Texas, 2018

Tornado and Hail in Texas, June 1, 2018

June 1, 2018 · NWS LUB · 11 events in 4 counties and zones

Very hot temperatures characterized by highs of 102 to 107 degrees coupled with a dryline focused high based thunderstorm development near the Lubbock area this afternoon. As these storms moved east into richer moisture in Crosby County, one storm escalated significantly in intensity.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$4.6 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
11

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LUB wrote it up.

Very hot temperatures characterized by highs of 102 to 107 degrees coupled with a dryline focused high based thunderstorm development near the Lubbock area this afternoon. As these storms moved east into richer moisture in Crosby County, one storm escalated significantly in intensity. This supercell thunderstorm delivered major wind and hail damage to Ralls and continued to move east through Crosbyton where several utility poles were downed. The storm then turned more southeast and struck Spur with very large hail before producing a small, brief tornado over open land south of Jayton. The greatest destruction occurred on the west side of Ralls where three large cotton compress buildings were completely destroyed by straight line winds determined to be as high as 90 mph.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jun 1, 12:52 PM CST, 3 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 1, 12:52 PM CST, 3 hours 51 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lubbock TX
152 PM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018

.DISCUSSION...

Big story today will be the continued heat and possibility for
high based thunderstorms. The upper level high currently parked over
Mexico will continue to help high temperatures rise above the triple
digit mark for the entire area today. Across much of the southern
South Plains and Rolling Plains temperatures will once again reach
heat advisory criteria  Have gone ahead and expanded the heat
advisory further west given the expected high temps of 105F this
afternoon. SW winds over the South Plains and S over the Rolling
Plains will help the dryline sharpen just along I27 this afternoon.
MUCAPE values of 1500 J/kg to 2000 J/kg combined with strong daytime
heating, PWs of near an inch and bulk shear values between 30-40 kts
will help isolated thunderstorms to develop late this afternoon. The
lack of low level moisture will keep all storms that do develop high
based. That, plus DCAPE values of near 2000 J/kg will mean the main
threat with these storms will be strong winds. Although, some storms
could become more organized, given the bulk shear values, these type
of storms will be isolated and could produce hail. West of the
convection elevated fire weather conditions will be an issue. An RFD
is in effect for the South Plains this afternoon into the evening.

Tomorrow and Sunday, a front and "cooler" airmass will bring a quick
relief from the area-wide triple digit heat. During the day
tomorrow, winds will shift to the north and increase behind the
front. This airmass will be dry in nature and keep any chance of
POPs out of the area Saturday. Sunday, will be the "coolest" day of
the week ahead as the cooler continental air mass stays in place
over the area. This will help high temps settle back closer to
normal (upper 80s to low 90s). Sunday night into Monday, low and mid
level moisture will be on the increase ahead of an upper level
shortwave with a stalled front just SE of the area. Energy from the
shortwave and overrunning from the stalled front combined with the
moisture may allow for precipitation development. Amounts continue
to look minimal with much of the precip falling overnight.

Monday through Friday, the upper high begins to build back over
Mexico as S-SW flow returns. This will result in another round of
very hot and dry days for the FA. Triple digit highs will be common
area wide, with highs of 106F possible in some locations by mid
week. Given the current trend of this upper level ridge have
increased temps over the Blend and decreased POPs for next week.

Fire Weather...
Hot and dry weather continues today with the chance for high based
thunderstorms. Breezy southerly to southwesterly winds will
develop this afternoon and create elevated fire weather across
the southwest Texas Panhandle and western South Plains, where the
driest air will be. In addition, isolated late day storms may
develop, bringing the risk of lightning, gusty and erratic winds.

&&

.LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for TXZ034>036-039>044.

&&

28
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 1, 10:48 AM CST, 5 hours 55 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Lubbock TX
1148 AM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018

TXZ021>044-020500-
Parmer-Castro-Swisher-Briscoe-Hall-Childress-Bailey-Lamb-Hale-
Floyd-Motley-Cottle-Cochran-Hockley-Lubbock-Crosby-Dickens-King-
Yoakum-Terry-Lynn-Garza-Kent-Stonewall-
1148 AM CDT Fri Jun 1 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the South Plains, Rolling
Plains and the far Southern Texas Panhandle.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Near record to record temperatures will continue with high
temperatures reaching 105 degrees or higher across a large
portion of the South Plains and Rolling Plains. A heat advisory
is in effect from 1 pm through 8 pm for the southern and central
South Plains and the far southern Rolling Plains.

