Numerous slow-moving thunderstorms erupted this afternoon in the southern Texas Panhandle along a weak cold front, before spreading south through the South Plains and Rolling Plains throughout the evening. Some of these storms redeveloped over the same areas, most notably in central Swisher County where Tulia and the nearby Middle Tule Creek experienced flash flooding from over four inches of…
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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.
Numerous slow-moving thunderstorms erupted this afternoon in the southern Texas Panhandle along a weak cold front, before spreading south through the South Plains and Rolling Plains throughout the evening. Some of these storms redeveloped over the same areas, most notably in central Swisher County where Tulia and the nearby Middle Tule Creek experienced flash flooding from over four inches of rain in less than one hour. In Hockley County, a favorable merger of outflow boundaries supported a rotating thunderstorm that produced a swath of damaging winds and flash flooding. In addition to damaging several power poles and a Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet, this storm produced incredible rainfall rates measured as great as 0.69 inches in 5 minutes, or 8.28 inches per hour.
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 Aug 22, 11:13 AM CST, 3 hours 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lubbock TX 1213 PM CDT Tue Aug 22 2017 .AVIATION... VFR conditions are expected at least through 03Z. A chance for Low end MVFR to IFR cigs exists for all terminals after 03Z through at least 12Z tomorrow morning. It is uncertain if low clouds and even reduced vis will develop as model guidance differs with forecasted conditions. For now the mention of low clouds and vis will be left out of the TAFs. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible at all terminals starting after 19Z this afternoon. While confidence in precipitation occurring is high the coverage and location is uncertain. Rain will be kept out of the TAFs and will be amended as needed. Any shower or thunderstorm that moves over a terminal will have the potential to lower flight categories. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 326 AM CDT Tue Aug 22 2017/ DISCUSSION... As of 230 AM, satellite imagery showed the cold crossing central Kansas with a reinforcing surge behind it just entering northern Kansas. A large area of convection extended along the main frontal boundary from eastern Kansas across to northwestern Indiana. Some convection was attempting to backbuild into central Kansas. There is fairly good model consensus on an 18Z entrance of the front to our northern zones, though the GFS is, perhaps, a few hours slower. This would delay the onset of convection. Speaking of which, convection is expected to break out along the front as it slowly moves southward this afternoon and evening. The combination of diurnal heating, CAPE around 1500 J/kg and bulk shear values reaching 30 KT should allow at least a few storms to become strong, possibly marginally severe. Borderline severe hail will be possible, but more likely will be damaging winds or wet microbursts, as PWATs are around 1.5". Heavy rainfall from some storms could lead to localized flooding. With a ridge to our west, we'll have favorable northwest flow tomorrow, so where the front ends up will be important. The Euro and GFS keep the boundary in/near our forecast area through most of Wednesday, which will enhance rain chances. The NAM pushes it further south, which would dry us out faster. Went with the 2 model consensus and kept chance PoPs in for Wednesday attm. However, with less favorable flow on Thursday, lowered PoPs to slight chance for much of the area. A shortwave brings rain chances back into the picture for Friday and Saturday, maybe. TC Harvey is forecast attm to possibly make landfall on Friday somewhere between northern Mexico and Corpus Christi. Depending on the strength and landfall location/timing, we could end up with subsidence that reduces our rain chances. With about four days to go, much can change as tropical systems are finicky beasts. We'll be eyeing this one closely. && .LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && 51/99/99
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lubbock TX 319 AM CDT Tue Aug 22 2017 TXZ021>044-230830- Parmer-Castro-Swisher-Briscoe-Hall-Childress-Bailey-Lamb-Hale- Floyd-Motley-Cottle-Cochran-Hockley-Lubbock-Crosby-Dickens-King- Yoakum-Terry-Lynn-Garza-Kent-Stonewall- 319 AM CDT Tue Aug 22 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the South Plains...Rolling Plains and the far Southern Texas Panhandle. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Thunderstorms are expected to form along a cold front this afternoon and evening. Some of these storms have the potential to become strong to severe with marginally severe hail and damaging downburst winds. Locally heavy rainfall is also expected with these storms which could lead to localized flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday An unsettled pattern with the chance of thunderstorms will persist through the period. Locally heavy rainfall could lead to localized flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening.
The Amarillo radar (KAMA), 77 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:31 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 2 heavy rain, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Backbuilding thunderstorms produced 3.45 inches of rain as measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet located near Tulia. Radar estimated just over four inches of rain a short distance north of this mesonet.
Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet near Tulia.
Law enforcement in Tulia reported water flowing across streets and lawns in Tulia. The underpass at the junction of State Highway 86 and 87 was closed through the night from water up to five feet deep. Just east of Tulia, the Middle Tule Creek rose out of its banks and partially flooded State Highway 86.
A slow-moving, rotating thunderstorm produced incredible rainfall rates up to 0.69 inches in just five minutes (8.28 inches per hour) as measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet.
A series of downbursts damaged 19 utility poles along US Highway 385 and FM Road 1585 in southeast Hockley County. These winds inflicted minor damage to a mesonet belonging to the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet.
An outdoor metal canopy was damaged from high winds during the passage of a gust front.
Law enforcement reported water and mud overflowing sections of roads in southeast Hockley County. The flash flooding forced the closure of FM Road 1585, FM Road 168 and County Road 41 for a few hours. One section of FM Road 1585 had water up to the headlights of a car. Travel was still impeded the following day until mud could be plowed free from the road.
Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet near Tahoka at 1828 CST. Severe gusts of 58 mph and 59 mph were also measured at 1827 CST and 1834 CST, respectively.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, August 2017
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: 713492, 709519, 709520, 711899, 709525, 709521, 709522, 709523.