Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 22, 2016

A thunderstorm moved across Howard County and produced a tornado near Big Spring. Eyewitness reports from storm chasers and spotters in the area indicate that the tornado began at 6:13 pm CDT just south of Texas State Highway 176, approximately 10 miles west of Big Spring. The tornado then moved southeastward over open fields, bounded by Natural Dam Lake to its west and Wilkinson Road just to its east. The tornado continued on this southeast track along Salt Lake, eventually crossing Interstate 20 at approximately 6:32 pm CDT.

South of Interstate 20, the tornado exhibited erratic movement, being described by chasers and spotters as being nearly stationary in a field. Examination of radar imagery showed the primary storm circulation moved slowly southeastward to approximately half a mile northwest of the intersection of Lintner Road and Rockhouse Road by 6:37 pm CDT, before turning eastward. The tornado continued to move east, with the southern periphery of the tornado affecting Home #1. The tornado then began to move northeastward, crossing nearly directly over Home #2 around 6:40 pm CDT. A slight east northeast turn allowed for only the tornado's northern periphery to affect Home #3 along Cauble Road around 6:42 pm CDT.

The tornado moved southward along or near Cauble Road. The tornado continued its erratic behavior, moving southwestward and re-entering the same field as previous around 6:48 pm CDT. The tornado then turned west-northwestward, eventually becoming quasi-stationary just east of the Home #1 between 6:52 pm and 6:54 pm CDT, before moving westward, just north of Home #1. Residents at home #1 described how long the tornado lasted and felt the tornado had impacted them twice. The tornado dissipated approximately 1.5 miles west of Home #1 around 7 pm CDT.

The damage assessment team looked at several different indicators to determine tornado intensity. At Home #2, which likely was the closest and strongest structure to the tornado during the most intense portion of the tornado's life cycle, the entire roof was destroyed and exterior walls on this well-constructed residence were partially collapsed. This damage indicator suggests an EF-3 intensity with wind speeds estimated at 140-160 mph. In the adjacent field east of Home #2, a 640 type pump jack was blown over. The assessment team also looked at tree damage at Home #2. Both softwood and hardwood trees were viewed on the property. Damage to these large trees was indicative of high end EF-2 to low end EF-3 damage.

Home #1 and Home #3 experienced tornado damage indicative of EF-2 damage. In the examples shown, large sections of the roof were removed, but with the walls still standing. At Home #3, there were power poles that were snapped approximately five feet off the ground. Wind speeds at this residence are estimated at 115 to 125 mph. At Home #1, trees were uprooted. Wind speeds are estimated at this location of 105 to 115 mph. The cost of damage from this tornado is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Howard County and produced a tornado near Big Spring. This tornado developed at around 6:51 pm CDT, approximately three miles south of the interstate, close to Farm-to-Market Road 818. This tornado was anticyclonic and moved slowly east and then northeast. With the help of radar imagery, it is estimated that the tornado lasted 8 minutes, while traveling a path just short of 2 miles. With the tornado remaining over open fields, the assessment team rated the tornado as an EF0. The width was estimated at 100 yards.

Heavy rain fell across Howard County and produced flash flooding in Big Spring. No damage was reported.

A thunderstorm moved across Howard County and produced a tornado near Lees, TX. This tornado began at approximately 7:17 pm CDT just over 2.5 miles north northeast of Lees. The tornado traveled a 2.3 mile path, moving westward. The tornado dissipated approximately four miles northwest of Lees at 7:28 pm CDT. Without damage indicators, the tornado is rated as an EF-0 with an estimated width of 100 yards.

A thunderstorm moved over Howard County and produced a 65 mph wind gust near Lomax. No damage was reported.

A thunderstorm moved across Glasscock County and produced a tornado near Lees, TX. This tornado developed around 7:38 pm CDT approximately four miles southeast of Lomax. This short-lived tornado traveled a distance of approximately a half of a mile, dissipating by 7:40 pm CDT. With no damage indicators, this tornado is rated as an EF-0 with an estimated path length of 50 yards.