Isolated thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and early
evening along and east of Interstate 27 into the Rolling Plains.
Damaging wind gusts to 70 mph and hail up to golf ball size will
be possible.

Fire weather conditions will be elevated across the southwest
Texas Panhandle and western south Plains this afternoon. A fire
danger statement is in effect until 8 pm.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

After a brief reprieve, dangerous heat may return to the region
next week as an upper ridge builds more squarely over the area.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Limited spotter activation may be needed this afternoon through
early evening from the central South Plains through the Rolling
Plains.

The radar

The Lubbock radar (KLBB), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:41 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 5 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crosby

When
June 1, 4:43 PM CST to 4:45 PM CST
Where
Crosby County, 0.68 mi WNW of Ralls to 1.41 mi SSW of Ralls
Measured
78 kt (90 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$3.5 million
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
33.683, -101.391

A rapidly intensifying thunderstorm produced an intense downburst that struck the west half of the city of Ralls before continuing south for about one mile south of Ralls. In addition to disrupting power to 2400 people in the area for much of the night and inflicting various degrees of damage to many homes and buildings, three large cotton compress buildings on the west side of town were completely destroyed with debris strewn up to 1/4 mile south of Highway 82. The extent of debris required the closure of the 4-lane highway for nearly one hour until debris could be cleared for passage. A nearby power sub-station belonging to Excel was heavily damaged and a total of 42 power poles were downed. Radar and debris patterns observed from the NWS storm survey revealed a classic downburst signature with destructive wind gusts determined to be as high as 90 mph, with sustained speeds likely ranging between 50 and 70 mph for roughly two minutes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crosby

When
June 1, 4:45 PM CST
Where
Crosby County, 0.69 mi S of Ralls
Measured
60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
33.670, -101.380

Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet.

Hail, Crosby

When
June 1, 4:46 PM CST to 4:53 PM CST
Where
Crosby County, 0.65 mi WNW of Ralls to 0.71 mi SSW of Ralls
Measured
2.75 in hail
Property damage
$500,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
33.682, -101.391

Very large hail up to baseball size driven sideways by intense winds caused extensive damage to many north-facing windows, cars and home siding in Ralls. The hail also caused severe damage to the Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet on the south side of Ralls.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crosby

When
June 1, 4:55 PM CST
Where
Crosby County, 0.69 mi S of Ralls
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
33.670, -101.380

Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet.

Hail, Crosby

When
June 1, 5:14 PM CST to 5:18 PM CST
Where
Crosby County, 1.34 mi WSW of Crosbyton Paulder Ar
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
33.640, -101.240

The hail covered the ground and damaged many west-facing windows in town. Many vehicles also sustained light to moderate damage. Although less destructive than the onslaught of baseball size hail in the city just 2.5 weeks earlier, this hail was insult to injury for many property and business owners.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crosby

When
June 1, 5:14 PM CST to 5:15 PM CST
Where
Crosby County, Crosbyton
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
33.670, -101.250

A total of 12 power poles were damaged in Crosbyton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crosby

When
June 1, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Crosby County, 7.11 mi SSE of Crosbyton Muni Arpt
Measured
59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
33.530, -101.170

Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet.

Hail, Dickens

When
June 1, 6:03 PM CST
Where
Dickens County, Spur
Measured
2.75 in hail
Property damage
$500,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
33.480, -100.850

Very large hail to baseball size pummeled the city of Spur this evening. The hail lasted for for several minutes and caused widespread damage to buildings, roofs, windows and vehicles.

Hail, Kent

When
June 1, 7:14 PM CST
Where
Kent County, 8.89 mi NW of Clairemont
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
33.260, -100.860

No damage was reported.

Tornado, Kent

When
June 1, 7:43 PM CST
Where
Kent County, 7.12 mi SSE of Jayton Kent Co Arpt
Rating
EFU
Path length
0.01 mi
Path width
30 yd
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
33.130, -100.540

Two separate reports of a very brief tornado were received about five miles south of Jayton. A storm spotter was able to photograph the tornado in the fading twilight. The tornado remained over open land.

Hail, Stonewall

When
June 1, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Stonewall County, 5.07 mi WNW of Peacock
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
33.210, -100.480

Damage was not known.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2018Warnings in Texas, June 2018

Sources

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: 748111, 748112, 748113, 748114, 748115, 748191, 748116, 748117, 748118, 748110, 748120.