was already unstable with SPC RAP most unstable CAPES of 2000-3000 J/KG. 0-6KM bulk shears were 40-50 KTS. Large hail and damaging winds are possible, even the potential for a tornado. The main threat, however will be locally heavy rainfall of 1 to 3 inches, as precipitable water increases to 1.0-1.5 inches. Heavy rainfall on already saturated soils will have the potential for flash flooding. A flash flood watch is in effect through 4 PM CDT. Most of the high resolution models develop a band of thunderstorms over I-20 corridor...from Sterling City to Brownwood this morning, mainly after 7 AM. Another second area of storms may develop east off the mountains of Mexico... possibly affecting the Junction to Mason to San Saba areas. Scattered showers and thunderstorms may continue in the Big Country in the afternoon with more isolated storms farther south. While the Big Country and southeast sections will likely have highest potential for thunderstorms, just about anywhere in West Central Texas will be at risk for severe storms today with the strong instabilities present. Kept a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms over eastern sections tonight. Most of this will be in the evening hours. 04 LONG TERM... (Tuesday-Wednesday) Dryline thunderstorms will be possible Tuesday and Wednesday during the late afternoon and evening as temperatures climb into the 90s. Moderate to high CAPE values and a low shear storm environment will provide the threat for isolated strong updrafts that could result in a few storms producing large hail and damaging winds. (Thursday-Friday) As a broad upper level trough of low pressure moves into Northern Mexico, it will result in dryline afternoon and evening thunderstorms each day. A cold front moving south through the Central Plains could send an outflow boundary into West Central Texas on Friday, providing another focus for thunderstorm development. Max temperatures will be a little lower because of more cloud cover. (Saturday-Sunday) The previously mentioned cold front meandering across the region could bring another threat for storms over the weekend with temperatures in the lower 80s. 26 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Abilene 80 63 90 69 89 / 70 10 20 10 20 San Angelo 85 63 93 69 91 / 50 10 20 10 20 Junction 84 65 91 70 89 / 70 20 20 10 20 && .SJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH until 4 PM CDT this afternoon FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: Brown...Callahan...Coke...Coleman...Concho... Crockett...Fisher...Haskell...Irion...Jones...Kimble...Mason... McCulloch...Menard...Nolan...Runnels...San Saba...Schleicher... Shackelford...Sterling...Sutton...Taylor...Throckmorton...Tom Green. && 99/99/04
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX 843 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015 TXZ049-054-064>066-071>073-076>078-098-099-113-114-127-128-139- 140-154-155-168>170-261345- 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- 843 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL TEXAS TODAY. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE ALONG AND EAST OF A HASKELL TO ABILENE TO BROWNWOOD LINE. THE MAIN THREATS ACROSS THIS AREA WILL BE LARGE HAIL THE SIZE OF GOLF BALLS...DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH AND A FEW TORNADOES. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS MAY ALSO PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING ON ALREADY SATURATED SOILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY ADDITIONAL STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE REST OF WEEK. THE MAIN THREATS WILL CONTINUE TO BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL MAY ALSO PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED TODAY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX 825 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015 TXZ049-251400- FISHER TX- 825 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 900 AM CDT FOR FISHER COUNTY... POTENTIAL STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE... GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL AT 823 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 14 MILES SOUTH OF HOBBS...OR ABOUT 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF ROSCOE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. POTENTIAL STORM IMPACTS INCLUDE... SOME BROKEN SMALL TREE BRANCHES... DEADLY LIGHTNING... LIGHT LOOSE OBJECTS TOPPLED... DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS... HAIL AND WIND MAY COMBINE TO PRODUCE MINOR INJURY TO PLANTS AND MINOR DAMAGE TO EASILY BREAKABLE OBJECTS... THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... HOBBS BY 845 AM CDT ROTAN BY 855 AM CDT LAT...LON 3296 10034 3255 10053 3255 10066 3297 10066 TIME...MOT...LOC 1325Z 205DEG 36KT 3260 10062
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
843 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015
TXZ049-054-251415-
FISHER TX-NOLAN TX-
843 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 915 AM CDT FOR FISHER
AND NOLAN COUNTIES...
POTENTIAL STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE...
GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL
AT 839 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER CHAMPION...OR
ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ROSCOE. OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE
DEVELOPING ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN NOLAN COUNTY...WEST OF SWEETWATER
AND MARYNEAL. ALL OF THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH.
POTENTIAL STORM IMPACTS INCLUDE...
SOME BROKEN SMALL TREE BRANCHES...
DEADLY LIGHTNING...