A thunderstorm moved across Glasscock County and produced a tornado near Lees, TX. This tornado developed at 7:55 pm CDT, approximately four miles southwest of Lees, north of Hillger Road. The tornado, estimated at 200 yards wide, snapped 14 power poles along Hillger Road as it moved slowly southeast. With the poles being snapped approximately five feet off the ground, wind speeds were estimated at about 115 mph, indicating a lower-end EF-2 tornado intensity. There was also a nearby metal building just south of Hillger Road which sustained a loss of metal roof panels due to the tornado. Wind speeds at this location were estimated at 90-100 mph, indicating EF-1 intensity. As it weakened in intensity, this slow moving tornado made an abrupt turn to the northeast and dissipated at 8:07 pm CDT near the intersection of Hillger Road and Ranch Road 33. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Glasscock County and produced a tornado near Garden City. This tornado developed just west of Ranch Road 33, four miles north northwest of Garden City around 8:42 pm CDT. The tornado moved southward, knocking over a 640 type pump jack located approximately two and a quarter miles north of Garden City. This type of occurrence is associated with wind speeds in the 140-160 mph range. Thus, the tornado has been rated as briefly reaching EF-3 intensity. Broken tree limbs were observed by the assessment team two miles north of Garden City, just west of Ranch Road 33. This damage indicator suggested the tornado had weakened to EF-1 intensity at that point. This weakening trend coincided with the tornado taking a more southeast track as it crossed Ranch Road 33. The tornado dissipated at 8:54 pm CDT, two miles north of Garden City. In total, the tornado traveled a 3.7 mile path and had an estimated width of 200 yards. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Glasscock County and produced a 60 mph wind gust north of Garden City. No damage was reported.

A thunderstorm moved across Glasscock County and produced a 60 mph wind gust northeast of Garden City.

A thunderstorm moved across Glasscock County and produced a tornado near Garden City. This tornado developed around 8:56 pm CDT, just over 1.5 miles north northwest of Garden City. This tornado produced a combination of EF-1 and EF-2 damage at two residences. A single-wide manufactured home at Home #1 was rolled and destroyed. This was indicative of damage produced by a tornado of EF-2 intensity. As the tornado moved southwestward and impacted Home #2, a combination of EF-1 and EF-2 damage was noted. Tree damage was indicative of EF-1, while the metal barn appears to have sustained lower-end EF-2 damage. It is noted however that the barn construction made it more susceptible to wind entering the structure, which could have resulted in damage at a lower wind threshold. Wind speeds are estimated at 100-115 mph with this damage.

As the tornado moved southwestward, it was the opinion of the assessment team that the tornado intensified. At approximately 9:01 pm CDT, the tornado knocked over a 320 type pump jack west of County Road 417. With this slightly smaller pump jack type, it was felt that winds in the 120-135 mph range could potentially produce this damage. Thus, the tornado was rated as being a high-end EF-2 intensity. Oil field workers noted that there was damage over open fields farther to the southwest. Using radar estimates, the team concluded that this tornado dissipated at 9:02 pm CDT just short of reaching Highway 158, 1.5 miles west of Garden City. The total path length for tornado #7 was 1.9 miles with its greatest width estimated at 150 yards. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Heavy rain fell across Howard County and produced flash flooding southwest of Big Spring. There was six to twelve inches of water flowing over the road. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate since no damage was reported.

A thunderstorm moved across Glasscock County and produced a tornado near Garden City. This tornado formed at 9:02 pm CDT, south of Highway 158, approximately three fourths of a mile southwest of Garden City. No damage indicators were noted with this short-lived tornado that remained over open fields during its 1.4 mile path. Radar imagery suggests that the tornado dissipated around 9:08 pm CDT. The intensity of this tornado was estimated at EF-0.

Heavy rain fell across Howard County and produced flash flooding in Big Spring. People were trapped in a damaged building and rescue personnel had trouble getting them out due to flooded roads. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.