Another afternoon of scattered thunderstorms brought severe downburst winds mainly to Lubbock (Lubbock County) and Childress (Childress County). Very warm boundary layers supported high based storms and combined with strong instability, was able to create severe downburst 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 LUB wrote it up.
Another afternoon of scattered thunderstorms brought severe downburst winds mainly to Lubbock (Lubbock County) and Childress (Childress County). Very warm boundary layers supported high based storms and combined with strong instability, was able to create severe downburst winds. Extensive damage was observed in and around Childress.
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, 2:53 PM CST, 1 hour 7 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lubbock TX 353 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 .SHORT TERM... Isolated T-Storms forming again this afternoon along the surface trough extending from Hereford to Brownfield. MLCAPE values on the order of 1500-3000 J/kg east of the boundary so no shortage of instability to support strong updrafts and deep, pulsing convection. Dewpoint depressions of 40-50 degrees across will lead to good evaporative cooling and the likelihood of microbursts and strong wind gusts through the evening as cores collapse. Best deep layer shear limited to the Panhandle into western Oklahoma so expect any organized clusters to remain mostly north of the area though we could see more scattered activity lingering across the Rolling Plains, so place highest POPs there this evening. Another shortwave trough is apparent on Water Vapor imagery across northern Mexico and this disturbance will work clockwise around the ridge centered along the I-20 corridor to bring another chance of storms to the area Thursday afternoon. Surface winds are expected to back early in the day with increased convergence along the surface trough/weak dryline near the New Mexico border. Westerly winds west of the dryline on Thursday likely to help boost temperatures once again into the 103-106 degree range as the thermal ridge remains in place. Decided to extend the current Heat Advisory into Thursday afternoon as a result of the cumulative effect of three days of 105+ degree temperatures across portions of the western South Plains. Later shifts may consider broadening the Heat Advisory eastward as locations off the Caprock have seen heat index values in the 105-110 degree range this afternoon. .LONG TERM... The hot pattern associated with the anomalously strong subtropical anti-cyclone centered just to our south will ease temporarily Friday through Sunday as a weakness aloftforms and allows improved moisture and thunder chances. This weak upper trough will edge to the east Sunday which might taper thunder chances, but solutions suggest an opportunity then for a northwest flow environment as ridging builds again just to the west. By Monday we expect ridging to shift off to the east as a powerful July cyclone moves into the Rockies and heights fall through the southern Rockies and adjacent high plains. Solutions are spread far between southern and northern camps with this storm, so we still have questions. But this may enhance the downslope component and lead to hot conditions, even with somewhat suppressed heights aloft. Upper heights should tend to rebuild again in the southwest towards midweek with increased confidence once more for hot and mostly dry conditions. It will remain difficult to rule out isolated high- based thunder for the early and middle parts of next week. RMcQueen && .LUB Watches/Warnings/Advisories... Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for TXZ027-028-033-034- 039-040. Heat Advisory from noon to 8 PM CDT Thursday for TXZ027-028-033- 034-039-040. && 24/05
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 427 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 TXZ021>044-072130- PARMER-CASTRO-SWISHER-BRISCOE-HALL-CHILDRESS-BAILEY-LAMB-HALE- FLOYD-MOTLEY-COTTLE-COCHRAN-HOCKLEY-LUBBOCK-CROSBY-DICKENS-KING- YOAKUM-TERRY-LYNN-GARZA-KENT-STONEWALL- 427 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SOUTH PLAINS...ROLLING PLAINS AND THE FAR SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT DANGEROUSLY HOT AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES IN THE 105 TO 108 DEGREE RANGE IS EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN SOUTH PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON. A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM FOR AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 385. A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AREA WIDE. MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL TO QUARTER SIZE AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 70 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT ON THURSDAY FROM NOON UNTIL 8 PM FOR THE WESTERN SOUTH PLAINS. DAILY CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST THROUGH MONDAY WITH SOME STORMS OCCASIONALLY BECOMING SEVERE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX 358 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 TXZ028-029-034-035-062130- HALE TX-LAMB TX-HOCKLEY TX-LUBBOCK TX- 358 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN LAMB...NORTHWESTERN LUBBOCK...NORTHEASTERN HOCKLEY AND SOUTHWESTERN HALE COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM CDT... AT 357 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ANTON...OR 14 MILES WEST OF ABERNATHY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... ABERNATHY...ANTON...COTTON CENTER AND SPADE. LAT...LON 3406 10197 3380 10176 3366 10220 3391 10224 TIME...MOT...LOC 2057Z 233DEG 15KT 3382 10209 SC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
426 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016
TXZ034-035-062200-
HOCKLEY TX-LUBBOCK TX-
426 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL LUBBOCK AND EAST
CENTRAL HOCKLEY COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT...
AT 425 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8
MILES WEST OF REESE CENTER...OR 10 MILES EAST OF LEVELLAND...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LUBBOCK...WOLFFORTH...SHALLOWATER...REESE CENTER AND SMYER.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3351 10223 3365 10231 3375 10201 3357 10191
3349 10212
TIME...MOT...LOC 2125Z 240DEG 14KT 3358 10218
CWASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
445 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016
TXZ034-040-062215-
HOCKLEY TX-TERRY TX-
445 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN TERRY AND SOUTH
CENTRAL HOCKLEY COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT...
AT 445 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM
NEAR LOCKETVILLE...OR 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF BROWNFIELD...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BROWNFIELD...LOCKETVILLE...MEADOW AND ROPESVILLE.
LAT...LON 3322 10239 3334 10244 3345 10237 3352 10223
3334 10207 3328 10208 3319 10221
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 235DEG 13KT 3330 10233
CWASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
449 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016
TXZ029-035-062215-
HALE TX-LUBBOCK TX-
449 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN LUBBOCK AND SOUTHERN
HALE COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT...
AT 449 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
ABERNATHY...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ABERNATHY...PETERSBURG AND NEW DEAL.
LAT...LON 3373 10188 3377 10199 3399 10197 3399 10157
3368 10156
TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 267DEG 17KT 3383 10185
CWAThe Amarillo radar (KAMA), 91 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:00 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A dry microburst produced a 62 mph wind gust as measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet station.
A downburst traveled from Reese Center to Lubbock Preston Smith Airport and produced measured wind gusts of 58 mph and 63 mph. The first gust was recorded by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet at Reese Center followed by a gust to 63 mph at the Lubbock ASOS.
A downburst toppled a few power poles, trees and power lines throughout portions of southwest Lubbock.
Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet station.
A destructive downburst with peak winds around 80 mph traveled across the city of Childress causing extensive damage. The winds damaged several small structures, awnings, trees, utility poles, knocked down billboards and road signs, and even toppled two gas station pumps. One brick building had its southwest-facing wall collapse and hundreds of homes suffered light to moderate roof damage from the long duration of severe winds. These severe winds occurred for a period of up to 20 minutes as recorded by a nearby Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet station.
Severe downburst winds were recorded for 20 consecutive minutes by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet station. A peak gust to 84 mph occurred at 1925 CST.
Measured by the Childress ASOS.
Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet station.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, July 2016
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: 634106, 634107, 634109, 634114, 634126, 634127, 634129, 634116.