LIGHT LOOSE OBJECTS TOPPLED...
DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS...
HAIL AND WIND MAY COMBINE TO PRODUCE MINOR INJURY TO PLANTS AND
MINOR DAMAGE TO EASILY BREAKABLE OBJECTS...
THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
ROSCOE...WASTELLA AND US-84 NEAR THE NOLAN-FISHER COUNTY LINE BY
850 AM CDT
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 20 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 227 AND 239.
LAT...LON 3255 10038 3213 10053 3214 10067 3215 10067
3255 10066
TIME...MOT...LOC 1341Z 201DEG 38KT 3238 10059SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX 858 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015 TXZ049-054-251445- FISHER TX-NOLAN TX- 858 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 945 AM CDT FOR FISHER AND NOLAN COUNTIES... POTENTIAL STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE... GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL AT 856 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 12 MILES SOUTH OF ROSCOE...MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH. OTHER STRONG STORMS WERE DEVELOPING ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN NOLAN AND FISHER COUNTIES. POTENTIAL STORM IMPACTS INCLUDE... SOME BROKEN SMALL TREE BRANCHES... DEADLY LIGHTNING... LIGHT LOOSE OBJECTS TOPPLED... DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS... HAIL AND WIND MAY COMBINE TO PRODUCE MINOR INJURY TO PLANTS AND MINOR DAMAGE TO EASILY BREAKABLE OBJECTS... THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... CAMP BOOTHE OAKS AND ROSCOE BY 910 AM CDT SWEETWATER BY 915 AM CDT GANNON BY 925 AM CDT BUSBY AND CAPITOLA BY 930 AM CDT LONGWORTH BY 935 AM CDT SYLVESTER...ROBY AND MCCAULLEY BY 945 AM CDT THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 20 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 227 AND 246. LAT...LON 3295 10014 3209 10042 3209 10067 3297 10065 TIME...MOT...LOC 1357Z 201DEG 38KT 3228 10051
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX 900 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015 TXZ064-251445- STERLING TX- 900 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 945 AM CDT FOR STERLING COUNTY... POTENTIAL STORM HAZARDS INCLUDE... GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL AT 858 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 17 MILES NORTHWEST OF STERLING CITY...OR ABOUT 17 MILES NORTHEAST OF GARDEN CITY... MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH. POTENTIAL STORM IMPACTS INCLUDE... SOME BROKEN SMALL TREE BRANCHES... DEADLY LIGHTNING... LIGHT LOOSE OBJECTS TOPPLED... DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS... HAIL AND WIND MAY COMBINE TO PRODUCE MINOR INJURY TO PLANTS AND MINOR DAMAGE TO EASILY BREAKABLE OBJECTS... THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL CONTINUE ACROSS MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF WEST AND NORTHWEST STERLING COUNTY. LAT...LON 3209 10125 3208 10082 3176 10093 3158 10127 TIME...MOT...LOC 1400Z 201DEG 38KT 3200 10121
The Dyess AFB radar (KDYX), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:41 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind, 2 funnel cloud, 2 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Law enforcement officials estimated a wind gust of 60 mph about 5 miles west of Sweetwater.
A tornado briefly touched down near the Fisher and Nolan County Line along U.S. Highway 70.
The Fisher County Sheriff's office estimated a 60 mph wind gust in Roby.
A gas pump was blown off of its foundation and several power poles were snapped in Roby.
Power poles were snapped at the intersection of FM 1085 and State Highway 180.
Utility poles were snapped near the intersection of State Highway 180 and FM 1812.
A Coop Observer measured a wind gust of 60 mph about 1 mile southeast of Wingate.
A metal building was damaged at Bluff Creek Cowboy Church.
Law enforcement officials in Hamlin estimated wind gusts to around 60 mph.
Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down a utility pole near city hall in Anson.
KTXS TV studio on the northwest side of Abilene measured a 76 mph wind gust.
The strong thunderstorm winds blew down numerous tree limbs that were about 4 inches in diameter about 4.7 miles west of Novice.
The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet Station just north of Haskell measured a thunderstorm wind gust to 62 mph.
A member of the public estimated a thunderstorm wind gust to around 60 mph.
The Woodson Volunteer Fire Department estimated winds from 50 to 60 mph winds.
A brief funnel cloud was reported just west of Blanket before it dissipated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2015Warnings 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: 573267, 573269, 573270, 573276, 573278, 573279, 573280, 573300, 573302, 573301, 573303, 573305, 573304, 573316, 573306, 573317, 573318, 573319, 573322, 573323.